These Are a Few of My Favorite Things... in NYC

It’s been awhile since my last post.  Living and working in NYC keeps me pretty busy.  From exploring the secrets and wonders of Brooklyn and Manhattan to working the occasional late night at the office to running in Prospect Park, I find plenty of ways to fill my week and weekend with vast and new experiences.  For example, last weekend I watch the sun set behind the Statue of Liberty in Battery Park in Downtown Manhattan while doing crossword puzzles.  Such an amazing thing to actually be able to do whenever I feel like it.

During that time in Battery Park, I was able to reflect on some of the things I like about NYC and some of the things I do not like about living in the city.

Things I like about NYC:

• Being able to walk everywhere and not having to jump in the car to drive to the store.
• Similarly, having every single kind of store you could think of within walking distance or at least only a short subway ride away.
• People watching.  The diversity here is amazing.  36% of the current population of New York City was born outside the United States.
• Riding the subway.  The New York subway system is the largest mass transit system in the world with 468 stations and 842 miles of track.
• Having my own apartment.
• Budgeting my finances.
• Running in Prospect Park.
• Standing really close to the subway track as the train comes into the station and getting hit by the gust of wind from the train.  Hands down, this is one of my most favorite things about NYC.
• The people with which I work.
• Always knowing that I can have an adventure whenever I deem it necessary.  There is always something new to explore or try out here.
• Walking around
• The view from my office.  We’re on the 33^rd floor in Midtown Manhattan.
• How I have a “city” walking pace and a “non-city” walking pace.  When Ben is in “city” walking pace mode he walks very fast.
• Visiting the Klopfers in New Jersey and hanging out with my cousins Cortez and Alonza.

Things I do not like about NYC:

• The cost of rent.  Honestly, you know it’s high when someone says you’re getting a good deal for 350 square feet when you’re paying $1,300 a month.
• The way people view work.  Here work is life.  You live to work and you work a lot.  I’m not saying that working a lot is bad or that this view of work is bad.  Merely, the way people view work is a lot different than how I view/viewed work.
• Many people in NY are distant and “rough”.  But, generally, I guess people here are good at heart and you can tell.
• While I am probably still considered one of these, tourists are really bothersome.  Most are inconsiderate and not really observant of others around them.  Ignorant, I think, is the best way of describing them.  Plus, they’re everywhere especially now during the Christmas season.
• The cost of everything and the sales tax.
• The lack of good solid Christian churches that align with my beliefs around my neighborhood.
• Not having my immediate family nearby.
• When people pull a 180 while walking without first looking behind themselves and then proceeding to blame me for being in their way.  Something is amiss here.

There are many more things that I like/dislike about NYC but this list sums up many of the major ones.  If you’ve ever been to NYC or if you’ve ever lived here, what are some of the things YOU like/dislike about it?  I’m curious to hear what you have to say.

Where's Bruce Willis When You Need Him?

Boy do I have a story to tell you! 

So, last night, I left the office around 8:50pm or so.  It was a good night and I only stayed late and worked because I was in a groove.  I could have waited a bit longer for a cab (we get our cabs paid for if we work past 9pm) but I was all ready to go by that point and I decided to just take the subway because it wasn't too late.  Needless to say, I should have taken a cab...

On the subway, everything was going fine.  The usually stops were made at the stations in Manhattan on the way to Brooklyn. After we left the last stop in Manhattan we headed under the mouth of the East River toward Brooklyn.  About half way between the last stop in Manhattan and the first stop in Brooklyn, the train all of a sudden slowed and then stopped completely.  Honestly, this isn't too uncommon as there is sometimes train traffic ahead that backs other trains up.  So I was not concerned. 

However, after sitting there for only about 15 seconds, smoke started to fill the cabin of the car.  People started to get up and try to move to another car but there was smoke in the adjacent cars as well.  Granted, while there was smoke, it wasn't enough to put everyone into coughing spells.  Someone pressed the emergency talk button and told the conductor (I’m sure everyone was doing this simultaneously).  After about 5 minutes of smokey-cabin-car, the power to the AC was cut which helped stop the smoke from spreading.  The conductor came over the loud speaker (his English was terrible which didn't help things) and said that he did not know what happened and that he is going to try to find out what is causing the smoke.

Eventually, the smoke subsided some.  The conductor was tinkering around the outside of the train (not much room to move out there).  Also, remember that we were stopped somewhere under the mouth of the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn.  It was getting hot in the cars so the conductor would turn the air on for a bit and then turn it off so the smoke wouldn't start to spread again. 

I just listened to my iPod and read my book.  People didn’t know what to think.  Some were cracking jokes others tried to sleep some.  Even the most New Yorkish of the New Yorkers didn’t know what to make of the situation.  I felt especially bad for the Australian tourist lady who I doubt will ever come back to NY again.  There was also a crazy lady in our car who had to have had something messed up in her head because she was singing constantly to her disc-man (yes, a disc-man) and swearing at random things.  It was humorous and provided some break to the tension that had mounted in the car.

