Day 144

Started off with another BIG AMERICAN COFFEE. And another croissant. And sun. 

Then torrential downpour.

 

Then sun again.

Took the wrong train to the wrong airport. OOOPS! Ate bad airport food when we got to the right one.

Lost my iPod on the plane.

By some miracle, made it to San Diego. 

Fell in love with my hometown all over again. Made it to my childhood best friend's house. Got to be friends again in person after 12 years. 

Walked down to Ocean Beach for fish tacos and beers. 

 

Went to sleep at some point with a giant smile on my face. 

Day 143

"I want to go get a big American coffee and walk around with the cup like Americans." Shower, pack, then head to the airport for the first leg of our air/road-trip.

Chicago!

Day 142

Pietro woke up with a headcake. And it only got better from there. 

Up at 7:30. To Starbucks (by demand) to plan our itinerary. Walk the city for 8 more hours. Get sunburnt. Get thirsty. Head to Guillaume's for a dinner party. Six people, four languages, two loaves of fresh baked bread. Not a bad Day 1 of my two week tour de america. Tomorrow Chicago!

Day 141

I'm at work, not working. How can I! I have an Italian on the way. And two weeks of city hopping ahead of me.

Day 140

Packing!

Day 139

Julia Child’s first lunch in France centered on Dover sole sputtering in butter sauce. It was, she wrote in her memoir, “the most exciting meal of my life.” (NEW YORK TIMES)

God I hope I'm one of those people who has epiphanies. In Paris. Or anywhere, really. The porto-potty. I just want one. Since I wasn't one of those lucky bastards who knew they want to be a doctor at age 4, it's only fair I have an epiphany. 

Which means eff the comfort zone. Less thinking, more doing. Thinking ruins everything. Thinking never got me very far.

Day 138

Booked overnight train from Bern to Florence. Found hotels in Bern. Found hotels in Florence. Waiting for a vote. (Bear, Reno...where you at?) I can taste the fondue from Gruyere and the tomatoes from Italy already. Seriously. Trip planning makes me SO hungry! 

Only 3 more days until my Italian arrives. So much to do!!!

His response when I asked him what he wanted me to make him for dinner when he arrives:

I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S THE TIPYCAL FOOD IN USA, AND IF YOU COOK LIKE YOU MAKE “CAPPUCCINO” I PREFER TO DON’T HAVE DINNER!!!!

His email to me this morning after email arguing over route/who has to cook for who/music/etc etc:

I am making my baggages, what do you think i must to bring with me? the patience and what else??

Oh boy........... :)

Day 137

Going in slow motion today. I'll pay for this later.

Day 136

Rearrange apartment. Check.

Clean bathroom. Uggghhh check.

Wash a LOT of dishes. Check. 

Start packing for the weekend. Check.

Book convertible in San diego for Coast to Coast road trip turned West Coast road trip. Check.

Try chili pepper dried mangoes. Check.

Get heartburn. Check.

Get confused about trains in Europe. Check.

Get excited all over again. CHECK!

Day 135

My to do list got bigger today. Instead of smaller. Muther.

Day 134

I got a Flip Camera and I'm officially obsessed. 

Day 133

Trying to plan the all-American road trip and the all-Stephanie Europe trip. At the same time. Without making a thousand mistakes. The word non-refundable is SO SCARY! 

Day 132

Today I had to call Niccolo so we could discuss my visit to Tuscany. That might have been the best 11 minutes of my life. 

"Just come to the castle early and bring clothes to change into later for the party."

Day 131

I wrote to the creative director today to let her know that next week will be my last week, as I am about to embark on a couple of "who the ef do I think I am?" adventures. I told her it was great working there and if she needed a freelancer come October, to let me know. She wrote back asking if by October I'd be interested in working there permanently. Ugghhh, if I say no, does that mean you won't let me freelance later?

Cons

• The job doesn't really challenge me.
  
