Hey there stranger.

So I wrote this awhile ago.

But apparently it didn't pan out. How appropriate.

I've been a bit mum for awhile on progress because...there really hasn't been much.

Tl;DR

We had a roommate. But she ended up deciding she would rather go at it alone. Would have been fine. The only problem was that she told us maybe...a week after we moved out of our apartment (staying on the pull out futon of a friend until our departure date) and a day after boy quit his job.

This put us in a terrifying situation. We've been looking and finally realized until people meet us in person we are not going to get a job or a place to live.

So we waited for answers slowly wearing out our welcome in Tally. There were none. So we left.

After a week of separation (he working in St. Augustine and I visiting family in Orlando) the decision was made that I will go up first. I'll look for a place, then a job. When things are settled, boy will leave his job.

This could take 2 weeks or 2 months.

As of now, I am leaving by bus on Saturday.

It's a 22 hour trip. I'll stay with his friend and help out with utilities until...well until I get on my feet.

SO that's the plan.

Tentatively yours,

Shayna

Two posts in one week?? Outlandish!

So I realize that I've really been using this blog as more of a diary than a comprehensive guide. Which I suppose isn't a problem since I really am in no position to be guiding. Maybe when things calm down, I can go back and make sort of list of what you should know in a general sense.
But for now, A generic update.
The club Tuesday night was terrifying in all the right ways. movies I've seen of nightclubs when I was a child came to mind. A giant scary bouncer at the door with a red rope denying people access if they weren't appropriately (which here means ridiculously  dressed, low lights, people dancing on tables and on top of bars, drinks essentially handed out like party favors and by the time we left around 4.30, the place showed no signs of closing.
Wednesday I had a pretty full schedule. I redid the headshots for the comedian, Jose. Edited them and sent them off in time to run to a part of Brooklyn that I had never stepped foot in, Bensonhurst, to take a look at an apartment. If you haven't heard already, spoiler alert. The place is ours :)  We'd be living in a house full of other artists of different sorts in the basement. It's got it's own kitchen and bathroom, a somewhat small living area/sleeping area and fantastic roommates. It is all utilities included and comes to a total of 675. Less than a block from a bunch of groceries, laundromat, and the train. All in all it;s better than we could have ever dreamed. The Landlord lives in the building, is super nice, and I...think we're going to be very very happy there. It was a lot of stress of my shoulders. The only problem is that the place is available Nov. 1st. It's a little later than I would have hoped. But no matter, I finalized my temporary situation as well. I'm paying Mike's roommate's 525 for use of their couch. which is cheaper than any sublet I've seen, so I'm taking them up on their offer.
Thursday. Today. Or I guess yesterday. I woke up much later than I would have liked to an email asking me if I could come in for an interview as a hostess. So I ran to get ready and hopped on the bus. First time I've used the bus. A little scary, and so much more unpredictable than the train, but since there really aren't too many trains in Brooklyn, we'll probably end up more acquainted  I think I did well, and after I finally got a friend to grab my SS card. So finally some progress on that! I got back feeling pretty well, and decided to "treat" myself to a purchase of a pair of steel-toed combat boots at a Hispanic thrift store. They were 10 bucks, and since I'be worn holes in 2 pairs of my shoes already, it seemed like a good thing to "splurge" on. (funny that I consider 10 dollars splurging now, but for me that's bout 2 days worth of food. )
For some reason, maybe because I had no immediate stresses occupying my mind, or maybe it was because it was pouring and I was listening to the Smiths, but all of the sudden I had this overwhelming feeling of loneliness. That may seem like something that wouldn't surprise me, but to be honest I hadn't felt it until today. That's not at all to say I don't miss you guys, but I've been so busy that I haven't really had the time to dwell on the fact that, while I've got a few people to go out to clubs with, the only person that I've really got up here that is a friend is Mike. And since I'm already living on the couch, I'm trying not to inundate him or his roommates with my presence too much. But he did teach me about tattoo guns tonight, which cheered me up a great deal.
It'll get better. Once things settle in, I'll have things much more in order.
Summary. I have social life, an apartment, a job, and some connections. And I've been here 2 weeks. Not too shabby.
Goodnight boys and Girls.
Shayna

SO much to do! So little time

Alright, so before there was nothing to report. Now there's no time to report :/

So here's the recap.

