Its the 24th and I,ccompletely having forgotten that its Christmas, rose to the singing of exotic birds, whisper of the waves on the nearest beach and the steeming heat of the outside!
After a short breakfast ( of wonderful fruit- again), we quickly palyed a game of chess with m brother, before dashing off to rent a buggie.
Yep, it is as I say it- my whole family squeezed into a buggie and with our hair blowing in all directions, aided by the speed and wind of the coastal roads, we headed out into the unknown.
The unknown turned out to be a lot more civilized than expected and soon enough we ended up snacking on ice cream and cold drinks!!
After a stroll through town, we started explring all the different beaches- and boy did we discover.
Sooner than expected, we were on a great beach and off we went into the water for a Christmas swimm!
Between all the sipping away on fresh coconut milk, biting into a bright yellow corn on the cob and getting my skin slightly closer to that ideal chocolate brown- it was hard to imagine life could be any better :)
The waves were big, the fun was neverending and when the time came to go home and get ready for Christmas dinner, I must admit I as slightly dissapointed.
Nonetheless, I did as I was told and geez am I glad that I did...because as soon as all the sand had been washed off, that we darinly carried home on our numerous limbs, and we were all wll dressed, we hopped back ino the buggie and dinner here we come.
For dinner we had a very untraditional- oysters, sea urchins, scallops and mussels to start with; followed by octopus, fish and scampi.
It was no christmas turkey but let me tell you that it was delicious even so! From now on i will always say: do not underestimate the beauty of fresh seafood on Christmas Eve.
After a mini exchange of gifts ( after all I cannot imagine a bigger and more rich gift than experiencing a new culture and all the quality time with my family), we all dispersed to share our joy - me on my blog, my little brother with his new PSP, my baby brother with his dreams and my parents with an extra glass of champagne by the pool...
So: Merry Christmas to all and all I can wish you is that you experiences in the near future are as rich and colourful as the ones I am expriencing now, because there is no greater gift!!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christ the Redeemer..
Rio de Janeiro!!
After all this time, I finally arrived in Rio de Janeiro on the 22nd at 9pm.
The flight from L.A was 13 hours and the wait in Sao Paolo ( where th flight was to) was another 7 hours...in other words: me and travelling are best friends!!
However - as I walked into a famous restaurant, Marius, in Copacabana, accompanied by Brazilian beats and the smell of fresh seafood all these troubles drifted away..
Most importantly I saw my family again. Not seeing you little 4-year old brother, who is basically your own little baby is nt only hard and sad, but could genuinly caus harm- so I was happy to prevent that in my case!! Seeing my little brothers and my dad, who were sitting there, chatting away with the locals and blending in with the chocolate shades of all the skin types, Iwas excentric and very jealous :)
My mother was luckily an outsider as much as me, so we were in it together!
Our hotel -Fasana, was beautiful and modern, so it was a big, yet easy, change to be made from my usual hostels!
On the 23rd we then had a luxurious breakfast, ridiculously rich in all sorts of fruits, and headed to the hunchback mountain, where the Christ stands himself.
The sight is magnificent- at approx. 650 tons nd 30 metres, his sretched out arms, like wings, protecting over the whole of Rio....
As we tried to push our way throught he masses, all the people attemting to imitate the unfortunately very space consuming position of the Christ, we reached the point, where the viw is incredible!!
With a few photos taken and afew more mental pictures stored away, we all headed down the Corcovana hill!
That same evening we then embarked on the long, 3 hours, drive to Buzios, our next destination!
After all this time, I finally arrived in Rio de Janeiro on the 22nd at 9pm.
The flight from L.A was 13 hours and the wait in Sao Paolo ( where th flight was to) was another 7 hours...in other words: me and travelling are best friends!!
However - as I walked into a famous restaurant, Marius, in Copacabana, accompanied by Brazilian beats and the smell of fresh seafood all these troubles drifted away..
Most importantly I saw my family again. Not seeing you little 4-year old brother, who is basically your own little baby is nt only hard and sad, but could genuinly caus harm- so I was happy to prevent that in my case!! Seeing my little brothers and my dad, who were sitting there, chatting away with the locals and blending in with the chocolate shades of all the skin types, Iwas excentric and very jealous :)
My mother was luckily an outsider as much as me, so we were in it together!
Our hotel -Fasana, was beautiful and modern, so it was a big, yet easy, change to be made from my usual hostels!