• I am in no way making a positive impact on anyone's life. Not one bit.
  
• It is not in another country.
  
• It's 9-5.
  
• I am afraid of getting complacent and losing momentum and enthusiasm for all of my other projects that I've begun.

Pros

• I like the people. I know, weird right?
• It's 9-5...unlike my previous jobs in advertising that required sleepless nights and "if you're not coming in on Saturday, don't bother coming in on Sunday."
  
• It's easy. Which means I leave with enough energy to entertain all my side projects.
  
• I threw out a number way higher than what I think I deserve for doing a job so easy.
• Health insurance!
• 401K!
• If I don't take this job, I'll only have until December/January until my Cobra goes up to $500+. If I don't manage to convince the winemaker in Tuscany to hire me by then (or find something equally as awesome) I'll have to start selling drugs to make extra money and I really don't want to have to wear a belt everywhere I go to hold all my beepers. 

I am in no way complaining about getting a job offer. I just don't want to go backwards. The past 4 months have been the best, most enlightening and invigorating 4 months of my life. I want to make the absolute most out of it. And I won't be satisfied until I'm doing something that affects other people somehow. If I have to take this job while I continue to find out what that "something" is, that's fine. I just don't want to get complacent or trapped. I never want to feel the way I did before I got laid off. At this point, I think it's safe to say that will never happen again. (I hope.)

Day 130

Watched Michael J. Fox's special on optimism. I dare you to watch it and not cry. And not think "why am I such a fucking baby sometimes?" He said some things that I already knew but it was nice to hear them again. 

Happiness is about connecting with people. 

His message reminded me of an article I read about a 70-year long Harvard study on happiness, in which the ultimate finding was: The only thing that matters in life is our relationships with others.

      

During the next 2 months, I plan on doing a lot of connecting.

Day 129

Putting together a shiny new resume and note for an ad agency that doesn't try to ruin people's lives. They're not exactly hiring and I'm not exactly looking for a full-time job just yet but I just have to write to this place. It was started by a guy who ran and owned companies until hit by a falling tree in the head and spine. After awaking from a long coma, and finding himself in a wheelchair and in need of meaning, he founded this company and set out to help great causes with their branding and communications. Sounds good to me. 

Day 128

It's official. Two weeks after I get back from Road Trip Americano, I leave for Vivir Bien '09. 

//Geneva

//Gruyere

//Florence (for a harvest party IN Tuscany IN a castle WITH the dreamboat that came into the wine shop)

//Provence 

//Barcelona

//Madrid

//Paris

23 days, 22 nights of la belle vie. And once again, I have the recession to thank. And all my new jobs. And all of the people I've met because of them.

Day 127

So my favorite Italian has always dreamt of taking a road trip across America. So he's coming to America. And I'm riding shotgun. For two weeks. Mmmhmmmm.

I must have been VERY good in my past lives.

Day 126

If I believed in ironing, I would sooooooooo get this!

If I ever decide to not elope, I would want my wedding to look like this:

With the strands of little lights. And dancing Mexicans!

Day 125

Cleaning, EVERYTHING.

Day 124

I like.

I like.

I like.

I like.

I love.

Day 123

4  months + 1 day ago, I felt like nothing in my life was ever going to change. Now it seems to change everyday. 

Day 122

 I love my Sunday mornings on the patio at the cafe when the sun is out and when I'm reading a good book about another place. I love love love love love it. I want to do it all over again. 

Day 121

Researching some thingssss...I hope not for nothing.

Day 120

Over-employed. And if feels so good. 

Day 119

I can't sit still. I am too excited. About too many things. 

Day 118

 Vivir Bien '09. Coming soon. 

Day 117

Designing a postcard campaign for the wine place. Then I'm that much closer to getting back to my own projects, I SWEAR!

