New York in a Whiz

New York New York. Every time I visit this grand city it is tempered by something new. This time was the possibility of landing there for a couple years to study for a Masters Degree. Columbia Teachers College & New York University were the main aims to the visit. Columbia certainly won my heart and has me sore over its costliness and consideration of how to make it work.

But in between interviews were loads of lovely interactions with the New York crew: Erin, Chelsea, Scott, Paul, Claire, Ryan, and Chris. It was the least touristy of any of my visits to New York, thus there was time spent at a bar on a river boat, walking the new train-track greenway park, exploring a crafts festival in an obscure part of Astoria, a house dinner in Brooklyn and a night time film in a Manhattan park.

The prices of New York food felt overwhelming on my South African budget and the youthfulness of most people seemed abnormal. But as always, parts of the city called to me, especially the mosaics and murals of the underground.

Blog of America

After having spent 3+ weeks in the US of A, I am full of many new impressions and reinforcements of old. My first purchase after a 19 hour flight to New York was a cafe latte and a muffin - all for a total of $8.06, the same cost as a nice, full meal in South Africa. My second purchase was a box of Sudafed - also $8 - to alleviate the pounding ears my flight almost busted. These first acts of consumerism on American soil set the precedent for the rest of my trip (so far).

Prior to moving to SA, I sweated over health insurance possibilities, opting for a limited travel insurance policy. When I fell sick in February, I was blown away by the afford-ability of a Doctors visit, a mere $25. In just three weeks in the USA, with one unlucky cold and a plane ride combo to wreak havoc on my ears, I've spent almost $400 on appointments and medication. All this makes me realize even more so, how expensive America is compared to where I've been living.

The falling economy is set to dampen spirits further. I came home to find old high school teachers and teaching friends with pink slips looming over their heads and careers. Some older teachers have gracefully stepped away, whilst class sizes threaten to grow and high quality public educators fight to keep both their jobs and students. It brings Africa closer to home and I'm realizing American public education is about to take a dive for the worst. What is this nation establishing when the crippled economy means prioritizing cutbacks for the education of its young?

South Africans have been asking me about the American economy non-stop, but since Wall Street collapsed 2 weeks after I left the USA, I've had little experience to relate. I have now had a real taste: deserted shopping centers with shutdown business, legendary stores gone, several young people my age out of jobs, government office closings, empty parking lots, cashier job cuts and longer lines, house "for sale" signs lining the streets, radio talk hosts tirelessly discussing the economy and ways to save and survive, the list goes on...

But America is not all doom and gloom. In the midst of this crisis, the people here remain some of the most generous I have ever known. On this trip, I have collected over $1,500 from locals to purchase books for St. Paul's Primary School where I teach. One keep group of the Mt. Holly 5th Grade Safety Patrol is dedicating their summer Saturdays to run a lemonade-stand fundraiser! I find this generous spirit is huge and full of action even in these difficult times.

On a more personal level, I have had a marvelous 3 weeks traipsing across the South East, from visiting my sister in Washington, D.C. to checking out grad programs in Athens, GA. My family is all doing well. Both my parents work like trojans, trying to keep their heads up, grateful they both have jobs. My mother's garden is tremendous - green and full, her shade trees providing me with the most peaceful window scenery. Dad has been busy as the mulch-master, taking on lots of odd gardening jobs with the support of Aunt Lynn to help my other Aunt Teenie with her larger-than-life gentleman's farm. And my grandmother "Grand-Dub", God love her, never changes - she's still mowing her lawn, cleaning her house, protecting her garden from the local bunny brigade and snacking on cheese straws in her down time. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

One of my trip highlights was visiting Mt. Holly, NC where I lived for a full year before moving to South Africa. I received an amazing homecoming, driving down HWY 27 to the vision of Spencer Mtn. hovering above the Catawba River. Crossing that bridge again brought me back into the incredible community this small town provided me last year. Honestly, can life get any better than a strong-armed hug from Cindy Suddreth, Margaret singing at the Farmer's Market, Scott Griffin's candle burning for me in the window, hard core dancing with 8 year old Bailey Kaylor or the pitiful cry of Bob-the-shaved-and-mangy-Cat on return from the dead? Need I mention that Robert, the autistic child I worked with last year, can now say the alphabet and his sister, Rachel, made the all-star diving team?! Life is full back here at home. It has moved on in my absence but it felt so good to return to the nourishment of love in constant supply. It is so good to know I have a home to return to in Charlotte and Mt. Holly, pulling on my heart strings and calling me back, back, back....

D.C. to Takoa Falls and back home again

The messy trajectory of my trip back to the USA was reminiscent of a tourist's jaunt through a new country. From NYC to Charlotte, D.C. to Baltimore, to Athens, GA and back to Charlotte again. Not to mention another leg to NYC, and then to Chicago & Istanbul & the lovely Karoo. But with grad schools in mind, dropping Susannah off at Georgetown in D.C. afforded me the opportunity to visit Baltimore to see MICA. And Charlotte's proximity to Georgia also gave me good reason to check out UGA in Athens.














With all this driving back and forth, I still managed to squeeze in a lot. The problem with visiting is you can never say "no" to anything, so my calendar was choc a bloc full! I managed to trek to a couple of bountiful Mt.Holly Farmers Markets and to feel completely swooned by the response of folks missing me over the last year. I was able to attend the small town wedding of Leah & Josh and dance my heart away with Bailey Kaylor (age 8) and my aunts. I had the opportunity to see Rachel Schleicher's new diving moves and to spend Father's Day with my dad. Any maybe best of all, I witnessed my childhood bestfriend cradling her newborn.

Staying with mom, we were able to make good use of our time together, with picnic lunches at her job. Honestly, even mowing the lawn felt like a beautiful, fruitful activity! And Dad and I managed a good ride on the old bikes. For a first, my mom was able to join some family in Mt. Holly & it made my heart swell to have some of my favorite faces mixing around a table again. Time does heal, but it takes some really furtive effort as well.

It's a proud life people live in this part. Everyone trying to make the best out of what they do, to believe in how they spend their hours, to work towards larger community and to love the families they've created over time. It is a Southern fantasy, an American dream of sorts, all woven with the realities of uncertain incomes, familial rifts, the monotony of tired feet, and the aching need to fill the void left at the end of the day.