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