The decision to move to New York City came very quickly, but made the most sense. I am due to graduate in September of 2014, so I needed to sort out what I wanted to do. I have already set aside 2 weeks in December over Christmas to think things through. I'm arming myself with a pen and a notebook, and while I relax with the beautiful views of Cape Town, South Africa surrounding me with the company of my brother and his fiancee, I plan on making some very important decisions. No Internet, no email, no phone. Just me, my mind and my decisions that need to be made...and fiction books of course.
Coming from Perth, Western Australia, I am used to isolation. It's not that it is that small. A population of 2 million is still competitive for jobs. But as the people of Perth always say, 6 degrees of separation in the world, 2 degrees in Perth. It is the most isolated city in the world (except for Hawaii, but ocean doesn't really count). From this comes the name of my blog, Isolation to Empire. Pretty self explanatory.
And here I am, wanting to spend the good part of my 20s in a city with over 8.8 million people. As soon as I start telling people, I know they're going to say I'm crazy. Which is why I haven't told anyone yet. I guess I want to make my own decisions uninfluenced by people's negativity.
As an PR student, I am aware of all the opportunities that New York City has. And all the competition to go with those opportunities.
I have spent time away from home, even in the U.S. I lived in Wilmington, North Carolina for 6 months when I was 18. But I was staying with a family. Amazing people. But I later realised I didn't have all the freedom I craved. I have some, at aged 21, but I also have an urge to do something big. Dramatic. Crazy. Different. I'll stop speaking in staccato now.
Now the big question. What do I do to prepare myself for the big move to the Big City? I have just under a year. Heaps of time, really. But as much as I'd love to say I was one of those spontaneous, jump off a cliff people, I'm not. I make calculated decisions. Think through all the risks. Which is why I have already begun saving money, just in case I don't get a job, or get one that doesn't pay enough for me to live in Manhattan (which would be ideal). I need shelter and food. So the plan is for me to have enough to survive at least 3 months without a job. And if luck were to bless me with a well-paying PR job, it would still take time to get a social security number and a bank account for my first pay cheque.
Lots to think about. And lots to plan.