Day 116

The perfect weather and the 9-5 will not be the death of my side projects and plan Bs. I need some discipline. I'm super good at starting things. Super bad at following through. I don't care if anything comes out of my little endeavors, I just want to finish something I start dammit! I need a personal project manager. I need someone to force me to set aside two hours a day strictly for writing (and scheming). I need to read more and watch more and research more and I need to do it faster. I KNOW what I need to do, I just need to do it. Maybe tomorrow. 

Day 115

The only thing I know is that I don't know nuthin.

And I have to work tomorrow! WHAT?!

Day 114

Doing my most favorite thing ever. Preparing a picnic. I mean being American.

Day 113

Grocery Shopppp. Wine Shoppppp. Feast at Cuchi Cuchi.

Day 112

I 9-5'd all week and I have to admit, I didn't hate it as much as I anticipated. The job could suck easily but the people there are great. And morale is too (from what I can tell). So it doesn't. They asked if I was interested in permanent employment. Yeah, not really. Freelance? Yes, definitely. So I'll be back for more next week. 

Day 111

Three days in and my new co-workers already know that I'm an a-hole with no filter. I think that's a record!

Day 110

My freelance job is still easy. Work should be always be easy. Thinking hard all day is tres overrated. 

Day 109

I'm the new girl. Again. You'd think after being the new girl 4 times in one year (and counting!) that I would grow immune to it, but no. It's still awkward and the simplest things (like finding the bathroom or reading a brief) seem so overwhelming. Even though I know full and well that the feeling will pass, it still makes me want to say I have to use the restroom then climb out the window. 

At the same time, I would try a new job every week if I could. The first day at a new job is like the first day of school. Who's going to be in my class? Will there be any cute boys? What am I going to be learning? Who am I going to sit next to? 

Yes I sat in a cube that had pictures of cats all over it. Yes the girl who trained me bore an uncanny resemblance to Napolean Dynamite (and that's if I'm being polite). Yes I was hired as a writer and no, I would not call what I am doing writing. But it's temporary, and it pays more than all my jobs put together almost. And it's easy so I can save my "brain" power for more important things. 

So I'll take it and I'll like it. Until I don't. And then I will move on to something new. And add another line on my list of half-baked talents.

Day 108

Writer's block. Everything block. I just feel like dancing.

Day 107

Just finished with all the e-mail concepts and copy for Boston's bike program thing. I think I'm about done working for free. 

Started on a postcard campaign for the wine shop.

Accepted a full-time freelance position starting Monday at a .com that sounds like it could suck, but pays money. And money will get me a European adventure this year. 

Rearranged my entire apartment. Because rearranging my life is not enough. 

Forgot to buy lemons. 

Mad at iTunes for not letting me buy this song:

Day 106

Closed wine shop = MJ dance party + Petit Chablis

Day 105

Painted with Myriem all day. 

Day 104

Reading, reading, reading. 

And kicking myself for not asking the dreamboat winemaker that stopped in the store if I could pop in the next time I'm in Tuscany (It's okay, I have his card!). I was rendered speechless. The accent, the green eyes, the pictures of the castle he brought with him. The shoes, the hair, the olive skin. The accent!!! Mama mia. 

Day 103

Uh huh. I'm listening.



I'm only a couple chapters in and I sort of feel like I'm being brainwashed. But it also sort of makes sense. Get to the point Ferriss, I ain't got all day! 

Day 102

Yeah I can't work under these conditions.

Day 101

Why am I watching Rocky Balboa?

And liking it.

Day 100

Denied. For now. I will still stalk their web site for openings regularly.

Hi Stephanie,

Thanks so much for your follow up email and for your enthusiasm for the work we do. It’s the kind of passion we look for in candidates! While there’s no doubt you have some great experience and I’d love to keep in touch, there are a few things that prevent me from being able to offer some kind of assessment test to get you in the door right now. We’re not bringing junior level candidates right now as we need the gravitas someone with around 10 years experience offers to our clients. We also invest quite a lot in training up our newbies and getting them to a place where they can be on their feet with clients. Typically this takes a bit more time and mentoring for candidates who aren’t senior level and we’re not equipped to make that kind of investment given that our focus is on attaining new business. Given our capabilities and focus are elsewhere right now, I definitely maintain the interest in keeping in touch and reaching out to you when we’re able to make something happen on the interview front. 

