The true story of how answering an inner call to move to New York serendipitously and unsuspectingly resulted in encounters with God.
I never intended to document my pilgrimage to New York City but the cascade of media coverage about student loans and rising tuition rates throughout the country re-awakens a voice within that insists I need to share my journey to one of the busiest cities on earth. This book is a journal of how and why I left behind everything I had and knew in California to answer an inner call to relocate to New York, a journey that unfolded into the most compelling ironies.
I was never a fan of Manhattan so the move was scary and crazy but I did everything I could to uncover what could be in store for me on the other side of the country. I gave up a great job, left my family who loved me dearly, and departed from an endearing relationship so I wouldn’t be distracted from an amorphous yet imperative mission. Because of the irrational maneuver toward New York I planned and executed as rationally as possible, which was how I ended up at Columbia University.
My graduate school days in the streets of Manhattan and internships spread throughout three different organizations dramatically changed the way I thought about higher education and philanthropy. Moreover, the circumstances under which I found myself unsuspectingly staged God’s grand appearance in my life. As I returned to the San Francisco bay area in 2008 the biggest surprises awaited me throughout the ensuing years.
Prior to transplanting myself in New York I didn't know what to think of God, Jesus, or Christianity. Its elusiveness yet historical and global impacts beckoned my curiosity. The bigotries and hypocrisies reported in the news however succeeded in keeping me cautious and distant. I was a skeptic for a very long time. Little did I suspect that America's headquarters notorious for noise, action, and badness would be the place where I would personally come in contact with a source of reliable peace and joy.
Proceeds of this project will go toward financing the costs of producing and executing the rewards, including copyright registration, self-publishing fees, t-shirt production costs, and shipping.
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FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
1
Backer
$2.00
pledged of $25,000 goal
Funding Canceled Funding for this project was canceled by the project creator on July 16, 2012.
Funding period
Jul 13, 2012 -
Aug 12, 2012
(30 days)
Pledge $10 or more
0 backers
A beautiful thank you note expressing heartfelt gratitude.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $25 or more
0 backers
A thank you note signed by me and a paperback book mailed to you. International backers please add an extra US$10 for rewards that require shipping.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $50 or more
0 backers
An autographed hardback book, a list of my favorite places in New York City, and a beautiful thank you note.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $150 or more
0 backers
Thank you note, a paperback book, an autographed hardback, and a list of my favorite places in New York City along with recommendations on how to maximize your visits to these spots (for example, watching the fireflies in Riverside Park dance on a hot summer evening or savoring oysters on the half shelf on Saturday at Blue Ribbon Restaurant)
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $250 or more
0 backers
All of the above plus The Search in Kindle ebook format. Note the Kindle app will also allow you to read material on iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, and Android-based devices. You will also receive an awesome personally-designed American Apparel t-shirt inspired by the collective of my experiences. This minimum pledge level will also bring your name into the Acknowledgements section of the book as a JINORMOUS thank you for being an early fan of The Search.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $500 or more
0 backers Limited (28 of 28 left)
All of the above plus a live 30-minute Skype telephone Q&A session with me. This reward level can include a note to memorialize someone special which will be placed near your name in the Acknowledgements section of the book.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers Limited (18 of 18 left)
Thank you note, paperback book, autographed hardback, personally-designed American Apparel t-shirt, Kindle ebook, list of favorite spots in NYC, an autographed self-portrait of me in New York taken by a Canon SLR 5D Mark II, your name/ note in the Acknowledgements section of the book, and a live 1-hour Skype 2-way video Q&A session with me. This pledge level also offers a special edition customized American Apparel t-shirt, one of eighteen uniquely hand painted by me.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2013Pledge $2,500 or more
0 backers Limited (18 of 18 left)
All of the extraordinary cool rewards offered above plus an additional hour of Skype video chat with me. You will also receive a list of golden tips on how to survive and thrive in Manhattan, Columbia University, and the world-renowned New York International House, including strategies I employed to gain admission into the Ivy League and the New York International House. This reward level will also provide you with a Survive and Thrive New York Native Express Kit featuring must-have items and tips to successfully navigate America's concrete jungle physically, emotionally, socially, and financially. Disclaimer: This list is solely suggestive and is based on personal experiences. Although I hope that it may help you achieve optimal results, implementing these practices won't necessarily guarantee you success. International backers please add an extra $35 for shipping.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2013