-I left on the greyhound last Sunday. It was a 22 hour bus ride. But it was made better by a friend I made along the way, an older woman going back home. I didn't sleep, and we arrived in New York around
- Monday night. My bag handle broke, and I got swindled out of 5 bucks because I was stupid enough to take a guy up on his "kind" offer to help me out with it. I ended up on the wrong train and went in a circle around union square for an hour with a 40 lb bag, my camera bag, my laptop bag, and my purse. No bueno. Needless to say, I passed out the moment I got to Mike's place around 10ish after meeting his 3 lovely roommates who would (and still are) putting me up/putting up with me.
-Tuesday, the internet went out, so I wandered Manhattan making a list of places that were hiring. I bought a few necessities in the Ecuadorian district by the house, and resolved to learn more Spanish. I met the garden cats, a couple of kittens in the back yard(?).
-Wednesday Mike took me to Williamsburg. Th hipsteriest places that I've ever seen hipsters hip. Every other shop is a coffee shop. Went home, spent the night applying everywhere. That night I got a call back on a sublet that was available  so I took the chance and went. I ended up at the place around 11pm, Normally, every red flag would have gone up about seeing a house from a strange man in a  strange neighborhood, but I swallowed it. Turns out, that's just how people work here. The place was nice, just not quite what I was looking for. Got lost coming back and finally arrived at home base at almost two. Nearly gave Mike a heart attack, but it all worked out ok.
-Thursday I went out on 2 interviews. one was a bust, and one I got right on the spot. It's a canvassing position for the ACLU. It's base pay plus commission, so I'm still looking for another supplement. However, I don't have my SS Card. Never needed it. So I'm sending a friend over tomorrow actually to retrieve it from the depths of the boxes in Wes's garage. Thursday is also when another issue came to a head. I had 10 dollars. Considering that was from 80 I came here with, minus 1time buy materials (soap, a towel, a blanket, etc.) not too bad.
------a bit of backing up here, when I left, I was told this. With the money Jordan was making, I would receive a 100 per week stipend (more if needed) deposited starting with Jordan's first paycheck. Come to find that this was not what was happening. Jordan had a 70 dollar paycheck for 2 weeks. Misunderstandings and tempers flared and nothing was resolved after the conversation, which left me scared, feeling alone, and essentially penniless. I freaked out and went to sleep thinking I was going to have to spend the last of Jordan's money on a bus ticket home.
- By Friday, things were resolved. I had money in my account, and I was back on track. It's too messy to really explain, but it was a he said/she said situation that ended with Jordan's friend chewing him out a bit and Jordan resenting me a bit for it. I went to a few more interviews and got ready for my first night of TRASH! since my first visit. I was nervous, but all in all, I pulled it off. I made a new friend, a model from the Bronx, and caught the eye of the host of the party. I also got hit on and grabbed a LOT by the end of the night, but Keny (the model) rescued me in the worst of situations. I got home around 7 am and woke up bright and early
-Saturday Morning to find that I had no emails, no calls and realized even New York has weekends. So I rested. I needed it. I did however meet up with another friend, Kathrine, and we entertained ourselves at a bar the was Dr. Who themed. Pretty sure I didn't leave Brooklyn that day, which was a nice change.
-Sunday was much of the same. I did some headshots of Mike with a lot of outtakes involving accidental kitten butt out back, then he and I went to a movie about/not about Scientology in the way that Velvet Goldmine is about/not about David Bowie. We talked, and I saw a little more of Brooklyn. And running-jumped into my first train.
-Monday was up and go again.I met with a comedian named Jose, did his headshots in exchange for paying referrals, saw him perform at an improv show, met his partner Evan, did some Karaoke, and ended up sorta joining their impromptu improv group (say that 5 times fast)
- Tuesday (today) I had my first sorta bad time since I got here. It's a lot of droll material to go over, but basically, heels and rain do not mix, especially on your way to an interview for a job that they didn't tell you you needed prior experience for. Also, Staples charges 50 cents per page to copy....
But! I'm getting ready to go out, since Keny (the model from Trash) invited me to Le Souc Harem...which as far as I can tell is a Middle Eastern/dubstep/dive club. Free entry and our own table! We'll see how this goes...

Damn. That is a WALL of text. I guess I'll try updating more consistently or cutting out unimportant things.
Till next time! <3

Long Days

I've been up to my chin in schoolwork, so not too much research has been done. Maybe I'll set some time aside this weekend.
However, by sheer accident, I found this website: Humansofnewyork.com
It follows a photographer who takes portraits of people around New York. Some simple, some extreme.
It was nice to find though since everything I've looked at regarding New York has been practical.
I was able remind myself one of the core reasons I am leaving. The experience. In fact, it sort of pushed me to want to research a little more since I sort of got discouraged after I received almost no emails out of however many I ended up getting through.
With my boyfriend slowly feeling more comfortable about the move, there's nothing stopping me with plowing full speed ahead. Well, you know, except for life here and now.
Speaking of , I should probably be studying for that math test tomorrow.
Till next time,
Strixx

Day 1. Research

So I am considering this Day 1. I've emailed so many photographers in the NYC area that I can't keep them straight anymore.
I got a positive response from a newspaper called the Uptown Collective.
http://www.uptowncollective.com/
I won't actually be LIVING uptown, but that doesn't matter too much.
The other minor problem is they seem to be a young paper. And as such, their contributors are unpaid. But they do offer exposure.
From my previous experience working for the Capital City Villager in town, it'll also mean that I'll be meeting other professionals who are working on the project in their spare time, as well as getting an in to certain events. What better way to learn about my new city than with a press pass?

Unlike Cap. City (while I love them dearly), that exposure might actually MEAN something in New York. It's not the best option, but it's a start.
Here's to many more open doors,
Shayna