Day 99

Maid-of-Honor-ing...

  

Day 98

The most perfect (real) job for me in the world (at the moment) sent me an email saying I don't have enough skillz for the position. It's true I don't have many actual skills, but I have accumulated a lot of bits and pieces of skills and this is the one job that sounded like it was made for someone with lots of bits and pieces! And I want it, dammit! So I wrote back and told her that. I told her to give me an assignment and allow me to prove myself (or totally blow it). She hasn't written me back yet.

Stephanie,

Thanks so much for sending us your resume and for your interest in the
training consultant role.

We've looked over your resume in detail and while you have some interesting
experience, it is not a match to the skills that we are seeking for the team
at this time.

Typically we look for a strong base in insight, new product, packaged goods
and brand development experience across several industries.  In addition, we
look for a minimum of 5 to 7 years of experience in these fields.

That said, we'd love to hold on to your resume should a position become
available that we see is a better match to the skills you offer.  In
addition, I'd encourage you to keep in touch as your experiences continue to
progress.

Day 97

Headhunter called about a freelance gig for some bank. Can't do it. It's too soon. And that sounds too horrible. 

Day 96

I wish every day was Tuesday.

Day 95

I cooked all day. My sister got some new underwear. That's fair.

Day 94

Ooo

Ahh

Aww

:)

WHOA!

Day 93

Planning an anti-bachelorette bachelorette party for my baby sister. Wine and cheese and chocolate, OH MY!

Day 92

3 months later, March 12, 2009 is still the best day ever. 

Day 91

A couple months back I read an article about how Boston was in the midst of attempting to launch a bike-sharing initiative similar Paris'. It sounded interesting so I wrote and asked how I could get involved. I have a 4th job now. It doesn't pay (UH...). I have to write e-newsletters (BLAH!). And it's not even about the bike-sharing project (HUH?).

Wow I'm a sucker.

Day 90

Before yesterday, I was adamant about finding a way to work fun part-time jobs full-time, forever. But this job sounds like it was made for meee. I must have this job. 

So what kind of person are we looking for?

You believe in and are passionate about innovation and creativity - your own and other people's. You know it makes a difference and where it can take you.

You have lots of business and brand experience, so you'll understand the needs of people from a wide range of different businesses and what they are trying to gain from our courses.

You engage with others, you're full of energy, you're easy to listen to, our clients will feel inspired by you. You will ensure they have an amazing experience every time they work with you. You will also be a great team player.

You will be at ease in front of an audience of any size as well as feeling comfortable presenting in front of a board of directors. You'll have the gravitas and presence to hold and engage with your audience.

You will be happy to live out of a suitcase, stay in loads of hotels and meet new people all the time from all over the world- it'll give you a buzz.

So I spent all morning and part of the afternoon writing a shiny new resume and carefully crafting my answers to the questions they ask during the application process. It says they aren't hiring right now BUT lists their open positions. So this might be all for nothing.....or not!

Day 89

I found another dream job. I knew it when I saw this question on the application:

If I was on a 12 hour flight with you what would I love about you? And what would irritate me?

(and when I saw the words NYC and travel all over the world in the job description.)

Day 88, PM

Turning places not worth caring about into places worth caring about. Yes, please! James Howard Kunstle is spot on. Suburbs are turning into some of the most depressing places on earth. There is no sense of community. No common good. Nothing worth preserving.

Once again, Ray Oldenburg, author of The Good Great Place (my favorite book ever) said it best.

"In the absence of an informal public life, Americans are denied those means of relieving stress that serve other cultures so effectively…our urban environment is like an engine that runs hot because it was designed without a cooling system."

