The first night I spent in California I was driving through a redwood forest in search of an open campground when a bear ran out in the road about fifteen feet ahead of me. If it had been a deer we might have had a collision, but instead the bear not only ran out in front of me as opposed to across my path, but also was able to run so fast that I barely had to slow down to make sure I didn't gain on it. The bear ran for about ten seconds before disappearing into the bushes again.
That was September 1, 2012. I spent 17 days at home in New York State this past August, which would effectively make today my 1 year anniversary of living in the Golden State. The one with a bear on its flag.
This morning I woke up in a comfortable bed in a safe apartment, went through the morning routine, and then walked out to the door, passing my roommates' extensive collection of succulents and reasonably spacious yard before unlocking the master lock on the gate and walking to the train. It's a 30 minute walk to the West Oakland BART station. Unlike San Francisco, Oakland is almost always sunny and warm. All but one morning I have walked to the train under a clear blue sky. There isn't much scenery as I walk along Nelson Mandela parkway. When I get to the train, it's usually crowded, but it's the first stop in the East side of the Bay, so it's a relatively short trip to the San Francisco UN Plaza after that.
Every step to work today bathed the world in a new light. I felt so grateful to be here, and amazed that I've lived in such a great place for a year. I couldn't ask to work in a better environment than the area around City Hall and the Civic Center. And my job! The students may have gotten a little lazier, but the authority and leeway I am given by my employers is unprecedented. I can teach anything I want, so long as they improve their English abilities. Unfortunately, regardless of whether I'm sticking to the textbook curriculum or attempting to explain fascinating ideas, the enthusiasm levels haven't risen in quite some time. The class is less diverse than it's ever been, and even though my hourly rate is quite decent, I don't work nearly enough hours to get by in the most expensive city in America, and there aren't opportunities for full-time at my company.
After work I went into my manager's office and felt both anxiety and relief as I gave my two weeks' notice. Yesterday morning I received a response from one of the fifteen NYC schools I'd sent my resume to, asking when I was going to be in New York for an interview. When I told them I could be there the second week in October, they asked me to inform them when I arrive so we can set up a meeting. It's not a guarantee and I don't even know what they'd have to offer me or if the offer to meet will still be there when I arrive, but it's enough to give me hope. What's more, I have more friends in New York City than any other place in the world, and more family and friends in a surrounding three-four hour radius than any human could ask for. Regardless of what happens back East in the long term, I have deliberated very thoroughly and decided it is the best for me at least in the short term. As hard as it is to leave the relaxed comfort of the Bay Area and a secure familiar job, I feel like I have been a soldier at a sparsely populated outpost for much of my stay here. There were reasons I had to be here, and looking back I experienced and learned much more than I realized. Due to my financial limitations, I didn't experience as much of the city as I would have liked, and therefore didn't create a network of strong acquaintances and friends. Perhaps that's how it was supposed to be, so it wouldn't be harder than it already is to leave.
Luckily, my manager was supportive and extremely disappointed in all of the right ways. I was told that I am welcome back at any time, my students constantly report that they love me, and that if there's anything they can do to assist me (or convince me to stay) they will. She completely understood my bind, and was sad that they couldn't offer more full time work. Theoretically I could have begun to try my hand at other language schools, but all things considered, I would rather be back East anyway.
I have no illusions about New York City. I remember it well. There are the bright lights, wild nights, people from all over the world, any food you could ever want to eat and plenty of entertainment simply by walking down the street, interesting artists and intellectuals, and those tall buildings that inspire awe, grand achievement and the feeling that you are a part of something uniquely special simply by being there. Then there are the screeching subway cars in either freezing or intolerably humid and polluted underground stations, constant aversion of eye contact between strangers, rancid smells from gutters and trash piled on the street, every other person you see is probably someone in a suit addicted to their business gadget of choice, condescending hipsters and conceited fashionistas, and those tall buildings that remind you just how insignificant and small and shaded from sunlight you are. Yes, it's everything. But after four years of exploring the many varieties of human experience the rest of the world has to offer, I am ready to go back.
