A week ago, today the world mourned the passing of the great Steve Jobs while I was preparing to board the flight home from Maryland, USA. It had been 6 months living by myself in the land so familiar yet so alien at the same time. A place I could almost call home given different circumstances. I arrived with barely a whimper. Last week I left with barely a bang.
I got there armed with 3 decades of Americanization etched to the back of my head. And thus when asked on how I came to know so much about American pop-culture while only being there the first time, well, I simply replied “We had TV”.
For 6 months I lived my dream. I finally got to see the grounds where my mom pushed me out into the world with epidural pumping down her veins. I covered more ground on foot around the great Manhattan than any typical American citizen usually would. I paid my respects at Ground Zero. I walked along Wall Street where the world economy makes and breaks. I shook the gates of the White House, home of arguably the most powerful authority in the history of modern civilization. I was there when the great USA almost defaulted on their debts. I was there at the beginning of the end.
I crossed the borders of 17 out of 52 free states. I was there when both Casey Anthony and Amanda Knox were set free. I was there when that rogue magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the East Coast. I was there when 70mph Hurricane Irene left a trail of destruction along her furious path. I was there when the world bid farewell to the great Steve Jobs. I've known some, I’ve learned some, I've seen some, I've done some, I know I haven’t done it all, but I was lucky to have known, learned, seen and done as much as I did at all.
I was unsociable, as usual, but of course inevitably made friends. Some would probably fade away, others would probably stick around for as long as time and memories allowed to. I called them friends. They probably called me nuisance.
So to you, my friends, I didn’t say things as well as I would like to. I misunderstood conversations half of the time. I didn’t really care about what was being discussed most of the time. I laughed my way out of every possible awkward situation, I laughed out loud, and perhaps I laughed out too much. I had my way, and if I offended anyone, well, too bad, because me no speakee Inglish. Above all, I would like all of you to know that despite my abrasive, obnoxious, vulgar, rude, offensive, horrid, disturbing, psychotic, maniacal, despicable, irrational behavior, I meant well. Most of the time. At least. Thank you for not banging my head to put me in my place. (Well, if you did, yeay lawsuit!).
Thank you Tom for talking to me when nobody would. Thank you James for going out with me when no one else would. Thank you Yasmin for showing me how things work when no one else could. Thank you Marty for free donuts, bagels, candies and meals. Thank you everyone else for your friendship and for being there when others would just walk away. I may never see any of you again, but you have each left a metaphorical mark in my life. So for that, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Now get your asses back to work! xD
Friday, October 14, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Clichés: When Did You Come Back?
I returned from my 6 months' work assignment in the US last weekend. Thought about writing a tear-jerking farewell for those crazy caring and loving people I call friends there but nothing came to mind. Yet. I imagined that as hard as I try to make them cry, it is more likely that they will be rolling on the floor laughing their asses off. Or maybe they really will cry. In horrid disbelief. Or utter disgust.
But yeah, I took the entire week of this week because I needed the break. And because I wanted to put off meeting people from the office as long as I can. But I can't. Apparently God had other plans for me.
And so began a series of conversations with numerous different people with different words and sentences that basically revolved around the conventional theme of welcoming me back.
Hey you're back! (Yes, I am.)
When did you come back? (Last weekend.)
You look... fit. (Yes I got fat.)
You're back to work so soon? (Nope. I'm playing Santa Claus. I come bearing gifts.)
When are you leaving again? (Back for good. Too bad.)
But I thought they wanted you to stay longer? (Yeap, but not without my family. I woke up at night. Crying.)
Hahaha. (Hahaha.)
Awkward. (Awkward.)
Alright, glad to have you back. (I guess I'm glad to be back.)
Bye. (Bye.)
Aaaaaannnnd.... the next person came along. Repeat.
Maybe getting this seemingly compulsory social exercise done and over with is not such a bad idea after all. At least by next week they will forget about me being gone at all and I can move on.
"At last they rode over the downs and took the East Road, and then Merry and Pippin rode on to Buckland and already they were singing again as they went. But Sam turned to Bywater, and so came back up the Hill, as day was ending once more. And he went on, and there was yellow light, and fire within; and the evening meal was ready, and he was expected. And Rose drew him in, and set him in his chair, and put little Elanor upon his lap. He drew a deep breath. 'Well, I'm back,' he said." -the last paragraph of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King-
Well, I'm back.
But yeah, I took the entire week of this week because I needed the break. And because I wanted to put off meeting people from the office as long as I can. But I can't. Apparently God had other plans for me.
And so began a series of conversations with numerous different people with different words and sentences that basically revolved around the conventional theme of welcoming me back.
Hey you're back! (Yes, I am.)
When did you come back? (Last weekend.)