Day 88

I just started writing a movie. I have no idea what I'm doing. 

Day 87

"Living well is the best revenge."

George Herbert

(1593-1633)

Day 86

Getting things done. In no particular order. 

Day 85

I wonder what other jobs there are around here that I would like. I'm not done with wine or ESL, I'm just feeling greedy. I want more fun jobs. 

Day 84

I haven't procrastinated all day! I think I like working from the Boston Public library. I think it's because of these lamps. I want one.   

Met with the Brazilian anthropologist this AM to help her with her conversation. Probably one of the most interesting people I've ever met. We will hang out twice a week to practice speaking. I told her I need a career which pays me to live in other countries and play with foreigners all day. She's on it. She said her Brazilian diplomat husband may have some ideas. I don't know if I could really just pick up and move but I REALLY like entertaining the idea.

Day 83

Lunch with my people. Then more procrastinating...It's not my fault. It's cloudy out with a chance of showers. I have no choice but to curl up on my couch and watch a moooovie. 

Day 82

No class today! But a lot of work to do. A lot of work that I'm probably going to wait until tomorrow to do. Because I'm beat.

Day 81

On my way back to Boston. On a bus. With wifi. With an upstairs. With people who aren't scary. For 18 bucks. 18! One eight!

Day 80

 I love New York.

Day 79

Exactly one year ago I moved to Boston.

I don't sleep on the floor anymore and it's finally starting to feel like home. 

Day 78

Last day of classes for a bit. New friends for the summer, and very possible much longer. 

Day 77

Today I was the student!

Day 76

What are some things you find annoying?

Japan: I don't like that my husband has always said "I'll wash the dishes later". I'm annoyed that even though I call a plumber, he hasn't always kept his promises. I don't like that the server explains about foods for a long time at the restaurants. I don't like winter in Boston. 

Day 75

I wasn't completely overwhelmed and confused in French class today. Until I lied and said I had a dog when it was my turn to tell something about myself because "dog" is the only word I remembered how to pronounce from the vocabulary. Then they asked me what his name is. Uhh, Spot! Then they asked what kind of dog he is. I don't know what kinds of dogs there are, lady!! You just called on me first and I didn't have time to think and now I'm caught in a web of lies! I don't even like dogs! Move on!

I will read the vocabulary this week. 

Day 74

Today is Memorial Day. Which reminds me that I really need to make friends with rooftops and BBQ grills. Instead of eating a delicious hamburger and corn on the cob, I helped my new boss paint her new apartment. Another job that I will NEVER attempt: Painting. The house kind. 

The good news for her room: Even a bad paint job would be an improvement.

   

Day 73

Wow I get SO much more work done when it's raining. More rain. More rain. More rain. 

Day 72

One of my students offered me her apartment in Paris. Whenever I want. For free. So I'm googling things. 

Day 71

They let ME help the wine rainman Matteo do the Friday tasting. Only because we were two men down. And they had no other choice. And I talk loud anyway. I liked it. I think I like talking in front of people.

Day 70

 International relations.  

Day 69

Hot is my favorite.
Dresses are my favorite.
Starting my day with foreigners is my favorite.
Making students who come in late sing a song in their language in front of the class is my favorite.

Writing on my stoop while crazy dogwalkers and mommies with babies in strollers and mailmen and neighbors and streetcleaners pass by is my favorite.
Walking around the city in the middle of the day in the middle of the week is my favorite.
Trying new cheese at the the European Food Festival with my students is my favorite.
Sleeping with my windows open is my favorite. 
Not going to an office to make advertising tomorrow is my favorite. 

Today is my favorite. 

Day 68

Working on my stoop. In the sunshine. On my brick-paved, tree-lined street. People are out walking around. Smiling. Saying hello to each other. I live on Sesame Street!

Day 67

It’s L’Auberge Boston.

My wine shop boss broke up with her boyfriend and moved out of his house and into a non-residential apartment in Chinatown today with some English and Australian artists and musicians. Yeah I think I’ve seen this movie before, too. AND I LOVED IT.