On the 23rd we then had a luxurious breakfast, ridiculously rich in all sorts of fruits, and headed to the hunchback mountain, where the Christ stands himself.
The sight is magnificent- at approx. 650 tons nd 30 metres, his sretched out arms, like wings, protecting over the whole of Rio....
As we tried to push our way throught he masses, all the people attemting to imitate the unfortunately very space consuming position of the Christ, we reached the point, where the viw is incredible!!
With a few photos taken and afew more mental pictures stored away, we all headed down the Corcovana hill!
That same evening we then embarked on the long, 3 hours, drive to Buzios, our next destination!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Mother nature has her ways...
Mother nature: " Let me remind you who is in charge here"
Ivy: "You sure are- after all I am stranded in L.A. for another 4 days"
Mother nature: " You weren't finished with L.A just yet"
Yep...that is the conversation mother nature and I just happened to have this afternoon, as I was standing in line with a ticket to a flight that had been cancelled.
Massive snow storms on the East coast = Ivy is not flying to Rio de Janeiro just yet!
So after standing in line for 2 hours and then being told that I am not flying out until Tuesday ( 4 days later). I first got angry, then polite and then started crying ( in other words: first came the german side of me, then the british and then the girlie side)!
Luckily, due to my very efficient conversing skills, I had made a friend by the point this news reached me, in the form of Jimmy a Korean youngster.
He also happened to have another Korean friend who was named Juno ( yep exactly like the movie).
So 3 hours later and a few tears fewer, Jimmy, Juno and I were all heading into L.A- again!
Now that I have had time to contemplate this unfortunate event I realize that it isn't half as bad. I get more time in L.A, I get the chance to meet more lovely people and see more lovely things ie. there is ALWAYS a silver lining!
And you know what, mother nature just happens to be a bit of a show-off. She just has to remind us humans from time to time that she is still the boss, no matter how much we like to think otherwise.
And with that piece of wisdom I leave you to go and have another good night's sleep.
Not in Rio but in L.A.
Ivy: "You sure are- after all I am stranded in L.A. for another 4 days"
Mother nature: " You weren't finished with L.A just yet"
Yep...that is the conversation mother nature and I just happened to have this afternoon, as I was standing in line with a ticket to a flight that had been cancelled.
Massive snow storms on the East coast = Ivy is not flying to Rio de Janeiro just yet!
So after standing in line for 2 hours and then being told that I am not flying out until Tuesday ( 4 days later). I first got angry, then polite and then started crying ( in other words: first came the german side of me, then the british and then the girlie side)!
Luckily, due to my very efficient conversing skills, I had made a friend by the point this news reached me, in the form of Jimmy a Korean youngster.
He also happened to have another Korean friend who was named Juno ( yep exactly like the movie).
So 3 hours later and a few tears fewer, Jimmy, Juno and I were all heading into L.A- again!
Now that I have had time to contemplate this unfortunate event I realize that it isn't half as bad. I get more time in L.A, I get the chance to meet more lovely people and see more lovely things ie. there is ALWAYS a silver lining!
And you know what, mother nature just happens to be a bit of a show-off. She just has to remind us humans from time to time that she is still the boss, no matter how much we like to think otherwise.
And with that piece of wisdom I leave you to go and have another good night's sleep.
Not in Rio but in L.A.
One's gotta love California!
So since my last entry I have had quite a few experieces. That is partly why I didn't write sooner- I am just too busy :)
So during the next few days I explored the area. I went down to the beach again, but this time I walked around the pier, along 'muscle beach', which is hilarious by the way- all these muscely men working out in the boiling heat, right next to the walk-way. I kind of felt embarassed for them, because I think it's weird when peoeple see me go all red and sweaty during my exercising. anyway...
So i had a nice walk, then headed to Third Promenade with all the shops and Starbuckses ( plural of Starbucks??). I left Ruthy at home that day and unfortunately completely lost track of time. At around 5pm I was at the beach and watched the most beautiful sunset, happily snapping away with my camera. As the last speck of the sun finally got engulfed by the mass of the water I then strolled home. Around 5:45pm Ruthy already started to call and I suddenly realized that not only was it completely dark by that point but that I was still quite far from the house. So I picked up my speed and charged home. That evening we watched a few Sex in the City episodes and I continued wuth my applications. The following days, we then headed out to Malibu and just lazed around on the beach. Seeing that my very own auntie ( lets ignore that she is about 500x removed) was THE legendary 'Gidget' I felt a certain bond with the beach in Malibu and the urge to suddenly become a hard-core surfer really started to be rather intense. That night I read the whole 'Gidget' book and felt like I was already a part of California.
