This may not be my final New York blog (I still have one weekend left to write about) but it is going to be my 'Goodbye New York' blog.
It has always been my dream to come and live in New York, and the feeling of a dream coming true...is unbelievable. This year has superceeded all my expectations and will not be a year I forget quickly. The memories, the experiences and the changes have been wonderful and it is so very hard to say goodbye.
New York City. Everything that's ever been written, said or sung about it seems to be true. It's a world of its own - an amazing city with so much to see, do and experience that even a lifetime wouldn't be long enough. I have been to almost every neighbourhood and experienced its uniqueness.
I've been lucky enough to feel the flavour of Harlem at the theatrical heart - the 'Apollo Theatre'.
I've walked up the upperclass streets of the Upper East Side and seen the most beautiful brownstones straight out of a movie. I've slept on the Upper West Side and explored its Museum of Natural History half a dozen times.
In between these two neighbourhoods is Central Park, without a doubt one of my favourite places in the city (and no I will not spell favourite without the 'u'). It's hard to describe the feeling, but let me try. Being in such a busy, bustling, crazy, non-stop city one moment, then as soon as you step into the park it's the complete opposite. Even in the middle of summer, in the most packed part of the park, you feel all of a sudden calmer, more serene and alone. Even with all those people you still feel like the park is just yours and no-one else should really be there. The carousel, Woolman skating rink, Alice in Wonderland statue, Belvedere Castle, the great lawn, the mall, Bethesda Fountain - the list goes on and on and every inch of the park is beautiful and different and amazing. Something that was completely man designed feels completely natural. Each season is uniquely different and beautiful - bright flowers in the spring, hot beaming sun of the summer, yellow leaves engulfing you during fall and a blanket of white snow during winter. I love this park and it will be one of the things I miss most about the city.
Midtown (or tourist central) has been my destination more times then I can count. Times Square, 5th Avenue, Bryant Park, Hell's Kitchen. I have walked these places dozens of times - or when it comes to Times Square I should say I've been cattle proded through! I've felt rich and glamourous walking past Prada, Tiffany & Co and Saks 5th Avenue. I've felt epileptic viewing the lights, people and energy of Times Square.
My other favourite place in the city, after the park, is the village (Greenwich Village) where I've lunched, shopped, wandered and watched the parade from. It is a wonderful little neighbourhood and my choice of where to live if I ever moved to New York. The people and flavour of the neighbourhood is edgy, artsy, bohemian, intelligant. Its a great example of how different each neighbourhood of Manhattan is - like they are each their own seperate little cities within the big city.
Chinatown where you can't walk a step without someone asking you to buy their product or someone whispering in your ear 'Prada, Gucci, Chanel'.
Little Italy, this alive, boistrious little neighbourhood full of restaurant after restaurant of delicious smelling food.
Battery Park - the furtherest point south on the island. It's also home to ferries to both Staten and Liberty island, both of which I've ridden on. They give the most amazing views of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty who looks over all the hustle and bustle. The city's skyline takes my breath away whether by daylight or under the stars.
It's not just the neighbourhoods themselves I'll miss but also the memories I've made in them on numerous trips with my dear friends. Riding around town in the big Sex & the City bus drinking Carrie's cosmos and eating Magnolia cupcakes. Seeing 'The Lion King' with Sarah and 'Chicago' with Laura; and of course my favourite 'Wicked'. Exploring the Times Square shops for the first time with Casey and eating at Planet Hollywood with AJ. Playing in the snow at Central Park with the girls after lunch at 'Serendipitys'. Watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade or picnicing in Central Park.
This city feels like a living thing, always moving, always changing, always growing, always alive - and I always feel alive when I'm in it. Definitly going to miss old New York.
New York is not the only place I am saying goodbye to. Westchester County has been my home for almost 12 months and even though its more the memories I'll miss then actual places, its definitly going to be sad to eat my last dinner at 'The Cheesecake Factory' or drink my last frappe at 'Starbucks'. I'll have to get use to saying Amcal again instead of CVS and won't be able to eat anymore crazy Westchester yoghurt. I will say goodbye to my favourite spot at the River (but never goodbye to my bench buddies) and even the aqueduct (LOL). CPK, the cinemas & target, the strip/central ave.
The last, hardest, saddest goodbyes will be to my beautiful friends. Alice, Alissa, Frannie, Lou, Sarah, Steph, Matt, Emily, Jade, Christina, Dani, Olivia, Becky. All have been apart of my year for at least a few months, and all have a place in my heart. When I first got here Alice, Alissa, Frannie and Lou welcomed me with open arms especially Alice and Alissa. Sarah and Steph soon followed and quickly became my lifesavers. Matt was with us for a few months and then summer hit and Emily, Jade, Christina and Dani added their own awesome flavours to the group. Lastly, Olivia and Becky have arrived in the last month and have become great friends so quickly.
Alice and Alissa, you girls are a package and a package I could not do without! Alice, your kindness and selflessness is so beautiful! Your always there for everyone and so considerate and just a great friend. Alissa you are such a strong woman and so funny and confident. You girls have only been gone a short while and I already miss you! You were here basically my whole year, and it wouldn't have been what it was without you. Thankgod we live close back home, and will see each other soon!
Frannie how I loved it when you were here and oh how I've missed you since you've gone :( You are a crazy, fun, loyal friend who I have shared so many fun times with by the river, in the city and shared so many secrets and memories and jokes. I have definitly made a friend for life with you, and I can't wait for the next time we can travel together!
Becki and Olivia, I have barely spent a month with you girls, but I have loved every minute! Olivia you are so smily and cheerful and Becki you are so funny and such a lovely person. I wish we had more time together, but I know we can always keep in touch.
Lou, scrapbooking queen, so funny and stylish. Glad we got a chance to know each other before you moved to Boston, and am sure we will catch up back in Oz.
Jade you funny sexy pants gal! Will miss you lots but I am sure we will still skype a plenty (clothes optional)!
Matt even though you were only in Westchester a couple months, you are still a great friend, and I miss you dearly.
Dani I am going to miss having fun with you! You are so funny and crazy and just bring the party to life! You always swim through the nile, and make your way across the plains of Africa to hang out with us, and I'm so glad you do!
Emily, Emily, Emily you crazy awesome girl! I love everything about you and am so glad to call you my friend =) Words can't describe you, and I can't wait to see you back in Australia!
Christina, you sexy sexy bitch! Love that we share the same sense of humour, love that you are also so very good to talk to, a great listener with great advice. Can't wait to see you in Brisvegas and the GC, party on when you get home!
Steph my fellow hag, haha gonna miss you soooo much! The laughter, the hulk, the memories. I can't wait to see you back on both coasts, and I hope you live it up during the rest of your stay here. My year wouldn't be the same without you!
Sarah my bench buddy, cant describe how much I will miss you. Don't be surprised to come home and find me knitting with Elphie, all my bags unpacked ready to live on your coast haha. So glad you have been here almost all my year and I got to spend so much time, and so many memories, and such a beautiful friendship with you.
I love all my New York (and CT) Aussie girls and can't wait to see them again.
Saying goodbye to this era of my life, this city, and these friends is going to be impossibly hard but I will never forget this year, and have so many memories to choose from. I know I'll be back in New York one day, and I know I will see my friends again soon.
Start spreading the news, I'm leaving today New York, New York... If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
We wish you a merry mixed party...
Saturday was Boxing Day which silly Americans don't celebrate but Emma had a mixed party at her place. It was a Christmas, Boxing Day, Dani's b'day, Sarah's b'day, Emma's Farewell party. Each of the girls (Sarah, Steph, Christina, Dani, Emily, Becky, Olivia) bought something to eat and we had organised Secret Santa a few weeks earlier so we placed the presents around a mini tree. I had Emily and made her a box of oracle cards and Christina had me and bought me an absolutely gorgeous cocktail ring. We all had some drinks, danced to some songs (Steps, Spice girls, Macarena, Nutbush...) and watched some funny clips online. It was a really fun night, as all the nights with the girls are =)
Sunday, Sarah's birthday, we headed straight to Little Italy for a delicious lunch. It was such a quaint pretty little restaurant on Mulberry St, the girl's had woodfire pizza and I had lobster ravioli. It's a lovely neighbourhood with hundreds of Italian restaurants, bakeries and compliments. We ate some delicious gelato before heading downtown to Century 21 a discount department store. Things were a little wild in there, but we picked up a few bargains. Then we walked up Broadway, stopping in every shoe and clothing store that caught Sarah's eye! Over to Greenwich village for dinner at Jekyl and Hyde a horror themed restaurant. It was more family orientated with characters walking around and crazy scary talking audio animatronics on the walls. It was so much fun though, especially when one of the character's talked to us about Sarah's birthday!!
Sunday, Sarah's birthday, we headed straight to Little Italy for a delicious lunch. It was such a quaint pretty little restaurant on Mulberry St, the girl's had woodfire pizza and I had lobster ravioli. It's a lovely neighbourhood with hundreds of Italian restaurants, bakeries and compliments. We ate some delicious gelato before heading downtown to Century 21 a discount department store. Things were a little wild in there, but we picked up a few bargains. Then we walked up Broadway, stopping in every shoe and clothing store that caught Sarah's eye! Over to Greenwich village for dinner at Jekyl and Hyde a horror themed restaurant. It was more family orientated with characters walking around and crazy scary talking audio animatronics on the walls. It was so much fun though, especially when one of the character's talked to us about Sarah's birthday!!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
I'm dreaming of a White Christmas...
Wednesday night Sarah, Steph and I got together to go look at the Christmas lights. We didn't really find any but it was fun driving around listening to carols anyway. Before we did this though, we parked at the River and gave each other our Christmas gifts. Each of us recieved a shutterfly scrapbook created by the other two. They were also our going away presents to each other so it was very lovely and I love mine!
Thursday, Christmas Eve in New York, I worked during the day until about 5pm when my family left to church. I used this time to call Kristy and Brock for some Christmas wishes (Krystle & Renee, no answer, how rude) before having a skype date with my family (where it was already Christmas morning) at 7pm my time. By this time my host family was downstairs running around and screaming as they were preparing for a Christmas Eve party.I talked to Mum, Dad, Jas and Jessica for a bit and opened my lovely presents from them - bracelets, underwear and a 2010 diary. Then I went downstairs to join the party. It was lovely with all my host mom's friends there who I have known throughout the year from summer lake houses, playdates or dinners. We drunk alot, and ate a buffet style Christmas dinner with ham, hot vegies, pasta and the works. Then we had a sea of desserts to see us into midnight, sitting by the roaring fire, with the snow on the ground outside. Very lovely, very Christmassy (but not the same without my family there).
