My mom got me off to the airport, and the flight to Philly went smoothly. Except then my flight out of Philadelphia was delayed for over an hour. I talked to my mom that night, and apparently a threat was called in to the airport. Turns out it was a hoax and the person who called in the threat was trying to get back at the person on the flight that they made turn back around and land again. Not that the airlines told any of us this, but that’s fine. Eventually I got on my flight and to La Guardia safely!
Justin, who I met in Australia, picked me up from the airport and it was a wonderful reunion! Since leaving Australia, I got to meet up with Ole and Leelou in France, and now I get to add Justin to the list of happy reunions. He helped me get my bags to his car and then he accompanied me to my first apartment viewing in Astoria. There should be a general disclaimer about apartment hunting: IT’S NOT EASY. Apartment #2 cancelled on me, so Justin took me back to his place on Long Island where I met his wonderful, wonderful family who had dinner for us when we arrived. Thank you, Justin’s parents, for the unrelenting kindness, friendliness, and openness you showed me this weekend. I felt so comfortable and welcome in your home! Justin and I hung out until we went to pick up his girlfriend from work, who was fun and so kind too! You all are great, and Justin’s so lucky to have you all.
For the remainder of the weekend, I got to hang out with Justin, his girlfriend and parents while I met with a few more people around Manhattan and Brooklyn looking for a place to stay. I was getting SO frustrated about not hearing back from people, people cancelling appointments, and seeing run-down places in rough neighborhoods. I had one more appointment in Washington Heights, uptown from Central Park and right next to the George Washington Bridge. I walked off the subway to a neighborhood full of people, a park on my left, and once I rounded the corner, a beautiful view of the Hudson River. The roommate renting the room showed me the hammock that hooks onto either corner of the room, and I was hooked, even before he walked me down to the river, pointing out a number of walking trails on the way to the bridge. Just look at what’s five minutes from my front door! (Please accept my apologies for the quality of these photos - I've just had my iPhone every time, and not my actual camera. Whoops!)
I moved that Sunday, which was perfect because my first day of work was Monday. I turned on the radio on Monday morning and the first song that came on? Jay Z's "Empire State of Mind" from which I copped lyrics for this post title. That's GOT to be a good omen, right?? Monday at work was a lot of orientation and getting acquainted with the people in the office, as well as the titles I’ll be working on that are coming out this season and will be coming out next season after I leave. HOW COOL?! Oh! And we were given a book during our orientation meeting. I stayed up until 4am yesterday finishing mine. YAY.
I wasn’t sure how to approach the job in relation to this blog - what I could say, what I couldn't - but we were given a handout on social media and how we’re to conduct ourselves. I want to go back over everything and check with my boss before I divulge who I’m working for and what I'm working on, just so I don’t get myself in trouble, but everything I publish here are my own thoughts, opinions, etc. and are no reflection on any company I currently or may ever work for!
That being said, my first and second days of work went well and were honestly really fun! I’m only working two full 9-5 days, fourteen hours, but I actually wish I were there more often. So far, I’ve mailed books to more news shows, magazines, and freelancers than I can count. Apparently, that’s about step one of publicity, getting the books you’re publishing into as many hands as possible. Go figure! Aside from mailings, I was asked to give input on a press release for one of the books that will be released soon and write questions for Facebook quizzes used as promotional material for the books. I also had a stand-off with the copier that you would not believe.
I thought myself to be sufficiently acquainted with your basic office technology but, well, I was wrong. I felt like a monkey banging on a time machine. I take that back – monkey is giving myself too much credit. Try rhinoceros. By the time I pushed every button imaginable, I figured to hell with it and just hit start. And it started! Except the copies were printing landscape instead of portrait. I had the wherewithal to hit cancel immediately and only wasted about eight pieces of super nice paper that we use for press releases. I turned the paper and hit start again. It took a second to realize that they were STILL printing landscape. I hit cancel again, wasting another ten or so sheets of paper before poking my head in my boss’s office and asking for help. She showed me another way to copy, but the problem is that I still don’t know which is the correct way for the paper. Guess I’ll find out later.
At any rate, I love what I’m doing. In my downtime, I’m reading the backs of books to familiarize myself with what’s about to be published, as well as the catalogs of the company’s year long list of releases. I can’t think of a happier, better place to work. And everyone’s been so friendly so far, too! Fingers crossed everyone stays as nice, that I figure out the copier, and that I get good feedback on the things I handed in last week.
In other exciting New York news, I got to be here for the eleventh anniversary of September 11. Wow. My roommate took me downtown to see the beams of light they shine from Ground Zero and we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge to get a better view of the New York skyline. It was breath-taking. There were so many people out taking photos and walking around, and everyone seemed so peaceful. After not even being in the country for this last year, it was wonderful and completely different to experience this kind of event through the eyes of a foreign country, then through the eyes of a New Yorker. Incredible.
After the Brooklyn Bridge, we went to Ground Zero, and there was an entirely different atmosphere. It was still respectful, but more reverent. Not as peaceful, but so much more emotional. The fireman’s mural and all the paper lanterns, the flowers and wreaths, the notes from kids to lost parents. It was moving and touching to see all the people who still remember and care so much. God bless America.
Additional highlights of the week include my other job search, running, and my search for volunteer work. With only working fourteen hours a week with internship, I’m looking for another job too. I’ve handed in several applications and am in the pain-staking process of calling back to follow up and to keep calling back and calling back and filling out more apps. I swear if this is as frustrating as finding an apartment, I’ll…okay, I don’t know what I’ll do. Hopefully channel my energy and frustration into something productive like writing or running or both!
On the running front – remember the marathon that I decided I would train for? – apparently, registration for the marathon is full unless you’re with an organization or charity. Guess I should have figured that out before going public about it. Maybe I’ll catch the Flying Pig in Cincinnati in May. But! I’ve been running twice this week on the path by the Hudson River anyway. I snapped these literally while running, so I’m surprised they’re not shakier or blurrier. My other roommate wants to get in shape too, so hopefully we’ll be able to power through some runs or exercise videos together over these next two months. Fit-and-in-shape-Kiley, here I come!
And volunteering. I spent the afternoon after my run today at the Fort Washington branch of the New York Public Library. I have dreamed of coming to this library (okay, the main branch, not this one in particular, but still) for a very long time. Since they’re not hiring and since I’ll probably still have some time to fill, I applied for volunteer opportunities. The woman at the desk said they might be able to get me into some kind of tutoring position since I have experience already, so I’m really hoping I’ll get the chance, even though they already have so many applications for volunteers. More on that as it develops.
I plan to make my way into the city for some sight-seeing tomorrow since I have yet to see any of the monumental, iconic, in/famous sights New York has to offer. High up on my list is the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, since I’ve been moderately obsessed with that particular era and type of immigrant history for as long as I can remember. I also want to go to the Met, up in the Empire State Building, and to a Yankees game. I’m a Reds fan through and through, but I feel like it’s just something that I have to do! Don’t be mad, Dad, Uncle Terry, I’ll come back as true a Reds fan as ever!
And I think that wraps it up! Here’s hoping my internship continues to go as well, that I find another job, that I find a way to volunteer, and that I find a way to meet people too! Lots of love from New York.
Here and there,
Kiley