In between all our bigger trips we just went for lunches and dinners and breakfasts and teas and cakes and.....lets just say we had it good!!!
We didn't just laze around though- one day we did a good, tiring hike to the mountains. And boy was it worth it- the view of the sea, the wide expanding L.A city and the smog gently setting onto the city- a setting fit for a romance :)
To finish off my visit to L.A., we drove out to Clermont last night, where we visited more of my extended family ( boy who would have thought a family can be so BIG) and celebrated yet another Hannakeh dinner. I feel like my last week has turned me into more of a Jew than my whole childhood with a jewish mother in the house. Nonetheless, the evening was a success and after plentiful conversation and a very filling dinner we headed home- back to good old L.A.
So now my trip to California is coming to an end.
I have met at least 20 memebers of my family I have never met before, I saw the 'Hollywood' sign, I celebrated Hannakah, I drove through Beverly Hills, I walked down Venice beach and I (mentally) surfed the waves of malibu- yep, I think I have been to California.
Where do I go next?
Today, at 4pm I fly from L.A to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil....YYEEEYY!!!!
So during the next few days I explored the area. I went down to the beach again, but this time I walked around the pier, along 'muscle beach', which is hilarious by the way- all these muscely men working out in the boiling heat, right next to the walk-way. I kind of felt embarassed for them, because I think it's weird when peoeple see me go all red and sweaty during my exercising. anyway...
So i had a nice walk, then headed to Third Promenade with all the shops and Starbuckses ( plural of Starbucks??). I left Ruthy at home that day and unfortunately completely lost track of time. At around 5pm I was at the beach and watched the most beautiful sunset, happily snapping away with my camera. As the last speck of the sun finally got engulfed by the mass of the water I then strolled home. Around 5:45pm Ruthy already started to call and I suddenly realized that not only was it completely dark by that point but that I was still quite far from the house. So I picked up my speed and charged home. That evening we watched a few Sex in the City episodes and I continued wuth my applications. The following days, we then headed out to Malibu and just lazed around on the beach. Seeing that my very own auntie ( lets ignore that she is about 500x removed) was THE legendary 'Gidget' I felt a certain bond with the beach in Malibu and the urge to suddenly become a hard-core surfer really started to be rather intense. That night I read the whole 'Gidget' book and felt like I was already a part of California.
In between all our bigger trips we just went for lunches and dinners and breakfasts and teas and cakes and.....lets just say we had it good!!!
We didn't just laze around though- one day we did a good, tiring hike to the mountains. And boy was it worth it- the view of the sea, the wide expanding L.A city and the smog gently setting onto the city- a setting fit for a romance :)
To finish off my visit to L.A., we drove out to Clermont last night, where we visited more of my extended family ( boy who would have thought a family can be so BIG) and celebrated yet another Hannakeh dinner. I feel like my last week has turned me into more of a Jew than my whole childhood with a jewish mother in the house. Nonetheless, the evening was a success and after plentiful conversation and a very filling dinner we headed home- back to good old L.A.
So now my trip to California is coming to an end.
I have met at least 20 memebers of my family I have never met before, I saw the 'Hollywood' sign, I celebrated Hannakah, I drove through Beverly Hills, I walked down Venice beach and I (mentally) surfed the waves of malibu- yep, I think I have been to California.
Where do I go next?
Today, at 4pm I fly from L.A to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil....YYEEEYY!!!!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
ever seen 90210?
Well today the weather was once again on our side and so we headed out onto the beach...Venice beach of course!!!!
It not only looks exactly like in all the movies and series ( e.g. 90210) but is actually beautiful. Everyone seemed busy doing something- cycling, jogging, selling medicinal marihuana, working out, playing basketball, sitting at a stand with earrings....surrounded by palm trees and the setting sun one cannot deny but feel slightly 'californicated'.
For dinner we went to a very lovely restaurant on the beach and ate crab salad accompanied by Sauvignon Blanc. I actually didn't feel bad that seated next to us were 3 brazilian models, who were pretty, tall and skinny (and clearly earning good money with their modelling) as I was after all eating a crab salad :)
Back at home we then watched Julia& Julie and another day in 90210 drew to its end.....
