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#6
- Mike Update
Sally
deFina -
March 14, 2002
Passing through Chicago last November, I
was asked by a few people to post an update on "that guy"
that I wrote about last July. Well, here is the scoop.
Yes, we are still together, and no, we don't see each other
very often. Since I last wrote about Mike, I have visited Australia
three times, and Mike has come to meet me once in London.
So, we see each other on average about two weeks every one and
a half months or so. In that one and a half months that we are
apart, I go through a strange cycle of numbness during the first
two weeks, depression during the middle two weeks, followed
by nervous expectation the last two weeks.
 But
for the next 6 weeks, the cycle will be broken. I called Mike
from Peru in February and begged him to travel with me through
Southeast Asia. Having nothing pressing to do in Sydney
for the next couple of months, he agreed. So, Jeff, Jody, and
I decided to split up in SE Asia and travel independently.
So far, Mike and I have been through Singapore,
to visit one of Mike's close friends from Australia (Karen),
and Kuala Lumpur, to visit one of my friends from University
(Kartik). In Singapore, we did some sight-seeing, eating,
shopping, and lounging around Karen's fabulous flat. Other than
that, there isn't much to do in Singapore - it is quite a sterile
place.
 In
Kuala Lumpur, we visited Petronas Towers, and played pool in
the McKinsey offices (where Kartik works). We also went
to the Islamic museum, where some fabulous Islamic objects of
art are displayed. The Grand Prix was to occur in K.L.
the week following our visit, so there were parties being held
in many of the more famous bars while we were there. There were
fire twirlers and car displays and lots of beer. Quite
a good time to be in K.L.
During our time in Singapore and Malaysia,
Mike and I took the opportunity to discover more about each
other. We obviously know each other very well, having
been together for over one year, but living apart and speaking
to each other through long-distance phone calls and e-mail limits
the amount of meaningful deep discussions we can have.
We usually reserve those kinds of discussions until we are together,
and this time was no exception. We are now at the stage
in our relationship where we are kind of interviewing one another
to be sure that nothing really sticky will come up in the future
if we are to stay together. For example, Mike casually said
to me, on the train from Singapore up to K.L., that he would
at some point in his life want to do some volunteer work in
a different country for a couple of years. "Not now,
but after a few years of working", he explained. We discussed
this whole issue for hours (time frames, what kind of work,
how it would make sense at certain points in one's life, but
not at others, etc.) and at the end of the discussion, Mike
said to me awkwardly, "You know...I am just telling you
this now...so you know....that this is a possibility....you
know...maybe...in the future...". It was quite cute.
And thankfully, I also have the desire to live and work in a
different country. Whew!.
 After
the next 6 weeks are over, Mike and I will revert to the old
2 weeks on, 1 and 1/2 months off routine until the Junglerunner
trip is over. Mike is currently applying for University
in the United States, and so if he gets accepted, he will move
to the US, and I will try to manage a job in the same city.
If he does not get accepted, I will move to Australia for a
while. After starting our relationship long-distance, it will
be a nice change to be so close to one another, and in fact,
we decided it is not worth continuing our relationship unless
we try the "close-by" thingy for a while. Keep
your fingers crossed for Mike to get into an American university,
as I would much rather spend the next few years in the good
old USA. I'll let you know how it goes.
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