"Counter Culture, where are you?" or "Where have all the PoMos gone?"

Last night/this morning I had an AMAZING conversation with some pretty amazing people. The setting was coffee shop called "Kudo Beans" in the East Village of NYC (the corner of 3rd St. and 1st Ave.) The time is the witching hour. This quaint coffee shop was nothing out of the ordinary, the same cast of characters were present; there were hipster baristas, suits with lattes, students with coffee of the day in one hand and homework in another, and random sleeping bum-like people. These people served more to add to the setting, rather than interact with the actors of this scene (those being five teachers, Tamy, Brian, Maggie, Sarah, Emily, and myself.)

A mostly eaten chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting and chocolate sprinkles sits crumbling on a white saucer. The 5 teachers sit around two small circular tables and without knowing it, they enter a conversation inquiring the whereabouts of counter culture (at first, specifically in NYC, but later, it clearly shifts to counter culture in general).

The question of counter culture is borne from a discussion of gentrification (though the word is never said).

If we understand the last example of counter culture to be the starving artists living in the East Village and Alphabet City (think along the lines of Rent), where are they now? And we aren't asking where have they moved physically, that is easy answered; they moved to Williamsberg in Brooklyn. The cruz of the question is not only where is counter culture but WHO is cc? Are hipsters the new cc? We say probably not since hipsters are generally trust fund kids who can afford (literally) to "slum" it a bit, but live in places with cute neighborhoods near actual slums but far enough so they are not actually touched by the poverty (i.e. SoBro as opposed to the South Bronx). These are generally described as up and coming neighborhoods by real estate agents.

Nothing was resolved, and everyone had their speculations as to where cc could be found.

Good times.

Sad...

Spring Break is half over, which means that my time in Minnesota is coming to an end. Every time I have to leave, it kind of hurts. I think of all the people I am leaving behind and all of the events that pass me by. Not just with my friends, but with my family as well. I never get to see all the people I want to see for as long as I want to see them. Bumping into people randomly feels very sad because then it becomes, "well, why didn't I call them?" in my head (and if I'm unlucky, in their head too).

Moving to NYC was not a mistake. It was my time to go and the wanderlust is being taken care of. I am missing a lot in MN while in NYC, but this seems right. I know I don't have to make a decision now, but what if I want to stay in NYC for a long time? What if I find someone in NYC and want to go back to MN, can I make it work? What if after TFA, I still don't know what I am going to do?

Only time will tell... (cliche)

My goal: before the end of the month: ask someone on a date.

Definately Feeling Better

I am feeling much better now that I have my own room. I didn't know it would have such a profound affect on me, but I can feel how I am more effective just by being in a space of my own. It isn't the best looking room, and sure, the tables are BOLTED to the ground, but it's mine. No one else's. Teacher's have a hard time sharing. :) I am really excited for Spring Break. I am going home and it will be glorious. I will get to see my family and friends, and I cannot possibly think of a better way to spend Easter Break. I need this bad. I will be back in NYC half way through the break to get work done and figure out my game plan for the year. Not much to say, just wish I were doing more intellectually stimulating things. I feel like spending so much time with children is detramental to my IQ.