anna…

I have been punctuating my meetings and orientation sessions with walks around the neighborhood, trying to get a sense of where I am. I found a place to do laundry right down the street and was given a diner recommended. The place is called Brother Jimmy’s BBQ and apparently, it can satisfy all my late-night Mac-n-Cheese or candied yams needs. (I don’t currently have these needs, but I may develop them.) It turns out I also live around the corner from Katie Couric; I am sure we will be rubbing shoulders as we pick out the freshest bell peppers at the same grocery store again soon.

All in all though, I have been doing nothing but work. At my meeting last Thursday, I was given five books my Master’s students have already read in preparation for the class I am teaching (which starts next Tuesday). I have read a total of zero of them. So, I had to dig in and get to reading. I went directly to my new office space, which I think has an okay view.

Yeah, my office is called Sheep Meadow and is located in Central Park. Now you’re thinking I was just playing around, but you would be wrong. See, here’s me hard at work:

 And here’s me the next day at my all-day planning session for the course I’m teaching. Yep, that’s sand and that’s ocean, and that’s me working, working, working. Anne, who is teaching the other section of the course, came back from her vacation ready to get to work. We arranged to meet this week, but we had so much to do, she suggested I accompany her on a “work trip”. We started off from Grand Central Station at 10 and came back at about 10. We went to Stamford, Fairfield, Westport and surrounding areas in Connecticut, a beautiful place 45 minutes by train right on the coast line of the Long Island Sound. I kept asking if they were sure we were at the ocean; the water was still like a lake…be it a salty one. I hear there are some waves at the beaches on Long Island, but we’ll see! I also hear that there are mountains around here.

As with all trips, I have to report on food. We went to Martha Stewart’s favorite hot dog stand. My compatriots welcomed me to the East Coast with a dog with the works. So far, I like the taste of it.

Only my mother and father told me to make sure to lock my door and to keep alert on the subway. Everyone else? Everyone else said, “Make sure you meet and marry a millionaire multi-media mogul.”

I said, “Okay.”

Monday I set out to do part one of the two-part charge. First thing I did was wake up at 7:00 a.m. and go running in Central Park*. As I headed out the door with my keys, cell phone and iPod, my housemate wisely advised that I also take my MetroCard. I had mapped out the route the night before from running advice columns on the Internet. I was going to run the four-mile section of the “Big 6” by cutting off the top and bottom of the loop. She wasn’t convinced and I took her on her word. Six miles later I was on the west side of the park again passing the Ono’s “Imagine” tribute to Lennon. Looking back, and studying the map again, I have no idea how I looped around again. At that point, I was done. I cut across the park—walking—and dragged myself to the 86^th and Lexington subway stop, so glad I listened!

(One more thing about Central Park: What do you think when you hear “island”? Don’t say mountains. Stop it. Don’t start naming every volcanic island. Okay, fine. All islands I can think of are at least hilly. So is Manhattan. This I didn’t know when I started the run. This I knew when I finished. I swear it was up hill both ways and around the loop again! I guess that’s what they meant when the website said the run would be a challenge.)

So, what does this have to do with my set-for-life prospects? Nothing. Nothing happened. Aren’t I supposed to be running along coming up on a fit-looking, tan, tall fellow and say, “Left” at which point, he glances back not about to let a girl pass him by? 50 feet later, he casually stops off at the drinking fountain. A half a mile later around the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I come up behind him again (I had stopped to “stretch”) and this time he says, “Can you stop doing that?” The “Meet Cute” is complete.  We decide to attend the new exhibit at the Met together and from there decide that we can’t have one Met function without another; we go to a game….I tell you, I ran for a LONG time! Not long enough to name our first born—fine, Conrad Reed or Isabol Marie.

I learned two things: 1) Get a dog. The only people talking to each other were introduced to each other by their dogs. 2) All multi-media millionaire moguls who run in Central Park are married with children. Every third guy was pushing a stroller. Long story short, until I get a dog, I am going to try to meet him in the subway. I already purchased a really interesting-looking book to read.

*Note for the ‘rents: I was not alone at all. I passed 30 people. Okay, so they were going the other direction. Alright, truth is an additional 30 people passed me. Basically, people, people, everywhere.

First, let me welcome you to my New York home…

  Yes,that’s a #13 you see on my door. I live in Apartment #13. What are the chances? Below it is 12A, which is written on all official paperwork and everywhere else. Good thing 13 is my lucky number! In my hand is Gerard, my new plant. Got him today at the local Home Depot (had a coupon), which is on 59th and Lexington, right across the street from H&M, Bloomingdales and Sephora. What a city! And yes, I am wearing a coat and hat…in August…Let’s not talk about it.

