ohhhh markus ….

so I have been at my first wedding here in the states. almost at the end of the world (at least it felt like it) in the middle of Queens. If you have the time take the 7 train to  Fairchild station and get ready to be surprised. probably the most authentic chinese neighborhood you can see in a 500 mile radius. While Manhattan ChinaTown feels like a tourist trap sometimes, with lots of fake Gucci Bags and other stuff, this is the real thing. ALL signs are dual language, about 30% of them only chinese, (almost) no tourist shops, just normal infrastructure. quite intriguing.

The wedding itself was incredible, american/chinese cross culture one, with lion dancing, big drums and very very fancy and tasty chinese food. had a splendid time. on the way home I was truly flabbergasted by the view from the manhattan bridge over the skyline of Manhattan. it was kinda foggy/rainy and Manhattan had this kind of light aura, shining through the mist like a fancy jewel (I REALLY need a good camera phone ;)).
tomorrow I will be heading to washington for two days and afterwards to Orlando, getting some sun, therefore no updates till the new year.

Merry X-Mas to all of you (and a happy new year) 

… of my new brown Tae Kwon Do belt. below are some pics of the test. And as of now I am allowed to wear the black uniform during training. yeah!

ok, now its official, I am here (in the States) for exactly one year. and I have to admit, time is flying superfast, it seems more like 3 months. so whats my summary? hmmm, lets see …

PLUS: 

• the vibrance of the city. I haven’t really figured out anything yet, but I am starting to get an idea what this city could be about (Justice! Chemical Brothers! Bjork! Daft Punk! although I unfortunately missed the last one).
• being able to persue every hobby/sport/martial art you can imagine. currently Tae Kwon DO (just reached brown belt level).
• cheap food/sushi in Chinatown. and the most amazing food in the rest of the city.
• met the love of my life right in front of me (and lost her to London. what irony.)
• the most beautiful women in the world right around you (ok, that can be minus, too. depends on your mood)
• you can totally find and be yourself (if you are lucky)
• ability to connect to the most amazing people
• the architecture. Manhattan looks like its built by children on crack with LEGO
• you can meet incredibly talented and humble people here
• my collegues at work
• cabs. good and cheap.

MINUS:  

• I HATE HATE HATE HATE FUC*KING HATE HATE the washers here. sometimes I think if I go to the hudson with a paddle and smack my laundry the clothes get less damaged and more clean. seriously, the standard washers here are like european ones from the fifties (and I wish you luck with finding bleach free detergent). washers here are like a hole of destruction and despair.
• the smell of the soap in the office restrooms (believe me, its disgusting), luckily the changed it (or I got used to it. I don’t really want to think about it.)
• its impossible to get decent toilet paper here. When I went back to Vienna and touched austrian toilet paper I had an urgent need to cry of happiness (weird, but hey, we austrians DIG cozy 200 gazzilion layer toilet paper)
• the humidity & heat in summer (guys what were you THINKING building a city here)
• the freezing and wind in the winter and getting always two reactions when I mention that. “but you are from Austria!” - right, but I freeze there, too. “oh right, you don’t have a winter” - when people think I am from Australia.
• you can totally lose yourself and your path (if you are not so lucky)
• not being on the guest list sucks big time if you want to go out
• no success so far in finding cool non-tourist places to hang out (with NO wallstreet guys)
• the medical system. Its hillarious how much you have to pay even if you are insured.

so the important question is, do I want to stay or do I want to go back? hmm, just let me say I paid my Tae Kwon Do membership fees for the next 20 months in advance … 

today was one a model casting in the agency and the area around the coffee bar was surrounded by kinda beautiful women. I was hanging out a little bit with the creative director browsing through the portfolios of the models while they were standing next to us and guys, seriously, I was kinda shocked. of course I knew that make up and lighting can change the appearance, but that was ridiculous. the most important asset of most of the models was their size and height, with the face looking rather average. but then you took a look at the pics and *boom* a simple 6 raises to an absolutely gorgeous and heart-racing 10 (or even beyond scale).

oh, and their attitude was terrible, too. seriously guys, forget about models. its all smoke and mirrors.

or to quote judge judy: beauty fades, but stupid is forever.