La suite des évenements...

Je suis trop contente d'accueillir Rafafou demain à NYC!!!!

2 ans après avoir quitté la France... j'accueille enfin un Ami qui me rend visite. ça fait super plaisir et surtout Rafafou!!! ;-) (ne ^prenez pas ça personnelement, je sais trop bien que l'Australie et les US sont assez loin de la France et que chacun à ses occupations!)

Mais voilà... 2 jours apres avoir confirmé à Rafafou... mes collegues m'apprenent que je pars avec elles et nos journalistes à Washigton et Atlanta...

C'est génial cela dit... et puis bon, Rafafou est un Grand Garçon... lui qui adore NYC, il en profitera un max en vivant dans un appart ney Yorkais... et on se verra le WE!

Donc, oui je pars Lundi matin et rentre vendredi soir à NY.

Aller à Washigton, c'est aussi l'occasion d'aller à Wilson Lane, Bethesda!!! Quel dommage d'arriver trop tard pour aller rendre visite à ma Tante. Mais la vie est ainsi faite... mes pensées seront de toutes façon avec elle et la Famille au grand complet!!! Je vous embrasse tres fort et pense à vous!

Donc, oui Washington, il est prévu d'aller visiter la World Bank ainsi que le FMI etc... Atlanta, il y a CNN...

Quelle opportunité, j'en suis consciente et encore une fois je vais ouvrir tres grand mes yeux et mes oreilles!

Byzouxxxxx... Tryzouxxxx!

Take Care

 

 

NEED your Point of View!!! ;-)

 

It is obvious in Australia and even more in the US…. That the country builds itself thanks to all those immigrants who arrived years/decades ago from all kind of countries. Nowadays, citizen considers themselves as American… What is it wrong with that would you tell me? Nothing… I know… continue to read... ;-)

Nowadays, 6/7 generations after their arrival, they consider themselves as Americana and do not even know from which country they come from, their roots. Which I totally understand, time goes and your life as always been in this country… and humanly you forget your origin after such a long time.

My worries, do not concern American but European…

Will this happen to European?

Does the EU will end to a unique political system/Government? Erasing slowly our culture, traditions and roots?

Being a pro-European myself, I do not think we will arrive until that extreme point as European are very proud of their nationalities and regions. But am I too optimist?

I know it will not happen in 10 years or even 30 years… but what about in 100 years. Who cares some may say… but I CARE!!!!!

Do we in several decades, several generations will consider ourselves as European WITHOUT knowing if our ROOTS are from France, Tcheque Republic, Greece, Roumania?

I am Normande & European, and YOU??

What do you think?

This comes up after an interesting discussion with Mariam & Emily (flatmates), that night we also spoke about the American presidential election… and to be honest with you… After those two topics, I TOTALLY freaked out…

I believe in the EU, in cooperation between countries to organise a better World. Is it utopist? I think that also explains why I am so proud to work at the UN. Because if I am utopist, the Founders of the UN were too though.

However, I really hope that we will not loose ourselves in the EU. However, we need to accept some concession to be able to go forward. And that one of the problem that characterises the difficulties encounter by the UN.

I am REALLY interested to know your thought about that as European or NOT?

NOBODY told me....

- how to open American windows and more important to live with them

- to not sleep with your window open… It is a safe district, but you are still in NYC

- you need to add taxes to the prices marked in shops

- to manage those American dollars notes. The $1 looks exactly the same as the $100… Grrrrr… really prefer the colourful Neo-Zealander or Australian notes. Euro notes… if I well remember (yep, nearly forgot how they are!!! ;-) ) they are quite fade!

- I will arrive in a city where around half of the total Australian population are living. [Australian population = 21 million vs. NYC = 9 million]

- When it raining… it seems to be trendy to wear those plastic colourful boots… sorry, not me!!! ;-)

- When you fall… (yep it seems that I have to experience at least one fall everywhere where I am going!!!) However, Kassy, it was not at 6am after a long night… but a morning on my way to work… ;-) So, yeah… when you fall… spilling all your coins on the floor because of course you were with you wallet in your hand, opened to put your subway card back into it… NOBODY stopped… nobody laughed… [ ;-) Sév!!!! ] So, despite the friendly attitude of the citizen here… here is the reality… But I dare to say that it is the same in every big cities! ;-)

- You can cross whenever you want (as soon as there is no  more cars) ... do not wait the green 'Bonhomme' (actually it's a white 'bonhomme' here!!)... DO not wait, because you will be the ONLY one!!! ;-)

A 17 Sept. in NY... Long Island...

Aahahha, I had a perfect day yesterday...

