Pogue Diaries: The Real World – NYC

It has been quite a while since I last posted. And just about a million things happened to me since.

Manhattan has been amazing. The people I live with are amazing. The things I have been learning – amazing.

This whole internship program is everything I thought it would be and more. The issues we tackle and the concepts we grapple with. It’s truly a workout for the mind. It’s like philosophy and SA classes all over again – but this time with other young people from around the world – bringing in their own paradigms of how the world works. It is obviously not without conflicts – but finding common ground is not impossible.

So, I’ve been feeding my mind with tons of stuff – but it is not even half of the learning experience.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am officially domesticated. Bwahaha! Living with other people from all over in a cute house, a few blocks from the office – with no household help, no manong to drive and nobody to cook or wash clothes or fix the toilet — is definitely one of the more practical learning experiences I’m enjoying.

Things I have learned to do since moving into the Pogue:
How to boil water — Oo. Alam ko. Napakasimple nito. But this is the first time I had to do this.
How to (sort of) cook. At least enough to keep me from starving.
How to do my laundry.
How to share space (this one wasn’t hard at all… but it is still an interesting experience to note)
How to disassemble and then assemble the bunk beds in Cole’s room.

And my favorite one so far…

How to unclog the toilet.

Bwahahahaha! Tubero na po ako.

The whole cleaning and cooking bit I am slowly learning. But really – it is so much fun. I feel empowered. Like, I am confident that I can live on my own. I can live on my own in New York City – get around the subways and buses and all that.

Now, living with tons of people – that is another feat. Imagine the Real World of MTV. That is how I am living now.

Cast of characters:
Meghan – Wonderful, warm girl from Georgia. She loves chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and rocky road!
Anne Marie – Cute, bubbly girl from Michigan and Ohio. She is just as crazy as me. She also hits me with Anna’s pillows.
Cole – Wise, nerdy (in a cool way) young man from Seattle. He will be an excellent lawyer one day.
Megan – Great girl with just so much energy. She is in far away Ohio at the moment.
Ivana – Witty, prayerful, smart young woman from Herzegovina. This feisty Croatian has a Filipino love interest. Heehee.
Rina – My fellow Filipina! Wahoo!
Katharina – Our little German. She is the sweetest and youngest in our group. Natural blond with dyed brown hair.
Andreea – A strong woman from Romania – who speaks French and Spanish. And is a lawyer.
Anna – Wonderfully brilliant founder of the WAY. Yey! She’s actually in Manila right now.
Corky – Whale lover from Florida! He works at the museum – and has a pretty good movie collection.
James – Actor/Singer from Iowa that I don’t see very often.
Jason – Another Iowa Hawkeye. Can say a few important phrases in Italian. And has just been on a trip to Thailand.
Frank – Sweet, Harry Potter fan who works in the theatre industry. I will watch one of his plays soon. (Kyla, you’d love him!)

I’ll post pictures of the gang soon. They are just great. Imagine – all these people under one roof. Three bathrooms, Eight bedrooms, One kitchen, One Dining area and One common room.

Hay. It’s crazy!

And I love it!