Friday, Christmas morning, my host family and I sat around the Christmas tree and opened Santa's presents. The kids loved the gifts I got them, and Eileen especially loved the scrapbook that I made the family. I was very lucky and recieved one of my host dad's photographs of New York and from my host mom I recieved a beautiful picture book about New York, a lovely hand painted Christmas ornament, a mini travel book about Disneyworld, some 2009 mint coins and some stocking goodies. Then spent the morning playing with the kids and them with their toys before we had a lovely breakfast together at around 11. Then at 2 the family headed off to Long Island to see their family. So I stayed chilling around the house with the place to myself!! It was lovely I just watched some movies and lay in bed. Then at around 7pm Sarah and Steph came over and we chilled out till 11pm. Overall it was a good Christmas, but I definitly missed by family so much on this day! Not long till I see them though!
Thursday, Christmas Eve in New York, I worked during the day until about 5pm when my family left to church. I used this time to call Kristy and Brock for some Christmas wishes (Krystle & Renee, no answer, how rude) before having a skype date with my family (where it was already Christmas morning) at 7pm my time. By this time my host family was downstairs running around and screaming as they were preparing for a Christmas Eve party.I talked to Mum, Dad, Jas and Jessica for a bit and opened my lovely presents from them - bracelets, underwear and a 2010 diary. Then I went downstairs to join the party. It was lovely with all my host mom's friends there who I have known throughout the year from summer lake houses, playdates or dinners. We drunk alot, and ate a buffet style Christmas dinner with ham, hot vegies, pasta and the works. Then we had a sea of desserts to see us into midnight, sitting by the roaring fire, with the snow on the ground outside. Very lovely, very Christmassy (but not the same without my family there).
Friday, Christmas morning, my host family and I sat around the Christmas tree and opened Santa's presents. The kids loved the gifts I got them, and Eileen especially loved the scrapbook that I made the family. I was very lucky and recieved one of my host dad's photographs of New York and from my host mom I recieved a beautiful picture book about New York, a lovely hand painted Christmas ornament, a mini travel book about Disneyworld, some 2009 mint coins and some stocking goodies. Then spent the morning playing with the kids and them with their toys before we had a lovely breakfast together at around 11. Then at 2 the family headed off to Long Island to see their family. So I stayed chilling around the house with the place to myself!! It was lovely I just watched some movies and lay in bed. Then at around 7pm Sarah and Steph came over and we chilled out till 11pm. Overall it was a good Christmas, but I definitly missed by family so much on this day! Not long till I see them though!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Friday night was a huge aupair Christmas party with 7 LCC groups from Westchester County attending. We didn't get there until late because I had been with my host family picking out a Christmas tree (a real one!!!). When we arrived however it was a big hall with no music and a few doritoes and cookies to eat. It was pretty pathetic, and though it was good to see all the aussie girls, it was a bit of a waste of time. Apparently last year's xmasparty had been good so we were hoping this one would be but oh well. Us girls are having our own Chrissie party on Boxing day so it didn't matter so much.
Saturday afternoon a big blizzard was predicted. It snowed a little bit but the bulk of the snow came overnight. So a few of us gathered at Sarah's (her hosties were out of town) for the night. Christina, Dani, Steph, Becky, Sarah & I spent the night drinking, dancing and for a few minutes making snow angels in the now pure white blanketed front yard. We danced in the snow and it was such a fun magical evening. The snow was falling fast and there was alot of it (12 inches) and when we woke up everything was pure white. No footprints, everything covered, it was a beautiful magical winter wonderland =) After we all got ready we drove down to the train station, rode into Grand Central and then hauled up at a Mc Donald's for some hangover breakfast. We waited there for Olivia and then caught a cab up to Serendipity's on the Upper East Side. Its a famous cafe with notoriously long lines, so we decided to get there when they opened hoping for a better shot at getting in. They told us we'd have to wait 45 minutes, so we went around the corner to Dylan's Candy Bar and Bloomingdales to bide our time. Serendipity's was such a lovely cafe, beautiful decorations, and a really old New York feel, as it has been around for decades. We all ordered their famous frozen hot chocolate which was delicious abeit expensive. We had some lunch (not the best) and the waiter sung happy birthday to becky, embarrasing her in front of the whole cafe, and getting them to sing along. It wasn't her birthday but it was...a long story! As we were leaving we saw the actor Breckin Meyer (josie & pusscats, road trip, 54). We then walked to Central Park to see the Woolman Skating Rink, the nearby bridge and all the people playing in the snow. It was so truley beautiful and magical and Christmassy. Just like every New York Christmas movie you've ever seen or song you've ever heard! It was breathtaking and oh so fun. All us girls had a big snowball fight and as we were leaving some British boys started throwing snowballs at us and followed us the rest of the time we were in the park throwing snowballs at us!!
As we left the park, we went searching for the LOVE sign, and took some group photos near there. My foot came out of my boot and I stepped in a pile of dirty, freezing cold sleet and started getting the shivers and shakes. So we split up, and Dani, Christina, Becky went home while me, Sarah, Steph, Olivia went and bought me new socks and put my boots under a dryer at Mc Donalds! Then us four went and looked at the big beautiful Rockerfella Christmas tree before cabbing down to Madison Square Garden. Steph's host mom gave her 4 free tickets to see the New York Knicks vs Charlotte Bobcats in basketball. It was really fun to watch and the Knicks won yay!
Was a very long day but a very amazing weekend one of the best this year. Nothing more exciting then being in New York City, walking in a winter wonderland.
Saturday afternoon a big blizzard was predicted. It snowed a little bit but the bulk of the snow came overnight. So a few of us gathered at Sarah's (her hosties were out of town) for the night. Christina, Dani, Steph, Becky, Sarah & I spent the night drinking, dancing and for a few minutes making snow angels in the now pure white blanketed front yard. We danced in the snow and it was such a fun magical evening. The snow was falling fast and there was alot of it (12 inches) and when we woke up everything was pure white. No footprints, everything covered, it was a beautiful magical winter wonderland =) After we all got ready we drove down to the train station, rode into Grand Central and then hauled up at a Mc Donald's for some hangover breakfast. We waited there for Olivia and then caught a cab up to Serendipity's on the Upper East Side. Its a famous cafe with notoriously long lines, so we decided to get there when they opened hoping for a better shot at getting in. They told us we'd have to wait 45 minutes, so we went around the corner to Dylan's Candy Bar and Bloomingdales to bide our time. Serendipity's was such a lovely cafe, beautiful decorations, and a really old New York feel, as it has been around for decades. We all ordered their famous frozen hot chocolate which was delicious abeit expensive. We had some lunch (not the best) and the waiter sung happy birthday to becky, embarrasing her in front of the whole cafe, and getting them to sing along. It wasn't her birthday but it was...a long story! As we were leaving we saw the actor Breckin Meyer (josie & pusscats, road trip, 54). We then walked to Central Park to see the Woolman Skating Rink, the nearby bridge and all the people playing in the snow. It was so truley beautiful and magical and Christmassy. Just like every New York Christmas movie you've ever seen or song you've ever heard! It was breathtaking and oh so fun. All us girls had a big snowball fight and as we were leaving some British boys started throwing snowballs at us and followed us the rest of the time we were in the park throwing snowballs at us!!
As we left the park, we went searching for the LOVE sign, and took some group photos near there. My foot came out of my boot and I stepped in a pile of dirty, freezing cold sleet and started getting the shivers and shakes. So we split up, and Dani, Christina, Becky went home while me, Sarah, Steph, Olivia went and bought me new socks and put my boots under a dryer at Mc Donalds! Then us four went and looked at the big beautiful Rockerfella Christmas tree before cabbing down to Madison Square Garden. Steph's host mom gave her 4 free tickets to see the New York Knicks vs Charlotte Bobcats in basketball. It was really fun to watch and the Knicks won yay!
Was a very long day but a very amazing weekend one of the best this year. Nothing more exciting then being in New York City, walking in a winter wonderland.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Birthday in New York =)
Friday night me, Sarah, Steph, Emily & Dani went over to Alice and Olivia's place just to chill out for Ali's last night in Westchester. The previous night me & Em were up to 1am with her cutting my hair (love it!) and while we were at Alice's she dyed it (chocolate brown, love it!). It was really nice to just relax and chat all night (another 1am night) with the girls. We all wrote message's in Alice's travel journal and it's crazy that she is gone. She has been here since I first arrived, along with Alissa, and our group isn't the same without them.
Saturday morning I met Em, Dani, Alice, Olivia, Christina, Becki & Alissa for breakfast as the absolute final farewell to the girls. We all shared pancakes and hugs - I definitly had some tears rolling! Afterwards I went back to Em's and Christina waxed her, mine & Dani's eyebrows - turning her bedroom into a beauty salon again lol! Emily & I just chilled for the afternoon, doing some arts & crafts projects of hers and barely keeping our eyes open. I was then suppose to work from about 7 till late, but I ended up only really feeding my youngest then my host dad came home early and took over. Which was nice as Saturday night was kind of like a 2nd birthday (but 1st haha). Uncle John called, and because he doesn't have internet, this was the first I'd talked to him all year. I also had a skype date with Mum which I was so happy about, and even though skype kept messing up (grrrrr) we had a good long chat and I opened the pressies she had sent me. A really cute winter dress, a necklace & some yummy (& quickly eaten) chocolate! I chatted online with Renee, and had a phone call with Brock that night as well; and opened cards from Frannie (who had sent me an early present of german choccies & a german tshirt) and Kristy. I also got lots of messages from my aussie friends as it was my bday in Australia at that time. It was a little sad being away this month, because so much goes on in December. There is my bday and Krystle's (missed her 21st :( ) as well as our annual Christmas bus lights tour with Toni & Matt; plus all the other festivites but at the same time I have wonderful traditions to see here and good friends keeping me sane and happy!
Sunday morning I skyped with Frannie while I got ready and met up with Sarah & Steph at Grand Central. Sarah almost bowled me over when she saw me, screaming happy birthday and running across the terminal! It was a miserable day weather wise - raining all day long was not fun at all, but better then ice pellets that were originally predicted! The first thing we did was go to Macy's which is a Christmas Wonderland! It's the biggest department store in the world (for those living under a rock) and its decked all its halls in bounds of holly and more! We took their famous, old, wooden escalators up to Santaland and the line was ridiculously long but luckily very quick moving. The first part of the line is just in the store but then you go through a giant train and it transports you into Santaland which is the most beautifully decorated Santaland I've ever seen! They had bears everywhere and some audioanimatronics and train sets and backdrops and fake snow and trees everywhere. A minitaure village and Christmas carols playing, a nutcracker and snowman! It was truely magical! Then we got to see Santa! He was a very good Santa and we all asked for Tiffany gifts lol and we took a photo with him. After we purchased the photo we went to look at all the decorations and Christmas items for sale. There were some carolers singing in the Christmas section and lovely decorated trees. It was very nice but of course very expensive and the one thing I could afford & desperatly wanted they didn't have (hopefully next time so I won't say what it is now!) but I did get a Macy's Holiday Mickey Mouse plush =)
After Macy's we got some lunch and then met up with Christina, Olivia & Becki in Times Square so we could see the Princess & the Frog. This is the first Disney hand drawn animation they have done in 5 years and the first princess movie since 1992 and it's also their first black princess. It's set in New Orleans and has a great Jazzy touch to the songs. It was a beautiful story and very well done, great songs, but I definitly don't think it;s up there anywhere close to the last 3 princess movies (Little Mermaid, Beauty&Beast, Aladdin).
