agnoster: New Year's resolution

Yitz aka Isaac Wasileski (

agnoster) wrote,
@ 2008-02-02 17:30:00

New Year's resolution
I made a New Year's resolution. I mean, not really. I don't make New Year's resolutions, but I did more or less make a decision for this year: I'm leaving the USA.

I'm not certain exactly what I'm doing next. There are lots of tempting possibilities: going back to Berlin, maybe doing a start-up with my friend Julius. Going to Dublin, get in touch with my Irish roots (now that I've done that with my American roots) and work in a strong EU tech sector. Maybe do technical development aid in Morocco, learn some Arabic, do some good.

Right now the most likely is, I think, go back to Berlin and finally get my German citizenship. It's something I've been putting off for a while (since having a US citizenship helps when you want to work here), but gosh, it would be nice to vote in a real parliamentary democracy. And my German has gotten noticeably rusty, which always leaves me shaken - this is the language of my home, and I don't even speak it any more? That's scary.

Why now? Well, in October I'll have lived in SF for three years, after living in Chicago for three. I can tell I'm getting more an more American - when Ron Paul starts to sound like he's making some good points, that's one way to know. It's getting harder and harder to leave. I have fantastic friends I don't want to leave behind, but ultimately, I don't want to settle down in America, so I don't want to get stuck there. Every reason to stay is becoming a reason to leave, now before it's too late.

So I'm starting to think - what's on my checklist? If I have less than a year in America, what should I do? Learn to drive? Road-trip across the country? See the Grand Canyon or Yosemite or something?

EDIT: Everyone seems to agree, road trip. Have to admit, a "Goodbye, America!" road trip around the country, visiting friends, maybe having them tag along for bits, is sounding better and better!

(Post a new comment)

	violetblues 2008-02-02 05:42 pm UTC (link)
	Definitely road trip. It's what I want to do when I finally visit America :) (Reply to this)

	talentedmrraber 2008-02-02 06:50 pm UTC (link)
	I second that road trip emotion. Learn to drive (preferably out in the 'burbs where there are fewer hazards), then rent a car from a national agency, take a massive road trip to all of your preferred tourist destinations and to the homes of your far-flung friends (hint, hint), drop the car off at the JFK airport lot, and fly off into the sunrise. (Reply to this)

	annabananaface 2008-02-02 08:44 pm UTC (link)
	Road trips are a ton of fun. Also, they are (in some sense) the quintessential American experience). You are welcome to my fold out couch in San Diego. (Reply to this)

	alenia_dalime 2008-02-02 09:25 pm UTC (link)
	you're leaving before i get to move to san fran? that's sad. Also, h and I are planning some cali xploring over the summer on weekends (after i figure out what i'm doing, of course) and i'm sure you'll be able to hitch a ride. (Reply to this)

	dragonladyflame 2008-02-02 10:49 pm UTC (link)
	Call me if you're roadtripping! I've done so many of them, and they're so awesome. I might accompany you for bits, if you want company. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	agnoster 2008-02-02 11:09 pm UTC (link)
	Hmm... this is sounding like a better and better plan all the time! A "goodbye america" road-trip, picking up and dropping off friends along the way... has potential! (Reply to this)(Parent)

'merkuh! alright!

garish_walls
2008-02-02 10:54 pm UTC (link)

1. Purchase monstrous, masculinity-asserting, absurdly fuel-inefficient vehicle

2. Decorate with truck nuts and "Support Our Troops" stickers

3. Climb flagpole in the middle of the night with Bowie knife in mouth, cut down American flag

4. Drive several hundred miles over gorgeous terrain, crushing it

5. Spread American flag on ground, sit upon.

6. Drink Budweiser, tip cow, eat it.

7. Pound chest and yell.

You'll notice that nowhere on that list is anything so pansy-assed as "Learn to drive".

