So after a flurry of contacting people, explaining the teaching fellows program, seeing pictures, mapquesting, etc, I have found a place in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset_Park,_Brooklyn
Its near, you guessed it, Sunset Park, one of the highest points in Brooklyn, where you have supposedly the best view of the bridges and the Statue of Liberty. It is also very close to one of the schools I have an interview at and only a few subway stops away from my friends in Park Slope.
The rental is only through August, with the option of staying longer, but I figure it will be just enough time for me to meet some fellows and figure out where exactly I want to live more long-term. I will totally be living in a closet, but it comes with a bed and the other girl who lives there has been there three years and loves it. The apartment is only 3 years old, so it should be fairly nice. I'm supposed to see photos today.
Whew. That is one GIANT weight off my shoulders. Now I just have to pack?
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Jobs!
I spent several hours combing through job postings online last Thursday and it seems to have paid off! One school would like to phone interview me this week and another is inviting me to a new hire open house shortly after I arrive in NYC. Exciting!
One school is a small 9-12 high school aimed at taking kids who want to go to college, regardless of past academic performance, and preparing them to do so. They have AVID classes, like I taught in Austin, and from the school profile online, seem to be an environment that I would enjoy.
The other school is a community high school for students who have previously exited the school system, but have decided to finish, or who have fallen behind due to absences. While I can tell that this is a tougher environment than the other school, it is also more intimate and supported by a community organization that aids teachers and staff in keeping the students on track. Both schools sound intriguing, but I kind of like the idea of working with kids that have chosen to give school another try. We'll see how the phone interview goes.
Also making slight progress on the housing front-- a few options in South Brooklyn, one of them three blocks away from the community high school. That would just be so convenient.
Keep your fingers crossed. 23 days!
One school is a small 9-12 high school aimed at taking kids who want to go to college, regardless of past academic performance, and preparing them to do so. They have AVID classes, like I taught in Austin, and from the school profile online, seem to be an environment that I would enjoy.
The other school is a community high school for students who have previously exited the school system, but have decided to finish, or who have fallen behind due to absences. While I can tell that this is a tougher environment than the other school, it is also more intimate and supported by a community organization that aids teachers and staff in keeping the students on track. Both schools sound intriguing, but I kind of like the idea of working with kids that have chosen to give school another try. We'll see how the phone interview goes.
Also making slight progress on the housing front-- a few options in South Brooklyn, one of them three blocks away from the community high school. That would just be so convenient.
Keep your fingers crossed. 23 days!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
decisions, decisions
so i decided to take a bike to NYC, just not the bike i have now.
while i love it dearly, it is just a little too nice. instead, i'm going to sell it to someone who will use it well here in seattle and get a not-super-nice bike to take to the city. i've been going back and forth about what kind of bike to take. the options as i see them now are:
*raleigh 29er: single speed mtn bike. its got big road size wheels but with beefy tires. good for snow and abusive city streets, single speed so lower maintenance, disc brakes. drawbacks are: heavy-ish, flat handlbar.. $420
*muirwoods29er: similar to the raleigh except with gears. drawbacks are that its still heavy-ish, and do gears make it more of a theft item? $380
*khs flite 220: steel frame road bike, ability to run cyclocross tires, regular brakes. pluses are the road bike geometry means i can take on longer rides. minuses are that it might be a bigger theft item, and do brake pads freeze more than disc brakes? $320
will i even ride much in the snow anyway? i think as it stands i will go for the flite220. its the cheapest and i can actually ride outside just city commuting if i want to. will go heavy on stickers and/or spray paint to keep the thieves away. or an armed guard.
also running into a sort of housing conundrum. its nearly impossible, from many angles, to secure housing in NYC until you're there.. but once you get there, where do you stay until you do? at this point, my crashing options seem dicey at best, but no one will consider you for even a sublet if you're not already there. and where do i send my stuff? i've been browsing craigslist like mad, trying to find something, but to no avail thus far. keep your fingers crossed, everyone, that i find something soon. and if you know anyone in NYC with a couch or space for a suitcase, let me know!
