July 3rd 2010 New York

It has take me this much time to feel I could sit down and write, so much has happened, where to begin?
The weather is delicious at the moment, after the first week of oppressive humidity, it is now in the high 70ties and sunny and windy. More heat to come I hear….
I conveniently forgot how stressful it is to get settled into a new apartment. It is like giving birth…Initially no internet, TV with complicated settings, no radio – my NPR addiction got a big dent – and how dependent are we (am I) on electronics. I also got a brand new phone and did not know how to work the half of it.

I packed the wrong clothes, I thought it was cooler at night, so half of what I brought is useless (and paid overweight- fees taboot!) and also had to find some sleeveless shirts and shorts quickly. Then I needed crazy glue (my purse broke) light bulb, supplements, band-aids (first day I treated myself to a deep cut in my hand), washing soap etc etc. It just goes on and on, settling into a new place without all your own little thingies at your fingertips.

The apartment is very nice, a 2 bedroom (come and stay with me!!), fairly spacious and fairly light, albeit, no view whatsoever.Walls on all sides. Good shower!!

The neighborhood is very ethnic (again!!) and once again I am a minority (Antwerp), but this time not among Moslim, but Hispanic ethnicity , mostly Dominican and Mexico. I feel safe, but somewhat alienated, everybody speaks Spanish exclusively. The express train is on the corner, so in 20 minutes I am in downtown. It is seemingly, the only affordable neighborhood in Manhatten and is consequently gentrifying rapidly.

I have already seen many apartments for sale and rent and the prices are depressing, i.e. astronomical. I don’t know yet if I/we think we can live here. The most extreme is the constant attack on your senses: smells, visual, sounds and even touch, especially in the subway. But apartments are often build facing away from the streets, so this one and others, are 100% quiet, as if I wassomewhere else.
At the same time all the activity is delightful and interesting.

New York is all of what it is made out to be: exciting, ugly and beautiful, inspiring and confronting.
I saw Helen Mirren in a preview for her new film and going to Shakespeare in the park next week with Al Pacino in the Merchant of Venice.
60 Pianos are put all over Manhatten and anyone can play them. I caught some opera students from Julliard at Lincoln Center.
The first week I was here I got invited to a party and met the producer of “Lost”, the TV show, who is now organizing a party on my behalf, as in “welcome to New York “(any excuse will do)

4th of July is insane here. Nobody works for days, everyone has parties in-and outside, buzz buzz, wondering if anyone actually celebrates the birthday of this country…? At night there is the huge fireworks on the Hudson river to top it all of.

I fell in a crack in the sidewalk, which I find out everybody does once in a while. I really hurt myself in many places and I am forced to walk less and not try and sort it all out in one week or two.

Clients, or potential clients, are coming out of the woodwork. I found an office for a low fee, so that is very encouraging.