Update to end all updates (I think)!

I haven't written in a while, and the midwest/east coast trip is progressing rapidly. Basically, I'm in New York right now, staying in a cheap-ish hotel. What has happened since my last post:

1. On my second day in St. Paul, I made the discovery f University Avenue, a big, ugly street that houses the local Asian population. There are Hmong restaurants, video-rental shops, delis, groceries, etc. There are also Thai, Cambodian and Vietnamese businesses. One of my favorite lunch items that I frequently buy at home is Banh Mi--Vietnamese sandwiches made with some kind of meat (usually grilled/barbecued), pickled veggies, cilantro, jalapeños, aioli and soy/fish sauce on Vietnamese french bread. I decided to see if I could find these tasty sandwiches on University. Lo and behold, after about five minutes of driving, I noticed a small Vietnamese market, situated in what looked like an old movie theater, advertising "sandwiches." In the very back of the store, past cans of what appeared to be Chinese Spam, was a deli counter, where two women and a man were dutifully churning out the biggest, most delicious looking Banh Mi I'd ever seen. Barbecued meat hung tantalizingly behind glass. I noticed that, on many of the sandwiches, the women were putting on a kind of bologna-like lunch meat that is used often in Vietnamese dishes. When asked if they would put barbecued pork in the sandwich instead, one woman behind the counter replied that it would be extra--bringing the sandwich to $3.50, rather than $2.75! This was fine with me. The woman proceeded to pour on three different kinds of sauce--soy, and a few others that I'm not sure about (one may have been fish). There were plenty of delicious pickled veggies, the pork was amazingly good (so much better than any meat I've had on Banh Mi before) and the bread was thick enough to not get soggy and retain its crunch. For my money, this is the best Vietnamese sandwich I've had anywhere. I enjoyed it with a cool can of sweet soy milk while sitting in the sculpture garden across from the Walker Art Center. (Later I went into the Art Center, and reappeared again with a Moleskine sketchbook and a collapsable Japanese sandwich box, courtesy of the gift shop!) That night, I went after a quick dinner to try Izzy's Ice Cream, a local, all-natural (sort of) ice cream shop in St. Paul. Some of the flavors were a bit off (banana key lime, anyone?) but the two I got, bananas foster and 'peace coffee' were delicious! Izzy's has this concept where, when one orders a single scoop or larger, they can also get a small "izzy" scoop on top of their first. It's a great way to maximize flavor choices, while not having to order too much ice cream. Although I am personally biased and slightly prefer the ice cream of my work, this was very tasty and I went back a second night, unable to resist another scoop of the coffee.

2. Mall of America. I actually went on the second day, just because...well, I was curious. Yes, it is a huge shopping mall. Yes, after twenty minutes I felt zombified. Never again. That's all I'll say.

3. Met some old family friends on the last day in Minnesota. They were nice, old-fashioned, New Yorkers by birth. We ate at a cute little pub in the tiny town where they live, but unfortunately, my food wasn't very good. The root beer was great, however!

4. The next day, I flew to Boston. Once again, I had a layover in Chicago, so I can proudly claim to be reasonably well-acquainted with O'Hare. Hmmm. Boston was overcast, but still quite hot and muggy. I discovered a Taiwanese restaurant in Cambridge that was just great. I ordered Chinese squash with some kind of mountain vegetable, which came in a clear, garlic and ginger sauce, and the fish of the day, which was steamed and served in a hot garlic chili sauce containing so many Szechuan peppercorns my tongue went numb! Yes! After this successful dinner, I went to Toscanini's, because it has been my mission to compare ice creams on this trip. I have to say that Toscanini's is very, very good. The pistachio was rich but heavy on almond extract, which tasted good but didn't allow the pistachios' flavor to really shine. Their burnt caramel flavor was amazing, and not very sweet--something I value in desserts (because, despite my job and my love of baking, I really don't have much of a sweet tooth). I'd definitely go back for more burnt caramel, and my only complaint was that it was kind of melty. The texture was just perfect--silky and creamy.

