Revisiting the past

In Warren, a moment or two from 8 Mile and Van Dyke, there's a side street that goes back to my childhood.  Twenty years pass and I drive there to see firsthand what I missed.  The yard out in front of our apartment is exactly what I imagined, but homes beyond it never stuck with me.  Maybe I was never tall enough to see over the that treeless hill or the windows in our place.  Behind that shielding front passenger seat of our beat up car, I imagined a butterfly of highways, looping over and over, somehow branching out to our parking lot.  Each time we'd head home, I'd ask my mother, with what must have been genuine naivete, "Are we going back to America?"  That's what I knew that place as.  Some things seem so crystal clear when you're a kid.

Post Europe

Just two months ago, I was in London's Trafalgar Square witnessing a bicycle and moterbike rally, walking past St. Paul's Cathedral on my way to the Tate Modern, and buying groceries for dinner from a Sainsbury's supermarket.  I spent more time in Europe than I've been back in the United States so far.  This comes to me as a shock when I ponder it.  For part of May and all of June/July, I studied abroad through school, visiting cultural capitals in Europe.  Immediately following, I spent the month of August with family in Romania.  Despite courses concluding, I was still traveling nearly non-stop.  Since then, I moved to Ypsilanti, across from Eastern's campus with plans to graduate this coming winter.

I put up a new website for my portfolio and resume recently at www.alexmandrila.com.  Some friends from my portfolio class and I are putting on a show at the University of Michigan Union Art Lounge, lasting through the month of November.  Our reception is this Saturday, from 6:30 - 8:30pm.  I'm excited for the experience handling shows.

What the deal?

Only nineteen days left until I’m flying the coop. I’ll be gone from May 20th until September 3rd, less than a week before fall classes. I still don’t think it’s hit me yet. Each day I’ll wake up and think as far as that night, who to call and what to cook for dinner. I’ve had quite a lapse in blogging as well. Since Philadelphia, I visited friends and a lot of art in New York, finished building a coffee table, had work in two campus galleries, and finished off the semester (with a spill, if you know what I mean). A good friend of mine got in a bicycling accident. He's doing OK. I've been visiting in the hospital. I’ve also managed to find a fine amount of work, despite leaving soon.

So, what the hell am I doing? I’m studying abroad for ten weeks, taking twelve credit hours worth of classes while visiting ten countries. The trip begins in London, England and ends in Istanbul, Turkey. After this I’ll be spending roughly a month in Romania, where my extended family resides. I’ll have my camera with me, always. If I haven’t asked for your address already, you should give it to me, now. Postcards.

 

Philadelphia

Last week was our spring break and though early March isn't quite warm like spring I had a fantastic time in Philadelphia. I volunteered at the Society for Photographic Education National Conference and met a lot of great people. We had somewhere around 150 volunteers total and although I only got to meet a portion of them, it was nice getting to know people who care so much about the medium. I also made some connections with professors. I'm already planning on going again next year, which will be in Atlanta. In Philly I slept at Apple Hostels, this place off of Market on Bank Street. I never stayed at a hostel before and didn't know what to expect. Everyone I met was nice and most were from out of the country, here to visit the east coast and returning shortly after. I also got to see Kristen and her boyfriend Jon, who moved there just last summer. I only stayed four nights but Philly already started feeling like home.

Mobile

First post from the phone. Apparently I can only send square images to the blog via this program, but oh well. I'll just have to get really good at visualizing things cropped. Despite it being a snow day, the news must go on. This proves rather lucky for the tomato plants I started growing in my office and keep forgetting to water. I think it's been four months since I started growing them from seed. Sadly I won't be there to see them make delicious fruit in the spring and summer, so if you're interested in one let me know.

Emigrating

Moving has been a prominent part of my life since I was young. I seem to do it a lot yet. Last week I moved to the other side of town. Now I'm moving several towns away. I'll probably move again after summer. Do you know the difference between emigrating and immigrating?

I'm hopefully going to Philadelphia for spring break this year. I signed up to volunteer at the Society for Photographic Education. Eight hours of commitment and afterward I'm free to hear lectures and meet interesting people. It's an eleven hour car ride from here. If anyone is headed in that direction, let me know.

My whole impetus for moving home is saving money. I'm due to travel in Europe this summer and my last stop is Romania. Oh man, the homeland. Among things, I have a brother to meet and a history to rebuild. Perhaps I'll even change my voicemail for when I'm gone. It would be something ridiculous, I'll promise.