Well, let’s go in…

Some of you have seen the before picture; well, here’s the after. It is starting to feel a bit more like home.

I live on the Upper East Side (UES) in a area below Spanish Harlem. I was serenaded on the subway by these guys way downtown yesterday. Then, I saw them getting off at my stop! I swear I met them in Oaxaca, but they denied any association. I think they thought I was following them.

 I had a mango from the neighborhood fruit stand yesterday, which is ran by a nice Turkish family. They are the closest thing I have to a nice neighbor at this time. I buy something each day. Subway entrances are four short blocks to the left or three blocks (and a hill) to the right, very convenient.

Oh, the next pic is for the truck-obsessed nephews. Anyone who can tell me what exactly is dangling, and can give me a good reason, gets a prize.

Yep, that’s my foot and that’s a monkey. I am having a hard time this trip deciding on the “foot photo” because I walked around WITH monkeys! Even if I tried, I would not have been able to keep my distance.

The sacred monkey forest was a jungle area in the middle of Ubud, an area in Bali. (Can you see me there waving? Actually, I am giving the peace sign to be exact.) We bought some bananas and ventured in…little to know the rules that would keep us safe until I was already handing out bananas like little treats. Little did I know that I would be chased! Okay, so they didn’t chase me, but I did have one bare its teeth and take a leap for me…I ran away.

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Marketplaces have to be my favorite spots to visit. I am NOT talking about shopping or mall-type place, but the places locals go to get their daily necessities. I feel like I have a finger on the pulse of the city for just a moment…until I get noticed and become the center of attention.

This first pic shows the line of mopeds you will find everywhere there is a congregation of people here. It makes sense, until you hit the steep, curving roads with no cliff barrier and three cars trying to pass each other!

Another site found everywhere on this island are the daily (perhaps mutiple times a day) offerings. These offerings are in front of shops, on the street corner, on bookshelves. I couldn’t find a pattern other than…an offering goes everywhere you are!

In the marketplace I found some delicious options. (Notice the offering on the top.) How about dried fish? This reminded me of the chapulines of Oaxaca, Mexico. I didn’t try these though! I did try the extra spicy coconut bags, which were a nice change…

My favorite site, though, were the banana piles. Have you ever seen so many bananas?!?

Our last stop was the village where our taxi driver lived. He was a very nice guy who let us go see a “factory” where many of the wooden statues sold in the marketplace were made, and where we could get them cheaper by buying them at their source. I say “factory” because this is where we went…

The workers (mostly family) held the wood between their feet and used chiselling tools to carve out all kinds of figures from angels to bulldogs and eagles to indonesian gods. Needless to say, I had to buy something…and I paid a little extra.

A few loved ones have expressed concern about my well-being as I travel so far away…and at this holiday time. Well, no need to worry. First, Christmas is alive and well in China (at least the marketing is here).

Second, I arrived in Bali today. And what was one of the first things I saw, yep, a McDonald’s. Notice, however, how the building is designed. Even McD’s can’t refuse the ornate decor of this place it is gorgeous. Everything from the store fronts to the backyards. As soon as we arrived, I was offered an amazing deep hair conditioning, foot bath and acupressure, then a massage and scrubbing salt treatment.

All the while, I listened to the distant chanting of the priests and children celebrating the new month (lunar calendar) at the nearby temple. After all that, they had a tub full of roses ready…incense burning and everything. I think I’m staying!

Today is my first full day in mainland, China.  

But first, let’s talk about how I got here…

Two days ago, I landed in Hong Kong. I thought I was in New York, until I our taxi driver got to the crazy small streets with low hanging store signs. The next day, I went on a tram, almost vertical at times, up to Victoria’s Peak. With 360 views of Hong Kong, I knew I had arrived.  

My favorite part of that day was Hong Kong Botanical and Zoological Gardens. I was wandering down the surprisingly hilly streets of Hong Kong (don’t know why I didn’t know it is incredibly hilly…guessed I missed that chapter in the memoirs I’ve read that mention HK) when I literally walked right into the Gardens. It was such an oasis in the middle of a packed city.

 This was the perfect place to find several groups around the fountain in the peaceful-looking practice of Tai Chi. I walked the spiraled patterns of the gardens to find all types of animals, including the closest thing to a Panda that I think I am going to find on this trip (sorry Marshall!). Maybe you can research to see if it is a distant cousin.