You look... fit. (Yes I got fat.)
You're back to work so soon? (Nope. I'm playing Santa Claus. I come bearing gifts.)
When are you leaving again? (Back for good. Too bad.)
But I thought they wanted you to stay longer? (Yeap, but not without my family. I woke up at night. Crying.)
Hahaha. (Hahaha.)
Awkward. (Awkward.)
Alright, glad to have you back. (I guess I'm glad to be back.)
Bye. (Bye.)
Aaaaaannnnd.... the next person came along. Repeat.
Maybe getting this seemingly compulsory social exercise done and over with is not such a bad idea after all. At least by next week they will forget about me being gone at all and I can move on.
"At last they rode over the downs and took the East Road, and then Merry and Pippin rode on to Buckland and already they were singing again as they went. But Sam turned to Bywater, and so came back up the Hill, as day was ending once more. And he went on, and there was yellow light, and fire within; and the evening meal was ready, and he was expected. And Rose drew him in, and set him in his chair, and put little Elanor upon his lap. He drew a deep breath. 'Well, I'm back,' he said." -the last paragraph of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King-
Well, I'm back.
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
South-East: Myrtle Beach Wasn’t Moaning, It Was Roaring!
After 4 weeks of sulking and practically doing nothing over the weekends (wait, Captain America and Friends with Benefits were NOT "nothing", ok? lol) I finally decided to burn some time and cash going down south to cross a few more states of the east coast. A little over two weeks ago I found out that a good old friend of mine who I have not met for 14 years is currently living in Raleigh, North Carolina which is about 5 hours’ drive from my place in Maryland. If that is not the perfect excuse, I don't know what is.
So I decided to leave early on Friday from work to beat the traffic around DC and Virginia, as per advised by my occasional when-I-don't-bring-food-from-home lunch buddy cum donuts-and-bagels-guy (there, James, I hope you are happy :-p). Well, apparently leaving at 3pm from Columbia, MD going south was NOT nearly early enough! I still got caught in 10 mph-0 mph-10 mph traffic for about 2.5 hours just outside of DC well into the borders of Virginia on the I-95. I wonder at what time US government officers actually get off work to cause such massive jam that early.
Nevertheless, I got to Raleigh, NC in one piece. My old friend looked just like how I remembered him 14 years ago. I know I didn’t. We did the usual eating and talking. I probably talked more than he did, of course, because that’s just how we were; myself the thrash-talking machine gun and him the quiet shock absorber. His wife was around so I guessed I kinda behaved myself properly. At least I thought so.
For them I brought a precious little gem from the great land of Malaysia, a rarity, a luxury item here in the USA that would cost an arm, a leg and significant effort to acquire: a pack of Maggi instant noodles, the all-time favorite Malaysian junk food.
The next day we went on a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It took about 3 hours to get there from his place. Considering that it was the fasting month of Ramadhan, it probably was not a good idea to go to a beach in the USA where, you know there would be “eye candies” all around -_- . Unfortunately that was about the closest attraction crossing the border to SC and I did not have much time to go anywhere further. Plus, his wife was coming along so it couldn’t be that bad (yeah right, and who was it who wanted to watch the mermaids show??? lol).
Basically there were a few obvious things to do at Myrtle Beach. We started by walking on the Boardwalk along the beach, watching a variety of half-naked people of all shapes and sizes, the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, and window shopping for souvenirs. Apparently it was tax free weekend in SC but I didn’t really find anything of interest other than some fridge magnets and keychains. I did the usual load of photos on my trusty Atrix.
There were a few fun rides near the Boardwalk; a slingshot similar to what we have in Malaysia a few years back, (if I remember correctly was called “Reverse Bungy”) which basically shot 2 riders sky-high on cables and then bouncing them up and down; a big Ferris-wheel, and a roller coaster. All costing money that I didn’t want to spend though the slingshot ride was particularly very tempting. Probably wasn’t a good idea to get on it on empty stomach anyway.
We then went to an open-space shopping mall called the Broadway at the Beach where things got interesting. It started to rain. We took refuge in one of the shops but the downpour just kept on going for quite some time so we decided to just walk in the rain. It wasn’t so bad at first but soon we were drenched to our bones. And I absolutely enjoyed it!
Broadway was a beautiful place with beautiful structures around a lake. Aside for the usual shop lots and restaurants, there were castles, an aquarium, IMAX Theater, Ripley’s museums, and one building called the Wonderworks which was designed to look like it was uprooted upside down. I believe it was a restaurant but I’m not sure. Somehow the rain just made everything more… majestic. It was quite an experience walking in the rain without care like that while trying desperately to keep my Atrix and videocam dry.
We decided to call it a day right after that and drove back to NC wet and all, and arrived in time for dinner.
