The One Year Itch

"Discovered by the Germans in 1904, they named it San Diego, which of course in German means a whale's vagina." -Ron Burgundy, Anchorman

Since I got a taste of leaving San Diego back in 2007, I have had a hard time settling down in one place. Since '07 I have lived in LA for a year and half, San Diego for another year and half, and now I've been living here in NY for a year. I'm beginning to get that itch again. I long to be back in San Diego with my family, my little Roxy, my Gf's and Bf's, and everything that defines and is SoCal. Although, I must admit that I don't know if my nostalgia stems from the fact that I've been having a hard time for the past 2-3 weeks nailing down an apartment in Bushwick (the neighborhood that I've grown to love for all it is and all it is not).

Apple-G realty has given both, my roommate and I, a very hard time in securing the apartment. I have already given a $560 deposit, and my roommate has already given them $170 for the application process. Our parents are co-signers and they have requested everything and anything imaginable to make sure that we will be suitable candidates for their luxurious apartment complex. The amenities are off the chain: central air, doorman, rooftop access, laundry on-site, recreation center, and etc. OFF THE CHAIN, I tell you. But at this point, I rather just move on and secure an apartment else where before September 1st, since my apartment has already been rented (smh). I will be homeless! YES! HOMELESS!!!

Nevertheless, the itch has returned. NY is a tough city. No doubt about that. It's abusive and ungrateful for all that you do for it. Cali on the other hand, always treated me with respect. Uncertainty gives me a stomach ache. I don't know what direction to take...even in regards to jobs. I'm contemplating pursuing a job in the corporate world, or sticking to teaching (familiar territory)? I wish someone would just tell me what to do! And will I, also, be returning to SD (or Cali in general) or will I go somewhere else, or will I stay in NY!? I DON'T KNOW!

Maybe September will give me a clearer perspective. Maybe I just need to go to the Cape Labor Day Weekend with the girls at the end of the month? Maybe, I should finish my paper that's due tomorrow!? Or maybe...I should just suck it up and quit being such a freaking baby about everything!?

This next semester I will be D-O-N-E with my units for my degree. After that, I will only need to finish writing my thesis. I'm registered for a Thesis writing course, and a Methods of Interpreting Popular Culture with prof. Marita Sturken (former USC professor, now the chair of our department...looking for a recommendation letter...PhD at USC...MAYBE!). Other projects are in the works. I'll be attending 3 conferences this semester as well, meaning that I'll be traveling quite a bit. Might be catching a Charger game with Stud Muff in Denver come October. I'll be going to Mazatlan for a wedding with my Nino late October also... It'll be a busy semester.

I gotta find a hobby/job, STAT.

-t

Paris and more...

Monte Carlo, Monaco July 2005

My first trip outside of the US and Mexico was in 2005 when I was given the ultimate gift (birthday/christmas/any other possible holiday that I could count for that particular year) to visit my friend Laura in her home town of Saint Raphael, France. I was with her and her family for a total of 10 days. Originally the plan was to stay 14 days in the southeast coast of France, but I needed to visit Paris. It was a must. While in Saint Raphael, I decided to book a ticket to Paris for the last 4 days of my France excursion. I must say that the 4 days that I spent in Paris by myself were, by far, the most wonderful and fulfilling days of my entire life. I have always wanted to return. I am proud to say that I will be, 6 years later, in the same city that gave me beautiful things to look at and 2 € chocolate croissants. Life does not get any better. Of course, paradise has its price. Fortunately I received a scholarship of $1,000 that will go towards my tuition (≈1,300/unit). The course I will be taking in Paris is Globalization, Memory and Visual Culture with Professor Nicholas Mirzoeff. I also realize that in my previous post I did not mention Paris as an optional site for studying abroad, but I attended an information session and I was sold at the mere thought of, again, eating chocolate croissants while drinking a cup of coffee in a typical Parisian cafe, all while staring at the 'Tour Eiffel' (with my French accent).

Roxy & Me, January 2011

My degree at NYU requires a total of 36 units. At the end of summer I will be at 30 units completed. I had initially thought that I would have to leave NYC and move back to California unless I was able to score a really great job to be able to afford the cost of living here, but that is not the case. Our graduate advisor Mary, is amazing and has an answer for anything you throw at her. She explained that I do not have to move back to California because I will only have 6 credits to complete in 2 semesters. This is how it will pan out: 6 units will be taken in the fall, and 0.5 units will be taken in the Spring towards my thesis. Since graduate school at NYU (and most other graduate schools) is usually paid for per unit, I will only be paying half of a unit more than what is necessary for graduation my last semester. I was also freaking out at the thought that I would have to perhaps write a thesis by fall. Ask Martha. She is usually the one hearing me out with all these random thoughts. Thank you MARTHA!!!

Boston, February 2011

Currently, I am working with a few of my classmates to submit a panel for NCA, which will be in New Orleans this year. In addition, I am also in the process of re-working an essay I wrote for my Communication Processes: Race, Gender, and Culture class last semester for the New York State Communication Association conference. On a similar note, I am also continuing to do research for the OBITEL yearbook with Prof. Pinon, on top of my 3 courses which are coming together in terms of fundamentally understanding the theories and their applications to everyday life. I was struggling at the beginning of the semester but little by little it is all coming together (thank baby Jesus).

