Stranger in a Strange Land

Climate Control

2011-04-21T11:51:00.003-04:00

They seriously need to knock that sh-t off. We've got the AC running in our office building today so it's freezing here, whilst outside it's all of 54 degrees (that's 12 for you centigrade people out there). Do you really think you need to cool the building in that kind of climate!? I (obviously) don't. And multiply that with a gazillion because this sh-t goes on in pretty much every office and public building around the world. We're depleting Mother Earth in a rapid pace, and to whose benefit? No ones! Who makes these decisions, anyway? The friggin' energy companies big oil and dirty coal?

It breaks my heart, and not in a Regina Spector sort of way.

I contacted our Office Services department, always something, I guess.

Cabrito

2010-12-23T20:41:00.004-05:00

I recently read on a blog that Cabrito is closing. Now that's a shame! I happened to be in New York (or Nueva York, more appropriately) last May fifth for the EU admissions test. After the test I walked Manhattan for a good two hours looking for that perfect spot to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. And I found it with Cabrito! They had shucked all their furniture and poured I don't know how many tons of sand on the floor, and had Mexican beer, tequila, and flautas specials. The sun was shining and I had a great afternoon there. Now, what's going to happen to the pink goat? And I guess I'll have to hang out at Fatty Cue, they're way closer, after all.

Brussels sprouts

2010-12-05T21:10:00.004-05:00

After over a month in New York, with job hunting and house hunting and discovering a phenomenal city, I have a lot to write about, but for now I'll stick to Brussels sprouts. I was at the McCarren Park Farmers Market yesterday and picked up some super nice sprouts, and cooked them today in a marvelous way that I'd like to share. Together with some carrots, quartered onions, whole garlic cloves and chili peppers, I charred them in olive oil and butter, with some salt and paprika powder. Towards the end I added some Szechuan pepper. Served them on a bed of freekeh, boiled with salt and Old Bay seasoning. It was soo good, the sprouts melting in the mouth. Charring is the key here, way better than boiling or steaming them. Thanks to Brian for the suggestion, I was originally planning on just frying them. That came out of a great brunch at The Diner (where I had scrapple for the first time), with good conversations on food and restaurants.

As for New York, I'm loving every minute of it. Got a job recently, started last week as a Reporting Analyst for J.Crew. It's a temp job through an agency, but still great. Easy commute with two stops on the M line in the Greenwich Village, too.

Marketing myself

2010-10-27T12:11:00.003-04:00

In today's competitive environment you have to market yourself. So far I've done that with business cards and a website. Now I'm adding search advertising:

Brooklyn bound, or Going home

2010-10-07T13:12:00.004-04:00

Back in August, when I returned to Costa Rica after a month in Europe, the immigration officer in Miami, where I connected, was giving me the usual hard time. I had my travel document (which enables me to stay outside of US for up to two years without risking losing my permanent residency) and was passing through the US. After deliberating with his supervisor he eventually gave me the stamp and the wave, and sent me off with a "Welcome home". It was so nice to hear!

Maybe so nice that I now take heed. In less than two weeks I say goodbye to Costa Rica and move to New York. When I get there I'll be staying in a hostel for a few weeks, but once it's time to find a real home, I'm considering Brooklyn, hence the title. I don't have a job there yet, but am busy looking and will initially spend most of my time trying to get exposure to the job market. So if you know of anything please let me know!

It's sad to leave Costa Rica and Erin behind, I've had some seriously good times here, but at the end of the day I just didn't manage making a living here. However, I'm looking forward to be living in New York, the city I always said I would one day live in. Well, guess what!?

Latest reads

2010-08-04T13:02:00.003-04:00

It's been a while, so here's a catch-up of what I've been reading the last months.

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr, Welcome to the Monkey House

Craig, a doorman at the Tam, was always reading and highly recommending him, and since I had only read his Slaughterhouse Five before I wanted to read some more. This is a great short story collection, from which I only knew about Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow from before, but it's a solid collection with lots of good stories in there.