After the movie the plan was suppose to be to see the Christmas window displays and the Rockerfella tree but the train was disgusting so we decided to stop by 'The Australian' bar for a drink before heading for dinner. We got a free Tim tam each because it was my birthday, and I had a cosmo before we headed to Hamachi Japanese restaurant for dinner. A couple of my other friends were suppose to join us but couldn't make it. Dani & Emily got snowed/iced into their houses and Jade slipped in all the rain & hurt herself. I was so glad I got to talk to them on the phone though! At the restaurant Steph & I tried a Japanese alcoholic drink called sake and got a bit drunk but not too bad! It was so much fun and such yummy food! Sarah and I shared katsudon & a sushi platter. The restaurant bought out their version of a cake - icecream, deep fried banana & mint leaves, mango - it was really delicious with a little candle on top!
Depsite the hideous rain ti was such a beautiful birthday and I had so much fun. It was so great to share it with some of my closest friends in such an amazing city!
Saturday morning I met Em, Dani, Alice, Olivia, Christina, Becki & Alissa for breakfast as the absolute final farewell to the girls. We all shared pancakes and hugs - I definitly had some tears rolling! Afterwards I went back to Em's and Christina waxed her, mine & Dani's eyebrows - turning her bedroom into a beauty salon again lol! Emily & I just chilled for the afternoon, doing some arts & crafts projects of hers and barely keeping our eyes open. I was then suppose to work from about 7 till late, but I ended up only really feeding my youngest then my host dad came home early and took over. Which was nice as Saturday night was kind of like a 2nd birthday (but 1st haha). Uncle John called, and because he doesn't have internet, this was the first I'd talked to him all year. I also had a skype date with Mum which I was so happy about, and even though skype kept messing up (grrrrr) we had a good long chat and I opened the pressies she had sent me. A really cute winter dress, a necklace & some yummy (& quickly eaten) chocolate! I chatted online with Renee, and had a phone call with Brock that night as well; and opened cards from Frannie (who had sent me an early present of german choccies & a german tshirt) and Kristy. I also got lots of messages from my aussie friends as it was my bday in Australia at that time. It was a little sad being away this month, because so much goes on in December. There is my bday and Krystle's (missed her 21st :( ) as well as our annual Christmas bus lights tour with Toni & Matt; plus all the other festivites but at the same time I have wonderful traditions to see here and good friends keeping me sane and happy!
Sunday morning I skyped with Frannie while I got ready and met up with Sarah & Steph at Grand Central. Sarah almost bowled me over when she saw me, screaming happy birthday and running across the terminal! It was a miserable day weather wise - raining all day long was not fun at all, but better then ice pellets that were originally predicted! The first thing we did was go to Macy's which is a Christmas Wonderland! It's the biggest department store in the world (for those living under a rock) and its decked all its halls in bounds of holly and more! We took their famous, old, wooden escalators up to Santaland and the line was ridiculously long but luckily very quick moving. The first part of the line is just in the store but then you go through a giant train and it transports you into Santaland which is the most beautifully decorated Santaland I've ever seen! They had bears everywhere and some audioanimatronics and train sets and backdrops and fake snow and trees everywhere. A minitaure village and Christmas carols playing, a nutcracker and snowman! It was truely magical! Then we got to see Santa! He was a very good Santa and we all asked for Tiffany gifts lol and we took a photo with him. After we purchased the photo we went to look at all the decorations and Christmas items for sale. There were some carolers singing in the Christmas section and lovely decorated trees. It was very nice but of course very expensive and the one thing I could afford & desperatly wanted they didn't have (hopefully next time so I won't say what it is now!) but I did get a Macy's Holiday Mickey Mouse plush =)
After Macy's we got some lunch and then met up with Christina, Olivia & Becki in Times Square so we could see the Princess & the Frog. This is the first Disney hand drawn animation they have done in 5 years and the first princess movie since 1992 and it's also their first black princess. It's set in New Orleans and has a great Jazzy touch to the songs. It was a beautiful story and very well done, great songs, but I definitly don't think it;s up there anywhere close to the last 3 princess movies (Little Mermaid, Beauty&Beast, Aladdin).
After the movie the plan was suppose to be to see the Christmas window displays and the Rockerfella tree but the train was disgusting so we decided to stop by 'The Australian' bar for a drink before heading for dinner. We got a free Tim tam each because it was my birthday, and I had a cosmo before we headed to Hamachi Japanese restaurant for dinner. A couple of my other friends were suppose to join us but couldn't make it. Dani & Emily got snowed/iced into their houses and Jade slipped in all the rain & hurt herself. I was so glad I got to talk to them on the phone though! At the restaurant Steph & I tried a Japanese alcoholic drink called sake and got a bit drunk but not too bad! It was so much fun and such yummy food! Sarah and I shared katsudon & a sushi platter. The restaurant bought out their version of a cake - icecream, deep fried banana & mint leaves, mango - it was really delicious with a little candle on top!
Depsite the hideous rain ti was such a beautiful birthday and I had so much fun. It was so great to share it with some of my closest friends in such an amazing city!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Asante sana squashed banana
Saturday evening was Alice and Alissa's farewell party. These two girls were the first ones to befriend me here in New York and we have been good friends ever since. They have been here for 2 years,and I have known them for most of my year here, so them leaving was very sad for me, them, and all of us Aussie girls.
When I woke up Saturday morning it was the first snow of this season, such a beautiful treat. We drove over to Alice's host home in the snow, everything coloured in a blanket of snow. At the party there was finger food, a beautiful fire roaring and all our friends were there (except unfortunately Jade who couldn't make it). We started the night off with lots of photo taking and chatting, then we had a celebration of Alice and Alissa. Emily and I wrote a poem for the girls, we gave them a calender as a gift, and then we watched a slideshow I had made for them. The girls were strong and didn't cry; until the night progressed and we had tears of laughter. We all got pretty drunk and played a game of 'I've never' which was a funny introduction to our two new aussies - Olivia and Becky who have replaced Alice and Alissa.
A wonderful night with a sad purpose - the girls will leave this Saturday (a week after the party).
Sunday, Sarah and I ventured into the city on a very cold day. We got takeaway brunch from a place called 'Alice's tea party' and I had the yummiest scone I've ever had (raspberry and lime) which we ate next to the MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art). Then we caught a cab to Bloomingdales and had alook at their famous Christmas windows and the Christmas department inside. Afterwards we walked to 'Dylan's Candy Bar' a famous store owned by the daughter of designer Ralph Lauren. We picked out a few yummy treats before trying to get a seat at a famous cafe 'Serendipity's' but the wait was 2 and a half hours long which didn't exactly appeal to us. So instead we had lunch at boring old subways haha then walked over to 5th avenue to do some shopping at H&M. We dawdled around 5th ave and Times SQ until 6.30pm when we rocked up to see 'The Lion King' on Broadway. It was fantastic! Not as good as Wicked, but next in line after that!! The opening scene of 'Circle of Life' had a sun rising in the background, masks, costumes, people on stilts as giraffees...it was breathtaking. Another great scene was the stampede - also Mufasa's ghost which had the stage black and fairy lights lighting up Mufasa's face. It was so fantastic and omg I just loved it! It went for about 3 hours and by the we were both exhausted and headed home to bed!
When I woke up Saturday morning it was the first snow of this season, such a beautiful treat. We drove over to Alice's host home in the snow, everything coloured in a blanket of snow. At the party there was finger food, a beautiful fire roaring and all our friends were there (except unfortunately Jade who couldn't make it). We started the night off with lots of photo taking and chatting, then we had a celebration of Alice and Alissa. Emily and I wrote a poem for the girls, we gave them a calender as a gift, and then we watched a slideshow I had made for them. The girls were strong and didn't cry; until the night progressed and we had tears of laughter. We all got pretty drunk and played a game of 'I've never' which was a funny introduction to our two new aussies - Olivia and Becky who have replaced Alice and Alissa.
A wonderful night with a sad purpose - the girls will leave this Saturday (a week after the party).
Sunday, Sarah and I ventured into the city on a very cold day. We got takeaway brunch from a place called 'Alice's tea party' and I had the yummiest scone I've ever had (raspberry and lime) which we ate next to the MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art). Then we caught a cab to Bloomingdales and had alook at their famous Christmas windows and the Christmas department inside. Afterwards we walked to 'Dylan's Candy Bar' a famous store owned by the daughter of designer Ralph Lauren. We picked out a few yummy treats before trying to get a seat at a famous cafe 'Serendipity's' but the wait was 2 and a half hours long which didn't exactly appeal to us. So instead we had lunch at boring old subways haha then walked over to 5th avenue to do some shopping at H&M. We dawdled around 5th ave and Times SQ until 6.30pm when we rocked up to see 'The Lion King' on Broadway. It was fantastic! Not as good as Wicked, but next in line after that!! The opening scene of 'Circle of Life' had a sun rising in the background, masks, costumes, people on stilts as giraffees...it was breathtaking. Another great scene was the stampede - also Mufasa's ghost which had the stage black and fairy lights lighting up Mufasa's face. It was so fantastic and omg I just loved it! It went for about 3 hours and by the we were both exhausted and headed home to bed!
My SECOND Lovely Little Holiday
So from 26th Nov to 1st Dec I was on holidays. As an aupair we get 2 paid hols a year, my first was when I went to Niagara etc and this holiday I decided to stay in New York. Monday and Tuesday I stayed in the house, Monday was my cleaning/sorting/practice packing day and Tuesday I blissfully stayed in bed allllll day!
Wednesday I spent the day in the city by myself. I decided to start at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) which normally costs $20 to get in, but my host dad knows someone who works there so I got in for free. They had a Tim Burton exhibit so I checked that out as well as some other paintings, sculptures and photos. The Tim Burtone exhibit was awesome, I loved seeing all his work together and all the characters & ideas he had created but have not yet come to the screen. After the morning at MoMA, I walked around the area and had some lunch.
