So I am back in Harlem, and it’s a shocking adjustment. I’ve been here many times before, but never from the perspective of one that will call it home for a while. It’s certainly not your mom’s Park Slope. But then, what more difference is there besides people selling ice-cold water louder, and my choice of incense and perfume every 5 feet of side-walk?
It’s already been 4 whole days since leaving Germany, and beyond some browsing and information-gathering, the job search has been quite superficial. What I really can’t wait for is moving into our more permanent digs. I need that feeling of “establishment” finally. A place for my toes to sink into, at least until the next high-tide comes up.
The exit from Germany wasn’t a clean one. Lots of battles, lots of faxes being sent, lots of problems. Reflecting back on it all, it was a huge pain in the ass to live there. It just was. But at the same time, I don’t regret my time there whatsoever. I smashed so many bastards, machete’d through so many bureaucracies, had the best working colleagues one could ask for, and did a damn good job at my trade. It was a cool year-and-a-half, in spite of everything.
But now, it’s time to start again, and this time on my home turf. I have no idea what’s waiting for me here, but then again, I didn’t know that when I went to Germany either. And that worked out in the end.