Louis de Bernières, Birds Without Wings

I've read him before, The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts and Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord, I believe, and really likes his style. This novel is set in Turkey and really captures the moods, geography, and history well (or at least so it feels like).

W Somerset Maugham, Collected Short Stories vol 1, 2, 4

As you perhaps can tell I really wanted to read some Somerset Maugham. He's great and the short story format really suits him. Excellent travel writing, it takes you away to wherever he is, be it Malaysia, India, or London. Three volumes of short stories (the library thankfully didn't have vol 3 or I'd read that, too), is a bit much to handle, though.

Henry Miller, Tropic of Cancer

My first book by Miller. I had something completely different in mind, must have confused him with someone else, Nelson Algren perhaps, but I've read him so shouldn't be. I thought it was going to be more polished, but this is some pretty gritty stuff. Good book though!

Henry Miller, Black Spring

My library didn't have Tropic of Capricorn so I continued my Miller feast with this one. Don't really remember it to be honest, but I think it was good.

Henry Miller, The Colossus of Maroussi

The last book of Miller my library had so I snagged that as well. Great travel writing, really puts him up there with Ryszard Kapuściński, Bruce Chatwin, and Robert Byron.

Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses

McCarthy as you know him, western style, set on the border (across and on both sides) between USA and Mexico. Tough guys with set minds and their adventures. Not as good as Blood Meridian or The Road, though.

Cormac McCarthy, The Crossing

The second installment of his Border Trilogy, unfortunately the library doesn't have the third, Cities of the Plain. Good read just like the first, but I fell pretty done with McCarthy at this point.

Elmore Leonard, Cuba Libre

Felt like I had heard of this so picked it up. Kind of fun, sort of like a western set in Cuba, good beach read I guess, but nothing to make fuss about.

Franz Kafka, In the Penal Colony

Ah, Kafka. I'm a big fan. Read anything he's written. This novel is short, too, so you'll have it done with in no-time.

Michael Chabon, Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Chose it much for the cover and for The Yiddish Policemen's Union, which I read a while back. Entertaining reading, all about the rise and fall of the comic world. Some nods to the greats like Stan Lee.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The First Circle

I first read Solzhenitsyn bumming around Greece, it was One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, and have since read The Cancer Ward and The Gulag Archipelago (but not The Red Wheel, which is supposed to be good, has anyone read it?), and they have all been really good. The First Circle didn't disappoint. Well written in an engaging way he makes you feel for the prison inmates as well as the guards and the politicians that put them there.

Nathaniel Hawthorne, The House of the Seven Gables

I'm just going to come out and say it, Hawthorne is overrated. Sure, it was an OK book, had a few memorable passages, but all in all, not worthy the epitaph a classic. Which goes for his The Scarlet Letter as well, I think, even though it was ages since I read it and it was forced reading in school which tends to turn books into less desirable.

Bob Dylan, Chronicles, volume one

I've never been much for biographies, have nothing against them (as long as you care at least a bit about the person, of course, there are far too many b-list types out there with their memoirs, just like every president or prime minister has to have one these days), just never got into them. This is pretty good though, expected more from the writing but the topics are interesting and give a view of the sometimes troubled and doubting artist, all's not always well with the legends.

I keep plugging away at the library, I'm at S now. If you have better access to books than I do and are looking for book recommendations, I can recommend Flashlight Worthy, he has tons of good stuff for you.

