My first New York

The other day I celebrated my birthday in New York City; Since America is 12 hours behind, it was actually the 13^th day of April in the Philippines. Appropriately so, the start of my class as well fell on the same date as my birthday. Among other things, April 12 was oddly stimulating on my part. It could have stood on its own. Apart from it being my birthday everything else was, for lack of a better word, EPIC. So I hope you don’t mind if I switch to storytelling:

I walked to Trump Tower to meet up with a classmate. It was a solid 10 blocks from where I was and the cold kept creeping up on me all throughout the walk. Rhanda and I went to look for books at a Barnes and nobles store along 5^th avenue and 46 St. only to find out that they didn’t have it in stock. As advised, we went to check out their other branch all the way down to 18^th street and Broadway – the long walk from 46 street turned out to be worth it! With no luck finding the books, I went on looking for a good map of the city. I stood in line to purchase my map and I saw this woman in front of me holding a different map, which I thought was better than what I had; so I asked her “Excuse me ma’am, Where’d you find your map?”. When she turned around and answered me, I realized I was talking to KATE WINSLET. She answered me with a predominant British accent and pointed to the east side of the store – I of course, was not paying attention to what she was saying and just looked straight at her with an eager stare. Can you blame me? In all fairness, I was very proud of myself for keeping calm about it; there was not even a hint of panic when I answered her back “Thank You very much, have a nice day!” I left the store with excitement and disbelief across my face – I guess I have to get used to things like that in NYC.

We took the subway and walked across Rector Street to our school in 42 Broadway – a block away from Wall Street. Is there any other place that’s more perfect to study business than at the heart of New York’s financial district? Somebody pinch me. The classes at ESE are very interactive and multi-cultural! Just in my classes alone, I have several classmates who are from Italy and Greece, two from Russia, one from Mexico another from Columbia, and one from Indonesia. I feel like I have already explored the world by just being in the same room with these people! LOL. All classes are very challenging as well, all because I am with MBA students. I hope and pray I can keep up.

Royce and Bryan were so nice enough to bring me to a karaoke place in 13^th street for my birthday. I sang about a DOZEN of songs which was mostly the highlight of my evening. And the best part?? They didn’t even let me pay! As you know, Filipinos are accustomed to treating everyone out for their birthday, not the other way around. So it was a very nice way to celebrate my birthday for a change – celebrating it the AMERICAN way. So that’s how my birthday went. Here are some photos you may want to see:

I pass by Time Square every time I walk to Trump Tower

this is right at 5th ave and 56th street.

and Trump Tower, our school office is on the 19th floor.

one of the classrooms in 42 Broadway

my classmates says hi! or should I say, HOLA!

lunch.

so sweet :)

at the karaoke place

and... that's me!

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Fill you in

11:27 pm, Sunday. April 10 2011.

I just got into Manhattan, at a friend’s place in 50th street; it’s on the 25th floor with a ridiculous view of the city. I can’t believe school is starting this week! Right now though I can only fill you in on what went on for the last two days because I’ve only been here for that long. My flight came from Manila to Hong Kong then from Hong Kong, it’s a 15 hour flight to JFK Airport. When I got to Hong Kong, I had to hit the ground running (literally) because my flight from Manila was delayed (thank you Cathay Pacific) so I had to run down three walkalators to gate 21 to catch my next flight. I was initially planning on making a blog entry as I would have waited in Hong Kong but apparently, my airline did not allow me that much time privilege. Customs and immigration took so long and I was worrying about what they might ask me. But everything went well; they were so nice and didn’t really think of me as a threat to the American border. LOL. Heidi picked me up from the airport which was by the way, a 7 hour drive from where she lives – I am eternally grateful! Come Sunday and a few wrong navigational turns later, we found ourselves at a Free Methodist church in Brooklyn called Living Hope. Everyone was so nice and friendly; I could definitely see myself going there regularly on Sundays.I just have to figure out how to get there from Manhattan.

I didn't expect it to be this cold, I am not complaining though – I kind of like the cold. They did tell me that the weather’s gonna get better as the season progresses to spring and summer. So I will be OK – for spring and summer at least. In the meantime, I will be dating this city like crazy. New york and I will spend every single day together for the next 8 months or so, holding hands, getting around the subway, meeting weird people on the streets until both of us barf from excessive togetherness (LOL, I know right?). And just as a stalker is obsessed with her prey, I will be just as insatiable.

I have a school orientation at 3pm on Monday at Trump Tower, Thankfully it’s only a couple of blocks from where I am staying. I hope I survive it. I will surely blog about it, so you better check on my site every now and then for updates (demanding e noh?).

the view outside the window. nyc at night.

good morning west side!

please keep me in your prayers :)

love,

april