Then at 2pm I had tickets to see the 'Radio City Hall Rockettes Christmas Spectacular' which is a famous New York Christmas show thats been playing for years and is a big tradition. It was a huge theatre with the biggest chandelier I've ever seen in the lobby, and 3 mezzazines (balconies) inside, with a great big stage. The Rockettes are dancers and they performed '12 days of Christmas' purely by tapping it out and not singing until the last line! It was amazing they did movements to go with each number and tapped it so beautifully. They also told different Christmas songs, did different Christmas songs and Christmas dances. Another great dance was they all dressed up as toy soldiers and fell over in a huge line - it was fantasic!
It was cold and rainy when I came out of the theatre but I headed up to the Upper West Side to watch them blow up the balloons for the Thanksgiving parade the next day. I arrived an hour and a half after they started but they were unfortunately already all blown up and it was a bit of a waste of time!
That night I didn't go to sleep at all because I had to take a 5.20am train back into the city! I met the other girls at the station at about 6am and we headed back over to the Upper West Side about 76th street just a few blocks after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade would start. By the time we had arrived (detouring to get breakfast & coffee, coffee, coffee) it was around 7am and we got a fantastic spot right on the corner, about 3 people in from the sidewalk. WHen the parade FINALLY started at 9am, it was well worth the wait =) It was amazing they had dancers, marching bands, cheerleaders, jumpropers and random walkers...plus lots of floats. Castles, M&M theatre world, central park, sesame street...with different celebs on them Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Gaynor, Boys like Girls, Miss America. Plus of course the giant balloons! Dora, Horton, Buzz, Santa, Spongebob oh they were so huge and so awesome! They finished with Santa and it was definitly one of my top 5 New York moments and everything I'd hoped =).
I got home around 1pm and had a little nap before Thanksgiving dinner which we had at about 5pm. It was all my host family, one of their cousins & uncle plus a family from around the corner. We had a huge giant turkey, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, green beans, corn and all the cliche televised Thanksgiving food! It was delicious and we barely had room for the pumpkin pie, chocolate cake and ice cream for dessert. It was a beautiful meal and we had some great conversations and it was a really lovely holiday.
The next day (Friday if you lost count) I had a very early birthday present! My host mom took me and my host girl to Harlem's famous Apollo theatre where a special performance of 'Dreamgirls' was playing. We saw the matinee and it was spectacular - especially Effie's 'I'm not going' which gave me goosebumps!Then we went to a soul food restaurant 'Sylvia's' and I had the most delicious meal - catfish, yams and garlic potatoes mmmmmmm.
Saturday was a big day in the city for sarah, Steph and I we took some tour buses around the city. One downtown then one night tour, which was great to see all the lights of the city (we viewed it from Brooklyn). In between these two tours we had lunch at a quite little tavern, and had a few drinks. It was a really nice day but very long and tiring.
Sunday was my last day of holidays - rest day until dinner that night at our fav restaurant the Cheesecake Factory for Christina's birthday. It was such a fun celebration with alot of the girls there - me, Sarah, Steph, Christina, Emily, Dani, Emma, Alice and Olivia.
HOlidays over, and back to work (blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah) bright and earlyish Monday morning =)
Wednesday I spent the day in the city by myself. I decided to start at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) which normally costs $20 to get in, but my host dad knows someone who works there so I got in for free. They had a Tim Burton exhibit so I checked that out as well as some other paintings, sculptures and photos. The Tim Burtone exhibit was awesome, I loved seeing all his work together and all the characters & ideas he had created but have not yet come to the screen. After the morning at MoMA, I walked around the area and had some lunch.
Then at 2pm I had tickets to see the 'Radio City Hall Rockettes Christmas Spectacular' which is a famous New York Christmas show thats been playing for years and is a big tradition. It was a huge theatre with the biggest chandelier I've ever seen in the lobby, and 3 mezzazines (balconies) inside, with a great big stage. The Rockettes are dancers and they performed '12 days of Christmas' purely by tapping it out and not singing until the last line! It was amazing they did movements to go with each number and tapped it so beautifully. They also told different Christmas songs, did different Christmas songs and Christmas dances. Another great dance was they all dressed up as toy soldiers and fell over in a huge line - it was fantasic!
It was cold and rainy when I came out of the theatre but I headed up to the Upper West Side to watch them blow up the balloons for the Thanksgiving parade the next day. I arrived an hour and a half after they started but they were unfortunately already all blown up and it was a bit of a waste of time!
That night I didn't go to sleep at all because I had to take a 5.20am train back into the city! I met the other girls at the station at about 6am and we headed back over to the Upper West Side about 76th street just a few blocks after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade would start. By the time we had arrived (detouring to get breakfast & coffee, coffee, coffee) it was around 7am and we got a fantastic spot right on the corner, about 3 people in from the sidewalk. WHen the parade FINALLY started at 9am, it was well worth the wait =) It was amazing they had dancers, marching bands, cheerleaders, jumpropers and random walkers...plus lots of floats. Castles, M&M theatre world, central park, sesame street...with different celebs on them Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Gaynor, Boys like Girls, Miss America. Plus of course the giant balloons! Dora, Horton, Buzz, Santa, Spongebob oh they were so huge and so awesome! They finished with Santa and it was definitly one of my top 5 New York moments and everything I'd hoped =).
I got home around 1pm and had a little nap before Thanksgiving dinner which we had at about 5pm. It was all my host family, one of their cousins & uncle plus a family from around the corner. We had a huge giant turkey, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, green beans, corn and all the cliche televised Thanksgiving food! It was delicious and we barely had room for the pumpkin pie, chocolate cake and ice cream for dessert. It was a beautiful meal and we had some great conversations and it was a really lovely holiday.
The next day (Friday if you lost count) I had a very early birthday present! My host mom took me and my host girl to Harlem's famous Apollo theatre where a special performance of 'Dreamgirls' was playing. We saw the matinee and it was spectacular - especially Effie's 'I'm not going' which gave me goosebumps!Then we went to a soul food restaurant 'Sylvia's' and I had the most delicious meal - catfish, yams and garlic potatoes mmmmmmm.
Saturday was a big day in the city for sarah, Steph and I we took some tour buses around the city. One downtown then one night tour, which was great to see all the lights of the city (we viewed it from Brooklyn). In between these two tours we had lunch at a quite little tavern, and had a few drinks. It was a really nice day but very long and tiring.
Sunday was my last day of holidays - rest day until dinner that night at our fav restaurant the Cheesecake Factory for Christina's birthday. It was such a fun celebration with alot of the girls there - me, Sarah, Steph, Christina, Emily, Dani, Emma, Alice and Olivia.
HOlidays over, and back to work (blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah) bright and earlyish Monday morning =)
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Our "Nothing" Weekend
In order to be able to afford a big weekend for Thanksgiving (this upcoming weekend), Sarah, Steph and I decided that the weekend just come we would have a "nothing" weekend where we tried to do/spend as little as possible. Friday night after I finished work, I was officially on holidays =) We had no plans for that night, but Saturday Kate and Christina came over to watch some movies at my place, as my hosties were out of town. Kate and I got pizza for dinner and then Sarah, Steph and I went to see the new Twilight movie. It was quite good but not the huge hype that everyone goes on about!
Sunday afternoon Sarah Steph and I had lunch at my place, then went shopping for a bit before we met all t he other girls (Alissa, Alice, Jade, Christina, Emily, Dani, Emma nad the new girl Olivia) for dinner at Applebees. After dinner those girls went to see Twilight, we continued shopping and then had a nice and easy night!
19 days till my birthday
31 days till Christmas
40 days till my big holiday
YAY
Sunday afternoon Sarah Steph and I had lunch at my place, then went shopping for a bit before we met all t he other girls (Alissa, Alice, Jade, Christina, Emily, Dani, Emma nad the new girl Olivia) for dinner at Applebees. After dinner those girls went to see Twilight, we continued shopping and then had a nice and easy night!
19 days till my birthday
31 days till Christmas
40 days till my big holiday
YAY
We went everywhere man...
So after the kind of low key/hurt back weekend (lol), Sarah, Steph & I had another big Sunday in my favourite city =) We started off in the village with Magnolia Cupcakes and a walk around the neighbourhood. The girls wanted gumboots from Marc Jacobs but there were none left so we walked over to Washington Square Park stopping at the famous Grey's Papaya Hotdogs on the way for lunch. After we took a few photos in the park, listening to some music and saw a few NYU buildings; we caught a cab over to Chinatown. We elbowed our way thru the crazy crowds looking for bargains - perfumes, scarves, jewellery, last minute souvinears. When we grew tired of Chinatown we took another cab back uptown to 5th avenue. All 3 of us had seen Tiffany & Co but today we took the chance to walk in Audrey Hepburn shoe's and explored the inside. It is 5 floors of jewellery and lovely pretty things! I would love to get a charm from their before I go, and while $100ish per charm isn't too much for jewellery, esp Tiffany but being on an aupoor wage isn't so easy hehe! But if I don't get one now, I can always buy it later.
We also went to a few other stores - the NBA store for the girls to get jerseys and the Disney store for me to get a sweatshirt =) Instead of I heart NY, its I mickey ears NY hehe. its so cute! I love it!
Then we named them and got little bear birth certificates! Mine bear is Gotham, Steph's is Chocolate and Sarah's is Winston! Definitly a special afternoon =)
Our last stop was dinner in Little India - mmm butterchicken yum yum.
We also went to a few other stores - the NBA store for the girls to get jerseys and the Disney store for me to get a sweatshirt =) Instead of I heart NY, its I mickey ears NY hehe. its so cute! I love it!
Then we named them and got little bear birth certificates! Mine bear is Gotham, Steph's is Chocolate and Sarah's is Winston! Definitly a special afternoon =)
Our last stop was dinner in Little India - mmm butterchicken yum yum.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
She'll be coming round 5th ave when she comes...yeehaw
The day after Halloween, Sarah, Steph and I went for a horse and carriage ride in the city. The park was closed because of the Marathon, so we went down 5th instead, but it was still lots of fun and definitly one of those 'NEw York moments' you have to do!
Then we had lunch at the Australian, shopped on 5th, then went back to White Plains for lunch at OUtback Steakhouse. Definitly an aussie new york day!
The following weekend I hurt my back, so didn't do much, just went shoppin on Saturday in Conneticut with Christina, Dani, Em and Alice.
Then we had lunch at the Australian, shopped on 5th, then went back to White Plains for lunch at OUtback Steakhouse. Definitly an aussie new york day!
The following weekend I hurt my back, so didn't do much, just went shoppin on Saturday in Conneticut with Christina, Dani, Em and Alice.
Double double toil and trouble
Halloween was fantastic! I was so excited in the lead up to experience my first Halloween, and all the kids were in disbelief that we didn't celebrate this back home!