5. Day five entailed a drive to Western Mass., (what seemed like) a ten-fold increase in humidity across the state, and a torrential downpour that lasted for hours. I actually enjoyed this bizarre weather, and ended up exploring Northampton while getting rained on. I had to exercise extreme self-control on a visit to Faces, which is a store selling apparel and home decor (think Urban Outfitters, but half the price and decidedly cooler). I was particularly besotted with a pear of teal, feathered, patterned moccasins that were wild, bizarre, and seemed to have been made for me. Even now, I dream of them. I also met a person who I'm convinced is supposed to me my new other best friend: this guy at a cafe who made me a (really tasty) au lait, then pronounced the name wrong, adding that he "really likes to mispronounce things." Finally, someone who understands the need that I have harbored, from a very young age, to incorrectly pronounce words. I thought I was the only one.

6. Today, I spent the entire afternoon in New York City. It was an amazing experience, and I feel that I can't really do it justice because it all happened too recently. I haven't had time to play it back in my mind and retrace the details, and honestly, I'm not even sure if I'll be able to do so at a later date. But there will probably be a NYC post in this blog's future. Tonight, I actually ate in the restaurant that is in my cheap hotel. And by cheap, I don't mean pretty-nice-but-also-affordable-cheap. This is Best Western style, baby (though not actually Best Western, because those don't exist in the East). The pizza turned out to be good. Seriously. The crust was perfect and crisp and thin, and I swear they put an entire bunch of basil on top. Plus, it was only $11. Woo, cheap hotel pizza!

Concluding this post, I'd just like to say: six days until Germany.

Last Day/First Day

Friday was my last day in my lovely hometown. I got the chance to see Paige, Victoria (who just returned, safe and with a new-found appreciation for sushi, from Japan!), Ashley, and of course, Anastasia. I even got to say goodbye to David. I was happy, but at the same time, it was all very bittersweet, knowing I won't see them again for another ten months.

I went shopping for several items with Paige. We had drinks and walked around, talking about her job, Germany, people we knew, the ordinary things casual friends talk about. Then I went over to Victoria's, where I was shown hundreds (literally!) of pictures of her life in Japan--the food, the clothing, her 'family' there, the friends she made, shrines...it was wonderful to hear, even briefly, of her experiences.

Later, Anastasia and I took the bus to PDX Pop Now. We got there right as Dirty Mittens, a good local band, had their set. As before when I saw them, they rocked the scene. I'll have to get my hands on a cd sometime in the future. We stayed for the rest of the night--and, as usual at PDX Pop Now, some of the bands were very good, and some...well, not so good. Stand outs were, again, Dirty Mittens, Fear No Music and Explode Into Colors. I was actually disappointed by EIC's set, but only because the sound was fucked up (one of the speakers sounded blown), and there were a lot of people being loud and obnoxious (probably drunk, and because their set was outside). This guy next to me kept making obscene gestures (directed at me) and going on about how much Explode Into Colors sucked, how the sound system sucked, blah blah blah. Dude. Not impressing me.

Anyway, the second day of this particular music fest had an amazing lineup, including Maya's band, so I was really bummed I couldn't go. Also, the Korean taco truck (I know, what?! But it's delicious!) is camping out there, and I really wish I could have had some MexiAsian fusion food again before leaving (I bet they don't have it in Germany). The guy who runs it gave me a free side of Kimchi with my taco. It was a good last night in Portland, what with the food, the music, and Anastasia's ice-cold thermos of coffee/soy/milk and sugar that she shared with me. I hugged her a bunch and I miss her already. It's hard to say goodbye to one's best friend of ten years.

Yesterday, after another hard goodbye to family, I boarded a plane to Chicago, where I caught another to Minneapolis. I am now staying in St. Paul, where I have (so far): eaten out-of-this-world delicious Tibetan food (which, for some insane reason, we don't have where I come from), chocolate, and part of a raspberry muffin (my recent-ish breakfast). They have decent coffee here, too, and shortly I'm heading out to do some exploring and sightseeing. More later, in all probability, but right now, I'm getting a little restless.

Packingggg

Packing is no fun at all. The stress of trying to remember everything is high. Every time I'm certain I've thought of everything, something new pops into my head. Will I successfully pack everything I need?