Yesterday morning, right after Sahur I bid farewell to the happy couple and made my way back to Maryland, to the sanctuary of the cold dark suite (read: cave) I call home for another 60 days.
Things learned from this trip. It’s a long long way to Orlando, Florida but that’s where all the action is. Cheesecake enthusiasts like me should check out the Cheesecake Factory. Delaware is a tax-free state (4 months here and I just discovered that. Damn). Turkmenistan is an actual name of a country. I could cross three more states on the north-east within a few hours from New Haven, CT. Painted shells on hermit crabs are beautiful in a creepy way. I really, really need to work on my drowsy driving problem before I really crash sometime somewhere. My friend had NEVER been to Penang and that is a SIN! Most importantly, even if things change for the better or worse, some things will always stay the same.
If I have one word to describe last weekend, it would be AWESOME!
So I decided to leave early on Friday from work to beat the traffic around DC and Virginia, as per advised by my occasional when-I-don't-bring-food-from-home lunch buddy cum donuts-and-bagels-guy (there, James, I hope you are happy :-p). Well, apparently leaving at 3pm from Columbia, MD going south was NOT nearly early enough! I still got caught in 10 mph-0 mph-10 mph traffic for about 2.5 hours just outside of DC well into the borders of Virginia on the I-95. I wonder at what time US government officers actually get off work to cause such massive jam that early.
Nevertheless, I got to Raleigh, NC in one piece. My old friend looked just like how I remembered him 14 years ago. I know I didn’t. We did the usual eating and talking. I probably talked more than he did, of course, because that’s just how we were; myself the thrash-talking machine gun and him the quiet shock absorber. His wife was around so I guessed I kinda behaved myself properly. At least I thought so.
For them I brought a precious little gem from the great land of Malaysia, a rarity, a luxury item here in the USA that would cost an arm, a leg and significant effort to acquire: a pack of Maggi instant noodles, the all-time favorite Malaysian junk food.
The next day we went on a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It took about 3 hours to get there from his place. Considering that it was the fasting month of Ramadhan, it probably was not a good idea to go to a beach in the USA where, you know there would be “eye candies” all around -_- . Unfortunately that was about the closest attraction crossing the border to SC and I did not have much time to go anywhere further. Plus, his wife was coming along so it couldn’t be that bad (yeah right, and who was it who wanted to watch the mermaids show??? lol).
Basically there were a few obvious things to do at Myrtle Beach. We started by walking on the Boardwalk along the beach, watching a variety of half-naked people of all shapes and sizes, the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, and window shopping for souvenirs. Apparently it was tax free weekend in SC but I didn’t really find anything of interest other than some fridge magnets and keychains. I did the usual load of photos on my trusty Atrix.
There were a few fun rides near the Boardwalk; a slingshot similar to what we have in Malaysia a few years back, (if I remember correctly was called “Reverse Bungy”) which basically shot 2 riders sky-high on cables and then bouncing them up and down; a big Ferris-wheel, and a roller coaster. All costing money that I didn’t want to spend though the slingshot ride was particularly very tempting. Probably wasn’t a good idea to get on it on empty stomach anyway.
We then went to an open-space shopping mall called the Broadway at the Beach where things got interesting. It started to rain. We took refuge in one of the shops but the downpour just kept on going for quite some time so we decided to just walk in the rain. It wasn’t so bad at first but soon we were drenched to our bones. And I absolutely enjoyed it!
Broadway was a beautiful place with beautiful structures around a lake. Aside for the usual shop lots and restaurants, there were castles, an aquarium, IMAX Theater, Ripley’s museums, and one building called the Wonderworks which was designed to look like it was uprooted upside down. I believe it was a restaurant but I’m not sure. Somehow the rain just made everything more… majestic. It was quite an experience walking in the rain without care like that while trying desperately to keep my Atrix and videocam dry.
We decided to call it a day right after that and drove back to NC wet and all, and arrived in time for dinner.
Yesterday morning, right after Sahur I bid farewell to the happy couple and made my way back to Maryland, to the sanctuary of the cold dark suite (read: cave) I call home for another 60 days.
Things learned from this trip. It’s a long long way to Orlando, Florida but that’s where all the action is. Cheesecake enthusiasts like me should check out the Cheesecake Factory. Delaware is a tax-free state (4 months here and I just discovered that. Damn). Turkmenistan is an actual name of a country. I could cross three more states on the north-east within a few hours from New Haven, CT. Painted shells on hermit crabs are beautiful in a creepy way. I really, really need to work on my drowsy driving problem before I really crash sometime somewhere. My friend had NEVER been to Penang and that is a SIN! Most importantly, even if things change for the better or worse, some things will always stay the same.
If I have one word to describe last weekend, it would be AWESOME!
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