After about a 45 minutes of waiting with no idea of what was really happening, we were told in broken English amid a thick Jamaican accent that a 'rescue train' was going to back up to the rear of this train to take us back to Manhattan.  After another 45 minutes, the rescue train finally arrived.  We had to walk between all the cars (I was in the middle of the train) to get to the rescue train.  We passed about 5 firefighters with all their garb on, holding crowbars and axes (I bet they were disappointed that they didn’t have to use them).

After a slow 10 minute ride back to the Bowling Green Station in Manhattan, we were free of the confines of the subway car. There were even more firefights on the platform when we got off as well as cops, MTA officials, etc.  When I got to the street level, there were 8 firetrucks and a few ambulances (see short clip below).  It was quite the scene.  I then jumped on the R train and took it home.  Got in around 11:15pm.  It was a 2.5 hour commute home last night buy it certainly does make a good dinner-table story.  

Occupying Wall Street? ...Or Just My Air Mattress?

So, it’s been a good two weeks since I’ve posted anything.  What’s new and going on in Brooklyn you say?  Well, to say nothing would be an understatement, but I am much too lazy at the moment to write down everything in specific detail.  Therefore, I have resorted to making the list below.  The pictures that accompany each item are merely representational and meant to be humorous…well, sort of (besides that, the pictures serve no purpose).  Please partake:

·         I finally ordered a proper bed and some other furniture items (sleeping on an air mattress every night is risky business…POP!).

·         I started reading Kite Runner on my commute to and from work.  Reading on the subway is an art worth mastering.

·         After weeks of living without it, I have finally broken down and ordered Internet for my apartment.  It is to be installed this coming weekend.

·         I volunteered with a few others from my office this past weekend to help clean up a Brooklyn area middle school.  Turns out, not only has this school won national chess tournaments the past 12 years but also rapper/business mogul Shawn Carter (AKA Jay-Z) attended school there during his youth.

 

·         I opened up a checking/savings account with a local bank.  Yay institutions, right?  I think these Wall Street patrons agree too.

·         I finally installed curtains in my apartment.  I’m sure my neighbors are happy about that endeavor.

·         I attended a Manhattan LCMS church this Sunday.  Christianity isn’t so big here in NYC for many.  That’s just too bad.

Thank you Westboro Baptist...?

·         I’ve gone for many a morning run in Prospect Park before work.  I’m done running when it is still dark out…a little strange.

·         I got a library card.  Brooklyn library, consider your movie selection now my personal collection.

·         I did laundry at a local Laundromat.

·         And finally, I loitered the other day outside some store.  Oh Ben, you rebel you.  Hardy-har-har.

 Please add your commentary to my mal-placed photos.  Thank you.

MY NEW APARTMENT AT LAST!

Well… It’s been a few weeks since I last posted something and this posting won’t be very long (mostly just pretty pictures).  Work has been going great.  I’m working on a project for Sonic which is exciting.  Again, the other employees are great… so far (I will list the ones I work with directly so they feel special: Courtney, Haley, Kelly, Laura, Eric, Soledad [PM], Stephanie [PM] and Mitch [VP]). 

I moved into my apartment last Saturday night which is the single greatest thing that has happened to me recently.  I love having my own place to call home.  While it’s small, it’s my small.  It was sad, however, leaving the comfort and friendship of Fred, Marina, Cortez and Alonza behind in NJ.  But they are just a short bus ride away (which I know very well after having commuted from there forever).  They all helped me move in Saturday, followed by a nice dinner and walk around Brooklyn.  They used to live in Park Slope so it was a nice trip for them, being able to show their kids where they used to live.  The commute from my new apartment in roughly 40 minutes one way and is 100x better than the bus from NJ (which could take upwards to 2.5 hours one way).

If you feel the desire to send me any sort of mail/care package, my address is now: 757A Union Street, Apt. #2, Brooklyn, NY 11215.    

Scroll down for some photos of my apartment!  CLICK HERE to be directed to my Facebook page to see a video of my new place! 

This is it.  Not too much to it.  Small space but cozy.  I'm only one person anyway.

My air mattress bed until I order a real one from IKEA.

The entrance and spunky book ledge above.

My bathroom entry way.  How fun!

High ceilings and large windows.

My kitchen.

My "office."

The small yet functional bathroom.

And no apartment is complete without a Gyarados to protect it.

Week 1 of Work

Week one of work?  Check. 

Stressful.  Exciting.  New.  Interesting.  Boring (at times).  Entertaining.  Nerve-racking.  Overwhelming.  Amazing.