It not only looks exactly like in all the movies and series ( e.g. 90210) but is actually beautiful. Everyone seemed busy doing something- cycling, jogging, selling medicinal marihuana, working out, playing basketball, sitting at a stand with earrings....surrounded by palm trees and the setting sun one cannot deny but feel slightly 'californicated'.
For dinner we went to a very lovely restaurant on the beach and ate crab salad accompanied by Sauvignon Blanc. I actually didn't feel bad that seated next to us were 3 brazilian models, who were pretty, tall and skinny (and clearly earning good money with their modelling) as I was after all eating a crab salad :)
Back at home we then watched Julia& Julie and another day in 90210 drew to its end.....
Sunday, December 13, 2009
L.A. baby.....
So I didn't get to write on here again after my last entry because the pc in fact broke down.
The last few days in San Francisco however were definately wisely spent:
I did a 8 mile march/hike on Thursday around Lake Meritt in Oakland and went shopping for books. That evening I made my way to Palo Alto and walked down Palm drive only to arrive at one of the most beautiful campuses I have ever seen ( also the 2nd biggest after Moscow university). Stanford was very fun- I stayed the night with Ebony ( a good friend from St. Paul's Girls' School) and we had a blast. Amongst some of the more exciting experiences were a frat party at Sigma Mu, climbing to the top of the Psych-building at 3am and sipping on vodka-cranberry, looking for the steam tunnel entrance and playing "Thumper" :)
We woke up around noon ( still slightly drunk) and so quickly made our way to the dining hall. Before doing that however I checked my application status at UPenn only to find out that I got rejected. But no worries ( no need to cry just yet), I am loving the Westcoast ( probably more than the East) and would thus in fact love to go to college on this side of the country.
So the rest of the day Ebony and I cycled around campus and sat on the floor of the book store reading jokes ot loud to eachother :P
That evening I returned to San Francisco and experienced my first Hannakah. It was really pleasant, with lots of food, lovely company and generally a nice way to spend the last night.
On Saturday we then hit the road and headed for L.A.
It's now Sunday ( the 13th) and I have a whole day of L.A. sight-seing behind me.
The weather was relatively 'bad' for L.A. at about 65- but for a Brit liek me it was still on the better side of things.
What did I see?
Well....Belair, Hollywood ( yes I did see the sign), Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Venice beach....
We drove down Sunset Boulevard from West to East, down Hollywood Boulevard, along the Sunset strip, and Downtown to the Disney Concert Hall...
In other words when we sat down to have a cup of coffee and a pumpkin muffin I felt like we had checked the boxes.
Tonight I have the joy of filling out more applications for university and then get ready for another day full of L.A. glamour :)
The last few days in San Francisco however were definately wisely spent:
I did a 8 mile march/hike on Thursday around Lake Meritt in Oakland and went shopping for books. That evening I made my way to Palo Alto and walked down Palm drive only to arrive at one of the most beautiful campuses I have ever seen ( also the 2nd biggest after Moscow university). Stanford was very fun- I stayed the night with Ebony ( a good friend from St. Paul's Girls' School) and we had a blast. Amongst some of the more exciting experiences were a frat party at Sigma Mu, climbing to the top of the Psych-building at 3am and sipping on vodka-cranberry, looking for the steam tunnel entrance and playing "Thumper" :)
We woke up around noon ( still slightly drunk) and so quickly made our way to the dining hall. Before doing that however I checked my application status at UPenn only to find out that I got rejected. But no worries ( no need to cry just yet), I am loving the Westcoast ( probably more than the East) and would thus in fact love to go to college on this side of the country.
So the rest of the day Ebony and I cycled around campus and sat on the floor of the book store reading jokes ot loud to eachother :P
That evening I returned to San Francisco and experienced my first Hannakah. It was really pleasant, with lots of food, lovely company and generally a nice way to spend the last night.
On Saturday we then hit the road and headed for L.A.
It's now Sunday ( the 13th) and I have a whole day of L.A. sight-seing behind me.
The weather was relatively 'bad' for L.A. at about 65- but for a Brit liek me it was still on the better side of things.
What did I see?
Well....Belair, Hollywood ( yes I did see the sign), Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Venice beach....