I can only hope the answer is yes.

Three days (including today) left.

!!!

I'm a little unsure of what to do with myself right now, mostly because I have such a finite amount of time left in my city--time in which I have to cram in so many goodbyes, so many "I-won't-forget-you-please-talk-to-me-on-the-internets," and, I feel, tie up so many loose ends. It's a weird, bittersweet feeling. I spend evenings with my friends and know that I will not see them again for at least a year--maybe longer.

My city never seemed so beautiful to me before, especially in the early evening, when the sun's light is rich and mellow and the air seems thick with promise. Everyone is laughing, having drinks on the sidewalk, wearing chic sunglasses and basking in the midsummer loveliness. How much will I miss this place, when I am gone? I can't imagine calling another town home, but somehow I know I will; and at this very time next year, I may even be sad to leave, to come back here. This place, this city, will not be my home after I leave. It will be a place to come back to, but my home will be nowhere, less clearly defined than it has ever been before. I will have to make my own home again, and it will not be easy.

But I am so excited. There is so much promise, so much life to be lived, waiting for me in another city a continent away. I am prepared for the difficulties of life in another culture, of homesickness for Americana, of being unsure of my place and my role in things. I am prepared for these things, and yet, I find that--after all--I am a little scared. But it is more of a giddiness, a feeling of release mixed with trepidation. It is hard to explain.

And I find (in this pensive mood I seem to have lapsed into) that I love so many people. I have always thought of my circle as being small, comprised of a few people who matter the most to me. But now I realize that there are so many people I care about here. I care about everyone I have ever met, befriended and been changed by. I am thankful for them all, even the ones who are no longer my friends, whom I have traded unkind words with, even people who I barely know anymore. They have shaped me, made me who I am today, and I am stronger for it. Oddly, I catch myself reminiscing about the good times I've had with people who I haven't seen or been friends with in years. This is what uprooting myself engenders. Fond memories and an overwhelming sense of peace. With myself, with the people around me, with my situation.

Maybe I'll use this last week here to tell everybody I know how cool they are, how full they've made my life. That would be fun.

Eleven days

...And counting.

Oh my god.

My mouth thinks it has died and gone to heaven.

Basically, a family friend from Chicago who makes amazing deep-dish pizza invited me over for dinner before I go to Germany. Hooooly shitttt. So good. I try not to swear excessively in the blogosphere, because it sounds stupid later (i.e., when I reread my blog posts out of boredom). But, there is no other way for me to convey the deliciousness of this pizza. Words, profanities even, cannot express how good it was. I wish I'd had my camera and taken pictures, although it's dark and rainy here right now, so they wouldn't have come out well at all. Anyway, it was a simple pizza--mozzarella, tomato sauce (with copious amounts of garlic, of course), Italian sausage, olives, onion, basil. My favorite toppings. Home-made crust! I could go on and on about that crust. Sweet Jesus, that pizza was good.

And for dessert, there was ice cream from a certain locally-owned ice cream shop. That I happen to work at. Ahem.

It's the little things like this evening I spent with friends and family, eating good food and having good conversation, that I will miss the most when I am away. I can't wait for this next chapter in my life, but at the same time, I'm reminded a little every day how much I care about everyone here, and how lucky I am that life right where I am makes me this happy.

Here are some things that are making me happy this week:

*There is deep dish pizza in the fridge for lunch before work tomorrow.

*Orange blossom honey

*Economy pack of Twining's Earl Grey Tea

*Honey-nut Cheerios (Good breakfast cereal can make my day, actually.)

*I've seen so many of the people I love, but who I am never able to visit, in the past few days.

*Ice cream!

*Fresh vegetables from a friend's garden

*The premier of the next movie installment in a certain over-hyped franchise involving a boy wizard, which I may be going to with coworkers

Is anything not making me happy? Honestly, the list is very short:

*Packing. Ugh. My life=boxes.

*Mt. Eerie is playing at a local music fest. AND I'M GOING TO MISS IT. A sad turn of events (but I'll be in Europe...!).

More at some point in the future. Right now, pizza-bliss/work-induced weariness are lulling me into a sleepy daze. Oh, July.

