I love to learn some of the strange things I say - once I learn the offending sentence its normally quite obvious why it got the reaction it did. Today were some of the best examples so far (I think people are feeling less sorry for me and more open to pointing out my specialness.)
Me: "I spent all morning in the queue for my social security number"
Innocent American: "The Q?"
Englishman: "She means line"
Inncocent American returns from meeting
Me: "How did you go?"
Innocent American (puzzled looked): "I walked?"
Monday, February 28, 2011
Gossip Girl
One of the most exciting things about my stay here so far has been spotting sights from my favourite TV shows. The fire escape stairs on the outside of the building still make me jump with excitment - "Oh my God! The Seinfield stairs!"... or driving past the Soup Nazi's shop... or seeing the Boathouse in Central park.
The best moments (of course) are recognising sights from Gossip Girl. Visiting Central Station, where Serena returns from boarding school in episode one, was fantastic. It is an amazing terminal. The ceiling is an incredible blue colour and the room is so grand. Its buzzing with tourists and travellers alike.
The best moments (of course) are recognising sights from Gossip Girl. Visiting Central Station, where Serena returns from boarding school in episode one, was fantastic. It is an amazing terminal. The ceiling is an incredible blue colour and the room is so grand. Its buzzing with tourists and travellers alike.
"Hey Upper East Siders. Gossip Girl here. And I have the biggest news ever. One of my many sources, Melanie91, sends us this: "Spotted at Grand Central, bags in hand: Serena van der Woodsen." Was it only a year ago our It girl mysteriously disappeared for "boarding school"? And just as suddenly, she's back. Don't believe me? See for yourselves."
Another Gossip Girl icon are the stairs of the Met. Pant's and I spent some time on the stairs, dreaming of gossip and admiring the iconic site. The houses across the street were also spectacular. I could imagine Blair strolling in and out of their doors in style. So amazing and so much fun to actually be there!
"Spotted on the steps of the Met: an S. and B. power struggle."
Sunday, February 27, 2011
The Subway
The Subway has quickly become my worst and best experience of New York.
The best because the subway is New York. There are buskers that move from carriage to carriage performing some of the best live music I have ever heard. During weekends (my only experiences on the subway) travellers become involved in the performances - nodding along to the music and are quick to tip the performers before they move on. Buskers on the platforms are equally as good, if not better. Their CDs are for sale and it amazes me that such talent resides on the subway platform at Canal Street. Amongst the adds in the carriages there are artworks that reflect NY life. You can experience a melting pot of lives and people on every trip.
Sadly the Subway is hard work. Each trip is a battle with confusing maps and lines, smelly stations and cars and a lack of signage. I've also discovered that there is a high chance of accidently ending up in Brooklyn because your stop was canceled or you jumped on the wrong line.
Today, when Pant's and I were changing trains due to to track work a woman swore to us "You should get on the next train, it's going Downtown." We followed her advice because she seemed to be a local (against our better judgement) only to find ourselves back to where we started (uptown). A fifteen minute journey easily took over an hour. It was all worth it when we got back to the apartments and could proudly say "We caught the subway all the way home inspite of the odds". That's why I love the Subway (even though I'm quite sure it is less fond of me).
The best because the subway is New York. There are buskers that move from carriage to carriage performing some of the best live music I have ever heard. During weekends (my only experiences on the subway) travellers become involved in the performances - nodding along to the music and are quick to tip the performers before they move on. Buskers on the platforms are equally as good, if not better. Their CDs are for sale and it amazes me that such talent resides on the subway platform at Canal Street. Amongst the adds in the carriages there are artworks that reflect NY life. You can experience a melting pot of lives and people on every trip.
Today, when Pant's and I were changing trains due to to track work a woman swore to us "You should get on the next train, it's going Downtown." We followed her advice because she seemed to be a local (against our better judgement) only to find ourselves back to where we started (uptown). A fifteen minute journey easily took over an hour. It was all worth it when we got back to the apartments and could proudly say "We caught the subway all the way home inspite of the odds". That's why I love the Subway (even though I'm quite sure it is less fond of me).
Union Square
Today, following the advice from some locals on the best places to shop, Pant's and I ventured up to Union Square. We had no idea what to expect and nothing to help us out expect for our complicated subway maps, metro tickets and cash.
Battling the Subway construction works we made it to Union Square (blame it on our superior navigation skills). It is a fantastic spot. Somewhat of a flee market where artists line the square selling their original pieces for surprising prices (average around $15US). We saw some incredible artworks. Water colours of Manhattan streets. I Heart NY T-shirts covered in graffiti style art. Tie died baby rompers. There was also some amazing photography and sketches as well as lots of other interesting and quirky pieces.
Of course, the usual NY vendors were around selling T-shirts, hats and mittens. Normally I don't know how they stand out in the cold, but the weather was brilliant. We chose a great day to stroll across the square admiring the art and soaking in the atmosphere.
In the middle of the square was the most incredible children's playground I have ever seen in a public park. Most children played there happily. Others were allowed to venture out to watch the few street performers, including clowns and artists at work.
Battling the Subway construction works we made it to Union Square (blame it on our superior navigation skills). It is a fantastic spot. Somewhat of a flee market where artists line the square selling their original pieces for surprising prices (average around $15US). We saw some incredible artworks. Water colours of Manhattan streets. I Heart NY T-shirts covered in graffiti style art. Tie died baby rompers. There was also some amazing photography and sketches as well as lots of other interesting and quirky pieces.
Of course, the usual NY vendors were around selling T-shirts, hats and mittens. Normally I don't know how they stand out in the cold, but the weather was brilliant. We chose a great day to stroll across the square admiring the art and soaking in the atmosphere.
In the middle of the square was the most incredible children's playground I have ever seen in a public park. Most children played there happily. Others were allowed to venture out to watch the few street performers, including clowns and artists at work.
On the other side of the street are the big chain stores. Forever 21, Sephora (definitely worth a long visit) and Wholefoods (which I am coming to love).
Welcome to you from me (the Newbie)
So, now that I am starting to get comfortable in New York City I begin. (By comfortable I mean that I only get lost in the subway for an hour on Sundays).
But, let's be clear - It wouldn't be a blog about me, if I didn't mention falling over in the snow or slips of the tongue. Like the time I was silly enough to interupt two American girls who were talking about how terrible the chocolate crossaints were at a certain place. I asked "How can a chocolate crossaint taste bad?" They quickly explained that they were talking about the calories not the taste. That's why I love New York.
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