First day @ Work

(Continue, continue, more pictures!!! )

15 September

Alarm Clock : 7:32

8:05 : Subway n° 7 in the direction of Times Square. Stop at Grand Central… A quick walk on the 42th Street to reach the 1st Avenue. Here are the UN Heaquarters, in front of me. Let’s take a deep breath…(cigarette but menthol!!!! ;-) ) and let’s go!!!

Discussion with 2 others interns, one from Slovakia, the other from Estonia with a perfect French without accent. But it's now time to enter the lion… Pass the Security. Registration… and on the wall of the corridor, pictures of the 7 Secretaries-General of the UN. Here we are… we arrived into the conference room. And what a big conference room (more than 600 seats) with leather armchairs and microphone for each with loads of button everywhere…ok 6, but still! We are warmly welcome. After a brief introduction from the Internship coordinator, The Security department welcome us and gave us some security details for the building and surroundings (which represents around 6 blocks and considered as an international Ground) and so on. Taugh guy, but they certainly not forget to joke when possible. Funny… And also “Be smart with your life!” Or “Great world to improve, you have talent, use it!!”

They also warn us for next week. Indeed, the 63rd General Assembly of the UN will occur. 180 head of states will be present in the building. Streets will be under high security, no question to lose the Security Pass! Anyway, I am impressed!

We, around 200 interns from 76 countries, are now ready to work with 50,000 colleagues!

Then, THE guest… who? G. Sorenson, who?... (yes, I did not know also before!)… but then when she speaks you realise, loads of interest for the “World at Large” as she said! She has been the UN assistant of Boutros Boutros-Ghali and Kofi Annan. (both former Secretaries-General) She is in the UN for 20 years. “We may be idealist at the UN but realist with the wish to achieve goals in a constructive way.” However, she admitted that “The UN are not doing what it could be.”

Then, you get out of the building, and you realised once again where you are, just to be sure!!!
As I told you this morning, Signe, I broadly opened my eyes!! ;-)

2pm: I did not eat in the cafeteria… will keep this experience for later!!! ;-) Then it was time to enter back into the building and the most difficult is to find the conference room where we were. I told you I was looking at the pictures in the corridor following as a sheep the group! Fortunately, I had a Mate with me, otherwise I do not know if I would have been able to find. You know me and my sense of orientation!!! ;-)
Then the arvo gently ended after deeper explanation about the UN.

However, it was not the end. A meeting in a pub nearby has been organised. Let’s go to meet people! Some nice people… we were around 50 to be there, of course not the time to speak with everybody but at least, get to know quickly some of them. And of course the time to drink a Marguarita… (quite strong btw.) And of course, a thought to mi Master Loca (just to tease you!!! ;-) ) Btw, according to a Colombian, it is said that New York is the third cities of Colombia because of the number of Colombian here! ;-)

And finally let’s go back home with the eager to tell you my day. Arriving at home with one of my flatmate sleeping on the couch and the girls with much interest to know how was my day! ;-) I told you very nice flat…

You feel small when you are an intern, but I can tell you that I felt very, very small today. But it is also the right place to be to participate to change and being involved internationally.

;-)

Some pictures of the UN building taken from the 23rd floor of German Mission building, where I went for a party last Friday. Indeed, each country has their Economic Missions. They are directly referring to their home country but work very closely to the UN. OK sorry, it was raining that day. But since then, it’s TOO hot! Yesterday, more around 27°C… don’t really know the Fahrenheit!! ;-)

 

BUt Ithe days before I continued my visits of NY...

With a nap In Central Park

UN canard, où??? Non, Yo j'ai pas fait expres... enfin, si rien qu'en pensant à toi!!! ;-)

BUt we do not forget the chocoholic behaviour : (Hanuta, too good that they are here, hein MB2??!!)

THe visit of the Dali exhibition at the Museum of MOdern Art (Moma)

Empire States Building behind us:

(I know I have a strange face, but I just realised at the moment of the picture, that my excellent chocolate ice-cream felt on the floor...shiiitt!!! ;-) )

Chrysler Building behind...

Happy to be able to share that with you...

Take Care!

Now time to go to sleep for me... with 'mon livre de chevet'!!! pour faire un gros Dodo..'Toto'!!! ;-)