Chivalry Translates Across Cultures

Many people believer that New Yorkers are hardened by the city. They walk fast. They are forward. They don't waste time with pleasantries. But don't let these things fool you, today I decided that they are really softies on the inside. My evidence came in the form of an elevator ride.

As I was waiting for the elevator to arrive this morning and take me back down to the ground level, I was accompanied by a gentleman standing to my right. As he was positioned closer to the elevator than I, I figured he would get on first. But to my surprise when the elevator stopped, he held out his hand to hold the door and let me in first. Then when the elevator reached the ground floor, he repeated the gesture. Figuring it was a fluke, I walked to work and was baffled by a similar scenario. To think, I've been here for a few weeks now and I'm just now realizing that chivalry exists in Manhattan...despite the revolving doors.

I'll keep you posted on any further discoveries on my mission to find southern hospitality in the city.

What do you think?

There is something about these 4 words that make my brain go to mush. Every day so far I've been asked my opinion, and every day so far I've babbled out some 'I don't know' answer. I had this epiphany last night and decided that today I was going to give an incredibly intelligent response to boost my image. No such luck. The worst part is that in my head all I can think while I'm talking is, SAY SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING, and the only thing that comes out is... "ummm, I'm not sure."

File This Away...

Today I was given the simple task of moving all the contents of the file cabinet in my office to another file cabinet down the hall. Today I failed the simple task of moving all of the contents of the file cabinet in my office to another file cabinet down the hall. In the process, I managed to break the file cabinet and my self-confidence.

Day 2.

Office Space

What is the best thing that could be bestowed on an intern on their first day? Their very own office, you say? To put things in perspective, I'm working in an office that is bigger than my bedroom. Thats New York for you.

I Made Friends...

They are named Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda. To fill the void in my own life, I decided to live vicariously, as I often do, through the scripted drama of Sex and the City. For some reason the glamour and excitement that fills their lives is just intoxicating. However, I just can't imagine living that way. It's strange to think about- can we ever really change our innate tendencies? Could any one of us actually become a Sex and the City glamour girl, or are we all on some pre-destined path?

I'm starting to believe the latter.

Yet there are those people who have life-changing experiences. Experiences that seem to shift everything into place- and I guess I'm searching for one. But I'm starting to realize you can't create or predict a life-changing experience. Because despite my attempts to thrust myself into those pivotal turning points in life, from what I can gather, everything feels exactly the same.

Living Someone Else's Life

It's strange living in a room that is not your own. I'm in New York City and I'm unfamiliar with everyone and everything in it, but what I find the most disconcerting is that I'm in a room that is not my own. I mean I've lived in dorms- stripped of any personalization. I've stayed at my grandmother's house- with family photos and newspaper clippings. I've slept over at friend's houses- with similar memorabilia to my own. It just dawned on me that I've never really lived in a room filled with someone else's knickknacks and memories- someone I've never met- and will never meet. I'm living in a stranger's room and I have this overwhelming feeling that I'm invading someone else's space.

It just makes me wonder how someone would feel living in my room. Would they have a sense of who I am? Would they feel like they were tiptoeing around my space? Can you live in someone else's space and truly be yourself? Or are you stuck momentarily in their life?

Blog Revival

Moving to a new city inevitably provides some good writing material.

So, hello blogging. And, thank you New York.