i crashed my dad's car yesterday, and still suffering a little post accident uneasinesss. no one was injured, and that's the most important part.
after dinner, my dad decided to take me out to practice stick shift. i've driven his stick a couple of times before, but i needed more practice. i was totally ready to master the stick shift, ready to finally say, 'i can do it'.
then it happened. my dad told me to make a right at the next turn, a small narrow street. i took the turn too fast, thought i was stepping on the brake, but it was only my left foot stepping on the clutch, and my right foot was just hovering over the petals in a moment of confusion. i drove into a parked car on the corner. the front driver side corner of our car hit the front corner of the other car. and then the family of the other car are uptight new yorkers that just kept yelling and yelling. i stayed quiet; i was sorry, but there wasn't anything i could do about the past.
the car isn't completely totaled, but probably not worth fixing. alas, the guilt. the guilt is what brings me down. the trouble that my dad puts up with, with me as a daughter.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
notes from the city
I had a surprising conversation with the other bike volunteers at recycle a bicycle yesterday. they were 2 guys, both lived in their city all their life. as i was discussing my x-country bike trip with them, they seemed unable to grasp why i thought meeting strangers was the greatest experience in the world. i said to them that people were so nice to us, and they gave us lots of free food, free shelter, free showers, and free laundry (but food is the most important part). one of them explained that he's encountered really nice people like that in the South, and he just got really weirded out, thinking: "whoa, why are they being so nice to me? is there an ulterior motive?" i grew up in the city, and i don't think like that. i think: FREE FOOD!
today i did the retarded thing of setting off the security alarm in my house. "shit, crap" i exclaimed, as the alarm blared across the neighborhood. the police called, and i embarrasingly muttered: "i'm sorry, i accidentily set off the alarm." (my facial expression of embarrassment was pretty great; luckily no one saw it.) then they asked their standard security questions, and i answered them compliantly . i suppose i simply need to get used to my house being a prison, but i don't think it will happen simply, or ever.
i was thoroughly impressed at the Subway inside the subway station at Rockefeller Center today. the space is rather small, just large enough to fit a long deli counter, a line of workers behind the counter, and a line of customers ordering on the other side. the line was out the door when i joined in, but WOW. there must have been twenty people in the line, and all twenty were out within 3 minutes. the first worker asked for your choice of bread and cheese. pretty much as soon as you were done answering, he had it done and asked the next customer. the second worker handled lettuce and tomatoes. the third worker handled the other condiments. the fourth handled the squirt bottles (mayo, dressing, vinegar). and the last was the cashier. Efficient is all i have to say.
i started on another book called Subwayland, a compilation of the articles that a New York Times columnist wrote about NYC subway life. It describes and tells the stories of people that contribute to our unique subway system: the regular commuters, the subway fanatics (aka buffs), the performers, the conductors, the emts, etc. the more i read, the more intrigued i am by the sheer diversity of people that make the nyc subway what it is. i am reminded once again about why i love living in NYC. (Seager and Ariel asked me repeatedly, how do you BEAR to live where there are so many people? and who all are rushing to go somewhere in suits and ties? and who don't ever stop to talk?)
New York City, my friends, is fascinating. look at the subway. The subway system is the most extensive in the nation. No where else do you get people who are so obsessed with the subway, they collect parts of subway trains, and put together their room like a conductor car. there are even kids who drag their parents to ride all over the place on the subway. and get this--there's a daycare inside the subway in Brooklyn. you would hardly notice the fact when you're inside the daycare, but there is only a small window wedged in an upper corner of the room where you can see trains pass. when the kids start to cry, they sit them on a table that looks out that window, and the kids calm down. watching the trains pass is mesmerizing. one of the kids saw a train stopped for a long time and blurted "its broke". i love that.
today i did the retarded thing of setting off the security alarm in my house. "shit, crap" i exclaimed, as the alarm blared across the neighborhood. the police called, and i embarrasingly muttered: "i'm sorry, i accidentily set off the alarm." (my facial expression of embarrassment was pretty great; luckily no one saw it.) then they asked their standard security questions, and i answered them compliantly . i suppose i simply need to get used to my house being a prison, but i don't think it will happen simply, or ever.
i was thoroughly impressed at the Subway inside the subway station at Rockefeller Center today. the space is rather small, just large enough to fit a long deli counter, a line of workers behind the counter, and a line of customers ordering on the other side. the line was out the door when i joined in, but WOW. there must have been twenty people in the line, and all twenty were out within 3 minutes. the first worker asked for your choice of bread and cheese. pretty much as soon as you were done answering, he had it done and asked the next customer. the second worker handled lettuce and tomatoes. the third worker handled the other condiments. the fourth handled the squirt bottles (mayo, dressing, vinegar). and the last was the cashier. Efficient is all i have to say.