 

First day!  All ready to go!  Crazy cousin Cortez in the background.

I could go on listing adjectives that describe how my first week of work went.  However, I have better things to do with my life and so do you.  Let me just start by saying that, overall, work thus far has been great!

View from our office on 3rd Ave and 49th.  We're way up high on the 33rd floor.

Another shot of Manhattan from our floor.

Here’s the rundown:

Fellow Employees:  I work with six other analysts directly.  They are all roughly my age with two of them being recent graduates (one from MSU).  The other four are younger than 30 years of age.  They are very friendly, out-going, inclusive and willing to help (which I need a lot of right now).  What makes me feel a little weird is that they graduated from places like Harvard, Cornell, NYU and Columbia while I graduated from Concordia.  Is Concordia the next Ivy League caliber school? Haha.

This is were we can chill if need be.  Nice and relaxing couches with a good view of the city.

My bosses:  My bosses are two project managers, to whom I report depending on which project I am working, and one vice president, to whom everyone on our team reports.  The PMs and VP are really great people who are extremely knowledgeable and dedicated not only to their work but also their employees. 

Stephanie, one of the PMs, flew in from San Diego to help with my training.  She basically led me through all the formal training I received.  However, since the company this past week was racing to meet two deadlines (one for Toyota and the other for Pfizer), I had to get my hands dirty quickly, diving into ‘real’ work almost after the first day. 

This is our conference room.

The work:  The things I have done this past week, while small, have been real work for the company.  Of course everything I do is under supervision and checked thoroughly after I complete it, but I do feel as though I have been able to contribute to the company and team right away.

One of the hallways with the larger offices on the right.  I'm around the corner on the left with all the other analysts in the middle.  No fancy offices for us.

For those of you who do not know what I do as an analyst, here’s the skinny.  Basically, our company is hired by other companies to produce reports for them.  Whether it’s ESPN, Toyota, Campbell’s, Hertz, Panera Bread, Verizon, Sonic or Procter and Gamble (or one of the many other companies we have and still work for), we devise strategic questionnaires and surveys to help answer their hardest and deepest questions.  Our company also does work for politicians, although I am not involved on this side of the business.  Most notably, in 2008, our company was the leading pollster for Barack Obama and other leading democratic politicians. 

My view of my desk.  I get two screens because I'm special.

Moving on and getting back to what I do.  As an analyst in collaboration with my team, we are responsible for devising the proposal of the project for the company.  We write, format, and prepare the questionnaires, surveys and/or focus group studies.  We program and check the surveys, etc.  We add weights to our data and create banners to better read/analyze the data.  And finally, after all the preparation, analysis and recording have been done, we produce a deck (PowerPoint) or memo and present it to the client.  As an analyst, I will be helping with all of these aspects.

The commute:  Where to start… Put bluntly, the commute blows.  The bus ride in the morning starts at 7am and lasts until roughly 8:30am.  From there, I take a subway ride and then a short walk.  I reach the office around 9am.  After working until 7 or 8pm, I catch the bus (hopefully I time it correctly or I have to wait another hour for the next one to get home).  The bus ride home takes about another 1-1½ hours.  However, I have saved lots of money by not paying rent this month.  But trust me when I say, I am ready for the bus to die a hundred deaths.  I am looking forward to my own apartment in the city with a much shorter commute.

A nice view of the subway.  Just waiting for my train to arrive to take me to the bus station.

The home life:  Living with uncle Fred, aunt Marina and cousins Cortez and Alonza has been one of the best things that has happened to me with this whole NY thing.  Yes, I want to get into my new apartment (which will actually happen next weekend), but I also love living here with them.  It has been great to get to know them better, forming deeper relationships, inside jokes, stories together, etc.  Beside the commute in to NY, I would seriously consider just being their permanent son.  Hehe.  They are wonderful people and give so freely of their space, time and energy.  The Lord has blessed me with them in my life.  Just recently Cortez, Fred and I went for a hike in a nearby park.  Sadly we didn’t see any bears but I am still determined to see one before I leave for NY.

Well that’s my week in a nut shell.  Tune back in next week to see pictures of my apartment and a recap of week two!  Check out some of the hiking pictures below!

We could see Manhattan from the mountain top!

Cortez overlooking the lake alongside the trail.

This is called tripod rock.  I don't know how it doesn't fall over.

Cortez was prepared for rain.

The three amigos!

I'm pretty sure Fred got a hernia from holding the rock up from falling.

NYC: Broken Leases and Scooter Rides

For those of you who did not read my last post, I was offered a job at Benenson Strategy Group in New York as an Analyst, which I accepted.  After getting my affairs in order, I told the company that I would be all moved in to NY and ready to work by September 12^th.  To find an apartment, I went online at home in Ohio, hitting up sites such as good old Craigslist, etc.  Needless to say, apartments in NYC go quickly and without actually being in NY, it was difficult to nail down one that I wanted without actually viewing it in person and checking out the neighborhood, again, in person.