The day before Halloween, I went with my host mom to watch the kids at their school parade. Each grade marched out in costume, and I would say about 50% had store bought and 50% home made. There were a dozen 'Dorothys' and what seemed like an infinity of superheros and starwars characters; but also some really unique costumes like an i-pod, a cupcake, dice. My favourite though was a girl dressed in purple, with a painted purple face, who was carrying a clear umbrella with purple streamers hanging from it. She was a jellyfish and she looked amazing! My kids kept changing their minds right up until the night before. My youngest boy, 5, went as a ninja. My oldest boy, 9 went as a gangster and my girl, 9, went as a crazed jungle woman. She looked the best! I leant her my leopard print dress and then we painted her face brown and green so it looked dirty and then teased her hair to the maximum and put leaves and twigs in it. After the parade, each class hads a party and I went between the twin's classrooms looking at their projects, meeting their teachers and friends. It was really interesting and lots of fun.
The night before, my host parents went to a halloween party so I told the kids we would have our own party, just the four of us. We carved pumpkins (well they just drew the faces, I carved them out) which was messy and fun and tiring all at once. Then we got some of the halloween candy they recieved in class and made halloween cupcakes. We danced to spooky music, ate party food and scared each other. It was a long night and we had so much fun.
The afternoon of Halloween I helped the kids get dressed. My oldest boy was now being a zombie soccor player and the youngest a zombie astronaught (?!?!) and my girl was still a jungle woman. We put fake cobwebs all over the already set up Halloween directions on the porch; then lit up our pumpkins. We started by going to a haunted house on our street, set up by one of my kid's friends. Then we all went trick or treating together, knocking on each house and seeing if the people inside were dressed up, and what kind of pumpkins they had carved. There wasn't just faces I saw other things carved like words or objects. I had a blast and it was really special to spend it with my host family.
After trick or treating, me, Emily, Christina and Danyale went into the city. We were suppose to watch the parade in the village but it was raining so instead we went to 'The Australian' bar and had a drink, danced for a bit, then came home.
It was a great night but I'm glad we don't have this holiday back home!
The day before Halloween, I went with my host mom to watch the kids at their school parade. Each grade marched out in costume, and I would say about 50% had store bought and 50% home made. There were a dozen 'Dorothys' and what seemed like an infinity of superheros and starwars characters; but also some really unique costumes like an i-pod, a cupcake, dice. My favourite though was a girl dressed in purple, with a painted purple face, who was carrying a clear umbrella with purple streamers hanging from it. She was a jellyfish and she looked amazing! My kids kept changing their minds right up until the night before. My youngest boy, 5, went as a ninja. My oldest boy, 9 went as a gangster and my girl, 9, went as a crazed jungle woman. She looked the best! I leant her my leopard print dress and then we painted her face brown and green so it looked dirty and then teased her hair to the maximum and put leaves and twigs in it. After the parade, each class hads a party and I went between the twin's classrooms looking at their projects, meeting their teachers and friends. It was really interesting and lots of fun.
The night before, my host parents went to a halloween party so I told the kids we would have our own party, just the four of us. We carved pumpkins (well they just drew the faces, I carved them out) which was messy and fun and tiring all at once. Then we got some of the halloween candy they recieved in class and made halloween cupcakes. We danced to spooky music, ate party food and scared each other. It was a long night and we had so much fun.
The afternoon of Halloween I helped the kids get dressed. My oldest boy was now being a zombie soccor player and the youngest a zombie astronaught (?!?!) and my girl was still a jungle woman. We put fake cobwebs all over the already set up Halloween directions on the porch; then lit up our pumpkins. We started by going to a haunted house on our street, set up by one of my kid's friends. Then we all went trick or treating together, knocking on each house and seeing if the people inside were dressed up, and what kind of pumpkins they had carved. There wasn't just faces I saw other things carved like words or objects. I had a blast and it was really special to spend it with my host family.
After trick or treating, me, Emily, Christina and Danyale went into the city. We were suppose to watch the parade in the village but it was raining so instead we went to 'The Australian' bar and had a drink, danced for a bit, then came home.
It was a great night but I'm glad we don't have this holiday back home!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Silverbay (again)
Friday afternoon at about 1pm, Sarah picked me up and we headed to Steph's house where our rental car was waiting for us. Kate (from New Zealand, who I met at the training school in Jan) joined us and the 4 of us headed off on a 4-5ish hour drive to the Adirondacks in upstate New York. We packed plenty of snacks and had a dozen C.Ds to keep us perky and dancing. We left Westchester at about 3pm and arrived at Silverbay at about 8.30, after having a few stops and hitting a bit of traffic. We signed ourselves in, picked our classes, and met up with the other group of Aussies (Alissa, Alice, Emma and Christina) who had picked up Nicolette on their way. Nicolette was a girl I flew over with who I haven't seen since the training school. Another girl I haven't seen since flying over with, was Georgie from Maine. Allysha from Boston was there too but I have seen her a couple of times since Jan.
Sarah & Steph shared a room with an adjoining door to Kate & my room. We were in a different building to everyone else, further away from the main classroom/dining area but with a slightly higher and nicer view of Lake George. After we unpacked our bags, Kate went to bed and the rest of us had a few drinks and played a couple of games. We had a late night, about 1 or 2am I think, and then of course, an early morning - breakfast at 8am.
First class of the day was Creative Story Telling where we got up and did a skit about Obama's extra long toenails (random...) followed by Unique Mind Games. I took that one last Silverbay but that was the only class left when I signed up. After lunch we had a 3 hour class and Sarah, Steph & I chose scrapbooking. It was so much fun we did lots of halloween and fall themed pages and I may or may not have snuck out a few blank scrapbooking pages for later use =) After class we had some free time so us 3 migrated back to our room and played starburst poker and had more then a few giggling fits!
Dinner followed free time then the famous Silverbay pantomime. They do the same pantomime everytime and get aupairs from the audience to play every part from the berry bushes to the table to the cat to the hero and villain. All the aussies got a part - Sarah was the cat, Christina dog, Alissa horse, Kate & Alice door, Allysha chair, Georgie table, Steph collected cards, me music director and Nicolette a bird. The same staff member, Schyler, reads the script everytime but this time the other staff members had changed it on him and put dirty scenarios and swear words and innuendo thru the script. It was really funny to see his reaction and hilarious seeing the aussies in the play. When that finished, aupairs took turns going to see a haunted house the staff had set up. While the aussies waited for there turn, we had some giggle sessions, taking crazy photos and running around like crazy as always!
When it was our turn to go through the haunted house we all picked "scared buddies" (mine was Christina) and boy, did the staff do an awesome job of scaring us!! They had doors banging, lights going on and off, pitch black corridors, people grabbing you and screaming and scaring you. I was laughing, crying and screaming the whole way through!
The halloween disco was right after the haunted house and about half of the aupairs dressed up the other half didn't. Alissa & Alice dressed as bees, Sarah was a witch, Steph pink evil fairy, Christina a pirate and I went as Strawberry Shortcake =) It was lots of fun dancing around in costume and interesting to see what everyone else dressed as.
We had an early night prepared for another early morning. I did an optical illusion and music class before lunch, then we packed up and hit the road again. We took our time heading back, taking a few stops and eventually arrived in Westchester around 6pm in time for dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.
It was such an awesome weekend, I loved seeing the fall foliage. I never could imagine a leaf could be so vibrantly yellow or that there were so many shades of red and orange. I had so much fun with Sarah and Steph and its sinking in that I will be leaving them and New York in 10 weeks and its a very sad thought.
Sarah & Steph shared a room with an adjoining door to Kate & my room. We were in a different building to everyone else, further away from the main classroom/dining area but with a slightly higher and nicer view of Lake George. After we unpacked our bags, Kate went to bed and the rest of us had a few drinks and played a couple of games. We had a late night, about 1 or 2am I think, and then of course, an early morning - breakfast at 8am.
First class of the day was Creative Story Telling where we got up and did a skit about Obama's extra long toenails (random...) followed by Unique Mind Games. I took that one last Silverbay but that was the only class left when I signed up. After lunch we had a 3 hour class and Sarah, Steph & I chose scrapbooking. It was so much fun we did lots of halloween and fall themed pages and I may or may not have snuck out a few blank scrapbooking pages for later use =) After class we had some free time so us 3 migrated back to our room and played starburst poker and had more then a few giggling fits!
Dinner followed free time then the famous Silverbay pantomime. They do the same pantomime everytime and get aupairs from the audience to play every part from the berry bushes to the table to the cat to the hero and villain. All the aussies got a part - Sarah was the cat, Christina dog, Alissa horse, Kate & Alice door, Allysha chair, Georgie table, Steph collected cards, me music director and Nicolette a bird. The same staff member, Schyler, reads the script everytime but this time the other staff members had changed it on him and put dirty scenarios and swear words and innuendo thru the script. It was really funny to see his reaction and hilarious seeing the aussies in the play. When that finished, aupairs took turns going to see a haunted house the staff had set up. While the aussies waited for there turn, we had some giggle sessions, taking crazy photos and running around like crazy as always!
When it was our turn to go through the haunted house we all picked "scared buddies" (mine was Christina) and boy, did the staff do an awesome job of scaring us!! They had doors banging, lights going on and off, pitch black corridors, people grabbing you and screaming and scaring you. I was laughing, crying and screaming the whole way through!
The halloween disco was right after the haunted house and about half of the aupairs dressed up the other half didn't. Alissa & Alice dressed as bees, Sarah was a witch, Steph pink evil fairy, Christina a pirate and I went as Strawberry Shortcake =) It was lots of fun dancing around in costume and interesting to see what everyone else dressed as.
We had an early night prepared for another early morning. I did an optical illusion and music class before lunch, then we packed up and hit the road again. We took our time heading back, taking a few stops and eventually arrived in Westchester around 6pm in time for dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.
It was such an awesome weekend, I loved seeing the fall foliage. I never could imagine a leaf could be so vibrantly yellow or that there were so many shades of red and orange. I had so much fun with Sarah and Steph and its sinking in that I will be leaving them and New York in 10 weeks and its a very sad thought.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
(Aussie) Girls just wanna have fun
For the first time in a few months, all of the Aussie girls got together last Friday night. Alice and Alissa (from Lismore, who are leaving in Dec), Sarah & Steph (from central coast, steph is extending, Sarah leaves the country when I do), Emily, Jade, Christina (who all arrived together about 3 months ago) and Emma (who I flew over with).
We met at Alissa's and ate a naughty amount of junk food, played a few games, and chatted. Then Christina, Emily, Emma, Alice & I stayed the night, hitting our pillows at about 3.30am!
The next day we lounged around in our PJs having a relaxing day making friendship bracelets, watching youtube and gossiping.
Sunday we all (minus Sarah + Steph) went to the Palisades which is the 2nd biggest mall in America and about 20/30 minutes from my place. We went from shop to shop and I managed not to spend anything! Then we met Sarah & Steph at The Cheesecake Factory for dinner.
