Post- Grad

Life after school does exist. It looks something like this:

Part 1: I returned to New York with my friend Amy.

We stopped at Millennium Park in Chicago on the way to the airport.  Unfortunately, I left my wallet there and had an interesting panic trying to board a flight without ID or credit card.  Fortunately, they accepted a picture of my passport, my Kohl’s card, and an intimate pat-down as proof of my security.  (On the plus side, my wallet has been located (minus $50) and is currently in the possession of my parents!)  But. These photos were taken before that fateful moment.

In my defense- it was a warm day. – Although this photo could be seen as a foreshadowing event.

Upon arriving in New York we- went to a Yankee’s game.  Because live sports are appropriately entertaining.

and Shake Shack.  Because we like it.

and Little Italy.  (Because it’s even better then Shake Shack!)

and Chinatown… and more.

Part 2:  Amy flew home and I stayed to face my next big hurdle- unemployment.

Needless to say, I am a little tired of wearing my interview blazer in this summer heat.  (I interviewed 3/5 of the days this past week.  And.. in my defense.. the public education system here has a lot of hurdles to get through.  — I promise… it’s not because no one wants to hire me… (I hope.))

However, this picture is from my very first interview….

Funny story… I sent this picture to my mother titled, “here goes nothing.”  I got a text back that said, “who is this?”  Well… Obviously, the person in the picture!  (Yes, I sent the picture to a stranger (a not so brilliant stranger) … not my mother- whoops).

So yes. Lots of interviews.  Which is because 1. I’m unemployed. So that’s a thing.  But also because 2. I’m kind of in a rush because I leave for Asia in a week (eek! 🙂 ).  But my mom says I should enjoy the process rather than stressing.  So, I guess I’m trying to be the first to do that. 🙂

And, finally, can you guess where the following photo was taken?  I promise.. it’s NOT where you’d think.

 

 

 

 

(It’s the park reservoir by my apartment! Surprise. 🙂 )

 

And finally… it seemed appropriate.

Visiting Home

I’ve been “home.” And now I’m back.

I had a conversation with my grandmother. It went something like this:

“How do you like Indiana?”

“It’s green…. It’s nice to visit.”

“To visit?!?”

Yes, to visit.

And visit I did. My sister graduated high school.  That makes the 3rd graduate this year for my parents. They are appropriately proud.

Life takes a funny shift when home is where you visit and not live.  So, the rest of my time I spent catching up.  Oh, so many people I have to catch up with. Friends from church. Friends from school. Friends from elementary school! (Yes, I am a faithful friend.) We had grad parties, games, ice cream, and plenty of chatting.  That’s what I love about home.  When I’m home my time is highly concentrated with people who share a mutual love with me.  As a whole, it’s a rather nice experience. But (unfortunately) by the time I leave I am usually ready for ‘real life’ again.  There are only some many ways I can answer, “What have you been up to?” when I’ve only been “up to” eating out every night.

So I came back to New York.

Also of late, I have been remembering what I love about New York.  (Absence makes the heart grow fonder… right?) Well.  I’ve been gone for a while.  And upon returning I remembered that I love people.  Playing subway poles like stringed cellos.  Fighting for friendships with curses and hugs. I know, so few people in the countryside agree, but I’d argue that people are among the most beautiful things in the world.  Needless to say, it’s nice to be home.  Although Indiana is an exceptionally good place to visit.

A Saturday Story

On Saturday I awoke at 5 am to head to the airport.  I had a soggy banana for breakfast and lugged my carry-on down the stairs.  I had worked especially hard to fit everything in my carry-on… anything to save $50, right? On the way to the airport I discovered that my flight left 30 minutes later than I thought, making me 30 minutes early.  At 6 am this information makes me roll my eyes.

At the airport, aside from being early, I was forced to check my carry-on.  It was too fat.  So much for saving money.  Now I just ended up wasting space.  The check-in process was dull and uneventful, frequent lonesome travel does that to people, making them tired of things (like flying) which once thrilled the senses.  I then proceeded to read my morning away.  I got within 16 pages of the end of my book, Life of Pi, before reaching Chicago.  The start of the book was much too informative and dull I thought.  I was NOT expecting the middle at all, making the story quite gripping.  I guess the tiger and boy in a lifeboat on the cover could have been a clue about the content of the story.  For whatever reason, I had assumed it was a metaphor.  Needless to say, I was relieved to discover the boy survives with the tiger while lost at sea, before landing.

We landed early.  I asked the desk where my bag would end up.  “Baggage claim 6,” I was told.  It wasn’t baggage claim 6. But I still got my (supposed) carry-on bag before my ride arrived.

Since we were in Chicago.  And since we are friends.  And since we like zoos, my ride and I headed to Lincoln Park Zoo (yes, Lincoln Park is a place).  It was a very sunny day.  But the zoo is part of a park (plus, it’s free and has amazing, awake animals) and it has a great view of the city.  (and I had to use my phone as a camera) See?

So we liked the zoo.

and then my friend drove me home.

Indiana is much the same as it always has been.  But our kitchen has new tile.  And my mother welcomed me by forcing me to shake out my entire suitcase on the deck.

“I don’t want cockroaches to come in my house,” she said.

“I didn’t bring cockroaches with me!” I said.

“You don’t know that.”

It’s like she thinks I came back from the jungle.