Over the past month, I began and then abandoned a number of blog posts...lots of topics came to mind, but a couple sentences in, I'd realize I couldn't summon up enough interesting/worthwhile thoughts. Laziness led to guilt, which led to unnecessary added stress, which led to me writing this entry.
The first significant event upon moving here was the purchase of Macy, my first car. This involved a lot of confusing math, frustration, nervousness, and arguments with my mom. Just to show how clueless I was when the whole process began, in July I didn't even know that car payments were divided monthly...I thought I'd just skip into the store, plunk down a bunch of money, take the car, and be done. When I told my dad this, he gave me a look like "are you really my daughter?" and explained APR financing etc. A little history of me+cars: I never had my own car in high school or college, and I get exceedingly nervous when it comes to driving or even filling up gas. Once I was pulled over for drunk-driving, even though I didn't have one drop of alcohol in my body...after explaining that I didn't drink and was simply a bad driver, the policeman gave a commiserating chuckle and went, "Okay, well, drive home safely!" I decided to put all this behind me as I set out to buy my first vehicle. For other inexperienced and confused people out there who are thinking of someday owning a car, here is my advice, from one car dummy to another.
First of all, determine the circumstances in which you'll be driving. Knowing I'd be driving in snow and ice, and aware of my deplorable driving skills, I decided on an All-Wheel Drive. If you're a good driver (or just don't worry about this kind of stuff), you might not need AWD for snow. Next, ask around for advice of the best cars that would suit your needs. I went with a Toyota RAV4, because I know two satisfied RAV4-purchasers. I test-drove one of their cars for a while in California and felt pretty comfortable. I also looked up safety ratings and customer reviews from more reliable websites. Then comes the hard part. I recommend calling/emailing several different dealerships to check their inventory, and whether they have the specific model with the color and features you want, and ask what their lowest price is. You shouldn't commit to any dealership yet; make it clear that you're not going to take any crap, and you just want numbers. Car dealers hate emails, because they have a harder time distracting you with tricky antics. Also, at least for me, female car dealers tended to be more straight-forward and honest. After you get different prices from a couple dealerships, you can compare and start the negotiating process. It's sort of like negotiating for college scholarships...you can play one dealership against the other until you get the best price. Make sure you remember the listing price (MSRP) and NEVER pay above it. One dealership wanted $3,000 over the listing price! You should also feel somewhat comfortable with the dealer you eventually decide on. When the day of your appointment with the dealership arrives, make sure you are WELL-RESTED and WELL-FED, because you will likely be there for a long, l o n g t i m e............If you are a girl, I'd suggest bringing a male with you, any male. I've heard dealerships tend to act differently if a male is present. Ridiculous, but the truth. I'm not a good negotiator, so I can't give tips on that, but make sure you have all your numbers straight, don't be afraid to ask tons of questions, and again, don't take any crap. It's a fine balance between showing that you're smart and not born yesterday, but also a decent/likable person. Ask for any discounts they have for recent college graduates (if that applies to you), and be ready to show a transcript for proof. I went during Labor Day weekend, so I also got a nice promotion from that. Buying towards the end of the year may be cheaper, because they're gearing up for next year's model. There is a lot to think about, but in the end, you're left with a shiny new car, with that shiny new car smell.
Meet Macy! My resilient, friendly, and cute car, who has been braving the highways and streets of Detroit and is prone to collecting excessive condensation.
Another significant happening was moving into my new home. I am currently residing in the first story of a family friend's house in the suburbs. This housemate started out as my mom's friend's friend's friend's friend. The fact that I ended up living with such a distant relation shows how fortunate I am to have been introduced to a continuous line of super generous people. My mom's friend is her old high school classmate, who now goes to our church. She got us in touch with HER friend, who has a family in Michigan. He was one of the people who suggested I get a Toyota RAV4, and he gave me the phone numbers of car dealerships to contact. He then got us in touch with HIS friends, a couple who have become something like second parents to me in Michigan. We met when I was visiting back in May, and we got along so well, I ended up staying several nights at their place, watching operas and movies in their home theater. They took me sight-seeing, gave me advice for my first job, went with me to get Macy, and even gave me speakers for my new TV and an extra music stand. Then they got me in touch with A, and I couldn't have been blessed with a sweeter, more generous housemate/landlord/new friend.
Of course the most significant happening in Michigan is the new job. I wish I had eyes on the back of my head and three more pairs of ears (although how weird would that look?), because there's so much I'm trying to learn, adjust to, and absorb, all at once. These past two weeks have been fascinating, and I am looking forward to what's ahead, praying that I am up to the task and here for a good reason. Something I've learned that I feel comfortable sharing is a reaffirmation that there is simply no point to being snobby or elitist when it comes to music. (Is there a point to being snobby or elitist ever, actually?)
The more you learn about music, the more you develop opinions and become an expert and connoisseur and critic. Pops concerts aren't usually what inspire me most, and plowing through Star Wars or Copland's Hoedown night after night can be tiresome. But last Thursday we played a concert of mostly pops music, for maybe the happiest audience I've ever encountered. The large majority were African-American, and I thought I'd stepped into a Southern Baptist church service, and people would start crying out, "Amen!" and "Praise the Lord!" They cheered raucously in the beginning of the concert before we'd even played a note, simply because someone fixed the microphone. They continued to clap and give standing ovations throughout the concert, piece after piece. As one of my favorite quotes (and apparently one of our conductor's favorites as well) goes, "There are only two kinds of music--good music, and the other stuff." Certain pieces are more intellectually stimulating or emotionally complex than others, but who's to deem what makes "high art" and "low art"? Music and intellect are two separate things, as far as I know. If I can look out into an audience and see eyes alight with joy, and smiles as wide as only music can make them, then I'm happy, whether I personally find satisfaction in the repertoire. Music should encourage us to be selfless, as much as it encourages us to express ourselves. I'm finding that my favorite artists are ones who are the least self-indulgent and who constantly look outward, to the composer, the audience, and the world (e.g. Szigeti and my recent favorite, Isabelle Faust!). We are reaching a point where orchestras all over are having to play more music we're less interested in, and vice versa. The only way to make everyone happy is to try and find worth in everything we do. After all, if a piece of music makes one person in the room happy, there is most certainly worth in performing it.
(All this being said, I will try my best from now on to contain my annoyance with 1812 Overture.)
