Cloud Nine

I thought it was only fitting to start my tales of living in New York City with the highlight of my first year so here goes.

I was floating. Literally floating way, way up to a place where the stars meet the sky (if this was happening to me at night).

My most favorite person EVER was in town. Arrangements had been made for him to appear on the Today show which happens to be filmed a few blocks from my office. I thought that the show would be taped indoors given that it was October. So I leisurely awoke, dressed myself in a boring and drab work outfit, went for the au naturale hair look (i.e. I looked like the wild woman of Borneo) and made my way to the Rockefeller Plaza in midtown.

I was faced with the beautiful Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid, which had been parked in a pen in front of the studio. This indicated the Today show segment was being filmed outdoors – excitement and horror crossed my face. I looked so crap. Had I known this, I definitely would have made more effort in the hope of coming face to face with my most favorite person EVER. Crap.

There were a fair few people already queuing up around the pen. I saw an opening in the queue and made small talk with the guys standing there asking if I could sneak in to grab a photo of the beauty on display. I didn’t leave. They silently overlooked my sneakiness. Score. It was a decent spot by the barrier and in front of the car. Good vantage point.

The anticipation was mounting. We saw the lovely Lewis Hamilton appear with his entourage and disappear in to the studio, presumably for mic fitting and make up. The crowd went crazy. About 10 or so minutes later he appeared outside again. This time stopping to talk with officials inside the pen. Ahhhhh. Today was going to be a good day. I could feel it already. The smile on my face was increasingly getting wider and wider as the minutes passed and he was making his way from the back of the line to the front of the line. He was stopping and talking to each and every person, signing autographs, taking photos and selfies. I just couldn’t wait for him to get to me. Nervously, I tried to tousle my hair in hope of making myself look somewhat presentable. What was I going to say to him? Would he take a selfie with me? Will someone take a photo of us together?

‘So great to meet you! I’m flying to Austin on Friday!’

‘No way – that’s great. How exciting.’

‘I know. You’re going to win!

‘I hope so’

‘No, you will win. And the championship’

‘I really want to and for you guys, the fans’

‘Can I get a photo with you? And, can you sign my journal’

‘Of course I can’

Ahhhh. I was dying. Shaking. I had talked to him. He had talked to me. In real life. I had a photo with him. I felt like a little girl who had just met Father Christmas for the first time!

Lewis was so nice. Friendly. I was surprised as to how petite he was. And, what a fantastic smile he has!

He did in fact win at the US Grand Prix and he won the 2014 F1 Drivers’ Championship too!

There were a number of highlights of my first year in the USA but this experience was the crème de la crème 🙂

Here is a behind the scenes video of Lewis’s Today Show appearance.

Here are some photos I took on the day.

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5/100

4/100

3/100

Thankful for half price offers – ‘Am I early?’

And, kind-hearted baristas who give me free coffee on the day before payday 🙂

Winning.

2/100

1/100

21 year old dreamer

I was 22 years old. I had just graduated from university. I was not proactive enough in my final year of university to secure myself a job despite knowing the field I wanted to enter; I thought I would go with the flow. Not before long I found myself working at a wine bar after graduation in June not having secured a ‘proper job’. You see, it wasn’t that easy after all. I worked in the one bar day and night for 6 months straight.

The goal was not to get myself the said ‘proper job’. Instead, the goal was to take a month off to travel. Early on this goal-finding mission, I had romantic visions of trekking through the Amazon or over-landing from Morocco to South Africa and such like. As I came up for air, my rose tinted spectacles began to un-mist and I realized such dreams were beyond my means at that point in my life (note, these are still on my bucket list). Instead, I had a new fixation – New York City. The bright lights. This is where I wanted to go.

This was to be my first ever solo trip. I booked my flights. I found somewhere to stay on Craig’s List, of all places! I didn’t really think of this last point until the night before my flight to NYC when I started creating horror stories in my head. I calmed myself down and I certainly didn’t voice my concerns to my parents. I responsibly gave the apartment address to my friend ‘just in case’.

Finally, I arrived at JFK and made my way into Manhattan. The taxi took me straight to the studio apartment I had reserved for 4 days. Once I met Cesar, the super at the brownstone building in Hell’s Kitchen, and he showed me the studio in question, my mind was at ease. In fact, I found the place somewhat delightful especially the wardrobe that opened up to reveal a pull down bed. I had only ever seen this on the TV! The place was small but adequate and, most importantly, I felt safe.

Anyway, I had a wonderful time spending most of my time immersing myself in predictable touristy activities like visiting the Statue of Liberty (or in my case, taking the Staten Island ferry and saluting Lady Liberty as we rode on by), Wall Street, Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park. Surprisingly, I don’t recall making it to Central Park on this particular visit, which is now of my most coveted spots in Manhattan. Me along with every other New Yorker!

Anyway, I fell in love with the city. The people, the atmosphere, the hustle and bustle. I loved it all. So much so that I returned 6 months later with a close friend of mine. I really wanted her to see how wonderful the city was. She, too, loved it. It was on this trip that I vocalized my desire to live and work in New York City.

Fast forward 6 years to my life in London. The idea of relocating to my employer’s NYC office was dangled in front of me. Naturally, my mind was completely blown and I was mentally jumping for joy but I, of course, kept my nerve with management!

A lot had happened in just over half a decade as one could imagine. I was at a place in my life where I could just up and leave. No commitments, no dependents. The timing was apt (more on this in a later post) and perfect at the same time. But, of course, I had concerns – could I, me, little old me, just up and leave everything and everyone I had known for most of my life? How would I survive without knowing anyone? Who would I hang out with? What would the new office be like? Would they like me there? Where would I live? How would I find somewhere to live? Could I really do this?

YES.