We drove down Sunset Boulevard from West to East, down Hollywood Boulevard, along the Sunset strip, and Downtown to the Disney Concert Hall...
In other words when we sat down to have a cup of coffee and a pumpkin muffin I felt like we had checked the boxes.
Tonight I have the joy of filling out more applications for university and then get ready for another day full of L.A. glamour :)
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
If you're going to San Francisco...
I LOVE San Francisco...
it is really a beautiful city. i have been ridiculously lucky with the weather ( tough wood) and have so been able to explore a bit. I have seen the famous Golden Gate Bridge, which shines in its bright orange colors brighter than ever and have also driven over the Bay Bridge. I have been mainly residing in the East Bay- Oakland but feel like these ends are equally lovely. There are lovely neighborhoods, with family houses and beautiful little markets.
I have also been to the Natural History Museum, which blew me away: the aquarium and planetarium were breathtaking. I arrived on Monday morning ( I flew in from Seattle) and have been staying with my family I have never encountered before. So whilst getting acquainted with new members of my family, eating delicious lunches and dinners, strolling around San Francisco and visiting all the famous sights I have been having a darling time ( as Ruthy would say).
Tomorrow I plan to go for a 3.5 mile jog with the father of the family ( he is a lawyer and basically just wants to prove that he not only has brains but also physique). After that I am hopefully going to watch a criminal trial in court and am then heading to Stanford to see my longly missed beloved friend Ebony ( a student at Stanford). I am planning on staying the night and then having a nice day in San Francisco with Ebony. I think we have a few Starbucks visits and a bit of walking around Downtown in mind. I will then hopefully go on the tour of Alcatraz ( the famous prison on the island from which no one ever escaped- i think) and finish off my day with a Hanukkah dinner ( I am fully embracing all the cultures of the world- starting in North America :))
Today I also went to see UC-Berkley ( not the place for me but cool nonetheless).
So that is it for now.
We leave San Francisco on Saturday ( Ruth and me) to embark on the adventurous drive on Highway 1 to L.A!!!!
I am only hoping that my first drive in the US doesn't repeat itself. However this tiem I will not be alone.
For now I will still be taking in every inch of the wonderful San Francisco air but soon enough we will be venturing on the next journey. destination: Hollywood!
( I will probably write on here before that though because I find out on Friday if I got into my Ivy-league option: UPenn)
Saturday, December 5, 2009
An average human scalp has 100,000 hairs
So when we are born we have 300 bones and once we reach adulthood we have 206.
Women have more tastebuds than men.
Every year the average human sheds about 1.5 pounds of skin off.
A fetus acquires fingerprints at the age of three months.
A sneeze can exceed the speed of 100 mph.
Your heart is about the size of your fist.
etc......
I just wanted to share some of the amazing things I saw at the Bodies exhibition today.
After walking 12.7 miles around Seattle, in beautiful weather, and taking photos until my camera ran out of batteries I am still of the opinion that Seattle is great.
I also went to see the Washington University ( very nice)....
More later..
Women have more tastebuds than men.
Every year the average human sheds about 1.5 pounds of skin off.
A fetus acquires fingerprints at the age of three months.
A sneeze can exceed the speed of 100 mph.
Your heart is about the size of your fist.
etc......
I just wanted to share some of the amazing things I saw at the Bodies exhibition today.
After walking 12.7 miles around Seattle, in beautiful weather, and taking photos until my camera ran out of batteries I am still of the opinion that Seattle is great.
I also went to see the Washington University ( very nice)....
More later..
Friday, December 4, 2009
Well rested in Seattle!
So I arrived in Seattle on Thursday, the 3rd. I was supposed to arrive on Wednesday but apparently when the bus schedule states 18:15pm, I read 8:15pm....bummer ey!?
So on Thursday I arrived and after Joe invited me to feel at home in his comfy little house I certainly did by spreading my stuff all over the house. I then went onto a approx. 10miles long walk around Seattle- through University District, over the bridge from Maple Leaf into Downtown- all the way to Madison Park etc etc :) yeah I think what becomes clear is that Ilike to walk! Then Joe and me watched 'Sleepless in Seattle' ( just had to be done- after all I had never seen it and where else should I watch it if not Seattle). Today, on Friday, we first had a nice 3 mile brisk walk around the Green Lake with peppermint mochas from Starbucks and then drove out to the Cascades Mountain range to experience a bit of snow.
