The Treshold

So, now I think the time has come where I really do realize what's going on. Untill today, the whole moving to another country thing was a pretty nice thought and it was somewhat away, but now, 5 days before I enter the airplane, during packing things and cleaning up my room I somehow realised that's for real baby! And it's going to change my whole life. It's not vacation and it's not youth camp. You ... are ... actually ... moving ... thousands ... of ... miles ... away. Something like that echos constanly through my head.

The consequence: I need to grow up. I need to take respoonsibility and I need to care for my self. Of course I thought I did that already during my time in Salzburg - bullshit - it's nothing like that. An one-hour train ride and 20 € and I was home where someone took care for me if I needed it. But it's not going to happen now. I'm not really scared, I guess I'm more - hmm - sad. I need to pack my past into boxes and put it up in the attic. It's truely a strange feeling.

Anyhow, I think this feelings are neccessary in order to say goodbye to all and everything and close a really cool chapter in my life - but you know what, this means I'm also going to open another chapter and I'm fucking curious about what the author is going to write - hehe

Chaos all over ...

So, most of the stress is over now. All exams are done, and done fairly well as I think. All projects are finished including the first season of "The Sign" which I wrote and directed. I moved out from Salzburg, after a nice cleaning session with Manuel, thanks for helping again! I have now my visa, my flight-tickets, insurance and hopefully an appartment - at least we signed the lease. ;) If that works out it's going to be really cool :)

Currently I'm trying to organize my life or in geek term, I defrag and backup my life - haha! It means rearranging and throwing things out I won't use or I won't need anymore, making room for new stuff (dollar sign appearing in my eyes) ... Yesterday I started sorting out my clothes. My god, I found pieces in my closet which I could hardly look at - meaning they were so 90s ;) haha It's been a lot actually which I won't wear anymore, but that's okay so I have more space to buy new things in the USA. ;)

Meanwhile, I try to backup all my videos and photos I created the last 12 years in order to take them with me on an external hard drive, since I sell both my notebooks on eBay. Honestly, I'm kinda addicted to eBay right now. I sell everything which brings a quick buck - I guess better than loosing it's value while getting dusty at home, right?

Oh btw, don't worry if you fear that I won't write anymore without notebook over there, I will but I'm going to be a Mac then! :)

Anyhow, this was a short update on what's going on in my life concerning the moving to the States. Since I have more time now, I'm going to write more often - promised!

The Hero's Journey

I have always wanted to go to the USA. I have been fascinated by this country ever since. Of course I'm not that naive that I woulnd't be aware of negative aspects of the United States or that I believe the USA is like it's portrayed in Hollywood movies and drama serieses. Anyhow, there is something which attracts me ... is it the so called "American Dream" where everything is possible? ... is it the saying "The Land of the Free"? ... or the sparkling and overwhelming fantasy world the dream factory "Hollywood" produces ... Actually, it doesn't matter what attracts me, I just need to know that I'm attracted by it and that I got the chance to live there for a year and study filmmaking.

The Salzburg University of Applied sciences gave me the chance to go to United States, more exactly to Bowling Green, Ohio for studying. It was granted in January 2007 and it was far, far away then ... but now ... it's pretty close, and sometimes closer than I'm aware of.

Two weeks ago, Martin (who is also going to study at Bowling Green), David (who is going to South Utah) and I went to Vienna in order to get our visa, which is not as easy as getting a visa for another country. You need to fill out a thousand forms, there is even one for men between the age of 16 and 32 with questions asking for war and weapon experiences and even if you plan a terroristic action in the United States of America. Well, well ... I really do wanna meet the person who invented that question. However, after a lot of organisational work for two weeks we finally were in vienna at the US-embassy claiming our F1-visa (Non-Immigrant Student Visa). At the entrance, we had to hand in all our electronical gadgets and they scanned us for metallic objects. Aftwerwards, we had to stand in line at a counter where we had to hand in the thousand forms we need to fill out. They took our fingerprints electronically and after 10 minutes, they told us that our visa has been issued and they whished us a pleasant stay at the Unites States of America - Thanks again for that, old lady!

The last four days at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences are ahead of me. I'm going to write my last three exams, and than I'm over and done with it. My room gets emptier and emptier with every object of utility I sell, like my television, my lamp, my microwave, etc. and all those signs tell me that the day, when I fly to the United States of America and are going to stay there for at least a year, is coming closer and closer.

Now, there are only 6 weeks for me in Austria 'till I'm sitting in the plane heading to Ohio, and a lot of things like an apartment, an insurance, a scholarship, ... needs to be organised. Actually, I'm a little scared, but good scared though. It's something new, exciting but uncertain, and to be honest , I like that feeling a lot. It's gonna be stress, but the fact that I know that I'm going to study filmmaking in the United States of America makes it all worth the work. Let the Green American Dream beginn.