Was such a fun weekend, spending it with the girls. Silverbay this weekend, can't wait!
We met at Alissa's and ate a naughty amount of junk food, played a few games, and chatted. Then Christina, Emily, Emma, Alice & I stayed the night, hitting our pillows at about 3.30am!
The next day we lounged around in our PJs having a relaxing day making friendship bracelets, watching youtube and gossiping.
Sunday we all (minus Sarah + Steph) went to the Palisades which is the 2nd biggest mall in America and about 20/30 minutes from my place. We went from shop to shop and I managed not to spend anything! Then we met Sarah & Steph at The Cheesecake Factory for dinner.
Was such a fun weekend, spending it with the girls. Silverbay this weekend, can't wait!
Monday, October 12, 2009
I like to Oot oot oot Apples...
Friday night Sarah, Steph and I attemped to go to movies but our movie wasn't on so we just hung around. On late Saturday afternoon Sarah and Steph picked me up, we did a bit of shopping then went to Sarah's place and ordered Chinese food and played some games.
Sunday was so awesomely fun!! Emily and her host family picked me up so we could go apple picking for the LCC Meeting. My host fam couldn't take me so I went with them. It was a great big farm and lots of aupairs and families were there, because all of Westchester aupairs/fams had been invited. We got some bags and these tall poles with bags on top of them to pick the apples. But in the end we didn't need them because there were alot of apples down low. It was so weird picking and eating an apple right from the tree! But they were so tasty! You were suppose to pay $20/bag but I just put a few in my handbag hehe. I bought hot apple cider and doughnuts from the bakery - so yum. They had lots of pies - apple, pumpkin, rhubarb, cherry, so many! I wanted to get one but they are so expensive and you could only buy the whole thing and not just one slice. Then I bought a pumpkin so I could make soup yum yum plus some yummy peanut brittle! Then after we got home, Emily and I took her car to go get Sarah & Steph. We went Halloween shopping and joking around. Then we picked up some Thai takeaway, took Sarah & Steph home and Em and I met Alice, Alissa & Christina at the river for a takeaway picnic. It was really beautiful we could see the views of the city and the Tappan Zee bridge. We then went back to watch some T.V at Alice's place and raided her closet because she is going home soon and has sooo much to get rid of!
It was an awesome weekend I had so much fun Apple Picking and its exciting getting into fall :)
Sunday was so awesomely fun!! Emily and her host family picked me up so we could go apple picking for the LCC Meeting. My host fam couldn't take me so I went with them. It was a great big farm and lots of aupairs and families were there, because all of Westchester aupairs/fams had been invited. We got some bags and these tall poles with bags on top of them to pick the apples. But in the end we didn't need them because there were alot of apples down low. It was so weird picking and eating an apple right from the tree! But they were so tasty! You were suppose to pay $20/bag but I just put a few in my handbag hehe. I bought hot apple cider and doughnuts from the bakery - so yum. They had lots of pies - apple, pumpkin, rhubarb, cherry, so many! I wanted to get one but they are so expensive and you could only buy the whole thing and not just one slice. Then I bought a pumpkin so I could make soup yum yum plus some yummy peanut brittle! Then after we got home, Emily and I took her car to go get Sarah & Steph. We went Halloween shopping and joking around. Then we picked up some Thai takeaway, took Sarah & Steph home and Em and I met Alice, Alissa & Christina at the river for a takeaway picnic. It was really beautiful we could see the views of the city and the Tappan Zee bridge. We then went back to watch some T.V at Alice's place and raided her closet because she is going home soon and has sooo much to get rid of!
It was an awesome weekend I had so much fun Apple Picking and its exciting getting into fall :)
2 Slow Weekends
The 2 weeks after Frannie left weren't filled with too much exciting news!
The first weekend was very rainy so we just lazed about town and didn't go into the city, going out for dinner, to the river and the likes.
The next weekend, on Saturday I went to the city with Christina and Emily and went to a flea market. It was so much fun! They are alot more expensive then Aussie second hand stuff, but I got a cute, cheap, mickey mouse headband and some vintage postcards. We had an awful lunch and headed back into Westchester late afternoon. That night I went to Steph's place so she could cook me and Sarah a delicious dinner! We hung out all night, and then on Sunday we milled around town shopping, out for dinner, at the river. Its been getting really cold and rainy lately too!
The first weekend was very rainy so we just lazed about town and didn't go into the city, going out for dinner, to the river and the likes.
The next weekend, on Saturday I went to the city with Christina and Emily and went to a flea market. It was so much fun! They are alot more expensive then Aussie second hand stuff, but I got a cute, cheap, mickey mouse headband and some vintage postcards. We had an awful lunch and headed back into Westchester late afternoon. That night I went to Steph's place so she could cook me and Sarah a delicious dinner! We hung out all night, and then on Sunday we milled around town shopping, out for dinner, at the river. Its been getting really cold and rainy lately too!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Wicked
In the early hours of Saturday morning, I finished 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West' by Gregory Maguire. It was a book I could hardly put down during my last two weeks I've been reading it. It was utterly amazing, one of my favourite books I've ever read. I can't stop talking about it to anyone that wants to listen! It has alot of religious and political themes as well as the main one, "what makes a person evil". It tells the life of Elphaba (the wicked witch of the west) and was such a powerful book.
Saturday morning, was bright and sunny and Frannie, Steph, Sarah and I met at the Bronx Zoo! It was an okay zoo, good animals but not so good inclosures. We finished there at like 4 or 5 ish, and sat out the front for 30minutes talking to a cop who worked at the zoo. He was really nice and told us all what it was like working in the bronx, being on the force, and more.
Then I headed into the city alone. I walked up 5th to check out the disney store, then headed over to Magnolia's Bakery to get one of the best cupcakes on earth. I then had dinner and walked to the Gershwin theatre where 'Wicked' is performed. It was so exciting even walking in, it was a much bigger theatre then where Chicago was. There was Wicked staging in the hall, like a map and stuff from the book. I bought a program and then got shown my seat. I was in the FRONT ROW!!! I was furtherest to the left and my view was slightly obstructed, but it was still really cool to see it up front. The backdrops and props and costumes were so vibrant and bright! The songs - omg the songs are literally addictive. It is now Tuesday night, and I have listening to nothing but the Wicked Soundtrack, after I returned home from the musical on sat night.
It was interesting, because the musical and the book were very different. Do you know when you read a book, then see the movie, and they've changed alot of the characters, or plots, and combined things, and scrapped things and you sit there thinking, "NOOOO you're ruining it, what are you doing, stop stop!"
Well it was like that in regards to changing and scrapping alot, but I didn't sit their thinking no, i thought wow! It made so much sense in the musical to change what they did; and it didn't take away from the book, it just made it a new more interesting level of Oz. I can't stop talking about the musical or the book, and I am on such a WIcked high haha. I want to see it again, but it is so expensive :( $75 for the ticket plus the tax etc made it $90.
Sunday night was Frannie's farewell. All the aussie girls (sarah, steph, me, fran, emily, emma, jade, alissa, alice) met at our fav restaurant The Cheesecake Factory for our last meal together, then the four muskateers Fran, Steph, Sarah & me had our last night all together at our spot, the river. Very sad. I will miss her so much :(
Saturday morning, was bright and sunny and Frannie, Steph, Sarah and I met at the Bronx Zoo! It was an okay zoo, good animals but not so good inclosures. We finished there at like 4 or 5 ish, and sat out the front for 30minutes talking to a cop who worked at the zoo. He was really nice and told us all what it was like working in the bronx, being on the force, and more.
Then I headed into the city alone. I walked up 5th to check out the disney store, then headed over to Magnolia's Bakery to get one of the best cupcakes on earth. I then had dinner and walked to the Gershwin theatre where 'Wicked' is performed. It was so exciting even walking in, it was a much bigger theatre then where Chicago was. There was Wicked staging in the hall, like a map and stuff from the book. I bought a program and then got shown my seat. I was in the FRONT ROW!!! I was furtherest to the left and my view was slightly obstructed, but it was still really cool to see it up front. The backdrops and props and costumes were so vibrant and bright! The songs - omg the songs are literally addictive. It is now Tuesday night, and I have listening to nothing but the Wicked Soundtrack, after I returned home from the musical on sat night.
It was interesting, because the musical and the book were very different. Do you know when you read a book, then see the movie, and they've changed alot of the characters, or plots, and combined things, and scrapped things and you sit there thinking, "NOOOO you're ruining it, what are you doing, stop stop!"
Well it was like that in regards to changing and scrapping alot, but I didn't sit their thinking no, i thought wow! It made so much sense in the musical to change what they did; and it didn't take away from the book, it just made it a new more interesting level of Oz. I can't stop talking about the musical or the book, and I am on such a WIcked high haha. I want to see it again, but it is so expensive :( $75 for the ticket plus the tax etc made it $90.
Sunday night was Frannie's farewell. All the aussie girls (sarah, steph, me, fran, emily, emma, jade, alissa, alice) met at our fav restaurant The Cheesecake Factory for our last meal together, then the four muskateers Fran, Steph, Sarah & me had our last night all together at our spot, the river. Very sad. I will miss her so much :(
Friday, September 18, 2009
you know you're aussie when
just in case u were all getting worried from the last one...
1. You know the meaning of the word 'girt'.
2. You believe that stubbies can be either drunk or worn.
3. You think it's normal to have a leader called Kevin.
4. You waddle when you walk due to the 53 expired petrol discount vouchers stuffed in your wallet or purse.
5. You've made a bong out of your garden hose rather than use it for something illegal such as watering the garden.
6. You believe it is appropriate to put a rubber in your son's pencil case when he first attends school.
7. When you hear that an American 'roots for his team' you wonder how often and with whom.
8. You understand that the phrase 'a group of women wearing black thongs' refers to footwear and may be less alluring than it sounds.
9. You pronounce Melbourne as 'Mel-bin'.
10. You pronounce Penrith as 'Pen-riff'.
11. You believe the 'l' in the word 'Australia' is optional.
12. You can translate: 'Dazza and Shazza played Acca Dacca on the way to Maccas.'
13. You believe it makes perfect sense for a nation to decorate its highways with large fibreglass bananas, prawns and sheep.
14. You call your best friend 'a total bastard' but someone you really, truly despise is just 'a bit of a bastard'.
15. You think 'Woolloomooloo' is a perfectly reasonable name for a place.
16. You're secretly proud of our killer wildlife.
17. You believe it makes sense for a country to have a $1 coin that's twice as big as its $2 coin.
18. You understand that 'Wagga Wagga' can be abbreviated to 'Wagga' but 'Woy Woy' can't be called 'Woy'.
19. You believe that cooked-down axle grease makes a good breakfast spread.
20. You believe all famous Kiwis are actually Australian, until they stuff up, at which point they again become Kiwis.
21. Hamburger. Beetroot. Of course.
22. You know that certain words must, by law, be shouted out during any rendition of the Angels' song 'Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again'.