i started on another book called Subwayland, a compilation of the articles that a New York Times columnist wrote about NYC subway life. It describes and tells the stories of people that contribute to our unique subway system: the regular commuters, the subway fanatics (aka buffs), the performers, the conductors, the emts, etc. the more i read, the more intrigued i am by the sheer diversity of people that make the nyc subway what it is. i am reminded once again about why i love living in NYC. (Seager and Ariel asked me repeatedly, how do you BEAR to live where there are so many people? and who all are rushing to go somewhere in suits and ties? and who don't ever stop to talk?)
New York City, my friends, is fascinating. look at the subway. The subway system is the most extensive in the nation. No where else do you get people who are so obsessed with the subway, they collect parts of subway trains, and put together their room like a conductor car. there are even kids who drag their parents to ride all over the place on the subway. and get this--there's a daycare inside the subway in Brooklyn. you would hardly notice the fact when you're inside the daycare, but there is only a small window wedged in an upper corner of the room where you can see trains pass. when the kids start to cry, they sit them on a table that looks out that window, and the kids calm down. watching the trains pass is mesmerizing. one of the kids saw a train stopped for a long time and blurted "its broke". i love that.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
wanderlust is so hard to overcome
i went to one bike mechanic volunteer session this week. i just showed up and the second i walked in the door, people were welcoming me to the new place. this further confirms that bikers are the greatest people on the face of the earth. bikes are the most amazing invention. who would've guessed that a bike could make people so nice and hospitable?
i read a book recently about a guy who cycled across the country in 1887, just when bikes started gaining popularity in the United States. he rode on a frickin' hi-wheeler x-country back when many roads were not paved. to illustrate my amazement, this is what a hi-wheeler looks like:
http://historyproject.ucdavis.edu/marchandslides.bak/2000/images/ScanImage02851.jpg
imagine riding that across the country!
back in those days, people were really sketched out about these 'velocipedes'. the University of Michigan was one of the first learning centers for bicycle riding, and this is what students had to say about them: "it is only man who cares to mount these bycycles and perverting his legs into crank pins, to spin in dizzy mazes around a limited arena in concentric circles until machine and man come down in one chaotic mass"
as i said, who knew that the bike could become so much more than a stupid torturous mechanical machine? it's not just a mechanical machine now, it also has social powers...i'm amazed
i've been reading a lot lately, mostly to satisfy my wanderlust. i recommend Bill Bryson to anyone who's never read his books. he writes travel books, and he's simply hilarious. i completely relate to his inner thoughts. i was so entertained reading 'a walk in the woods' (him hiking the Appalachian Trail) that i am reading up on my Aussie culture with 'in a sunburned country'. lily, you would especially approve of his books.
for someone who doesn't have a routine schedule at the moment, i've been very busy. so much documentation to take care of ...finances, licenses, visas, plane tickets, medical exams (without insurance), previewing jobs. and of course, volunteering to fix bikes. it's nice to not be stuck at home all the time, especially when parents can get to be annoying...treating me as if I couldn't take care of myself.
i read a book recently about a guy who cycled across the country in 1887, just when bikes started gaining popularity in the United States. he rode on a frickin' hi-wheeler x-country back when many roads were not paved. to illustrate my amazement, this is what a hi-wheeler looks like:
http://historyproject.ucdavis.edu/marchandslides.bak/2000/images/ScanImage02851.jpg
imagine riding that across the country!
back in those days, people were really sketched out about these 'velocipedes'. the University of Michigan was one of the first learning centers for bicycle riding, and this is what students had to say about them: "it is only man who cares to mount these bycycles and perverting his legs into crank pins, to spin in dizzy mazes around a limited arena in concentric circles until machine and man come down in one chaotic mass"
as i said, who knew that the bike could become so much more than a stupid torturous mechanical machine? it's not just a mechanical machine now, it also has social powers...i'm amazed
i've been reading a lot lately, mostly to satisfy my wanderlust. i recommend Bill Bryson to anyone who's never read his books. he writes travel books, and he's simply hilarious. i completely relate to his inner thoughts. i was so entertained reading 'a walk in the woods' (him hiking the Appalachian Trail) that i am reading up on my Aussie culture with 'in a sunburned country'. lily, you would especially approve of his books.
for someone who doesn't have a routine schedule at the moment, i've been very busy. so much documentation to take care of ...finances, licenses, visas, plane tickets, medical exams (without insurance), previewing jobs. and of course, volunteering to fix bikes. it's nice to not be stuck at home all the time, especially when parents can get to be annoying...treating me as if I couldn't take care of myself.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
where to next?