Solution: pack up all my belongings, load them in the van and hit the road with daddio down to NY to find a place and move in.  Thankfully, we have family who live in New Jersey who are not a long commute from NY.  So, last Monday, after driving 8 hours to get to NJ, my dad and I made uncle Freddie and aunt Marina’s house base camp for our apartment-hunting extravaganza.

Our first day in NYC looking for places to live was “meh.”  In other words, it didn’t produce much fruit.  I only had one person call me back from the 10 plus phone calls I made to landlords, owners, etc.  This person, Chris, was very helpful and showed me an apartment with his friend, a native New Yorker.  The apartment was very very small and quite dirty.  However, it was in a very nice neighborhood in Brooklyn, Park Slope, and I needed a place to live since I was under a time crunch.  To spare everyone the nitty gritty details, which were in some ways extremely unpleasant and a wee bit embarrassing to our manhoods, I ended up signing a lease for this apartment and writing two checks.  Then, after detecting some shenaniganery or, if you’d prefer, tomfoolery on the landlord’s and “brokers’” end of things, I decided to opt out of the lease since my comfort level with the whole deal didn’t sit well with me.  So, in less than 24 hours, I successfully had an apartment and lost an apartment (and don’t worry we got the checks back).

With Tuesday and most of Wednesday resulting in only a busted lease deal and frustration, things, in my mind, weren’t looking up.  My father was leaving Friday morning and I still had to find a place to live!  But, like always, the Lord was looking out for his sheep.

Marina, my aunt in NJ, made a few calls on my behalf to her realtor friends in Brooklyn.  These calls put me in contact with Alessandra, a realtor in the Park Slope area (the area in which I wanted to reside).  Alessandra had a wonderful studio apartment in Park Slope for only $100 more than the studio apartment I was in a lease with before.  Only problem was that I wouldn’t be able to view the inside of the apartment until after my dad left and that I also wouldn’t be able to move into that apartment (if I ended up liking it) until October 1^st.

After talking it over with my dad, my relatives and God, my aunt and uncle overwhelmingly told me that I was more than welcome to stay with them until I found a place to live.  Best decision of my life!

Not only have I been able to get to know my aunt and uncle better than I ever have before but I have also been able to interact and play with their two kids, my two cousins, Alonza (12) and Cortez (10).  This past Friday afternoon, after my dad left to return home to Ohio, I got a call from Alessandra telling me I could view the apartment that day.  I took the hour-long bus ride in from Jersey and then the 40 minutes subway ride to get down to Park Slope to view the studio.  In short, I love the place.  I was able to talk to the tenant who is moving out (of all the places in the world he’s from Ohio too) and look at the apartment/building.  Afterwards I told Alessandra that I wanted the place, plain and simple.  She and I went down to her office and I got started on the paper work towards signing the lease. 

Hopefully, if the landlord repaints, installs a new kitchen countertop and bathroom vanity quickly, I may be able to get into the apartment before October 1^st.  It would be nice to get in as soon as possible so that I can settle down.  Plus, I start work on September 12^th and the commute to NYC from Jersey will be long.  However, I know that I have a home here with the Klopfers as long as I need one.  They are truly amazing people and great Christian role models for their kids.  I’m really beginning to love it here with them. 

Cortez and I rode scooters the other day for 2 hours, played in the woods, played ping pong, played Wii, and so much more these past few days.  In fact, Alonza, Cortez and I just got done playing Mario Kart together.  My uncle, Fred, and I just took down their above-ground pool for the winter today.  Since I want to pull my weight around the house, Fred has tasked me with installing blinds in the house next week as well as scraping and painting a portion of their deck.  While I know I don’t have to do these things to stay with them, I very much want to do so.  I want to help them like they are helping me.

By the way, I absolutely love New York City, the subways, the plethora of races, accents, languages, and styles – everything.  I’ve got a good feel for the city already.  My apartment (I call it this but really I still have not signed anything official) is a mere 3 blocks from Prospect Park, a block and a half from a subway station and 2 blocks from all the restaurants, stores, bars, and shops of which you could think.  The neighborhood is extremely safe and family-oriented and the buildings are awesome old brownstones.  The picture below is my front door and building.

The steps leading up to my apartment building.

 I am constantly amazed how the Lord takes something, like a broken and shattered lease deal, and turns it into something as amazing as time well spent with relatives, a new outlook on life and a much much better apartment.  As I move and get settled in, I will be sure to share my address and more pictures of my neighborhood, apartment, and exciting New York City adventures.  I will also be blogging about my first week of work coming up soon!

Share your comments please!  Or heck, ask me a question.