After a lovely dinner of mahi mahi tachos we headed home and now sitting down with a warm cup of tea and watching 'community' I am ready for another day of exploring.
Seattle has a certain charm to it that really does make you want to just get your own place and start living here. Tomorrow I am going to have a large pancake breakfast, do a tour around UW, visit the first Starbuck coffee shop in the world and roam around the Pike Place Market ( apparently fish just fly around in the air as they get thrown around). I also want to see the 'Bodies' exhibition, as I missed that in London. On Sunday I will then go to the Aquarium and then take one of the famous seattle farries to the peninsula, where Twilight was filmed.
That are all the plans for now but I will add anything if necessary- On Monday it's then off to San Francisco!!!
The Westcoast has definately started out on a great note.....
So on Thursday I arrived and after Joe invited me to feel at home in his comfy little house I certainly did by spreading my stuff all over the house. I then went onto a approx. 10miles long walk around Seattle- through University District, over the bridge from Maple Leaf into Downtown- all the way to Madison Park etc etc :) yeah I think what becomes clear is that Ilike to walk! Then Joe and me watched 'Sleepless in Seattle' ( just had to be done- after all I had never seen it and where else should I watch it if not Seattle). Today, on Friday, we first had a nice 3 mile brisk walk around the Green Lake with peppermint mochas from Starbucks and then drove out to the Cascades Mountain range to experience a bit of snow.
After a lovely dinner of mahi mahi tachos we headed home and now sitting down with a warm cup of tea and watching 'community' I am ready for another day of exploring.
Seattle has a certain charm to it that really does make you want to just get your own place and start living here. Tomorrow I am going to have a large pancake breakfast, do a tour around UW, visit the first Starbuck coffee shop in the world and roam around the Pike Place Market ( apparently fish just fly around in the air as they get thrown around). I also want to see the 'Bodies' exhibition, as I missed that in London. On Sunday I will then go to the Aquarium and then take one of the famous seattle farries to the peninsula, where Twilight was filmed.
That are all the plans for now but I will add anything if necessary- On Monday it's then off to San Francisco!!!
The Westcoast has definately started out on a great note.....
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Time to pack my bags
So its now the 1st of December. Unbelievable!!
I have further been exploring Vancouver by going to the Art Museum and Anthropology museum ( don't underestimate museums- i love them!!! its the place where i can wonder around alone and no one looks at me full of pity for the girl who has no friends and walks around alone).
I also took the sky train and went to see UBC campus...i have brought the children to school twice in a row now ( so yes that mans getting out of bed around 8 am -horror :)) and tomorrow we have a special treat coming up as it is Santa's breakfast = getting up at 7 am to go and consume tons of pancakes and maple syrup and COFFEE at 7:30 am!! one really wonders where all the common sense goes in those first few minutes of the morning.
so tomorrow i am doing that and than heading downtown for one last visit before i get on the evening bus to Seattle where I am sure I have more adventures to come. Staying with James's brother, Joe, I am in good hands and very excited. Did I mention: to all those ' Grey's Anatomy' lovers, this is the point where you start punching the wall enflamed with jealousy because i get to go to Seattle Grace hospital :P i am just making sure we are on the same page....
that is it for now ( that hot tub really wears me out ..haha)
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Canada at its best!
So today is Saturday the 28th of November.
It has been a busy but enjoyable day.
At 9:45 am I got to get all sentimental about watching a ballet lesson ( and boy do I miss it), then lunch at an asian mall ( hot pots are definately the way to go), then another ballet rehearsal ( the Nutcracker...by this point I was way too close to actually joining the class) and then off to hockey practice. After having frozen up a bit watching 6-year-olds jump around on ice like shrimp - and making me feel very unsporty indeed- it was time for a nice sushi dinner. Then we headed for a performance of 'Disney on Ice' - who knew an ice-skating Tinkerbell would even make 19-year-olds sing along :)
Now I just got out of the sauna and sipping on Jasmin tea I am patiently awaiting my turn for an hours long facial ....hi hi. Life is GOOD!!!
Friday, November 27, 2009
The kind of Friday I could get used to!
Just wanted to add a little post to make a lot of people jealous :)
So it is 11 o'clock at night, which yes- is late but I am sitting in a hot tub under the stars on the Canadian sky, with a glass of white wine and a book- in a bit it will be off to the sauna and then a good nights sleep.....god what a life :P
apparently taking a gap year isn't all about sitting in a grimey hostel starving and lacking in hygiene...haha
What happens after New York
So I left New York Saturday morning and in the depths of Chinatown I put my life into the hands of the employees of the Chinabus.