On the advise of my flatmate, I organised a drink after work with some interns collegues!!!!

It was pretty good, and the place was AWESOME.... judge by yourself....

From 'Water TAxi Beach'... O, picture is a bit cloudy... but that gives you the atmosphere and an idea of the view on Manhattan...

With Empire States Building on the left and the Chrysler Building on the right!!!!

;-)

My collegues:

My Ozi Mate,

My Kiwi Mate,

Mais apres tout ça... al soirée n'etait pas terminé... My flatmates were waiting for me at home... We had a nice evening... good fun...

They tookap picture of me with all American speciality...

An American guy, peanut butter, coca cola and Oreo.... i am sorry but the choice is not too difficult...

OREO OF COURSE! hein Marie!??!! ;-)

My flatmates

And now it is time to go to sleep for me...

There is the official ceremony for the International Day of Peace tomorrow with the secretary general at the UN... and guests such as Michael Douglas... I will unfortunatly not be able to take pictures to show you what I lived there!!! As I coordinate the event with my collegue!!!

Those days are crazy...always something amazing to live....

This week end, noramally work on my report for uni..., but it is also the time to meet the statue of the Liberty ;-), to visit the Immigration museum and to have a pic nic in Central Park...

Taugh... yes I know, and I know how lucky I am!!!!

So yeah I enjoy myself here!!!! ;-)

But still thinking of you guys.... I want to share those moments with you!!!! so here I am...

Take Care!!!

Hasta Luego Amigos!!!

;-)

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'!!! ;-)

A nice first day in New York!!

Me serais-je perdue dans ma vie Australian trépidente ces derniers mois? .... Oui, Oui j'en ai bien peur et j'en suis désolé mais me voilà de retour!

Did I lost myself in my ecytic Australian life those last months? ... Yes, I am sorry but I am afraid it is the reason. But here I am again...

This ectic life, I had to leave it with wide bitterness and loads of tears. But here I au, in NY... and following the encouragements of my Friends... here I am with a new life in front of me. With the fear and the exitement to recreate a new life for the next 3 months. Matù is coming back... ;-)

 

So, today, 10th of September. Btw, I am still confused with those time differences, from here to France, from here to Australia... so hard to adapt my self. Same for the money and the conversion... I convert into Australian Dollar!!!

 

Anyway, i am coming back on my Nice day.

 

A nice breakfast with coffee and bread nutella at the front door of my house began my day! By the way, what a cultural shock last night… at the supermarket! I couldn’t find the Nutella. Finally succeed but what a mess. There is one sort of Nutella pot, the small one ( not the smallest from Australia! ;-) what a relieve! ;-)) AND 4 shelves of differents peanuts butter. Grrrrrr… J’aime pas le Peanut Butter! ;-) But I know that it would be better for me not to say that too loud in front of Americains. ;-)

 

Anyway, after the purchase of my telephone, I unlock my Austrlian mobile for nothing because they don’t sell only the SIM card!!! Ahahah, malin les Americains.

 

 

So, I began my visit of the jungle by Times Square and the 5^th Avenue…. Such buildings with loads of lights… by the way, not very good for the environment! ;-)

 

But with a nice place, judge yourself…

 

Ah yeah, I think I now realise where I am… there is American flags at every corners.

 

Then I headed to the Financial District with Wall Street

But on the way, some pictures… and some squirrels regularly!

 

 

Et une petite pause dejuner avec un Orangina!!!!! : (Mais, elle est où la bouteille orginale!!!?!?)

New Amsterdam....sorry Christian, I still didn't found the staatue!!! But I m sure I will!!!

Et puis je suis arrivé à l'endroit du World Trade Center. Nous sommes le 10 et tous les ans... il y a la commemoration, il y avait déjà des camions de journalistes sur place!

And then arrival in Wall st.

From Brooklyn Bridge,

Pui sl'arrivée dans CHina Town, avec double traduction, même le marquage au sol!!

Et puis, le tournage d'un film mais arrivé trop tard... so, Where is Walter? Ou est Charlie? WO ist Waldo? (la célébrité)

Then, arrival in Little Itlay. It is said that China Town is eating peace by peace Little Italy... This chinese shop is lost in theLittle Italy. What a proof!

Plutot sympa Little Italy... mais les italiens restent des Italiens!! ;-)

Then, after 7hours of visit my feet didn't want to go forward anymmore!

But on the way back from the subway to my house...

What a view?

Just the light from the World Trade Center, No worries!!!

The last... but tfrom the subway station that I will take every day to go to work!

The beginning is this MOnday but this Friday, I registered myself to go to a UN After Work Party! I am scared, but no other way than to plunge into it!!Will see!!!