23. You believe, as an article of faith, that the confectionery known as the Wagon Wheel has become smaller with every passing year.
24. You still don't get why the 'Labor' in 'Australian Labor Party' is not spelt with a 'u'.
25. You wear ugh boots outside the house.
26. You believe, as an article of faith, that every important discovery in the world was made by an Australian but then sold off to the Yanks for a pittance.
27. You believe that the more you shorten someone's name the more you like them.
28. Whatever your linguistic skills, you find yourself able to order takeaway fluently in every Asian language.
29. You understand that 'excuse me' can sound rude, while 'scuse me' is always polite.
30. You know what it's like to swallow a fly, on occasion via your nose.
31. You understand that 'you' has a plural and that it's 'youse'.
32. You know it's not summer until the steering wheel is too hot to handle.
33. Your biggest family argument over the summer concerned the rules for beach cricket.
34. You shake your head in horror when companies try to market what they call 'Anzac cookies'.
35. You still think of Kylie as 'that girl off Neighbours'.
36. When returning home from overseas, you expect to be brutally strip-searched by Customs - just in case you're trying to sneak in fruit.
37. You believe the phrase 'smart casual' refers to a pair of black tracky-daks, suitably laundered.
38. You understand that all train timetables are works of fiction.
39. When working on a bar, you understand male customers will feel the need to offer an excuse whenever they order low-alcohol beer.
40. You get choked up with emotion by the first verse of the national anthem and then have trouble remembering the second.
41. You find yourself ignorant of nearly all the facts deemed essential in the government's new test for migrants.
42. You know, whatever the tourist books say, that no one says 'cobber'.
43. And you will immediately forward this list to other Australians, here and overseas, realising that only they will understand.
(22 outta 43 ...more then half wooh aussie aussie aussie)
1. You know the meaning of the word 'girt'.
2. You believe that stubbies can be either drunk or worn.
3. You think it's normal to have a leader called Kevin.
4. You waddle when you walk due to the 53 expired petrol discount vouchers stuffed in your wallet or purse.
5. You've made a bong out of your garden hose rather than use it for something illegal such as watering the garden.
6. You believe it is appropriate to put a rubber in your son's pencil case when he first attends school.
7. When you hear that an American 'roots for his team' you wonder how often and with whom.
8. You understand that the phrase 'a group of women wearing black thongs' refers to footwear and may be less alluring than it sounds.
9. You pronounce Melbourne as 'Mel-bin'.
10. You pronounce Penrith as 'Pen-riff'.
11. You believe the 'l' in the word 'Australia' is optional.
12. You can translate: 'Dazza and Shazza played Acca Dacca on the way to Maccas.'
13. You believe it makes perfect sense for a nation to decorate its highways with large fibreglass bananas, prawns and sheep.
14. You call your best friend 'a total bastard' but someone you really, truly despise is just 'a bit of a bastard'.
15. You think 'Woolloomooloo' is a perfectly reasonable name for a place.
16. You're secretly proud of our killer wildlife.
17. You believe it makes sense for a country to have a $1 coin that's twice as big as its $2 coin.
18. You understand that 'Wagga Wagga' can be abbreviated to 'Wagga' but 'Woy Woy' can't be called 'Woy'.
19. You believe that cooked-down axle grease makes a good breakfast spread.
20. You believe all famous Kiwis are actually Australian, until they stuff up, at which point they again become Kiwis.
21. Hamburger. Beetroot. Of course.
22. You know that certain words must, by law, be shouted out during any rendition of the Angels' song 'Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again'.
23. You believe, as an article of faith, that the confectionery known as the Wagon Wheel has become smaller with every passing year.
24. You still don't get why the 'Labor' in 'Australian Labor Party' is not spelt with a 'u'.
25. You wear ugh boots outside the house.
26. You believe, as an article of faith, that every important discovery in the world was made by an Australian but then sold off to the Yanks for a pittance.
27. You believe that the more you shorten someone's name the more you like them.
28. Whatever your linguistic skills, you find yourself able to order takeaway fluently in every Asian language.
29. You understand that 'excuse me' can sound rude, while 'scuse me' is always polite.
30. You know what it's like to swallow a fly, on occasion via your nose.
31. You understand that 'you' has a plural and that it's 'youse'.
32. You know it's not summer until the steering wheel is too hot to handle.
33. Your biggest family argument over the summer concerned the rules for beach cricket.
34. You shake your head in horror when companies try to market what they call 'Anzac cookies'.
35. You still think of Kylie as 'that girl off Neighbours'.
36. When returning home from overseas, you expect to be brutally strip-searched by Customs - just in case you're trying to sneak in fruit.
37. You believe the phrase 'smart casual' refers to a pair of black tracky-daks, suitably laundered.
38. You understand that all train timetables are works of fiction.
39. When working on a bar, you understand male customers will feel the need to offer an excuse whenever they order low-alcohol beer.
40. You get choked up with emotion by the first verse of the national anthem and then have trouble remembering the second.
41. You find yourself ignorant of nearly all the facts deemed essential in the government's new test for migrants.
42. You know, whatever the tourist books say, that no one says 'cobber'.
43. And you will immediately forward this list to other Australians, here and overseas, realising that only they will understand.
(22 outta 43 ...more then half wooh aussie aussie aussie)
You know you're a New Yorker when...
Welll I wouldn't call myself one yet, but I'm getting there haha. Pretty sure you have to live in actual Manhattan for more then a year but hey, I can relate to some in the meantime...
1.You say "the city" and expect everyone to know that this means Manhattan
2.You have never been to the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building
3.You're always looking out for cool free things to do in the Village Voice
4.When you're standing in a packed subway car with 200 hundred other people and everyone manages to avoid looking at each other
5.$50 worth of groceries fit in one paper bag
6.You live in a building with a larger population than most American towns
7.Your doorman is Russian, your grocer is Korean, your deli man is Israeli, your building super is Italian, your laundry guy is Chinese, your favorite bartender is Irish, your favorite diner owner is Greek, the watchseller on your corner is Senegalese, your last cabbie was Pakistani, your newsstand guy is Indian and your favorite falafel guy is Egyptian.
8.You get pissed at people who say they're from NY and they tell you they're from upstate
9.You can pick out the tourists when they turn their heads to the "ladies and gentlemen this is an important announcement from the MTA" message
10.You know what a bodega is.
11.You're on the train and you see two kids walk in and one says "EXCUSE ME LADIES AND GENTLEMEN..."
12.When you're in the background of a tourists' photo.
13.You use the rats in the subway tracks to tell you when the train's approaching the station
14.When you say "mad" and "son"
15.You don't buy newspapers in the morning, because you know somebody will leave theirs on the train
16.Your door has more than three locks.
17.You consider eye contact an act of overt aggression.
18.You ride in a subway car with no air conditioning just because there are seats available.
19.You don't buy a copy of the Sunday Times without checking if it has all the sections.
20.You've gotten jaywalking down to an art form
21.When you're away from home, you miss "real" pizza and "real" bagels.
22.You hate it when your out of town and you ask people where they're from and they say the city, so you say what part? and they say one the following: New Jersey, Long Island or Westchester. That's not the city!
23.You know that Staten Island, although a borough of New York City, isn't really part of the city at all
24.There are 3 bodegas in a 1 block radius.
25.When you are surprised that other places actually have school sports and cheerleaders
26.You're not in the least bit interested in going to Times Square on New Year's Eve.
27.You wonder what the fuck "pop" is
28.You hate it when people that sit opposite you on the train stare at you.
29.You can ignore homeless people without feeling too bad
30.You know the differences between all the different Ray's Pizzas.
31.The only reason you don't like HS is because NY is the only state with the Regent
32.There's a Kennedy's Fried Chicken close to where you live
33.Your local news is national news.
34.More than half of the people you know have names that take 3+ tries to pronounce correctly
35.There is no North and South ... it's uptown or downtown
36.When you see at least one person you know no matter where u are or when
37.You hate it when ppl who live upstate call themselves "new yorkers?'
38.When you see those big red tourist buses and want to throw shit at them...
39.You can walk through "The City" for hours and not get tired but once your out of NYC and walk for 10 minutes you feel exhausted. (every single time without fail!!)
40.You don't own a "I LOVE NEW YORK" shirt
41.You're so tired of hearing "If you see something say something", or the Spanish version: Si ves algo, di algo, in either the subway or LIRR
42.You watch movies and TV shows "filmed" in NYC and say "wtf..that shit does NOT exist anywhere in the city
43.You have trained yourself to hold your breath upon entering a subway elevator
44.You move up one block to steal the cab from the person waiting for it below you
45.When you've held the trains doors open so you and 50 of your friends can get in.
46.You refuse to eat pizza anywhere other than NYC because the pizza everywhere else is just horrible in comparison
47.You can tell a bum from a crackhead-bum and you disperse your money accordingly
48.You know how to fold the New York Times in half, vertically, so that you can read it on the subway or bus without knocking off other passenger's hats.
49.Someone bumps into you, and you check for your wallet
50.When you refuse to pay for a newspaper ever since the am and metro came out
51.People from other states can't tell a polar bear from a peanut, but they know you're from NY the second you open your mouth.
52.Rather than waiting safely on the sidewalk to cross the street, you wait inches away from speeding traffic waiting to cut through it.
53.You never take the first newspaper in the stack at a news stand.
54.You consider Westchester "upstate"
55.You walk a mile in 13 minutes and think that everything should be open 24/7.
56.Yellow light means speed up. Red light means speed up because you know have that 1 second pause until the other light turns green.
57.Communicating with people on the road only takes one finger.
58.You order your dinner and have it delivered from the place across the street.
59.Rats are your new subway friends.
60.You know exactly which subway car & door is closest to the stairs at the stop ur getting off
61.You have jaywalked in front of a cop. More than once. And they didn't care.
62.You believe that being able to swear at people in their own language makes you multi-lingual
63.You've considered stabbing someone just for saying "The Big Apple"
64.You can't find an umbrella anywhere when its nice out but the second it rains 5 people are fighting to sell them on the same block
65.You haven't seen more than twelve stars in the night sky since you went away to camp as a kid
66.You get lost whenever you drive in long island b/c you're used to all the street being numbered
(25 outta 66, thats like a third. wooh. haha)
1.You say "the city" and expect everyone to know that this means Manhattan
2.You have never been to the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building
3.You're always looking out for cool free things to do in the Village Voice
4.When you're standing in a packed subway car with 200 hundred other people and everyone manages to avoid looking at each other
5.$50 worth of groceries fit in one paper bag
6.You live in a building with a larger population than most American towns
7.Your doorman is Russian, your grocer is Korean, your deli man is Israeli, your building super is Italian, your laundry guy is Chinese, your favorite bartender is Irish, your favorite diner owner is Greek, the watchseller on your corner is Senegalese, your last cabbie was Pakistani, your newsstand guy is Indian and your favorite falafel guy is Egyptian.