All of you are probably wondering what I am up to now; now that my bike trip is over. truth is, i've been very very sad. ariel and i had sobfests over the phone the first few days after we left each other.
two days after my trip, my dad drove up to Boston to pick me up. my dad wanted to do some biking with me, so we biked around Boston (to the Arnold Arboretum along the Emerald Necklace) on Saturday, then drove to Cape Cod. On Sunday, we biked the Cape Cod rail trail, and visited the beach. I didn't like the fact that Cape Cod was so populated with tourists, but the sight of the marshes and the ocean were still very beautiful; the vast grand view stretching toward the horizon was something no tourists can taint.
We got back to the good ol' NYC Sunday night. I've been hanging out here since, mostly going to the Manhattan library everday. My parents moved to Queens, blegh. I feel like I'm living in a prison here. My room is half the size it was at WILG, and I always have to mess with the security alarm system because breakins happen in this neighborhood. What a drastic change to go from never having to worry about leaving our bikes unlocked, to having to set the alarm system even to open a window. as i said, BLEGH!!
It seems that I am experiencing such extreme bicycle touring withdrawal that I can't seem to get away from my bike. On Labor Day, my family and I went with the Chinese Mountaineering Club of New York on a camping trip to Taconic State Park. During the day, some people went hiking, and others went biking. I went biking of course. Everyone was also excited to listen to my stories around the campfire, and I was excited to tell them. In the end, though, I found myself reminiscing even more about the last two wonderful months.
Next week, I'm going to fix bikes! I'm spending the next month volunteering for Recycle a Bike, an organization who look for volunteers that do precisely that. I was so elated when I found several environmental organizations looking for bike mechanices. I can't wait to meet more people who understand the magical wonders of bikes, and learn more about repairing and building bikes!! you might be able to tell, i'm SUPER excited.
So what next? i've applied for a working holiday visa in New Zealand and Australia. i am in the process of filling out my documents right now. if all goes well, i will be in New Zealand in mid-october, and hopefully with a job soon after. i am going under the sponsorship of the work and travel program called CCUSA (www.ccusa.com). i plan to stay in New Zealand for a year, and head on to Australia for another 4 months-1 year of work. the thought of all this overseas by myself is daunting, but at least they speak english there, and CCUSA is providing me with a lot of support in terms of finding a job. i do have to learn to fend for myself at some point, why not now?
two days after my trip, my dad drove up to Boston to pick me up. my dad wanted to do some biking with me, so we biked around Boston (to the Arnold Arboretum along the Emerald Necklace) on Saturday, then drove to Cape Cod. On Sunday, we biked the Cape Cod rail trail, and visited the beach. I didn't like the fact that Cape Cod was so populated with tourists, but the sight of the marshes and the ocean were still very beautiful; the vast grand view stretching toward the horizon was something no tourists can taint.
We got back to the good ol' NYC Sunday night. I've been hanging out here since, mostly going to the Manhattan library everday. My parents moved to Queens, blegh. I feel like I'm living in a prison here. My room is half the size it was at WILG, and I always have to mess with the security alarm system because breakins happen in this neighborhood. What a drastic change to go from never having to worry about leaving our bikes unlocked, to having to set the alarm system even to open a window. as i said, BLEGH!!
It seems that I am experiencing such extreme bicycle touring withdrawal that I can't seem to get away from my bike. On Labor Day, my family and I went with the Chinese Mountaineering Club of New York on a camping trip to Taconic State Park. During the day, some people went hiking, and others went biking. I went biking of course. Everyone was also excited to listen to my stories around the campfire, and I was excited to tell them. In the end, though, I found myself reminiscing even more about the last two wonderful months.
Next week, I'm going to fix bikes! I'm spending the next month volunteering for Recycle a Bike, an organization who look for volunteers that do precisely that. I was so elated when I found several environmental organizations looking for bike mechanices. I can't wait to meet more people who understand the magical wonders of bikes, and learn more about repairing and building bikes!! you might be able to tell, i'm SUPER excited.
So what next? i've applied for a working holiday visa in New Zealand and Australia. i am in the process of filling out my documents right now. if all goes well, i will be in New Zealand in mid-october, and hopefully with a job soon after. i am going under the sponsorship of the work and travel program called CCUSA (www.ccusa.com). i plan to stay in New Zealand for a year, and head on to Australia for another 4 months-1 year of work. the thought of all this overseas by myself is daunting, but at least they speak english there, and CCUSA is providing me with a lot of support in terms of finding a job. i do have to learn to fend for myself at some point, why not now?
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