while i love it dearly, it is just a little too nice. instead, i'm going to sell it to someone who will use it well here in seattle and get a not-super-nice bike to take to the city. i've been going back and forth about what kind of bike to take. the options as i see them now are:
*raleigh 29er: single speed mtn bike. its got big road size wheels but with beefy tires. good for snow and abusive city streets, single speed so lower maintenance, disc brakes. drawbacks are: heavy-ish, flat handlbar.. $420
*muirwoods29er: similar to the raleigh except with gears. drawbacks are that its still heavy-ish, and do gears make it more of a theft item? $380
*khs flite 220: steel frame road bike, ability to run cyclocross tires, regular brakes. pluses are the road bike geometry means i can take on longer rides. minuses are that it might be a bigger theft item, and do brake pads freeze more than disc brakes? $320
will i even ride much in the snow anyway? i think as it stands i will go for the flite220. its the cheapest and i can actually ride outside just city commuting if i want to. will go heavy on stickers and/or spray paint to keep the thieves away. or an armed guard.
also running into a sort of housing conundrum. its nearly impossible, from many angles, to secure housing in NYC until you're there.. but once you get there, where do you stay until you do? at this point, my crashing options seem dicey at best, but no one will consider you for even a sublet if you're not already there. and where do i send my stuff? i've been browsing craigslist like mad, trying to find something, but to no avail thus far. keep your fingers crossed, everyone, that i find something soon. and if you know anyone in NYC with a couch or space for a suitcase, let me know!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Borough Assignment: Brooklyn!
Yay! My borough assignment through NYCTF is Brooklyn, which was my first choice. I still don't know what University I will be taking classes at, but for now I know that I need to start looking for a job in Brooklyn. I applied for a few positions this morning and updated my resume-- the ball is rolling, 27 days and counting.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Bike Shop Love
It's true, I do often have less-than-amazing things to say about my job. Sometimes people are hard to deal with and the managers can be a pain, but that's true just about anywhere. One of the best things about my job is the group of boys I work with. Yes, I guess they are all technically men, not boys, but something about the shop attracts the boyish, never-grow-up type.
Occasionally I get pissy when I clean up after them and more than once I have made the analogy that I am tired of being Wendy to their Lost Boys. For the most part, though, they are amazing. They give me hugs just because I am near. They pick me up sometimes to remind me that I am small. They tell me that I am smart and they bring me healthy snacks. Some of us share vegan recipes and some of us share CDs but mostly we all just share laughter.
Today, Tre Tre, my giant, vegan, tattooed-head-to-toe, heart of gold buddy met me on the steps outside just as we were closing our doors for the night. He picked me up, spun me around, and gave me a giant hug, saying to me sweetly "B, guess what? We made it." At that moment my eagerness to leave faltered a little and I realized that I will miss this place. I really need to bring my camera to work so that I can take pictures with all of my Lost Boys. Sometimes even Wendy has to grow up.
Occasionally I get pissy when I clean up after them and more than once I have made the analogy that I am tired of being Wendy to their Lost Boys. For the most part, though, they are amazing. They give me hugs just because I am near. They pick me up sometimes to remind me that I am small. They tell me that I am smart and they bring me healthy snacks. Some of us share vegan recipes and some of us share CDs but mostly we all just share laughter.
Today, Tre Tre, my giant, vegan, tattooed-head-to-toe, heart of gold buddy met me on the steps outside just as we were closing our doors for the night. He picked me up, spun me around, and gave me a giant hug, saying to me sweetly "B, guess what? We made it." At that moment my eagerness to leave faltered a little and I realized that I will miss this place. I really need to bring my camera to work so that I can take pictures with all of my Lost Boys. Sometimes even Wendy has to grow up.
Monday, April 21, 2008
"leave the gun, take the cannoli"
a line from a movie that lies dear to my heart.. no, not the godfather, though that is the original film. yes, indeed, i'm quoting "you've got mail", perhaps one of my favorite movies from when i was in middle school. i owe it partly to a crush on meg ryan in that film, partly to the romanticized view of new york, which brings me to my current dilemma--
what do i take with me?
some things i need to leave behind, like my futon mattress (now permanent brett/molly guest bed) and my snowboard. other things i could possibly sell or possibly take, like my acoustic guitar and my road bike.
the guitar is a cheapo but somehow i think that sans piano i will definitely need some way to express myself musically once there. i toyed with the idea of selling it rather than shipping (how do you ship a guitar in a hard case? will it cost more than its worth?) and just getting another one there. i'm sure there is a pawn shop somewhere i can find a cheap acoustic. thoughts anyone?
