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Published: December 6th 2005
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Kate, Jenny and Me
An NYPD Policewoman, a cowgirl and a cat walked into a bar... Oh my. I'm so so sorry I haven't written anything in so long, but then I always was hopeless at keeping a diary of any sort. In my defence (with a C, not an S), I've barely had time to sit down and call people, not to mention e-mail or blog, and I kind of wanted to wait until I had some pretty pictures to show you and exciting stuff to say. Now I have both and I can hear the roars of appreciation from you all, so here goes.
Over the next few days, I'm going to try and write a couple of blogs on a variety of different topics, rather than just bombard you all now with one momma-sized entry. These will hopefully cover my job, my apartment and NYC/NJ life in general.
I'd like to start however by wishing you all a very happy
HALLOWEEN! And don't they go in for it in a huge way over here?! Feeling the need to immerse myself in the stateside culture (and of course nursing my dear love of dressing up like a cat whenever the hell I can) I heartily embraced that again this year along with all
Stuart, Shash and Matt
... and laughed at the crapness of the guys' costumes (though well done to Shash for the hard hat!). my other fellow Mounbattens. The results you can see here. I'll explain who all of these people are in due course... Just wanted to get some piccies up and let you see how we partied in style. (I can't believe I just used the word "party" as a verb - AAAAAH!)
So anyway, I'll backtrack a little and let you all catch-up.
The first week that I was here was utterly manic. The heat and stickiness of the weather were grueling, the traffic and streets were a nightmare (due to the UN convention that was going on all of 4 blocks from our hotel) and we had the joy of orientation to deal with. Orientation consisted of 127 knackered and jetlagged interns sitting in a chilly air-conditioned room, being lectured on the trials and tribulations that they were about to be faced with in New York. These consisted of such gems of information as which form to fill out in the police station if you're trying to identify a criminal, how unlikely it is that you're ever going to figure out how to use the subway while you're here, and that no matter how hard people try, it's
Our room with a view (and a half!)
Yes, this really is the view that we wake up with every single day. Almost makes getting up worthwhile... impossible to be funny and cool when introducing yourself to a crowd full of grumpy cold jetlagged interns. And of course, that vital power triangle: in the USA business world, only one pattern is considered socially acceptable in a trio of suit, shirt and tie. Any more and they think you're a "crazy European". To be fair, I'm not sure which part the Brits objected to more out of that phrase... Ever since someone I was chatting to likened this power triangle to the Care Bear Stare, I've never quite seen it in the same light.
Most of the first week though was spent getting to know the people in the hotel. Drinking was required I'm afraid. That certainly helped! Moving into the apartments was certainly a shocker after all of that. With only 20 of us in the smaller hotel, we'd gotten to know each other a bit better and were just getting comfortable when suddenly we had to start the "my name is" crap all over again, but this time it was actually people we were living with. Arguably therefore, good impressions have to be made...
The apartments in Newport are not in New York itself
A misty morning over Manhattan
And then there's the days when it looks like this. It's really not a bad life you know! sadly, but just the other side of the Hudson river, in New Jersey. Each houses 5-6 interns in single, double and triple rooms and most have two bathrooms, huge living rooms and fairly grotty kitchens to boot. The luckier interns have flats with a gorgeous view over to Manhattan (like ours, woohoo, see the picture) and lots of perks, like CD players in every room and a great TV (not to mention our fairy lights!). Others have insect shells in the cupboards. Not so great.
Our flat consists of Simon, the RA - the big boss daddy. This is of course just another cunning ploy to get Caroline even more confused with London flatmate Simon, New York flatmate Simon and boyfriend Simon. Oh dear LORD. Simon has been here since January and so as his reward is now squished into a house with a load of hyperactive Brit expat interns who can't quite believe they're here. He's been dealt the responsibility of making sure that we're all ok at home, that nobody loses their keys, that we all pay our bills on time and that there's nothing manky lurking in our cupboards. He's working for Citibank, like the rest of the intern-world over here, and so often jets off exciting places like Columbia (university) and erm... the Bronx. Wooyeah.
Then there's Stuart and Raj. They're both September boys and live together in the double room. I have never EVER seen a room as tidy as theirs. It's actually unnatural. There is nothing on the floor. Their shoes are stacked neatly in the wardrobe; their shirts all pristinely ironed; small coins and change stacked in a communal pot - it's clearly a match made in heaven. You wouldn't have thought it to begin with though. Raj is a player London boi while Stuart is half Spanish and loves Brazilian football. No really!
I'm in the triple room with Anna and Lydia. It's not tidy. At all. And what my mum will astounded to hear is that that has nothing to do with me whatsoever. We (and by we, I mean they) have cleverly combatted the cold wooden floor on winter mornings by ensuring that every inch of it is covered with clothes of one sort or another. The bathroom is constantly enveloped in a warm misty haze. Our walk-in closet is barely walk-in-able. But the strangest thing of all is that none of this actually bothers me that much. I have my little enclave around my bed, with my pictures and my books and my laptop and I'm completely at home. The banter in the room is hilarious. I should highlight that Anna my roommate is stunningly pretty and without inhibitions. She went to a Halloween party wearing underwear and a negligee only for the latter to come off within minutes of getting there. She studied politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford and is a staunch atheist. Lydia is gorgeous, black, Swedish and a staunch Christian who doesn't drink, parties hard and is a no sex before marriage kinda girl. Anyone see a dilemma here? It's highlighted by the fact that one morning Lydia decided to play a little Christian music to set her sights on the day ahead. Anna proceeded to glower the whole morning and protest the morning after "listen, you hear that? No fucking God music", only to discover that Lydia was still in the room. It's interesting living to say the least!
Ok, I've bombarded you with more than enough info for now. I apologize to anyone who may have died during their perusal of this blog. I also apologize to anyone who may have worried that I was dead when I hadn't written for so long. I will make amends. I promise.
And then you'll be sorry... =0P
Take care and much love to you all,
Caroline xx
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Simon
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WOOO!!
WOOOOOOOOOOO TO NEW YORK!!! YEH!!!!! (just felt i should add something here :p) xXx