The emotional roller coaster that is life

2010-07-19T18:40:00.002-04:00

Last Thursday was my birthday, and what a great birthday it was! I felt so loved and special from my friends and family, thank you all for your congratulations and best wishes. Erin and Roshaney surprised with a princess cake, they had slaved over it for three days and it was absolutely yummy. Ben was visiting from Boston so the two of us first spent the day in San Jose checking out the sights. After champagne and cake at our place we went to Lubnan, a Lebanese place in San Jose, for dinner. "We" were the aforementioned along with Robert who came down from Monteverde and Shira. After dinner, a great table-spread of mezes, we were planning on going to Rapsodia, a lounge nearby, for some dancing, but it was completely dead and closing up. So instead we hopped a cab and went to El Pueblo, a labyrinth of bars and night clubs we had heard of but never visited. Sort of like Ios town. We ended the night with an impromptu dance party in our home. The day after me and Ben went to Jacó beach for two days, and by the time we came back Ren had joined from Argentina and the fun continued. Ben left yesterday, Rob today, and now we're back to more normal.

So today is your regular work day. I keep browsing for jobs and applying left and right. Today I found out I didn't make the cut for the EU administration program. I scored 35 out of 40 on their admissions test, and you needed 36 or better to have a chance. So that was a three-month process that ended in defeat, and also, I'm sad to say, disbelief. Because if I'm not even smart enough to work as an entry-level administrator in Brussels, how can I expect to be a top-tier Major Trend Analyst? And I'm not asking that to earn your pity, I really want to know.

Google Docs

2010-06-23T14:05:00.004-04:00

I've been using Google Docs for years. I've found it very convenient when you don't have a "home" computer and are moving around a lot, physically and between work stations/computers. Everywhere you go, as long as there's an Internet connection, you have access to all your documents.

I have personal stuff in there, such as job applications, diplomas, unfinished poems and novels (OK, novel), party invitation lists and whatnot. I have public stuff in there, such as various reports and articles I have come across and found interesting.

And I don't have it backed up. Figured why? Google will take care of that.

But I had never anticipated this message:

We're sorry.

You can't access this spreadsheet because it is in violation of our Terms of service.

That's what I saw when I tried opening my Google spreadsheet called "Jobb", where I have stored ALL info about companies and organizations and their contact info and job sites, application processes and statuses, and more. There are hundreds of organizations and dozens of job applications tracked there.

And now it's gone? I can't open it, I can't download it. And why is it in violation of Google's Terms of service? Beats me.

It could be it's a temporary error, I hope and believe it is, but even so, might be time to reconsider my strategy here.

UPDATE: It was a bug and is now fixed, what a relief!

The geography of Gaza support

2010-06-01T17:17:00.002-04:00

I'm struck with the geography of the recorded protests following the Israeli attack on the Ship to Gaza flotilla. With the notable exceptions of Turkey, Egypt, and the Philippines, all protests occur in western Europe, US and Canada, and Australia. That's it. Nothing in Central or South America, nothing (else) in Africa or Asia. Not sure of the significance here, but I'm sure there must be some.

May Day

2010-05-02T13:18:00.002-04:00

Sometimes I forget where in the world I'm living, but yesterday I was reminded. Popped in to San Jose to catch a little May Day action; marches, speeches and concerts, and sitting in Plaza de la democracia I listen to a protest singer singing about uniting Central America into one country, while I look up at the green hills surounding the town. With vibes of Victor Jara and Mikael Viehe it really felt like I was in Central America at the time. Which I was.

Zenith

2010-04-20T14:18:00.002-04:00

Last Thursday I got to experience the sun in zenith for the first time of my life! I was a bit nervous because the day was super cloudy, but around 1130 they opened up and the sun peeked out, just enough. Kind of a cool feeling, even though I obviously couldn't tell that the sun was in zenith, just kind of around there. And I couldn't tell the sun position on Thursday from Wednesday or Friday, but I knew it was in zenith and that was what mattered. Next time here is 27Aug, but then I will probably be in Sweden.

I used data from the US Naval Observatory to find the day and time, but there are more out there.