This is all more than slightly reminiscent of one of my favorite movies, L'Auberge Espagnole (The Spanish Apartment). Also one of my favorite types of movies. With different people from different places whose lives intersect. Why I’m fascinated by such things I don’t know but I am. So having a front row seat to a real life “Spanish Apartment”? I’m beside myself.

Their place looks like a condemned building at the moment but their collaborative creativity is already starting to add warmth and charm to it. There’s even graffiti inside! Graffiti and exposed brick and foreigners and artists and musicians. OH MY! My grand tour of the place was accompanied by the sound of Alessandro’s girlfriend practicing the cello. Their other roommate is a songwriter who has produced a song for John Mayer. The other roommate is an artist working on some instillation in Miami with artists from around the world. And I guess the whole building is filled with more of their kind.

I've found my new Third Place.

Also had the funnest, most un-filling lunch ever with my students after class. We went to a Japanese restaurant called something that meant soup meat fondue. We cooked soup right at our tables and added all sorts of interesting things to it. I did NOT eat the crazy egg inside. The crazy purple gel thing. I didn’t really eat much of anything. But it was fun to make. And again, amazing company. Where have these people been all my life?

Day 66

So it's not raining anymore but I wish it still was. So that I wouldn't feel guilty for staying in all day. I just can't seem to put clothes on. Even though I really need milk. Even though I'll be mad at myself tonight for wasting the day. I don't care. My apartment is too cozy right now. And the Coco Chanel movie I want to go see is still not out yet! So f it. I'm staying right here.

I'm fascinated by The Coco. I read a little about her life while writing a business plan for the jewelry company I freelance for. She's a badass! I remember reading a quote from her...something along the lines of "I didn't like my life so I reinvented it." Which I LOVED of course. Now her initials hang over the arms of desperate housewives and block UV rays from yuppie eyeballs everywhere. And how many little black dresses do we all own?? Not bad for a poor little orphan.

More Coco-isms:

“There are people who have money and people who are rich.”
~Coco Chanel

I invented my life by taking for granted that everything I did not
like would have an opposite, which I would like.
~Coco Chanel

A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.
~Coco Chanel

Day 65

I had a very language-y day. I corrected English. 

France (I think I have a favorite student): I can be easily annoyed. But I will just discuss some of my new discoveries in Boston. I've been disappointed by the attitude of drivers in Boston. I don't drive but bike and walk a lot and in both situations, I've found that the drivers are really without respect for others. For example, at the red lamp, they don't stop before the pedestrian crossing, but on this one! Why? The drivers make also an extensive use of their horns and not always for some good reasons. I remember biking in a narrow street. A car arrived and followed me but immediately the driver begin to honk. What was I supposed to do? Jump on the sidewalk?

Brazil: People annoy me when they are rude. When they make me miserable. When just his views is correct. When they are careless with my things. When I talk and they don't pay attention.

Korea: I don't like smelling smoke cigarette. So smoking in the street of public places really ticks me off. 

I practiced my French. 

Je suis

Tu es

Il/elle est

Nous sommes

Vous etes

Ils/elles sont

And I sat next to an Italian couple at an outdoor cafe and for a teeny tiny itsy bitsy moment, while they were speaking, I felt like I was in some piazza in Rome. This does not mean I have an imagination. This means I'm delusional. And I REALLY need to get out of town. Is that being greedy? The last two months of my life have been one big vacation! So it's not that I need a break. I just need that high you get from being in an unfamiliar place. I wish I liked drugs. My vices would be WAY cheaper. 

Day 64

Conversational English Level 2. Freelance. Wine shop. More freelance. Then more freelance. Then organic, biodynamic, environmentally friendly Malbec. Daydreaming about far away places AGAIN. Not doing the dishes. Wondering if I should get my hair cut tomorrow. Wondering about a lot of things. Being patient. Being anxious. Being thankful. Considering push-ups. Maybe sit-ups. Looking up flights. Getting off the computer NOW before I do anything drastic.

