(no subject)
So, it's saturday afternoon and I don't have anything to do for a while. Time for a much needed update!
I am going to the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in the fall, for a two-year writing program. I am really excited and increasingly nervous. Bryan will finish out the year at Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, and then join me for the spring semester.
My visit to Chicago was really great. The city is beautiful, with some of the historical, cosmopolitan romance of New York without being overwhelming; people are still nice there, from what I could tell; the architecture is phenomenal. I checked out the program: spoke to an adviser, sat in on a class, attended a reading, went to a gallery opening, and met a bunch of Kristen's friends. From the two days I spent there, I can already tell Chicago is My Kind of City, which further highlighted how DC is Not My Kind of City. I'm looking forward to being able to wear all my ridiculous thrift store crap and get away with it, because I'm going to be surrounded by eccentric (emotionally unstable) art geeks for two years.
It was also illuminating to interact with so many people who were in the same boat as me, who are getting into debt for degrees that are even more irrelevant than mine. It made me feel better. And I got the impression that one goes to SAIC to make connections, to have access to huge resources and creative freedom, and to become better at what one does. Definitely not to save money, or to be guaranteed a salary and a 401k.
So, federal and private loans, here I come!
The class I sat in on was the best part. I hadn't realized how much I missed being in workshop/discussion based classes, and this class was what I wanted COLLEGE to be, in my most idealized fantasies of COLLEGE. I understand now why people say you go to college so that you can go to grad school, and it makes me sad it has to be like that, but I get it now. You guys, it was so much fun. I felt that congealed part of my brain begin to shake off the atrophy of the last two years and lurch into motion once again, and it was a nice feeling. Everybody in the class was relaxed, thoughtful, funny, irreverent, intelligent, friendly, and GOOD AT WRITING. It was so nice to be surrounded by people who were better writers than me, people who could give me real advice. I felt so at home that I even contributed to the conversation some; at one point I cracked a joke and everybody laughed, and this guy said "you're going to fit in well here."
Ah! You guys know how susceptible I am to such strokes of the ego. Well played, Chicago. Well played.
As for the city itself, it immediately won me over. With all the architecture and old buildings, vintage stores, vegetarian restaurants, dive bars, museums, low cost of living, and douchey art school hipsters as far as the eye can see, how can I not feel at home? I think I might be falling in love.
But I'm sure the long winter will cure me of my romantic notions.
So, the plan is to move sometime in August, hopefully sublet a room for cheap; I'm going to apply for an internship at Second City; hopefully I'll be working for Eduardo Kac, and some work-study.
Speaking of work, I am starting my summer job at Gold's Gym; not fancy or impressive, but damn it, it's something, and my guitar lessons have been dropping off one by one lately. It'll be nice to have a steady paycheck.
Dear Economy: I'm done speaking to you for a while. I'm going back to school for two years so you can get your shit together; you'd better get it together by the time I graduate, or I'm doing my PhD and you won't see me for another five years.
In other news, my brother comes to visit on Wednesday; Philip is coming at the end of the month; and after that, I AM COMING HOME FOR A WEEK. I fly to Houston on June 4th, attend my cousin's wedding, then spend the next six days in the five-one-truth. I fly out on the 11th, I think. So let's plan the following: swimming, tacos, tattoo, Barflys, What-a-Burger, and as many fucking theme parties as we can logistically handle.
This is the longest I've been away from Texas since I moved there when I was ten, and I am so excited to visit. You've been warned.
Miss you guys, but I WILL SEE YOU SOON
I am going to the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in the fall, for a two-year writing program. I am really excited and increasingly nervous. Bryan will finish out the year at Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, and then join me for the spring semester.
My visit to Chicago was really great. The city is beautiful, with some of the historical, cosmopolitan romance of New York without being overwhelming; people are still nice there, from what I could tell; the architecture is phenomenal. I checked out the program: spoke to an adviser, sat in on a class, attended a reading, went to a gallery opening, and met a bunch of Kristen's friends. From the two days I spent there, I can already tell Chicago is My Kind of City, which further highlighted how DC is Not My Kind of City. I'm looking forward to being able to wear all my ridiculous thrift store crap and get away with it, because I'm going to be surrounded by eccentric (emotionally unstable) art geeks for two years.
It was also illuminating to interact with so many people who were in the same boat as me, who are getting into debt for degrees that are even more irrelevant than mine. It made me feel better. And I got the impression that one goes to SAIC to make connections, to have access to huge resources and creative freedom, and to become better at what one does. Definitely not to save money, or to be guaranteed a salary and a 401k.
So, federal and private loans, here I come!
The class I sat in on was the best part. I hadn't realized how much I missed being in workshop/discussion based classes, and this class was what I wanted COLLEGE to be, in my most idealized fantasies of COLLEGE. I understand now why people say you go to college so that you can go to grad school, and it makes me sad it has to be like that, but I get it now. You guys, it was so much fun. I felt that congealed part of my brain begin to shake off the atrophy of the last two years and lurch into motion once again, and it was a nice feeling. Everybody in the class was relaxed, thoughtful, funny, irreverent, intelligent, friendly, and GOOD AT WRITING. It was so nice to be surrounded by people who were better writers than me, people who could give me real advice. I felt so at home that I even contributed to the conversation some; at one point I cracked a joke and everybody laughed, and this guy said "you're going to fit in well here."
Ah! You guys know how susceptible I am to such strokes of the ego. Well played, Chicago. Well played.
As for the city itself, it immediately won me over. With all the architecture and old buildings, vintage stores, vegetarian restaurants, dive bars, museums, low cost of living, and douchey art school hipsters as far as the eye can see, how can I not feel at home? I think I might be falling in love.
But I'm sure the long winter will cure me of my romantic notions.
So, the plan is to move sometime in August, hopefully sublet a room for cheap; I'm going to apply for an internship at Second City; hopefully I'll be working for Eduardo Kac, and some work-study.
Speaking of work, I am starting my summer job at Gold's Gym; not fancy or impressive, but damn it, it's something, and my guitar lessons have been dropping off one by one lately. It'll be nice to have a steady paycheck.
Dear Economy: I'm done speaking to you for a while. I'm going back to school for two years so you can get your shit together; you'd better get it together by the time I graduate, or I'm doing my PhD and you won't see me for another five years.
In other news, my brother comes to visit on Wednesday; Philip is coming at the end of the month; and after that, I AM COMING HOME FOR A WEEK. I fly to Houston on June 4th, attend my cousin's wedding, then spend the next six days in the five-one-truth. I fly out on the 11th, I think. So let's plan the following: swimming, tacos, tattoo, Barflys, What-a-Burger, and as many fucking theme parties as we can logistically handle.
This is the longest I've been away from Texas since I moved there when I was ten, and I am so excited to visit. You've been warned.
Miss you guys, but I WILL SEE YOU SOON