just between us » New York Stories

Irie Mon

Angie — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:34:34 +0000

Truth be told, I dislike small talk, but it really is a great icebreaker. Often times I bump into a coworker in our kitchen area with his aromatic lunches. A very sweet, adorable man, we’ve shared quick conversations around the microwave. We’re both from hot climates, he from Jamaica and myself from Texas.

There was a week where he made curry and I realized I haven’t had curry in a very long time, nor have I ever made it properly. (I’ve tried a long time ago in Austin, but it didn’t taste the way it should.) He explained to me the kind he makes, and I shared with him my fondness of Indian curries but dislikes of Thai curries (because of the coconut milk I cannot stomach).

Today he swung by my side of the office with a jar of Jamaican curry sauce he bought for me, with the directions right on the jar he says, so I can make it easily at home.

It’s the little things like this that illustrate how great New Yorkers are, and now I can’t wait to make Jamaican curry.

Gossip

Angie — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 01:00:11 +0000

TV always depicts coworkers congregating around the water cooler to trade office gossip. While that’s no longer the case, I can’t help but smile at how many times we’ve talked about one thing at the water machine.

Am I the only person who finds humor that what we talk around the water cooler is, in fact, about the water cooler?

When it was broken that’s all we could talk about, and now that after a couple months that it’s finally fixed (yes that long) it’s all we can talk about.

I won’t complain

Angie — Tue, 25 May 2010 23:05:08 +0000

You are like the Asian Audrey Hepburn. I’m going to call you Audrey from now on.

How my dad rolls

Upon second thought

Angie — Sun, 09 May 2010 06:26:00 +0000

Someone of this nature doesn’t deserve recognition.

Take it or leave it

Angie — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 13:42:36 +0000

Apparently my mind works faster than my body in that I have so many ideas of what I am going to do, I’m always scrambling to keep up with what I’m thinking. I’ve been missing in action because of a variety of reasons: trips, sickness, and just plain busy.

I commemorated my birthday and my 6-month move to New York with a trip back to Austin. Seeing all my friends in Texas (many of which are graduating with their masters soon–so proud of my girls!), getting my country dancing on, eating at all the laidback restaurants, walking outside on the Greenbelt, I felt so at ease and at home again. It was a great refresher, taking in a long breath of who I am.

Right now, Kristan, Mengfei and I are all cramped in my tiny New York box celebrating our birthdays, and I can tell you these few days they are here are absolutely wonderful. It’s nice to introduce my new home to my best friends, and let my sense of self live.

Every once in a while, it’s nice to be reminded how people appreciate you for who you are. Even though we are all still growing and evolving, there’s still a core of who I am that I am confident and happy with.

Take it or leave it New York, either way I’m going to make it.

Strangers in the city

Angie — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 15:00:05 +0000

Last year a month into my move to New York, I took the bus to Boston to attend bridal appointments for my best friend. On my ride back I sat next to this very chic, older woman. Turns out she was finishing up her month-long visit to the New England area, although she used to live in New York but now she resides in Israel. She was visiting friends and discovering what once had been her home. She has a son my age who just finished his military service in Israel and moved to the city a month before me to work during his gap year.

Most often in transit, I have found myself engaged in conversations like these that include summarized life stories and heartfelt advice. Some of my new friends aren’t particularly fond of these conversations, finding such people annoying or obnoxious. What I think they don’t realize is that there is something comforting in sharing your story with a stranger, even more comforting when you can share your experiences in hopes it will guide someone else.

In such a large city, no matter how much fun you have or places you’ve seen (even more than natives), it’s still hard to make that emotional connection with new friends. We talk to strangers because we feel like no one is listening. So I listen and respond to the people I meet because I get it and actually find their stories interesting. Although truth be told, half a year into my move here despite never being alone, I find myself missing such a basic connection.

Only the hard stuff for me

Angie — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 01:25:10 +0000

Since being in New York I’ve befriended Clau, who has made my transition into the city fun and easy. I’ve probably seen and done more with her than most New Yorkers. When we were out this weekend she (finally) talked up a couple of guys and told them it was my birthday. They insisted we do shots together, but because I don’t drink I told them not to bother. Still, the guy that offered insisted he would get me a shot. I stood there awkwardly talking to his friend, who actually works at another large well-known agency as well. They actually were pretty nice guys, although a couple years younger.

So the guy comes back with shots for the three of us, two shots of who knows what and a shot of water for me.

Not going to lie, I thought that was pretty awesome.

Ups and downs but always fun

Angie — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:04:48 +0000

Happiness is turning a cube. A giant, black, you think the base is rusty cube.

Just what the doctor ordered, one of my best friends on a brief trip to New York to patch up our hearts and bellies. Browsing Kinokuniya at Bryant Park, shopping in Soho, rummaging in Kid Robot, dinner at Mercer Kitchen (highly recommend because it’s relaxing and the food is amazing although more expensive. Loved the shrimp avocado salad, black truffle and fontina cheese pizza. I loved the sea scallops but the bed of lentils was drenched in an overpowering vinaigrette, loved the sweet potato ravioli but snapper was lacking apparently), and then later gorging on Pommes Frites!

Snow globe

Angie — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:52:36 +0000

As a girl from Texas unaccustomed to a “real winter”, I find it magical sitting inside the office and watching the large flakes graze the building. This winter in New York is apparently a more brutal one, and I battled out another snowstorm tonight by going with my friend to a 20-something-year-old happy hour. Unfortunately, most people decided not to battle it out, but we still had a pretty good night chatting in this small group and making new friends with a girl who is a sorority sister of my best friend who’s getting married (small world!).

When you surface from the subway and step out onto the powdered snow street, there’s a moment of awe. For these slow seconds, a hush settles over New York. It’s a feeling of something transcendental, settling around you. (Of course there’s a rude awakening shortly thereafter because of the bitter, biting wind.)

Every weekend I’m roaming the city streets. I’m chasing these snow globe moments.

Friends in “low” places

Angie — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:36:05 +0000

This past weekend was such fun, especially because one of my best friends came in for a visit. It was also filled with much randomness as documented below–granted I think it actually meant something for my European friends.

We were sitting at a pub when these older Irish gentlemen and I struck a conversation, and they mentioned that this cup was showing. So soon enough, the lot of us are skedaddling over to another pub to take photos of the Champions League Trophy. Turns out these guys work for Heineken, which is a sponsor of the UEFA champions league, and also meant free beer for us as well.

Does anyone else see the irony of how I always end up with free alcohol except I don’t really drink?