So I know I haven't been around as it would seem. Yes, I have been home for over a week now, in fact two I believe. And I am just now getting around to updating my blog. Well, I'll tell you it hasn't been easy since I got home, but it sure was a nice transition back into America. I will have to make this monster of a post chronological from the most recent events and back. That way, I will be sure to remember most of what happened. I just want you all to be aware that this post will is dedicated to Nepal and my time there, but I have to get this other stuff out there first since it just happened and it's my excuse for not writing about Nepal yet.
So Charlotte and Zero were here in town for about 10 days. Here is a picture that the paparazzi took including both Zero and Sean Casey who I got cast in this film:
So Charlotte and Zero just left this evening. I was having an anxiety attack like I do these days when people leave, and after they left me I ran in place for about 10 minutes and then stretched to help me calm down a bit. It only kind of worked. Then I made some dinner and watched an old Tori DVD and sang out loud for a while and I feel much better now. I really think my anxiety levels come from so much unexpressed emotion. I mean when I had a car I would sing loudly constantly because I was alone, and I don't really do that anymore. Well, that's not why you came here folks: moving right along.
I took really no photos from Charlotte and Zeros visit, and I haven't uploaded the ones I did take, so we'll get those later. But I spent the whole first week of their visit working all day as a PA for the workshop of the new Broadway revival of All My Sons. I had no idea this was going to happen. I just say yes to whatever Cindy tells me to do, and I find myself in wonderful situations. I met the lovely cast and crew and my chances of returning this late summer to be an assitant to the director are very good. I hope this works out, although I am not holding my breath. I mean, I wouldn't be an assistant director, I would be an assistant TO the director, because Simon ( the director) wants his AD to be very focused on text, and then he can use me for whatever else he needs like I guess coffee, food, setup for rehearsal and exercises, and what not. It may sound rather lame, but I'm telling you just being in that room last week was such a blessing from whatever forces rule this earth. I love this director, his techniques, his influences, and the way he works. I learned so much just watching last week, even though I had to run out a few times and take care of business. I felt very respected and comfortable by the end of the week, and Simon hinted that he would need help when he comes back and I told him I would be thrilled to work with him. So, I hope that does it. It would be a fabulous job. Well, more on that. In the meantime, you should look this play up, I'm sure you can find some cool dish on it right now. Here's a link I found that tells basic info: http://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/news/may08/sons19may08.htm
Plus: Dianne Weist is the best person in the world, and I hope my mother can meet her one day. She would absolutely fall head over heels. same for John Lithgow. His acting is outstanding.
Nepal. Oh LORD. I am trying right now to upload my pictures to Flickr, but it is taking a lifetime, and for some reason the internet keeps cutting out. I think it knows I am conducting Nepal business. The internet there is what we who live life in the fast lane call frustrating. It's impossible to watch any video and it usually takes a year to lead your email. But there is something wonderfully freeing about that. I sort of got into it pretty quickly. It helped me focus on Justin.
Speaking of Justin, I'd be more surprised if we split than I would if we were to wed and have a few babies.
I can't understand how our relationship is so excellent, but it is. And I feel like one of the luckiest people to ever walk the earth. When we are together we never take advantage of our time, we just immediately behave with each other as though we have all the time in the world to love one another. It is nice living that way, but then I get home and I kick myself for not being more attentive in some way. I guess it has its pros and cons, like everything.
The beauty of Nepal is vast and varies from nature to people to spirit. Kathmandu was a bit of a mess, but it became home quickly, and even when Justin and I would leave for a couple of days, we would be so glad to get home and comfortable in his apartment again, snacking and watching House. I'm so caught up on House now. I watched all of Season 3 and whatever he had of Season 4. Love it.
Justin's friends are wonderful people. This is Sam.
He is probably the closest friend Justin has there. I wanted to spend all our time with him. He's from Portland, so lucky Charlotte and Zero will get to hang out with him when he gets home. Justin and I will have to wait. Then there's Ajay.
He is a husband/grandpa. I wanted to see him more than we did, but I think we'll see him back in America. Mike's back is in the picture wearing a red shirt: he is hilarious. I would definitely see him again. We laughed so much together.
It's amazing how normal all these Fulbright kids are. Some of them are even more slacker than me! I put some thought into getting a Fulbright, and I may still do it. I found out that Fulbright gives teaching assistantships which basically send you to a foreign country where you spend 20 hrs a week assisting English teachers and I'm sure they give priority to people who have some teaching training. And they go tons of places. Not Greece, unfortunately, but I could go anywhere later on. I am thinking about going to Chile. I love it there. I guess there are other places, but this one is special to me.
Back to Nepal:
The real beauty of the country lies in the villages.
You may have read Justin's blogs, you may know already, but it is a beautiful world there that most people born in America will never know anything about. The quality of life there is so simple and happy. People are happier and lighter there. They are not stressed out about anything. If they can feed themselves they are doing alright. Sure, there is the occasional sob story from someone who wants money, but even then it's not like New York where people harass you and invade your personal space. People in Nepal are very kind and polite. Except when they are crossing the street or driving a car. But that's all Kathmandu stuff.
There's also a great desire to learn. Children will come up to you on the trail and say "Hello, Book?" What they are doing is using the English they know in order to ask you to give them any book you may have. This is when my heart breaks and I want to start a program that just ships books to the children of the villages of small third world countries.
Wow. It is so amazing to be revisiting everything after a week and a half of immediate immersion in crazy NY working world. Thank God I had these last few days free with Charlotte. It was so relaxing. We also got to look back on our experiences with each other and reflect upon it.
There are some things I really want to post pictures of, and here are just a few. I feel like these stories will just have to tell themselves sometimes. Also I will put a link up to my flickr account where you can see an unabridged version of my visit.
This is the Kali Baba who lives on top of a hill and eats vegetables. His eyes are kind and sort of glazed over with happiness. We went there to see him twice. The second time he had three dogs staying there and they were beautiful and sweet and he was the most relaxing person to be around. I loved him. Here are a few others from that same day.
The veggies belong to the Baba, the decorating skills belong to a nice man who talked to us about his budding aspirations to start running a guest house, and the man with the paintings was a cutie who worked in this room painting and reconstructing the old paintings. He was remarkably nice.
These are some children who actually made my day when Justin and I were trekking.
They ran to us to take their picture and then played with us for a little while. Justin and I had been hanging out here all day:
so we were sort of blissed out already.
Update: Cindy called me to ask if I wanted to come and work in the office on a few projects they have coming up. I just say YES. Ten minutes later Lisa called to see if I wanted to get a job at her restaurant working as a shift cover, so I am going to train this weekend with her, which should be fun. That will be a nice way to make some extra money.
So, due to a million technical difficulties, I cannot finish this post tonight. But I really want to just get it up so you can all see some of the stuff I've been thinking on. I promise as soon as I can get all the pictures up and I can organize my thoughts, I can tell more linear stories. Love you all. More to come...
