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UBERCHIC
New Yorker of the Month
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Chala, NYC Uberchic July 2009
Ask a New Yorker: Tell us about yourself.
Chala: I’ve been in New York, actually Jersey, for the past six years, but
I spend so much time in New York that I feel more of a community here. When I
first moved here I was actually pretty depressed. I had no friends at all. I didn’t
know how to cope with that because I came from a long term relationship. So I
learned how to become social and socialize with different people.
Ask a New Yorker: Where are you from originally?
Chala: I’m from Kansas. I went back to Kansas and I was so bored, nothing
to do. I couldn’t wait to come back to New York. I even told my family,
”you guys, say your last goodbyes, I’m not coming back, it stinks”.
You can’t do anything wrong there. The police are on your case 24/7. They
are around the corner ready to stop you.
Ask a New Yorker: I hear the people are super friendly in Kansas.
Chala: Yea, we are friendly but it’s just a facade. Don’t let it fool
you. We are friendly on the outside but actually I think New Yorkers are friendlier.
New Yorkers may have a chip on their shoulders but once you get to talking to
New Yorkers they’re actually cool people. They’re more accepting of
different cultures, but in Kansas, not so much. It’s very segregated where
I’m from. We have a North side and East side. We have black town and Mexican
town. You don’t see different types people hanging out with each other.
When I came to New York I was in shock of interracial relationships.
Ask a New Yorker: What’s your heritage?
Chala: My mom is Mexican and my dad is Italian Irish. No one knows what I am.
Sometimes I just say I’m Korean.
Ask a New Yorker: What are you doing today in front of this I Love New York booth?
Chala: We’re standing in front of the I
love New York booth “stress -free vacation getaways”. If you’re
upset about anything at all we provided a punching bag right over here. This guy
over here is obviously a stressed out New Yorker. People are really cool about
it, they’re like, “Yo my mom is really on my case today…”and
they’ll start punching away.
Someone just walked up to tell us Farrah Fawcett just died.
Chala: That’s too bad because I was just reading yesterday that Ryan O’neil
had finally asked her, after thirty years of dating, to marry him. A little late
on the proposal.
Ask a New Yorker: What else are you up to?
Chala: I’m taking improv at Upright
Citizens Brigade. It’s very tough. They are definitely very quick funny
people. I’d rather just write. Lots of good improvisers are also writers.
I’ve been told I’m a good writer. I work with a sketch comedy group.
I love and it’s fun creating characters. I’ve worked on Saturday Night
Live. I was inspired to be on set watching the main stars doing their funny thing.
Ask a New Yorker: What a great experience. How did you get that to happen?
Chala: I sent a postcard over to the casing director. I wrote, ”Hey, you
know I’ve been told I’m funny…” Sometimes I’ve been
featured, my face will be right there popping. I’ve watched SNL since I
was a little kid. I’ve always liked that kind of humor. I just didn’t
know if I could ever do it. Now I’m like, ”Wait a second, I could
do that”.
Ask a New Yorker: Is there anything else you would like to share?
Chala: The dating life in New York is horrible. It’s a game. Everyone has
to learn the game. I’m a Kansas girl. I wear my heart on my sleeve.
Ask a New Yorker: Are you asked out a lot?
Charla: The last person I met that I really liked was from North Carolina. I really
like people from the South. They treat women differently there than here in New
York. I do like being by myself sometimes. I like my space.
Ask a New Yorker: Thank you, Chala.
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