a recap

here we are, well into my "sabbatical" in new zealand, and i thought i'd recap some things i wrote before i came. see how i've been doing.

my manifesto

i am taking a break from american culture more or less
from the fast life in new york city check
from some friendships check
from my family check
from my baggage more or less
from my screwups check
from my career check
from boys fat chance

i will go and have fun check
sleep plenty check
rejuvenate my spirit and my faith in and relationship with God more or less
i will learn more about this world, about New Zealand, about nature, scuba diving, sea kayaking, whitewater rafting and ropes check
i will live simply for five months more or less
i will communicate with my past solely through email and letters -- and an occasional phone call more phone calls than i anticipated
i will start my novel or memoirs or screenplay or all of the above not yet
i will find out who my real friends are not yet
i will have regular bowel movements CHECK!
i will exercise regularly and hopefully get to do taekwondo check
i will keep abreast of current events not really
i will speak out against war in iraq not really
i will drive at least once check
i will go camping check
i will drink beer but will not puke on myself in the bathtubcheck
i will make new friends check
i will try to let go of anger and bitterness and be filled with compassion and love more or less
i will be honest more or less
i will communicate openly check
i will renew my faith in the goodness of people check
i will make new friends and great memories check
i will make a decision on what i want to do with my life in september 2003 working on it
i will work on summer camp program and fulfill my obligations check

when i return i think i will try to live in one place for three years. i will enjoy mom's cooking. i will be more forgiving and understanding and less self-centered. i will be less frivolous. i will not be afraid of commitment and love and loss of control. i will not frown upon relationships, i will be open to God. i will trust in God and believe He has control and that the promise of good things is true working on it

and maybe, just maybe, i'll give this journalism thing a shot. and maybe i won't be afraid of freelancing. i will pray more. i will love my friends more. i will try to establish a community and go to church. i will act like a grown-up in life and responsibility but i will laugh as a child laughs -- quickly, easily, loudly. i will throw my head back and gawk at the tall buildings again. i will work at camp, be a good program director, leader, and friend. i will drive cross-country, visit friends, have fun, learn to surf, and drive back. i will dream, i will cry, i will scream. i will live. i hope so

and i will stop writing such cheesy shit. good god i hope so

things i'm looking forward to, in no particular order
1.) summer check
2.) being outdoors check
3.) using my hands and my body, instead of my brain and my fingers, typing away at a keyboard check
4.) the new friendships i will make check
5.) the things i will learn check
6.) plastic money check
7.) reading for fun CHECK
8.) reading on the beach not so much
9.) half flush toilets -- for lighter loads; they "just make sense" check, except in older houses
10.) cheap internet cafes more so in australia than here
11.) kiwi accents actually, they're hard to understand

things i'm going to miss, in no particular order
1.) drinking coffee, reading the paper and having the breakfast specials at veselka check
2.) standing at the end of my street and seeing all the lights strung from the stores check
3.) walking down the street with my head flung back and my mouth wide open, looking at the tall buildings and lights check
4.) mcsorley's old ale house and tommy, who always gets me a table CHECK
5.) you check
6.) the subway, even though it smells and never runs right and the workers almost striked check
7.) 24-hour delis, even though my waistline might be better off not so much
8.) the nyu taekwondo team check
9.) my itty bitty car not so much, since i've found a new one ;)
9a.) driving on the right side of the road well, every once in a while i do it here anyways...
9b.) cars with steering wheels on the left side of the car check
9c.) driving not really, since i'm doing it here
10.) being able to call friends at any moment; the time difference will be prohibitive check
11.) 110V current not a big deal
12.) my dsl connection check
13.) mom's cooking check
14.) paquito's burritos check
15.) the new season of the dead zone, a television show check
16.) working check
17.) my apartment, or having an apartment; little miss from short hills is living in a hostel for a few weeks boarding isn't so bad
18.) my cell phone check
19.) being within driving distance of camp glen spey check
20.) the kids i tutor for citysquash, the most kick-ass squash/enrichment program in nyc check
21.) we are scientists shows check
22.) eastern standard time not really ;)
23.) north longitude check
24.) american journalism

things i'm not going to miss, in no particular order
1.) homework and all nighters
2.) american self-righteousness
3.) george w. bush
4.) my baggage, and i mean that in the figurative sense
5.) my family...ok, just my brothers
6.) dog shit on the sidewalks
7.) the lack of view ... i'll be just blocks from the beach
8.) american accents
9.) american guinness
10.) the cost of living in nyc
11.) mice in my apartment
12.) winter
13.) paper money -- money down under is made out of plastic, no joke
14.) crowded subways
15.) pushy crowds
16.) radio stations -- why do they all suck in nyc?
17.) paying the electricity bill
18.) american journalism