Walking Home-Brooklyn Bridge, February 2011

I can't wait

I can't wait for Spring

I can't wait for some sun

I can't wait for some blue skies

I just can't wait

I want to wear shorts

I want to hear some real funny shit

I want to sip on some margaritas

All while chatting with my Amigitas

I can't wait to see my Familia

I can't wait to hug my little Coshita

I can't wait to eat some California Burritos

I just can't wait

I want to chill with the lil' Mocoso

I want to drink some momosas

I want to be in San Diego!

All while thinking that just in a few months

I will be, in yet, another city

PARIS

Spring Semester 2011

I started off 2011 next to my family since my uncle was unable to make it out here due to weather conditions. It actually worked out. I was experiencing anxiety, but all was forgotten the moment I saw and got to hug my Senora. And so began the new year, surrounded by my loved ones. A new year, a new semester, and oh, so much to look forward to.

Last semester was difficult/complicated. Beginning with the trauma of leaving a life that had been cultivated in Southern California for 24 years and starting fresh in NYC-Harlem. Moved out of Harlem and down to Brooklyn a few weeks after the initial move to the city. In addition to the moving of 10 suitcases from Uptown to Brooklyn, adjusting from driving to public transportation and walking, from home cooked meals to venturing out and eating Thai and Indian food, from working full-time and having money to spend, to being broke and in school again, adhering to deadlines and trying not to procrastinate but somehow doing the complete opposite, to adjusting to the 3 hour time difference but still receiving text messages at 3 AM E.T. since the homegirls are barely warming up the lungs back in Cali with Margaritas and Tequila shots, and to simply being away from my family and friends and not getting enough hugs out here in the big city--it has all been rough, tough, and quite the adjustment.

In addition to the adjustments, my last semester grades were not what I had aimed to achieve. This semester, I gotta bring my "A" game. No if's or but's about it. On that note, the BS will be non-existent and the Cali visitors will have to wait and visit during summer and/or winter break ONLY. I will be taking 3 courses again this term. 2 of which are under my department, Media, Culture, and Communication -- Global Media and International Law, and Media and Spectacle. The other class is under Tisch -- Latin American Performance. I'm very excited for all of them and I look forward to building strong networks with my professors since I would like to study abroad with Diana Taylor, director of the Hemispheric Institute here in NYC, whom will be teaching a course in Chiapas, Mexico (http://hemisphericinstitute.org/hemi/) Luckily, I will also be helping my professor Juan Pinon with his research on publishing his yearly article in the OBITEL yearbook along with another fellow San Diegan classmate Linnete. The research I will be assisting with, will consist of gathering information on Telemundo and Azteca America and seeing what programing was produced in 2010, who produced it, how much money was invested in advertising, ratings, economics, co-production between different conglomerates, and etc. This semester will be busy and exciting. Also, as mentioned previously, I am also looking forward to studying abroad during the summer and there are two classes that I am highly interested in, one being in Chiapas, Mexico with Prof. Diana Taylor, and the other in Buenos Aires, Argentina with Prof. Marita Sturken (Department Chair of Media, Culture, and Communication). It has always been a dream to study abroad and I feel that if I do not do it this summer, then I will not have another chance to do it. I need to make it happen.

To new beginnings, cheers!

-TAC

I miss my little Roxy.

About 3 Months In

Two six-pagers, one presentation, a few dozen posts on Black Board, roughly about thirty articles read for Transnational Media Flows, two three page journals, one presentation, and roughly about another twenty-five articles read for Communication Processes, and lastly one five pager, about twenty-seven pages of notes and roughly about sixty articles read for Media, Culture, and Communication Core have all been done thus far.

As for my California visitors, old friend from the high school days known as beej, old boss and husband, the be-you hommegirl, "the marine" and "team stacey," and la china have came and gone. On the same note, I've meet some New Yorkers, one that plainly called me a retard that I will never speak to again, another that is a rad english man that's about one foot and four inches taller than me, one that I meet at the Wreck room, and another that happens to be just plain fabulous whom introduced me to the best basil chicken fried rice of my entire life...don't think I forgot about you...I also meet this fabulous being whom shared some of the best cafe con leche and repas in Bushwick on Sunday. The grad life has giving me the distinct pleasure to hang out with some of the greatest people. One being, my hommegirl who is me minus the "T," the "zal" man, the comedian whom I actually had some frozen yogurt with today, and other MCC-ers who have shared great conversations/times with me (awesome peeps all around).

What awaits? Well, let me tell you...

One six pager and one twelve to fifteen pager for Transnatinal Media Flows, one twenty pager for Communication Process, and one six pager for MCC Core, plus all the reading/research that comes along with the writing. As for the California visitors, the cali roll whom I get to see tomorrow, the be-you hommegirl for thanksgiving weekend, the executive BFF in December, the "I want to do everything, and see everything" travel-all-over and the "I'm just along for the ride," and lastly, the uncle and the girlfriend. They too will come and go; both the writing and the visitors. When everything has been said and done, I will be on a plane to San Diego.

The twenty day visit to San Diego will also be inclusive of Mexico, Los Angeles/Anaheim, and Las Vegas. After "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" is all said and done as well, I will be on a plane back home. Yes, its true. New York has now become home. When back at home on Thursday the twentieth of January, I must make time to buy the books for the new spring semester, and buy some more furniture. Come Monday, the spring semester starts.

This blog was mostly intended to justify my lack of text message responding, as well as formulating a "to-do" list for my own personal "scatter brain." All I can think of at the end of the day is an In & Out burger, paying a visit to my dentist in TJ and eating some tacos after my teeth cleaning, and my family.

Home is where the heart is, and even though my ugg snow boots fit, I kind of miss my 6th grade nike cortez's.

-TAC