Green Sunset Festival

2010-04-20T14:04:00.003-04:00

Went to a grassy field somewhere between San José and the airport this past Sunday. It was Green Sunset, a reggae festival. It sure was. Lots and lots of rasta, green-yellow-red, big-printed loose-fitting clothing, pot smoke and what have you when you have reggae. As a series of concerts it wasn't that great, far too long between the bands and the bands weren't that great. Neither was really Black Uhuru, the headliner, perhaps they should have folded eons ago, but it was nice to hear some old tunes. In terms of festival, though, it was pretty great. The sun was out in force, everybody were in a great mood, concession stands weren't overpriced, the veggie dish was great.

Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional

2010-04-17T11:53:00.003-04:00

Last night I went to their second concert of the season. The evening concert was different from the earlier day one through the clothing of the musicians, now they were wearing the more traditional black tie. The program:

Giuseppe Mega, Director Invitado
Jens Lindemann, Trompetista

Schubert Sinfonía "Inconclusa" en si menor D 759
Haydn Concierto para trompeta en Mi bemol Mayor
Frank Proto Fantasía Carmen para trompeta y orquesta
Mendelssohn Sinfonía No. 4 Italiana Op.90

The concert started rather weak, I didn't agree with the pausation, it was as if Mega tried to deconstruct the symphony. But Lindemann is a showman and managed to bring it back. For Haydn, he came out in a red glittering smoking jacket, showing it off. After the break, when it was time for Proto, he came out on stage in a blue smoking jacket. I haven't heard of Proto before, and am not really a fan of variations, I'm more of a minimalist type, why say with ten notes what you can say with three? The ideal poem only consists of one word. Anyway, it was fun, and I think it was the first time I have partaken in a concert and the first time I've seen a spinning bass at a classical concert.

What happened was that to begin Proto, Lindemann stomp his foot and yelled Olé! Later on, he stomped his foot and pointed to the orchestra who then yelled Olé! So when he stomped his foot and pointed to the audience there wasn't much to do more than yell Olé! And after Proto, Lindemann came out, invited one of the first bass player to the front and jammed some jazz with him, where he then spun the bass. An old white-bearded, a little subdued old man, quite the thrill!

The last movement of Mendelssohn was superb, so at the end of the night Mega was forgiven for his deconstructivism, and the symphony was forgiven for their slip-ups.

This weekend is Red + Green Sunset Festival, today is world music and electronica and tomorrow reggae, from 2P and onwards, but the rain is coming down pretty heavy so I think I'll sit those out. Too bad, I was really looking forward to it.

What's in a name?

2010-04-09T18:55:00.002-04:00

A whole lot, according to the Kabalarians, a Canadian group I first heard about a few weeks ago. Through March and April they offer a free name report, that tells you who you are and what you should do based on your name and birth date. Sounds like a horoscope but I've been amazed at the accuracy, so I urge you to go there and check it out for yourself.

My own report begins thus:

The name of Filip gives you a very idealistic nature. You find very few who live up to your high ideals; in fact, you do not yourself at all times. Your desire for peace and harmony causes you to withdraw from friction. You are quite reserved in many ways, and as a boy extremely sensitive and self conscious.

Judge for yourself...

Volcanoes and earthquakes

2010-04-08T16:48:00.003-04:00

Erin and I celebrated Easter not only by going to church but also by visiting Volcan Poás. Really cloudy when we got there and the smoke welling up from the crater wasn't just sulphuric but obscured the view as well. But all of a sudden the wind changed and we got a beautiful and clear view of the volcano. We then went back over to a lake nearby, which we couldn't see the first time either, and lo and behold it was clear, too! Five hour bus rides for three hours in the park turned out to be well worth it. Just wish I would have brought a book.

And last week I felt my first earthquake! Just a small one, but sitting on the couch it all of a sudden it definitely started to shake, and did so for about ten seconds. Pretty exciting to feel the force of the earth like that!

Sports

2010-04-08T16:34:00.005-04:00

There's been a lot of sports (again) in my life lately. Last week I caught Arsenal-Barcelona at my new favorite bar, La Embajada in San Jose. Great game, too bad Zlatan's two goals didn't make for a win. Unfortunately I missed the return but learned that Messi shot Barcelona to the semi-finals.