Only a couple of hours later I was already being welcomed by a new Chinatown, this time in Philadelphia.
The same day Malcolm gave me a lift to Penn Campus where he had arranged for me to have the ultimate freshman experience. Constance took me in with extreme hospitality and through her I got to live in a freshman dorm, got to eat at Hill and attended the heartbreaking Penn vs. Delaware basketball game......( omg it was intense: quakers int he lead all the way till half time and then lost by 3 points).
I also got to attend a typical frat party....oh yes I believe I can call myself partially an American now: met a guy called Carter- check, attended a ridiculously full Sigma Alpha Mu party- check :)
I also got to attend a Harry Potter day, got to see New Moon ( I know but it just had to be done), went to a genetics class with a Junior, drank lots of christmasy Starbucks coffees and read lots and lots....
All in all I think I am ready to be a freshman.
On Tuesday, 24th, we went for Thai dinner with Pavel and Alyssia ( uncle and aunt) and then off to Malcolm's again.
What came next???
My first Thanksgiving.
I do not have to stress what a beautiful holiday it is as it does basically just provide you with a great opportunity to eat ( and be thankful of course....for example for the food you have in front of you).
I also got to see members of my family that live in America that I have never met or have not seen for a long time.
So after pretty much spending a whole day eating and socializing it was time to snap back to reality and do a good amount of travelling on the 27th ie. today, Friday.
So at 8am I flew out of Phili to Houston and then to Seattle and then a shuttle to Vancouver where I arrived at 11pm eastern time ( so at 8pm western time).
Once again though I had very good friends of my family pick me up and so far it has only been pleasant....to be fed, looked after and generally just be in company of good friends of yours is dangerously comfortable territory and I should really not get used to it.
Who is going to be providing me with breakfasts and dinners in the middle of the Amazon huh??? Exactly.
Anyway for now I have only heard snippets of my plan for the next 5 days in Vancouver but they sound inviting and so I cannot wait to write all about my new adventures, this time on the West coast.
PS: I was still not able to work out how to put pictures up so sorry :( actually in my defence I did find out ( well Constance did) but it didn't work so I don't know......
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Just a little update
I just want to appologize for the chaos in my posts- I am getting the hang of it now but it just took me a while. Sorry :)
Also pictures will hopefully be up soon to accompany this adventure.
Also pictures will hopefully be up soon to accompany this adventure.
The Eastcoast
So I had seen Boston and all it entails so it was time to move on down towards New York.
I stopped at Brown on the way, which seeing that I got a nice afternoon with Katie ( a Paulina) was really nice. I did however have to treck up this MASSIVE hill with my super big bag which was less amusing.
The same day I then took a bus to New Haven, where the twins were already awaiting me. Yale was great ( and its not exactly everyday that one gets to dine at Yale or hang out in the super old and beautiful dorms). On Wednesday, the 18th, I even went to a lecture, which was part of a class called 'LIFE'. Trust me- it was interesting!!
But I couldn't stay any longer so I once again grabbed my bags and said goodbye to head towards New York!
I stopped at Brown on the way, which seeing that I got a nice afternoon with Katie ( a Paulina) was really nice. I did however have to treck up this MASSIVE hill with my super big bag which was less amusing.
The same day I then took a bus to New Haven, where the twins were already awaiting me. Yale was great ( and its not exactly everyday that one gets to dine at Yale or hang out in the super old and beautiful dorms). On Wednesday, the 18th, I even went to a lecture, which was part of a class called 'LIFE'. Trust me- it was interesting!!
But I couldn't stay any longer so I once again grabbed my bags and said goodbye to head towards New York!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The BIG APPLE!!!
Its the 18th and I finally arrive in New York!!
When I arrived at Grand Central Station I was in awe of how happy I was to be here!
A few stops later I was already getting out at Morgan Ave.- where my beautiful hostel was waiting for me! 'The New York Loft Hostel'- I definately recommend it :)
Although the area looked kind of dodgy in the dark the hostel itself is great, clean, modern with all the facilities needed.
I then decided to walk through Manhattan so from 80th Lafayette I walked all the way down to 14th. It was beautiful and as I arrived at Times Square, the darkness had already swallowed the day so the opportunitites for amazing pictures of all the lights were endless.