Superfest! (and a weird day)

This past weekend was, as the Germans sometimes say, prima. Why? One word (well, technically two, actually): Superfest!

(Photos from Atole and lamanyana on Flickr)

Basically, a great show. Starfucker, Atole, Copy, YACHT, Explode Into Colors + assorted others. It's apparently going to become an annual tradition. Cool? Yes, very. The time is ripe for electropop dance parties.

And now, my weird day. Yesterday: Wed., July 1. I spent most of the day around the house, studying, eating lunch, filling out various forms, etc. Then, around 2:00 PM, I went to the store to buy postage stamps. This is when things got weird.

While I was in line at the checkout, waiting to buy stamps, another cashier opened her checkout. She turned to everyone in line and said the usual stuff about helping whoever is next, etc. An elderly woman in front of me started to move toward the other checkout. Then the cashier turned to me and said, "Are you third today?" 

I was third in line behind the elderly woman and someone in front of her, so I said, "Yeah." The cashier turned to the elderly woman. 

"Who's this???" She asked conversationally. I then realized that she had not said "Are you third today" but "Are you with her today?" And I was very embarrassed. 

The elderly woman gave me a patronizing look and said, "She's not with me." I tried to explain my mistake, but they both turned away in the middle of my explanation and started talking about the fourth of July. 

I felt very strange after that.

But things only got weirder from there. Next, I decided to go out and do some birthday shopping for two of my friends who have a birthday coming up (yes, they share a birthday--they're twins). As I was walking down the street to a shop, I saw my ex-boyfriend's sister. I kind of nodded at her and smiled; she glared at me. Feeling a little odd, I continued on. I was stopped by one of those canvassers attempting to convince people to "adopt" a child from a third-world country. But instead of trying to sign me up for a cause, she engaged me in a spirited conversation about my t-shirt, which bore a large picture of Bullwinkle (you know, from Rocky and Bullwinkle, the cartoon of my youth). 

"OH MY GOD, I took a cartooning class from the guy who drew them, and he was awesome!" She stated emphatically, while simultaneously giving me a high-five. 

I moved on down the street. As I entered a bookstore, a girl who had been standing inches away from me at Superfest came out with one of her friends. I smiled at her, and she gave me an awkward look, then turned to her friend and started whispering. Another bizarre encounter.

Later, after leaving the book store, a transient street-kid with a great number of spikes and chains and patches on his clothes shouted, "HEY! I like your sunglasses!" 

"Thanks," I responded. He then followed me into the shop I was approaching, singing loudly about LSD. Inside the shop, I wanted to buy a gift card. I was rung up by the cutest cashier I have ever seen. He was very friendly and chatted me up, but I was so awkward and mumbly that it was kind of a lost cause. I became convinced I had something on my face, that I looked somehow bizarre and extremely, impossibly unattractive. I attempted to look at him while he asked me how my day was going, and felt very flustered and disorganized. 

"Have a nice day," said the cashier, smiling. I said something lame and left. Luckily, the LSD-kid was actually browsing and didn't follow me out.

My last stop was a store that usually sells cheap used cds, because I really want to get some new music before I leave the U.S. for a year. As I paused to survey a rack of one dollar DVDs, a guy (who I assumed was an employee, as he seemed to be arranging the DVDs) asked, "How are you today?" 

"Fine," I responded. "Just browsing the extremely cheap movies." 

The man chuckled. "For sure," he said. "So, what's your name?" He stuck out his hand.

I shook it, told him my name. I realized he wasn't an employee. I realized, too, that he was way too old for me, but at least a couple inches shorter than I am. I became a little weirded out.

"Nice to meet you," he said. Just then, one of his friends approached and engaged him in conversation about some movie. I took that opportunity to leave. I decided I was done shopping, and went home.

As I type this, I find that my day doesn't read as weird as it felt. But by the time I went home, I was wondering: what made me such a magnet for attention? Was it the Bullwinkle t-shirt? The huge sunglasses purchased in California? A general aura of approachability I was unknowingly giving off? Whatever the reason, yesterday was a day full of strange interactions. Today I work--I wonder what will happen there?