(Reply to this)(Thread)

	Re: 'merkuh! alright! garish_walls 2008-02-02 10:58 pm UTC (link)
	oh and btw, road tripping to Chicago for Scav is totally acceptable. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: 'merkuh! alright! agnoster 2008-02-02 11:07 pm UTC (link)
	I'm probably not going to know how to drive in time for that... and would entail taking more time off than I'd anticipated. But... if there were interest in a road-trip to scavhunt... (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: 'merkuh! alright! garish_walls 2008-02-02 11:24 pm UTC (link)
	...if there were interest in a road-trip to* scavhunt* Oh, there were all right. err. There is, I mean. Dude. What if we rally all the west-coast alumni, rent a coupla vehicles, and form a caravan? plots Could be awesome. Could be really awesome. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	joaniechachi 2008-02-03 02:57 am UTC (link)
	Road trips are good. So is the Minnesota State Fair. I've told you already I want you to come, but I want to get it on the official record here: Come to the Fair with me! (Reply to this)

	uthabiti 2008-02-04 06:25 am UTC (link)
	You have definitely been in the United States too long if you habitually call it "America." >_< Put that on your checklist - "Learn the difference between 'U.S.' and 'America.'" The latter is an entire landmass encompassing 2 continents - it's not a country. [/end pedantic rant] ;-D (Reply to this)(Thread)

agnoster
2008-02-05 01:06 pm UTC (link)

You're thinking of "The Americas". There is no land-mass called "America", merely "North America" and "South America", collectively known as "The Americas" - much as you do not refer to "North Dakota" and "South Dakota" as "Dakota" - but possibly "The Dakotas". "America" may refer to either the "United States of America" (much as "Germany" is a very convenient short-hand for "The Federal Republic of Germany"), or "The Americas" - though neither is technically correct, the former is quite common, and not only in the USA.

If you're going to be pedantic, you better be 100% sure of what you're saying. People in glass houses...

(For that matter, using "United States" as you did assumes there is only one "United States" - namely, the United States of America. Completely disregards the Estados Unidos Mexicanos, for instance.)

I'll see your ";-D" and raise you a "LOL"

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

uthabiti
2008-02-06 08:36 am UTC (link)

Nope, the primary definition of America is the two continent-encompassing landmass. It's even defined as such, in Merriam-Webster, for example. America is used as a collective term in dozens of American countries, but most anglos have pluralized it to "the Americas," and as a colloquialism most of the world has followed their lead. Of course, much of the world has also taken up "American" as a colloquial demonym for U.S. citizens, though common usage doesn't dictate accuracy.

As for the United Mexican States, it at least has a correct shorthand denotation, mexicáno, or even shorter, chicano. Besides, Mexico really should be Aztlán, but that's a whole other issue. ;-)

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	bewlay_brother 2008-02-18 07:29 am UTC (link)
	Of course, much of the world has also taken up "American" as a colloquial demonym for U.S. citizens, though common usage doesn't dictate accuracy. Actually, it pretty much by definition does. Otherwise we'd all be referring to our Norman dictionaries to determine what words "really mean." (Reply to this)(Parent)

	road trip jeanpaul.myopenid.com 2008-02-05 12:09 am UTC (link)
	definitely road trip. coast to coast, definitely through the southwest, hopefully not in summer. heck you should hike one of the great trails (PCT,or Appalachian) (Reply to this)

	likeasailor 2008-02-05 11:48 am UTC (link)
	if you've never been, holy shit you have to see the grand canyon. i would also demand that you ride a chicago critical mass with me. last friday of every month. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	agnoster 2008-02-05 12:56 pm UTC (link)
	You know - that's the same thing a dude I met in a pub in Brighton yesterday told me. He said I'd be mad not to go to the Grand Canyon. (Not that I should do critical mass - I mean, I don't even have a bike!) (Reply to this)(Parent)

Mini Sitemap:

Username:		Create an Account Forgot your login? Login w/ OpenID
Password:
	Remember Me
	English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…