Friday, March 30, 2007

back to life, back to reality

That's right boys and girls. If I'm going to have the cheesy Soul II Soul song stuck in my head, the least I can do is get it stuck in yours, too.

This has been such an internally tumultuous week for me. I don't think I've ever had such a difficult time adjusting from a vacation before. It reminded me more of when I moved back to NYC after living abroad and had to cope with reverse culture shock.

I may be waving around my geek flag here, but I have been thinking about a storyline on this one TV show where the main character dies, but is missed so much by her loved ones that they cast a spell to bring her back. Her friends think they are rescuing her from a hell dimension, but when she returns to them, they learn that she was actually in heaven, and they brought her back into a dark, difficult and dangerous world, a kind of hell on earth. That's how I have spent much of the week feeling: like I was cast out of heaven, out of an idyllic place where I was happy and content. Now I'm stuck in a place that is noisy, crowded, and dirty, full of anger and anxiety. Not quite hell, but far from heaven.

I decided I needed to get out of here. Since I don't know what the hell to do career-wise, I might as well see more of the world, right? I found two options with potential: getting certified to teach English as a second language in Prague, or getting a year-long visa to work in New Zealand. I decided that if I don't have a major breakthrough by the end of the year, I'd start saving up, pack up, and leave the country for an extended--hopefully indefinite--amount of time.

Then something happened. Work became more tolerable and I found a couple of interesting new jobs to apply for. I discovered how much I enjoyed some of my routines, like the exercise class I take three times a week (which I genuinely missed while away) and making plans with my friends for the weekend to go to some of our favorite places (Bar K, Cozy Bar). Then the weather brightened up, and the spring air cheered me up despite myself. Yesterday, I walked downtown, passing the Empire State Building and the Flatiron Building, weaving around patches of tourists, trying to see the city through their cameras. I realized I love this damn place. I could no longer envision myself moving to New Zealand (I love sheep, but not that much). I don't know if it was the pretty day or what, but I relaxed and suddenly believed that everything would work out, would be okay.

Sometimes I'm not so great at this adulthood thing, the responsibilities and inevitable fact that life isn't always fun or fair. Last year, when I came back from my trip to Europe, I was in the beginning stages of a relationship, so I felt like I had something to come back to. This time around, returning to New York emphasized all the things lacking in my life and made me feel lonely. When I was away, I didn't feel lonely. I wouldn't have felt lonely even if that last night never happened, because I had such a wonderful time with the travel group.

New York can be maddening in its emphasis on materialism and ambition; it can turn a magnifying lens on all the holes in your life. I'm trying not to let that happen. Yes, it's beautiful out, a perfect backdrop to daydream, huddle over small tables in outdoor cafes, and fall in love. Seeing that I no longer have the warm and fuzzies for Barman Ben, and the guy I met on my trip is going to be far away for a long time, I'll make do with letting the city work its charms on me. There's a sense of possibility in the air, the promise of surprise around the corner. I'm keeping an open mind and an open heart. I'm ready for a homegrown adventure.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

I love Buffy too...

James said...

There's a great deal to be said for stability and routine.

Dolly said...

Dave,
Do you want to be my new BFF?

Stranger,
I do want to see more of the Southern hemisphere and NZ is on the list, though it might be a bit rash to pick up and move there for a year. We'll see how the rest of this year plays out.

Coatman,
Depends on the routine. "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."

James said...

Well, one has to have the right routine, of course. But even a foolish routine is better than equally foolish chaos.

Cody said...

hey,
Its funny how you feel that.

NZ is wonderful place to visit and see around but as you start living there, You stop appreciating its beauty. Those ppl never get time to take care of nature.

THier life is consider really insocial and intruguing. Also after living in city like New YOrk where ALL MATERIALISTIC thing is reach of arm, won't be easily available unless you love butying things on net.

i also feel NYC is going to be part of you. IT never matters if you get irritant of it but deep down its the place where you love to be.

HAV FUN

Dolly said...

Coatman,
What is difference between foolish chaos and wise chaos? Doesn't the nature of chaos itself preclude such adjectives?

Cody,
Good to know. While I think it would be an interesting challenge to live somewhere like NZ, I will probably stick around here for some time yet.

Unknown said...

I'm down with any girl who's down with Buffy. The ending of season 2 is still my all-time favorite TV moment. Yes, I'm a big fat dork.

Dolly said...

Dave,
For me, it's all about any scene involving Spike or Andrew (or the rare hilarious moments with them both).