8.You get pissed at people who say they're from NY and they tell you they're from upstate
9.You can pick out the tourists when they turn their heads to the "ladies and gentlemen this is an important announcement from the MTA" message
10.You know what a bodega is.
11.You're on the train and you see two kids walk in and one says "EXCUSE ME LADIES AND GENTLEMEN..."
12.When you're in the background of a tourists' photo.
13.You use the rats in the subway tracks to tell you when the train's approaching the station
14.When you say "mad" and "son"
15.You don't buy newspapers in the morning, because you know somebody will leave theirs on the train
16.Your door has more than three locks.
17.You consider eye contact an act of overt aggression.
18.You ride in a subway car with no air conditioning just because there are seats available.
19.You don't buy a copy of the Sunday Times without checking if it has all the sections.
20.You've gotten jaywalking down to an art form
21.When you're away from home, you miss "real" pizza and "real" bagels.
22.You hate it when your out of town and you ask people where they're from and they say the city, so you say what part? and they say one the following: New Jersey, Long Island or Westchester. That's not the city!
23.You know that Staten Island, although a borough of New York City, isn't really part of the city at all
24.There are 3 bodegas in a 1 block radius.
25.When you are surprised that other places actually have school sports and cheerleaders
26.You're not in the least bit interested in going to Times Square on New Year's Eve.
27.You wonder what the fuck "pop" is
28.You hate it when people that sit opposite you on the train stare at you.
29.You can ignore homeless people without feeling too bad
30.You know the differences between all the different Ray's Pizzas.
31.The only reason you don't like HS is because NY is the only state with the Regent
32.There's a Kennedy's Fried Chicken close to where you live
33.Your local news is national news.
34.More than half of the people you know have names that take 3+ tries to pronounce correctly
35.There is no North and South ... it's uptown or downtown
36.When you see at least one person you know no matter where u are or when
37.You hate it when ppl who live upstate call themselves "new yorkers?'
38.When you see those big red tourist buses and want to throw shit at them...
39.You can walk through "The City" for hours and not get tired but once your out of NYC and walk for 10 minutes you feel exhausted. (every single time without fail!!)
40.You don't own a "I LOVE NEW YORK" shirt
41.You're so tired of hearing "If you see something say something", or the Spanish version: Si ves algo, di algo, in either the subway or LIRR
42.You watch movies and TV shows "filmed" in NYC and say "wtf..that shit does NOT exist anywhere in the city
43.You have trained yourself to hold your breath upon entering a subway elevator
44.You move up one block to steal the cab from the person waiting for it below you
45.When you've held the trains doors open so you and 50 of your friends can get in.
46.You refuse to eat pizza anywhere other than NYC because the pizza everywhere else is just horrible in comparison
47.You can tell a bum from a crackhead-bum and you disperse your money accordingly
48.You know how to fold the New York Times in half, vertically, so that you can read it on the subway or bus without knocking off other passenger's hats.
49.Someone bumps into you, and you check for your wallet
50.When you refuse to pay for a newspaper ever since the am and metro came out
51.People from other states can't tell a polar bear from a peanut, but they know you're from NY the second you open your mouth.
52.Rather than waiting safely on the sidewalk to cross the street, you wait inches away from speeding traffic waiting to cut through it.
53.You never take the first newspaper in the stack at a news stand.
54.You consider Westchester "upstate"
55.You walk a mile in 13 minutes and think that everything should be open 24/7.
56.Yellow light means speed up. Red light means speed up because you know have that 1 second pause until the other light turns green.
57.Communicating with people on the road only takes one finger.
58.You order your dinner and have it delivered from the place across the street.
59.Rats are your new subway friends.
60.You know exactly which subway car & door is closest to the stairs at the stop ur getting off
61.You have jaywalked in front of a cop. More than once. And they didn't care.
62.You believe that being able to swear at people in their own language makes you multi-lingual
63.You've considered stabbing someone just for saying "The Big Apple"
64.You can't find an umbrella anywhere when its nice out but the second it rains 5 people are fighting to sell them on the same block
65.You haven't seen more than twelve stars in the night sky since you went away to camp as a kid
66.You get lost whenever you drive in long island b/c you're used to all the street being numbered
(25 outta 66, thats like a third. wooh. haha)
You know you're an aupair when...
You know you’re an Au Pair in the USA when…(blue i find true, purple is my comment)
…you always introduce yourself with : ‘Hi! my name is (your name), I’m from (country) and I have (amount of children you are taking care of) children!!’
…everybody is greeting you with a ‘Hi.How are you!’
and you can’t respond fast enough, so you say it first!
…the worst thing is, when the dad is working from home (or mom!!!)
…you know what a S’MORE is (they are soooo good)
…you spent all your money at the MALL and you still have nothing to wear
…you hate Dora, The Wiggles and Thomas
…you say silly instead of stupid
…you go to PLAYDATES
…you’ve seen more movies in one month than in your whole life at home
…you drive ove 30 minutes to a friend and you think it’s not far
…you only have other Au Pairs as your friends (besides one girl but shes a nanny, and she use to be an aupair so i guess it doesnt really count haha)
…you can make bacon (pretty sure i knew how to do this before!)
…you say ‘like’ and ‘totally’ every three words
…someone has asked you stupid questions like:
- ‘do you have cars in your country?’ – ‘You don’t have Valentine’s day?’ – ‘Where is your country?’ (yes! the other day someone asked what language we speak in australia and i had to do everything in my power not to SLAP THEM DOWN! other ones that take the cake are 'do u have traffic lights there' and 'are your native people civilized')
…you don’t think it’s wrong to have cake AND ice cream
…you park as close to the store as possible so you don’t have to walk even one yard too far
…you cherish moments of silence more than ever before
…you notice yourself saying ‘GOOD JOB’ a hundred times a day
…you wonder why you slept the whole night long so uncomfortable and you notice the next morning, you slept on a barbie, a lollypop, sandtoys etc.
…you need to be creative to find new punishments because a time-out doesn’t work anymore
…you have to admit to mistakes you never did or put the blame on you day for day (this is so draining and true and frustrating)
…you’re sure you don’t want own kids within the next 100 years (haha oh god no)
…you know now exactly how difficult it was for your parents to have little kids and you feel like saying thanks for all you’ve done to your mum and dad every day (oops haha was i really this bad? haha)
…you’re ready to drink anytime of the day
…you start to love disney movies again and can copy every passage of them (pretty sure i have always and will always love disney movies)
…you’ve learned what it means to be patient
…you know what a LCC is
…you know that you should never SHAKE A BABY !!! (knew this before)
…you take a nap, after you dropped of the kids at school(after being up for just 2h )
…you are DRIVING to the busstop to pick up your kids, which is only 200 meters from your house.
…the kids call you mum cause you spend too much time with them… (happened for the first time this week haha)
…you think $200 every weekend just for shopping and coffee are not that much
…one cup of coffee doesn`t make you awake anymore, it just makes you alive
…you or your friends are KELLERKINDER!!!! (shoits, froielin!!!)
…you miss the good ol’ days when you were able to go to the bakery and get real bread w/ real butter (not that American shit called bread..haha) (omg its ridiculous, bread here is like candy. not ok)
…you don’t walk into the bank, you use the drive inn to get your money (well my friends drive us)
…you use Purell instead of washing your hands
…instead of singing song from the radio your singing childrens songs
…you always introduce yourself with : ‘Hi! my name is (your name), I’m from (country) and I have (amount of children you are taking care of) children!!’
…everybody is greeting you with a ‘Hi.How are you!’
and you can’t respond fast enough, so you say it first!
…the worst thing is, when the dad is working from home (or mom!!!)
…you know what a S’MORE is (they are soooo good)
…you spent all your money at the MALL and you still have nothing to wear
…you hate Dora, The Wiggles and Thomas
…you say silly instead of stupid
…you go to PLAYDATES
…you’ve seen more movies in one month than in your whole life at home
…you drive ove 30 minutes to a friend and you think it’s not far
…you only have other Au Pairs as your friends (besides one girl but shes a nanny, and she use to be an aupair so i guess it doesnt really count haha)
…you can make bacon (pretty sure i knew how to do this before!)
…you say ‘like’ and ‘totally’ every three words
…someone has asked you stupid questions like:
- ‘do you have cars in your country?’ – ‘You don’t have Valentine’s day?’ – ‘Where is your country?’ (yes! the other day someone asked what language we speak in australia and i had to do everything in my power not to SLAP THEM DOWN! other ones that take the cake are 'do u have traffic lights there' and 'are your native people civilized')
…you don’t think it’s wrong to have cake AND ice cream
…you park as close to the store as possible so you don’t have to walk even one yard too far
…you cherish moments of silence more than ever before
…you notice yourself saying ‘GOOD JOB’ a hundred times a day
…you wonder why you slept the whole night long so uncomfortable and you notice the next morning, you slept on a barbie, a lollypop, sandtoys etc.
…you need to be creative to find new punishments because a time-out doesn’t work anymore
…you have to admit to mistakes you never did or put the blame on you day for day (this is so draining and true and frustrating)
…you’re sure you don’t want own kids within the next 100 years (haha oh god no)
…you know now exactly how difficult it was for your parents to have little kids and you feel like saying thanks for all you’ve done to your mum and dad every day (oops haha was i really this bad? haha)
…you’re ready to drink anytime of the day
…you start to love disney movies again and can copy every passage of them (pretty sure i have always and will always love disney movies)
…you’ve learned what it means to be patient
…you know what a LCC is
…you know that you should never SHAKE A BABY !!! (knew this before)
…you take a nap, after you dropped of the kids at school(after being up for just 2h )
…you are DRIVING to the busstop to pick up your kids, which is only 200 meters from your house.
…the kids call you mum cause you spend too much time with them… (happened for the first time this week haha)
…you think $200 every weekend just for shopping and coffee are not that much
…one cup of coffee doesn`t make you awake anymore, it just makes you alive
…you or your friends are KELLERKINDER!!!! (shoits, froielin!!!)
…you miss the good ol’ days when you were able to go to the bakery and get real bread w/ real butter (not that American shit called bread..haha) (omg its ridiculous, bread here is like candy. not ok)
…you don’t walk into the bank, you use the drive inn to get your money (well my friends drive us)
…you use Purell instead of washing your hands
…instead of singing song from the radio your singing childrens songs
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