Day 63

I'm supposed to be writing mission statements but instead I'm planning imaginary vacations here. And here. I have the travel itch. Bad. I need a fix. 

Day 62

For the first time ever, I'm watching American Idol. On purpose. To see Adam Lambert visit our old high school in sunny San Diego. I never knew how much I loved Mt. Carmel High School until I moved my junior year. In San Diego I grew up with every culture. People of every color. Then I moved to Michigan. My new high school had one black kid and a couple Chinese kids. The boys wore khakis and tucked their shirts in. The girls wore ribbons in their hair. Everyone looked the same. So I blame (thank) Mt. Carmel for making me the xenophile I am today. I think I love diversity so much because I got to see what life is like with out it. It's creepy!

I love you Mt. Carmel High School. I will give you lots of money if I ever become rich. That's a huge gigantic enormous IF so don't hold your breath or anything. 

Day 61

Jack of all trades, master of none.

I remember the first time I heard that phrase. I thought, "Hey!! That's me!!" followed immediately by "Oh fuck. That's me..." 

Nothing sums up my previously subconscious approach to work (and life) more than that phrase. For better or worse. Exactly two months after getting laid of from a job I hated, I have 3+ jobs that I love. I love them for a ton of reasons but I think what I love most is the fact that I don't have just one job. I don't wear just one metaphorical hat. Every week I split my time between three very different jobs requiring three very different interests and skills. On the days I work all three jobs, instead of feeling overwhelmed, I feel quite liberated. If I were teaching ESL or slinging grape juice exclusively, I think I'd eventually find myself anxious again. I used to think this anxiousness was the result of not finding the "right" job. Now I know it's BECAUSE I've found the right jobs. Jobsss with an sss. 

I've made peace with the fact that I'll never be really good at anything. I don't have the patience nor desire to concentrate on honing one skill or learning one art. I get bored. I start wondering what else I would be missing out on if I spent all my time at one job. Or in one city. Or with the same people. 

This is bad because I'm also one of those people that enjoy steady paychecks, health insurance and 401k. Paying $500 for health insurance is just stoopid. But I'll figure all that out. For now, I'm running with the jack of all trades thing. It's fun. My new jobs may not have the traditional benefits like vision and dental but I think they are doing worlds for my overall health and well-being. My quality of life has skyrocketed. And money had nothing to do with it. Imagine that. 

Day 60

Watching more Jim Jarmusch. Love Jim Jarmusch. There's an idea here somewhere.

Day 59

One last night with the camels then it's back to work.

Day 58

I was Chaldean all day today. That's kind of like a full time job.

Day 57

And other times I love advertising.

Day 56

I don't believe in 5 year plans but I asked my students (coworkers?) to write about theirs anyway. For will/may/might/would/could practice. Premium responses. Per usual.

France: So I hope that in five years the science will have do great progress. Really great. So I might get gills, like fishes. It would be very useful for me. Now I swim like a dog, but with gils and some other enhancements, I may swim like a dolphin and I could enjoy deep water swimming. I might also get a few more arms, useful to wash dishes. No, really, I think I will enjoy the future.

Day 55

I don't join book clubs. I don't hang out with groups of girls. I don't eat onions in my salad. I do now.

5 femmes with 5 different professions from 5 different countries, age 23-40. Single. Married. With kids. Without. Hanging out in a kitchen. Making a big lunch. Arguing over onions. Not talking about books. And I was actually having fun. I didn't want to leave as soon as I got there.

They reminded me how much I like people. (Sometimes.)

In other news, Germany did not offend anyone in class today. In fact, she and the Brazilian Tiramisu queen have a weekend shopping trip planned. Shopping is the best friendmaker ever.

