Top nine random reflections of 2008, my first year in Toronto

December 11, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

My first year in Toronto has been a wild, wild ride for sure. There are a number of things that stand out, though most of all would be the sporty gay Asians who’ve welcomed me with open arms. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever found a city so initially welcoming in my entire life. Within my first two months of living in Toronto, I was off to Montreal to play volleyball with a great group of guys.

My dayjob has gone extremely well, having been promoted twice since working here. The only part of my life that hasn’t gone according to plan would be my comedy career, though most of that is my own doing by not focusing enough on it.

1. Toronto is the most welcoming city I’ve ever lived in
2. Changing cities means basically starting over in the comedy business
3. Montreal is a great city, but how long will I love it if I go there five times a year
4. Business people are much more in shape than in Calgary
5. Nintendo’s Wii Fit is the best game ever
6. Politicians are kind of hot lately
7. Toronto’s gay community is a lot like the cast of Gossip Girl (in a good way)
8. The more expensive the haircut, the less chance that they’ll shampoo your hair afterward
9. Baskin Robbins is dangerously close to my new house

Filed under: Living
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Why am I so boring at my dayjob when I’m paid to be funny at night?

November 24, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

I went to a work outing tonight at a local pub, and I was incredibly boring. I mean, totally, completely no personality at all. It was almost exactly like I was at my dayjob. It’s strange, because I know that having personality can be quite helpful at work, and it’s not like I don’t have personality (otherwise, why would I be a stand-up comedian?).

I think my mindset comes from my inclination to compartmentalise different aspects of my life. The way I am at work is similar to how I am around my parents. The way I am on stage is similar to how I am with my friends. It would be helpful if I could find some middle ground between my ghetto personality and my boringness at work. In fact, more than a few people at work have said I need to come out of my shell (these people of course did not know much about my night life).

When I’m in a party situation, and also when I’m on stage, I have enough personality to take over an entire room. It’s basically my job to do so, and it comes rather naturally. My nickname in university was “The Vong Show,” because I basically brought the party with me wherever I went.

It’s a shame then that working in media where there are a ton of personalities, I can’t seem to express myself other than being 100 per cent business-like at all times. There’s no easy fix, as my behaviours are ingrained, but I do hope that someday I can come off as something in the middle: not boring and not the centre of attention but someone who’s interesting.

Filed under: Living, Performing, Working
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Welcome to winter in Winnipeg as well as in Toronto

November 20, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

Snow has officially arrived in Toronto. It feels kind of strange to be welcoming in winter, as I already welcomed winter a couple of weeks ago in Winnipeg. I quite enjoy a bit of a chill, but that’s probably because I grew up in Winnipeg. A bit of frost makes me feel good after playing sports.

I’ve got to shop for some new winter clothes. My sweater collection is starting to run a little low, and I need to find warm clothes that are business appropriate. I usually shop a season behind when clothes go on sale, but I suppose I’ll have to make an exception this year.

Filed under: Living
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Being in Winnipeg reminds me not to be too wrapped up in myself

November 11, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

Being in Winnipeg the past couple of days has reminded me of how easy it is to get too wrapped up in myself. When I’m in Winnipeg, I’m a brother, I’m a son, I’m an uncle. I have responsibilities and am part of a larger community.

Now, I tend to be fairly ego-centric in nature anyhow. I’ve always been better at singles sports like badminton and tennis. My career dictates that I concentrate on myself for many hours: both for writing and for performing. That being said, it was indeed very nice to have to worry about something and someone other than myself.

My parents are very likely going to move to Guelph in the coming year. Hopefully, this will help keep me centred. Either that or I’ll have to visit Winnipeg more often.

Filed under: Living
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Vongizzo from Winnipizzo returns to the ghettos of Winnipeg for vacation

November 10, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

I’m on a quick four-day visit to my old ghetto in Winnipeg. It’s been about a year since I have been back, and I always love coming back to visit. All my family and friends are here, and I’m reminded of just how lucky and loved I was growing up. I was able to build up such a large network of life-long friends here, and I would definitely be living here if Toronto hadn’t beckoned me for career reasons.

I arrived just after a huge winter storm. I guess it’s for the best, as this is how I remember Winnipeg anyhow. I have been on a whirlwind tour of family and friends, and I’ve just about fit in everyone I was hoping to see, especially my newly born nephew Jack.

The kind of sad part of my trip is that I also came here to grab my karaoke equipment for my upcoming party in Toronto. I’m about to go into my sister’s storage to look for it. I hope I don’t get charged extra for bringing the equipment with me on the plane.

Filed under: Living
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Waking up is so hard to do, luckily I have a night job

October 20, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

I am not a morning person in the least. I’m not sure what it is about mornings that so disagrees with me, but I can’t for the life of me kick my own ass out of bed before 9:00 a.m.

This morning I was supposed to try and start earlier at work but I barely made it on time. Luckily, my job doesn’t begin officially until 10:00 a.m.

It has gotten so bad that my friends are making fun of my morning grogginess. The photo below was taken as I lingered in bed at a friend’s house in Montreal.

I suppose my being a night owl is helpful as a comedian as shows often run late into the night.

Filed under: Living, Performing
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Finding balance between dayjob, comedy career and gay life

October 19, 2008 by vongsundara · Leave a Comment 

Striking the right balance between the different aspects of my life has always been difficult for me. I’m the type to concentrate solely on one project and sometimes lose sight of the bigger picture. For instance, it has been months since I have been on a comedy stage.

The four major aspects of my life are my dayjob, my comedy career, my gay life and my ghetto life (family and straight friends). At any one time, one of the four aspects of my life can fall off the radar. For instance, this summer I was concentrated so much on advancing my career at my dayjob that I kind of lost track of my friends. Most people wondered where I had disappeared to during the summer.

At different points in my life, I’ve tried to take a different approach and try to change the way I live my life, but it has never worked out too well. I work best when I just go with the flow of what interests me at the moment. This is how I work best creatively, and I only hope that my friends will get used to me disappearing at times while I concentrate on different aspects of my life.

Coming up shortly will be a much more prominent role for my comedy life, especially now that my website has launched. There is so much to do now for sure. The biggest project being my writing a one-hour show for next summer. I’ve basically got to sit down and devote the time necessary to getting it accomplished.

VS

Filed under: Gaying, Living, Performing
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