Foreign Country

Where we live in New Jersey is basically a foreign country. There is a great population of Latinos here. It is so much fun! There's a LONG street full of shops, just a block or two from where we live, and it's like little Mexico or South America. It's so much fun. Lucky for me, just about everyone speaks English :).

Last night I went with Aubrey and Gabe to a wedding reception at their old ward, in Passiac, New Jersey. It was awesome! I felt so welcomed - I don't know if it was the traditional Latino greeting, or just that everyone loved Aubrey so much that the love spilled over to me, but whatever it was, I was very warmly welcomed!

I made two great friends there - Maria, who is about 17 years my senior, and Rosanna, who is 12 years my junior. Amazing how some people you meet are just instantly your friends, you just connect, and age, language, race and everything else fall away! So cool!

The couple who were married are from Mexico, and therefore I got experience and participate in some of the Mexican traditions associated with marriage. At one point, we ladies started gathering in the middle of the room for what I thought was going to be the bouquet toss. Instead, we formed a line, hands on hips of the person in front of you, like we where going to preform the bunny hop. The first person in line started to run, and we followed suit, running beneath a veil type thing that was tied to the bride , who was standing on a chair, and held up by the groom, also on a chair. I was laughing my head off, not having any idea what we were doing or what the point was, when suddenly the bride fell off her chair. "Yikes!" is what I thought, but everyone else laughed and cheered and clapped. Apparently the point of the game was to knock the bride or groom off of their chair. We ladies went on for a little while, then the men took a turn, then the kids. It was so funny! They also had some other traditions...most of which I didn't understand, and neither did Maria, who is from the Dominican Republic. She'd just tell me, "only Mexicans do that" and shrugged her shoulders.

There was plenty of dancing of course, and a did dance a little, but I tell you, away from my little Rexburg bubble, where there's more gringas and gringos at the Latin dance than actual Latinos, I felt a little more than slightly self-conscious. But it was fun!

I'm sure I will have many more cultural experiences yet...and I may add Spanish to my list of fluent languages by the end of the summer :).

New York, New York

I love the city! It is insanely busy, always, but I love it! There is so much to do and see -
Three "amigos" entered the car on the subway train I was riding yesterday and treated us to a melodic spanish tune - two had guitars and the third played an accordian. In my very poor, jobless state, I couldn't offer them even a quarter, but I enjoyed their little serenade!

I think I basically have the subway system down - with the help of my little map, anyway :). I think the whole subway system is so fasinating - built underneath a massive city, strong enough to withstand layers of trains going back and forth all day long...I definitely need to research it and figure out how they engineered the whole thing!

I have yet to find an internship, but I do have a couple of possibilites after making phone calls today, and have compiled a list of over 30 potential places - so it's phone calls for me until I can set up some interviews and snag a job! I have decided that as a reward to myself for finding an internship will be to go visit Chinatown...good motivation! I need to find some Chinese pengyous friends)! Alhtough, I am seriously considering taking spanish so I can understand and talk to Aubery and Gabe! They are amazing to me and I am so blessed to be able to live with them!

Lovin' the City, not lovin' the jet lag...

This city is amazing and so far I actually feel like home :). Don't worry, Mom and Dad, I'm not considering moving here for the rest of my life (yet). I've been spending time trying to scout out good places to apply for an internship, both at interior design firms and showrooms as well as with some product designers. I've walked all over the upper east side of manhattan, and around the lake at central park. I love it! I keep having to crash and take power naps in the afternoon, because of teh time change, today I did so courtesy of a comfy chair upstairs where aubrey works - I haven't resorted to park benches yet.

After Aubrey gets off work, we're headed to the Farmer's market at union center (or city or something like that) and tomorrow she and Gabe are going to take me to Passiac, New Jersey, one of their favorite places. I'm excited to try the Equadorian food that will be waiting for me there! I miss you all back home and wish the best to those of you who are also still looking for internships. In Chinese, I'll tell you to JIAYOU! Which means add oil, or keep going - you'll make it!

Day 1

So, here I am in NYC...yahoo! So far I haven't been mugged, hit by a taxi or seen any famous people, but we'll see what the summer brings :). I actually have met a number of very nice people, and I think it's going to be great - just as long as I can land a good internship with nice people!