Brazil: Here I could see that Americans like big boxes, big cans, big cups, big advertisements papers, big cars and so on. I also notice that on the advertisements on the radio, they say the company's phone so many times, in Brazil they only say one time.

Japan: Why are the coffee cups so big?

Korea: Korean homes have underground heating system. So back in the day, most Korean used to sleep on ground in home. It's very warm. You may sleep in ground. You can feel better because when korean people feel hurt, they usually use warm things. For example hot pack, hot stone room and hot food. So you'd better experience that hot culture in Korea.

Japan: I was annoyed by drivers during driving. They blew the horn at once when the lights changed to green.

Germany: In Germany, please not surprised when you go to swim. Many people swim in the nude. I hate the lycra. It is bad for the skin. I like to be nude. Is much better.

Day 54

Je suis learning Français. Je t'aime all the Ss and Zs.

Bonsoir.

Day 53

France. Japan. Germany. Korea x2. Brazil x3. My new English Level 4 class.

It's going to be an interesting 4 weeks. Thanks to Germany. I'm pretty sure she has already insulted Brazil and Korea. Unintentionally. I think? Luckily they don't understand each other very well yet. France is hilarious and the only thing I know about him for sure is that he loves the supermarket (me too! me too!). Korea #1 is thrilled that in America, it is possible to make any type of meal from a box. No cake mix in Korea. No Rice-a-Roni. In America, you can make anything you want whenever you want! Brazil says he's never heard of Oprah. The other Brazil loves Tiramisu. To which Germany replied "Well, I hope you like the gym too.". When asked to practice modals and begin a sentence with "I can't" Germany responded with: But I CAN do everything.

I'm thoroughly amused already. To say the least.

Day 52

Writing. Writing. Writing. All day. All weekend. For my other, other job. The company that makes these purdy little thangs. 

Day 51

Cleaning + My first favorite song ever



+ Some Tempations



+ Some Stevie

Day 50...but wait, there's more!

I had a brilliant idea yesterday when an Argentinian winemaker (the very blue-eyed, very dark-haired Matias) popped in the store to pour his wines himself. I guess it happens every so often. So my new mission is to convince one of these winemakers to let me come work on their vineyard sometime. Like for a week. So I can cross it off my bucket list. And of course just hang out.

Day 50.5

Just got a call from the school. I get to teach the next session of English Level 4! Starting Monday! This means NEW foreigners! And more homework assignments! And no new grammar! And more new friends! And more research for plan B, C, D, X, Y, Z!

!

Day 50

Axing the career in anthropology, STAT. An e-mail I just received from the anthro department at a university after inquiring about their program:

Stephanie,

Having a fascination with other cultures is a sign of an intelligent individual. Certainly there are countless books that you could read to fulfill that interest.

Pursuing anthropology as a profession goes far beyond the dream. For starters, there are virtually no jobs for people with MAs. The main employers were car companies and ad agencies, both of which have been hit hard in this recession.

The PhD program is a 6+ year commitment in an academically-rigorous program, including two years of coursework, comprehensive exams, a year or more of field research, and a 350-page dissertation. A potential grad student generally has a specific idea of what he or she wants to study--for example, one student is studying the effect of a tourist program on a certain remote region of Tibet.

With a doctorate in anthropology, you can teach on the college level, lead research programs, work at an NGO, and so on. But since you would now be applying to programs starting in September 2010, your future profession would start in 2017 (or, more likely, even later). Can you wait that long?

Sorry to be so straightforward, but you need to know the truth. If you still are interested in anthropology, let me know and I can arrange for you to visit with some professors and grad students.

Wishing you the best of luck, Mark

Way to sell the program, Mark! 350-page dissertation. Won't graduate until 2017. Virtually no jobs. This might be one of the funniest e-mails I've ever received. After making me laugh out loud, it did give me a reality check. School is a big commitment. And I've never really been great with commitment. Or decisions. Or niche work. Or homework. Which means on to my other ideas for capitalizing on my cultural interests.