The manager asked me to work a few extra days in October to give her time to find a replacement, as she will be out next week. A few more days of pay is fine with me. So I will be on the road and journeying back to New York in early October, perhaps the most beautiful time of year one could hope to arrive in such a spectacular place to be. I'm not going to rush the 3,451 mile voyage, but I imagine it won't take 100 days.
That was September 1, 2012. I spent 17 days at home in New York State this past August, which would effectively make today my 1 year anniversary of living in the Golden State. The one with a bear on its flag.
This morning I woke up in a comfortable bed in a safe apartment, went through the morning routine, and then walked out to the door, passing my roommates' extensive collection of succulents and reasonably spacious yard before unlocking the master lock on the gate and walking to the train. It's a 30 minute walk to the West Oakland BART station. Unlike San Francisco, Oakland is almost always sunny and warm. All but one morning I have walked to the train under a clear blue sky. There isn't much scenery as I walk along Nelson Mandela parkway. When I get to the train, it's usually crowded, but it's the first stop in the East side of the Bay, so it's a relatively short trip to the San Francisco UN Plaza after that.
Every step to work today bathed the world in a new light. I felt so grateful to be here, and amazed that I've lived in such a great place for a year. I couldn't ask to work in a better environment than the area around City Hall and the Civic Center. And my job! The students may have gotten a little lazier, but the authority and leeway I am given by my employers is unprecedented. I can teach anything I want, so long as they improve their English abilities. Unfortunately, regardless of whether I'm sticking to the textbook curriculum or attempting to explain fascinating ideas, the enthusiasm levels haven't risen in quite some time. The class is less diverse than it's ever been, and even though my hourly rate is quite decent, I don't work nearly enough hours to get by in the most expensive city in America, and there aren't opportunities for full-time at my company.
After work I went into my manager's office and felt both anxiety and relief as I gave my two weeks' notice. Yesterday morning I received a response from one of the fifteen NYC schools I'd sent my resume to, asking when I was going to be in New York for an interview. When I told them I could be there the second week in October, they asked me to inform them when I arrive so we can set up a meeting. It's not a guarantee and I don't even know what they'd have to offer me or if the offer to meet will still be there when I arrive, but it's enough to give me hope. What's more, I have more friends in New York City than any other place in the world, and more family and friends in a surrounding three-four hour radius than any human could ask for. Regardless of what happens back East in the long term, I have deliberated very thoroughly and decided it is the best for me at least in the short term. As hard as it is to leave the relaxed comfort of the Bay Area and a secure familiar job, I feel like I have been a soldier at a sparsely populated outpost for much of my stay here. There were reasons I had to be here, and looking back I experienced and learned much more than I realized. Due to my financial limitations, I didn't experience as much of the city as I would have liked, and therefore didn't create a network of strong acquaintances and friends. Perhaps that's how it was supposed to be, so it wouldn't be harder than it already is to leave.
Luckily, my manager was supportive and extremely disappointed in all of the right ways. I was told that I am welcome back at any time, my students constantly report that they love me, and that if there's anything they can do to assist me (or convince me to stay) they will. She completely understood my bind, and was sad that they couldn't offer more full time work. Theoretically I could have begun to try my hand at other language schools, but all things considered, I would rather be back East anyway.
I have no illusions about New York City. I remember it well. There are the bright lights, wild nights, people from all over the world, any food you could ever want to eat and plenty of entertainment simply by walking down the street, interesting artists and intellectuals, and those tall buildings that inspire awe, grand achievement and the feeling that you are a part of something uniquely special simply by being there. Then there are the screeching subway cars in either freezing or intolerably humid and polluted underground stations, constant aversion of eye contact between strangers, rancid smells from gutters and trash piled on the street, every other person you see is probably someone in a suit addicted to their business gadget of choice, condescending hipsters and conceited fashionistas, and those tall buildings that remind you just how insignificant and small and shaded from sunlight you are. Yes, it's everything. But after four years of exploring the many varieties of human experience the rest of the world has to offer, I am ready to go back.
The manager asked me to work a few extra days in October to give her time to find a replacement, as she will be out next week. A few more days of pay is fine with me. So I will be on the road and journeying back to New York in early October, perhaps the most beautiful time of year one could hope to arrive in such a spectacular place to be. I'm not going to rush the 3,451 mile voyage, but I imagine it won't take 100 days.
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