I followed up by going to the Costa Rican El Classico, La Liga-Saprissa, in Alajuela last Sunday. It was insane. I get there a little early and stand on one of the blocked off streets just like all other goers. Police everywhere. All of a sudden the police grab a rope and start herding us to - nowhere but another police line. What to do? I laugh in disbelief and make for the entrance. SvFF would have been pale had they seen what was going on inside. Fire works, torches, Bengal fires. To the point where the artificial turf caught fire and they had to break the game for ten minutes. At which point some fans throws in a bomb to the field which goes off with a really loud boom. And the game is even further delayed. La Liga, the Alajuela team, win by 1-0 and I don't stick around to see what happens next but book it to the bus station and go home.

And now baseball season is back! I found live feeds for the first Red Sox-Yankees game but didn't watch it, nice comeback I learned. The second game I intended to watch but couldn't find any feeds. So for the third I didn't take any chances but went to a sports bar in Escazu I didn't know existed. Good game albeit we lost in extra innings. And I met some Swedes there, that was a nice surprise!

Semana Santa

2010-04-01T18:58:00.004-04:00

It is obvious that Costa Rica is more religious than either Sweden or USA, the only two other countries I have lived in for a significant period of time. I haven't had classes this week apart from Monday and Tuesday. Everybody are off work and have gone to the beach. Today I went out to run some errands, and all stores except for some grocery stores were closed, and will be so until Monday (which, however, isn't a holiday as it is in Sweden). No alcohol sales are allowed during this time, either. Tomorrow the city buses won't even run. The churches have about four masses a day from Ash Wednesday yesterday to Easter Sunday, and a lot of processions to go with them.

At the grocery store today I bought fish and bread, it felt very symbolic. And yesterday I got some candy, so Erin and I could have easter eggs. That, along with boiling some eggs, painting them, and then "picking" or perhaps "pecking", will be the Easter traditions I bring from Sweden. What are the traditions in the US, apart from gathering the family to a feast? I don't even know.

Thank you, US congress

2010-03-26T20:31:00.003-04:00

Did my US taxes the other week and just got it approved by IRS. Apart from a few unsuccesful attempts to connect with my tax professional at H&R Block it was all online, quite easy and streamlined. They're not where they are in Sweden where you can do your taxes through a text from your cell phone but nonetheless. I just want to thank US congress for passing that stimulus package last year which gave me a $400 tax rebate as a "it pays to work" bill or something. Quite nice. Sorry to say that money for me probably won't be spent in the US though...

Yoga

2010-03-26T16:36:00.003-04:00

So I finally made it to my first yoga class ever! It's a kundalini yoga that focuses on breathing so no "acrobatics" or even stretches, just breathing and some movements to go with it. It was really dificult but at the same time rewarding, it sort of felt good during and afterwards, so I think I'm going to go back for more. The instructor is Swedish, which makes it even better, right!?

Latest reads

2010-03-16T16:46:00.002-04:00

Since joining the library I've taken to browse their shelves in alphabetical order. I'm now done through B, tomorrow I'll attack C. (How James Thurber snuck in there I have no idea...)

Louis de Bernieres, Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord

Ah yes, Latin magic realism, just the way I like it! The author have also written Corelli's Mandolin so he's not unheard of, although his name didn't ring a bell for me, I only picked it up due to the title, and I'm glad I did! Apparently he's written two more books in the same style, The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts, and The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman, both of which are now on my to read-list.

Reinaldo Arenas, The Ill-fated Peregrinations of Fray Servando

Another Latin magic realism, another book I picked off the title, although this author I have heard of. He's Cuban, and Javier Bardem played him in the biographical Before Night Falls, but although it's directed by Julian Schnabel I didn't find the movie very good. But his book is!

