Ms. World's Guide To How To Build A Life

Ms. World's Visual DNA

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Where's Ms. World?

The truth is that I've almost forgotten that I have a blog and use to proudly call myself a "blogger." Now I use another word to describe myself, "homeowner." I've been living it up in my newly purchased condominium in East Coast City X! Do you know what my owning a home means? Yes, God performs miracles.

I love my new pad and the tax deductions I'll get as a homeowner. Now I have to decorate the place with the help of IKEA, Macy's, Domino magazine, and all the stuff I brought in Japan and in my travels! And please feel free to send me any good decorating advice.

HELP! I'VE LOST MY SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE YEARBOOK circa 1991, 1992, 1994 and I'D LIKE THEM BACK!

If the postman or post-woman recently delivered you a box that included a Sarah Lawrence College yearbook from 1991, 1992, or 1994 and you don't know who or what Sarah Lawrence College is (just the best and wildest liberal arts college in the U.S.), please contact me via e-mail at chilande2001@yahoo.com.

The post office lost my Sarah Lawrence College yearbooks and other items and delivered onto me a series of books about diplomacy, foreign affairs, and Islam which seem to be related to course(s) taught by
Dr. Mohammed Ayoob of Michigan State University. If this sounds familiar, please contact me at chilande2001@yahoo.com since I don't need any books that don't belong to me (I have enough books!).

Please note that I want my yearbooks back but I won't pay anyone a ton of money for them.

The Life of a Phile Or How I Became An Internationalist

When I was a young girl, I was an anglophile. This was a strange way of being for me since I was a working class African-American in the Midwest.  My anglophilia manifested itself in my love of 80's British pop music (especially Culture Club & Wham), my love of British magazines (Smash Hits, The Blitz, & The Face), the EastEnders soap opera, and my longing to see London. My family was somewhat supportive of my anglophilia since it harmless and didn't disrupt any important aspects of my life.

A little late in my teenage years, I verged into francophilia. After viewing photos of Paris, I thought the French definitely had some secrets up their sleeves because it is such a beautiful city. (Please note that I didn't dwell on the fact that the British & French were huge colonizers.)

I eventually grew out of these phases. However, the phile in me came back in a major way when I got interested in India. Of course, I became an indophile. But I always had a problem being an indophile because it didn't sit well with my innate afrocentric tendencies. I don't think I'm an overt afrocentric person but it is in me. I stopped being a huge indophile after traveling around India (I think I got it out of my system!).

After traveling around South Africa and Mozambique, I became enamored with the continent of Africa. Now I want to see it all! And I'm formulating a plan to visit the western and eastern regions of Africa in the next several years. I feel like my African interests are a better fit with my identity as a person of African descent. But the truth is that I'm still an indophile and anglophile at heart. I also have a touch of japanophile in me after spending two years living there.

In the end, the only way I can make sense of all of this is to embrace the identity of an internationalist. I think this word will allow me to acknowledge all of the places which I feel intimately drawn to no matter what cultural, ethnic, religious, or racial differences may exist.

New Addiction

an This is my new addiction! McD's premium coffee is relatively cheap (compared with Starbucks & Dunkin Donuts) and is pretty good. My BFF Wenona had raved about McD's new coffee but I never tried it until I recently moved to the suburb's of east coast city X. I've been drinking it since last Friday and I'm hooked. I had briefly given up Starbucks' vanilla lattes for Dunkin Donuts coffee but McD's is closer to my home. I have a feeling this will be a short-term addiction because I think I could lose 15 pounds a year just swearing off coffee. Of course, I would stop drinking McD's coffee any day if I could score some high-quality chai. Where is the chai-wallah when you need them?

The Land of the Master

Lately, I've been very busy in east coast city X looking for a job, meeting people, and networking. I've looked for a job many times but  networking like a maniac is a new thing for me. And I'm happy to report that there is fun to be found in networking.

The truth is I've never been a huge networker because an aspect of my personality hates asking strangers to help me out (unless I'm in a foreign country). I'm very big on doing things all by myself or only asking for help from my mother, brother, and close friends. I really prefer relying on myself because I'm guaranteed to get things done. However, it has dawn on me in recent weeks that networking is the key to job hunting.

I'm happy to say that I'm enjoying networking. It is interesting and fun to talk to so many different people about their work which usually leads to a conversation about their lives and choices.

One thing I've discovered in east coast city X is a preponderance of people with advanced degrees (MA, MS, MBA, JD, PhD). Everyone seems to have a master's degree here which surprised me. And I feel like the staple master's degree is in international relations. This has killed any interest I had in possibly pursuing another advanced degree in that field.

I fit in because I too have a master's degree, so I can join the masses of well-educated or over-educated folks (depending on who you are) in the battle to land a permanent gig. The competition is tight but I'm confident in my skill set. I also believe I have something interesting and different to offer. 

Ms World's Top 10 Things about Her New City in No Particular Order

1. My newly born niece is nearby.
2. I have several friends in the area.
3. I have an opportunity to meet people through my JET network.
4.The city has a very international scene.
5. The city is known by all, so people like Cousin Ryumi, Sexxy Jimmy, Thip-Sexy, and Fashion Diva Elie-san may visit me from abroad.
6. I'm no longer in the Midwest.
7. I have access to the CW tv network, therefore I can become re-addicted to GIRLFRIENDS.
8. There are many free events happening in the city.
9.There are many places selling coffee in the city and suburbs.
10. There are a number of cinemas showing
interesting films.

The Downsides
1. The public transportation system cost to much in my view.
2. I'm not sure if my New York City friends will come to visit me.
3. The movies aren't under $10USD all the time.
4. I heard the public libraries suck.
5. I have to learn my way around a new city in the cold!
6. It ain't London, Mumbai, Tokyo, Bangkok, Hanoi, Cape Town or Dublin.
7. On a good day, I'd prefer to be mid-flight to a new destination.
8. I haven't found the international people, yet.
9. There is a Krispy Kreme shop in a major location which spells temp-tation for moi!
10. I have to find a job!

The 411

My life is all about networking to get a j-o-b! URGH! I'm also working on getting my fire (as my mother calls it) or my mojo (as my brother calls it) back.

Yes, it is true that doing the past several months, I've lost my groove(or fire or mojo). And honestly, my life isn't the same without it pumping through my veins and getting me psyched about life.

I can't seem to get very excited about anything these days besides my niece, drinking coffee, seeing friends since I now live near a few of them, new meeting people since I know less than 10 people in the area, and books. This isn't conducive to gaining employment. I do my best not to think about my past world travels or my time in Japan because I fall into nostaglia-land which isn't conducive to gaining employment either.

I miss my mojo (fire, groove). I feel like part of me is gone. I'm so blah. And people have called me many names in my life but never blah. I hope it is a seasonal issue or once every few years occurence. I look forward to snapping out of it.

Yes, I do have a love of my life

I can't show you a photo of the love of my life but I can tell you about her! Her name is Princess Z. She is my newly born niece.

She is a Libra like myself. She is the best thing since magazines (and I looove magazines)! I love hanging out with her. She is very smart. She has big eyes that our soaking up everything. She is less than 3 weeks old and can hold up her head! ALL HAIL PRINCESS Z! I'm also changing my weblog design in honor of her birth!

Things You Do When You Are Supposedly on the Job Hunt- Oh The Places Ms. World Has Gone!

create your own visited countries map or vertaling Duits Nederlands

I've seen 12% of the world. Now I need to see the other 88%!