I'm a New Englander...born and raised in western Mass. I'm also a gaijin. What's a gaijin? Well that's Japanese for foreigner. Yes I've spent the past four years in Tokyo Japan. Tokyo was magical. It was like a dream, taking the shape of over sized plush dolls and six inch high hair styles. I loved every minute of my time there, but that chapter in my life has closed. But where do you go once you've lived in the largest and possibly most active city in the world? The other largest and most active city in the world: New York.
I arrived here only a day and a half ago, and already I'm bushed. Not every day will be so draining, that I know. But I'm always up for a challenge, mental or physical. A dear friend of mine, always tells me that I'm never happy where I am. I always need to seek out something better than what I currently have. What does that mean exactly? It can mean a lot of things. Do I think she's wrong? No...there is truth to her observation. But I also think that motivation can have roots that stem deeper than we realize.
So what motivated me to come to New York? Wanderlust perhaps...more career opportunities makes sense. I honestly don't know. I remember sitting in my ex's tiny apartment in Japan watching the show "Sex and the City." I remember thinking, "Wow, America is so crazy and full of life. I would love to move back." But I never thought New York would be the place. I have nothing here...no reason to be here. My life was in Tokyo, and Massachusetts. So when I made the big move back home this December I naturally moved my life to Boston. I had friends in Boston. I knew Boston. Boston made sense.
Boston and I got in plenty of fights, but I don't think it was all the fighting that made me want to leave. I felt like I was trying to re-live a lifestyle I had lived in the past. I felt like Tokyo had prepared me to live a fast, solar powered electric life...and Boston was offering me a quaint, small town, borrow a cup of sugar from my neighbor life. I know that Boston isn't a small city...but after Tokyo it sure feels that way. So I came down to New York to visit a friend of mine from Japan. It was love at first sight. I knew from the first day I needed to transition myself down here. Do I know anybody? With the exception of Marc, no. But I don't think that matters.
It's hard to relocate. I've done it twice...first to Boston to begin my college career, then again to Tokyo to really begin my college career. Before I came down here I had thought a lot about moving here. I kept asking myself: Do I really want to start over...again? I feel like the answer to that is no. Bust I also feel like staying in Boston isn't going to give me the life I want. It's time for a change...a BIG change...and if that means starting a brand new life then so be it.
I'm going to be blogging about New York: What I notice, what I experience...what I wished I experienced... I feel a little silly for starting another blog. I've already attempted a video and travel blog in the past. The video blog stopped when I stopped filming...the travel blog stopped when I stopped traveling...but If I can tough it out, and stay in New York, this blog has no reason to stop.
So I hope you're all here with me as I take on this city. I'm going to be updating at least once a week, if not more.
It's time to take a bite out of the biggest apple I can find.
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