John Berendt, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

I remember hearing about this book a good while back but then I completely forgot about it. Set in Savannah, it depicts life in a town that doesn't want to concern itself with its surroundings, and that necessarily leads to inbreed, belly button-watching and provincial insularity (tautology?). In other words, not a world in which I would like to partake, but very enjoyable to read about!

James Thurber, The Middle-Aged Man on the Flying Trapeze

A short story collection from the 50s or so, supposedly funny, but I think humor has changed a bit since. Some of the stories made me chuckle, one outright laugh, but too many left me too empty for it to be worthwhile.

St. Patrick's day

2010-03-12T20:16:00.003-05:00

I realized the other day that St. Patrick's day is coming up (March 17 for those of you who don't know, i.e. this coming Wednesday) and I promptly started searching for Irish bars in the area; there are always Irish bars in the area, no matter what area, e.g. I found one in Cuzco or some other high altitude town in Peru. So of course I found one in Escazu! It's The Pub (original name, huh?), and that's where we're going on Wednesday. Robert is coming down from Monteverde, not for that but because he has a meeting in San Jose that day, and maybe I can get my school mates to go, too, although they're Swiss and Danish. Would be fun to get a group going. I'm crossing my fingers for corned beef and cabbage, but will settle for bangers and mash or shepherd's pie.

Routines and rituals

2010-03-12T20:12:00.002-05:00

I am not a big fan of routines, I prefer to spice up the life with a little change now and then. I don't want to clean the house the same day every week, or eat the same thing for breakfast every day (although I usually do...), or stick to a strict workout schedule.

However, I am a big fan of rituals. Like reading the New Yorker with my morning coffee before starting the day, or back in Boston, having happy hour beers on Fridays at work before heading over to the Tam, no matter what the rest of the evening and weekend had in store.

But the more I think about it; what's the difference between a routine and a ritual, really? It seems to me that I put boring stuff under routines and fun stuff under rituals, but surely there must be a more profound difference than that?

Pico Blanco

2010-03-12T20:08:00.003-05:00

Towering over Escazu are three or so hill tops and Pico Blanco is one of them. Today after Spanish classes I hiked it with my school mates (have all of two!) and one of the brothers in the family running the school. The others didn't want to go to the top and since I didn't want to make them wait too long and while the sun was starting to set I pretty much jogged the last part and boy am I beat now. According to the web, Pico Blanco is 2276 meters and we started out at about 1420 meters, which would make it about 800 meters of altitude but I'm really sceptical about that, those peaks don't seem so high from here at all. Regardless, it was a great hike and I really enjoy it up there, you get some great views of Escazu and San Jose, and on clear days (not today unfortunately) you can see four volcanoes and the Pacific coast.

My new address

2010-03-04T14:48:00.001-05:00

Went to the post office today to get a postbox; when I first went in January they didn't have any available so they asked me to come back early March. At first they didn't have any now either, but then it turned out that they had available boxes, just no locks! So I went to the hardware store and bought one and then it worked fine!

Apdo. postal 1250-19-10201
Escazú, San José
Costa Rica

Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional

2010-03-02T12:18:00.003-05:00

This past weekend the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional opened their season at Teatro Nacional. I went on Sunday with Robert, Erin, and Tommy, and had a great experience. How can you not with this program:

Chosei Komatsu, D. Titular
Roger Wright, pianista

Tchaikovsky, Polonesa de Eugene Onegin
Rachmaninoff, Concierto para piano Nº 2 en do menor Op.18
Smetana, Tres danzas de La novia Vendida
Rimsky-Korsakov Capricho Español

This piano concert by Rachmaninoff is one of my favorites and Roger Wright was great on the piano, even though I noticed a few slip-ups. The setting was a little bit more relaxed then I'm used to from BSO and concerts in Sweden and rest of Europe. The musicians didn't wear any jackets, only white shirts, some of them short-sleeved, and Komatsu wore a white tux.

Lots of gringos/expats in the audience and far from sold out, I take it classical music isn't that big here. But tickets are cheap and I will definitely come back again during the season.