the other big dilemma is my road bike. its too nice to ride as a commuter in NYC unless i never leave it out side, which means i will probably have it for weekend riding only. will i have time? should i just take the money? should i take it with me and sell it there if i can't use it/need the cash? taking it on the plane won't be too hard, i don't think, but its still kind of a hassle and counts as a checked bag.
meredith says that i should use my heart, not my head to decide what to bring, what will make me happy. while i think she's right, i also need to think realistically about liquidating my assets.
tomorrow i have to take care of a bunch of logistical odds and ends for the program, and get a study guide so i can prepare for my nyctf tests. everything is happening so fast!
what do i take with me?
some things i need to leave behind, like my futon mattress (now permanent brett/molly guest bed) and my snowboard. other things i could possibly sell or possibly take, like my acoustic guitar and my road bike.
the guitar is a cheapo but somehow i think that sans piano i will definitely need some way to express myself musically once there. i toyed with the idea of selling it rather than shipping (how do you ship a guitar in a hard case? will it cost more than its worth?) and just getting another one there. i'm sure there is a pawn shop somewhere i can find a cheap acoustic. thoughts anyone?
the other big dilemma is my road bike. its too nice to ride as a commuter in NYC unless i never leave it out side, which means i will probably have it for weekend riding only. will i have time? should i just take the money? should i take it with me and sell it there if i can't use it/need the cash? taking it on the plane won't be too hard, i don't think, but its still kind of a hassle and counts as a checked bag.
meredith says that i should use my heart, not my head to decide what to bring, what will make me happy. while i think she's right, i also need to think realistically about liquidating my assets.
tomorrow i have to take care of a bunch of logistical odds and ends for the program, and get a study guide so i can prepare for my nyctf tests. everything is happening so fast!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
I was accepted.. so now what?
I was accepted to the NYCTF on Friday, 4/18, after having waited four weeks after my interview. While four weeks seems small when compared to something like, oh the age of the earth or the Ming Dynasty, it was probably the most tense four weeks I have endured. Not only did I feel like everything was in limbo, but I had a whole list of things that I just couldn't do until I found out for sure.
Making things more complicated was my unexpected meeting of someone special, giving me something more to look forward to in the city. In my last week of waiting I feverishly applied to a few other jobs as an attempt to get to NYC no matter what. Getting my acceptance letter was a much needed relief.
Now I have a whole new set of waiting that I have to do-- 31 days and counting. In that time I have to:
1. Get rid of a bunch of stuff that I really don't need
2. Sell some things that I don't want to ship or won't use in NYC
3. Print out and mail a ton of things to the program
4. Ship stuff
5. Register to take tests
6. Hang out with a ton of people here
7. Pack
8. a million other things that I have yet to think of
All of this is totally possible, but a bit daunting. At this point, I really wish I could just snap my fingers and make it happen.
I put in my notice at work today, but none of the managers work Sundays so they'll all have a big surprise when they come in tomorrow. I need to get everything tuned up on my bike before I leave and lose the 40% discount that I so love. If anyone needs bike stuff, let me know now.
I am way excited, but sometimes I just stop and think : this is insane. :)
Making things more complicated was my unexpected meeting of someone special, giving me something more to look forward to in the city. In my last week of waiting I feverishly applied to a few other jobs as an attempt to get to NYC no matter what. Getting my acceptance letter was a much needed relief.
Now I have a whole new set of waiting that I have to do-- 31 days and counting. In that time I have to:
1. Get rid of a bunch of stuff that I really don't need
2. Sell some things that I don't want to ship or won't use in NYC
3. Print out and mail a ton of things to the program
4. Ship stuff
5. Register to take tests
6. Hang out with a ton of people here
7. Pack
8. a million other things that I have yet to think of
All of this is totally possible, but a bit daunting. At this point, I really wish I could just snap my fingers and make it happen.
I put in my notice at work today, but none of the managers work Sundays so they'll all have a big surprise when they come in tomorrow. I need to get everything tuned up on my bike before I leave and lose the 40% discount that I so love. If anyone needs bike stuff, let me know now.
I am way excited, but sometimes I just stop and think : this is insane. :)
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