As I got home I met up with my newly found friends: the dancer, the artiest and the poet/writer.
The dancer was laready leaving but the artist, the poet and I, we all went to Brooklyn to attend a presentation by Major. We received an invitation to this event completely by chance and boy am I glad we did. It turns out that Waldemar Fydrych aka. Major (a polish man in his late 40s who was staying at our hostel) was the founder of a movement in Poland back in the 1980s. Its called the Orange Alternative and is based on the conceptof 'social surrealism'. There have been numerous events they organised, some even reached over 10 000 participants. The Orange alternative uses gnomes/dwarfs to represent them. Major even ran for the post of governor of Warsow in 2006. So it so happened that a buch of us, all having met completely randomly, were sitting in this little studio with orange hats on, an orange clay dwarf in hand and were plotting an event for the coming up Saturday on Times Square. I couldn't attend this unfortunately, as my bus for Philadelphia left at noon on Saturday but I hope I get to stay in touch as the concept intrigued me a lot.
So what are the chances of this happening? Talk about social surrealism....
The artist, the poet and I + our three dwarfs then just roamed the streets of Brooklyn for the night :) but no worries we all go into our beds at the hostel all safe and sound.
The next day the weather was beautiful so I spent about 4 hours in Central Park- walking and taking photos....
That evening I then headed to Chinatown got myself some yummy pork and duck on rice and went to eat in under the Brooklyn Bridge- definately a view worth remembering.
So that was my last day.
The next morning I managed to get up in time for breakfast for the first time in three days and packed my stuff.
I was planning on taking the dwarf with me around the world but I decided against it....so I left it him on Vernon Street- his story will continue in someone else's arms!
Monday, November 16, 2009
The Beginning!
So this is it...everyone has been listening to me desperately trying to organize this trip and now it is finally happening!
I am now in the US.
My first flight was on the 9th in the morning from London to Boston.
The weather was beautiful and I had friends pick me up at the airport- life could not have been more perfect!!
In the meantime I have changed my opinion on this matter a bit..
I have had a series of unfortunate events amongst which one could find:
breaking down in the middle of the highway ( and yes i was driving on the right side of the road...its not that scary)! that was very fun, as I not only had no signal and no way of contacting anyone, but i also couldn't get the car key out as it was some super futuristic concept!
So how did it end?? well i had to pay $80 to get towed about 2 miles to the nearest petrol station :)
so much for trying to save money..
I did however make it all the way to Middlebury and it was worth it!!
I visited an old friend and checked out the college.
I have also seen Harvard and Dartmouth and BU and I must say seeing old friends and lovely new campuses was one of the highlights so far!
I fell in love with Middlebury because the nature was incredible and the sense of achievement that I felt when I reached it after a 6 hour drive was purely incredible!!
If I don't get into UPenn we all know where I will be applying :)
Otherwise I have had some very unhealthy food ( and we all know how I feel about that), met some very friendly Americans and am now heading towards Brown, Yale and then the BIG apple- NEW YORK!!!
So far so good so let's see what happens next!? :P
I am now in the US.
My first flight was on the 9th in the morning from London to Boston.
The weather was beautiful and I had friends pick me up at the airport- life could not have been more perfect!!
In the meantime I have changed my opinion on this matter a bit..
I have had a series of unfortunate events amongst which one could find:
breaking down in the middle of the highway ( and yes i was driving on the right side of the road...its not that scary)! that was very fun, as I not only had no signal and no way of contacting anyone, but i also couldn't get the car key out as it was some super futuristic concept!
So how did it end?? well i had to pay $80 to get towed about 2 miles to the nearest petrol station :)
so much for trying to save money..
I did however make it all the way to Middlebury and it was worth it!!
I visited an old friend and checked out the college.
I have also seen Harvard and Dartmouth and BU and I must say seeing old friends and lovely new campuses was one of the highlights so far!
I fell in love with Middlebury because the nature was incredible and the sense of achievement that I felt when I reached it after a 6 hour drive was purely incredible!!
If I don't get into UPenn we all know where I will be applying :)
Otherwise I have had some very unhealthy food ( and we all know how I feel about that), met some very friendly Americans and am now heading towards Brown, Yale and then the BIG apple- NEW YORK!!!
So far so good so let's see what happens next!? :P
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