Out and About...

So, as most of you know... I am in New York to earn some money.

Regardless, I was able to wangle some early flights from my client, so I have had the weekend at the ASL convention (where I saw the best sign language talk in my life) and the week seeing the sights of New York. I have spent the money I am earning... oops.

Now, the first was brilliant, the second, I have failed somewhat. In the mornings, I have had to work online with my client (who is actually in Qatar right now - 7 hours time difference) at 6am until lunch so I have only had the afternoons to play.

Today is Wednesday and to be honest, I have not achieved a lot. I have been walking around Lower Manhattan and trying to take nice photos - enjoy: (sorry to the Instagram crew who have seen some of these)

Stanley Theatre: ASL convention

At least I saw the sights this way...

My first New York food - hellowww!

Historic Sight - soon the sign will be gone

Some sisters doing the public 'ting

Scriptural reference - see if anyone can work it out
(Stock exchange on the left, Oldest Church in the middle and Judiciary on the right)

Hello Mr Washington - so dapper

I got so close!

My new New York hat

Im a chain hag

Harbour by my apartment

From spiritual to Spiritual...

So, to continue...

After all that exultation and loveliness, it was on the more spiritual stuff.

With Matt and Rachel being temp Bethelites, they could wangle a lunch spot and a behind the scenes tour of Patterson. Well, I was not happy at all:

1. You do not have to wear a tie at lunch!!! What!!! In Guyana I am not allowed to wear odd-socks, must wear a suit, some places still adhere to the white shirt rubbish, and yet... in Patterson... they DO NOT HAVE TO WEAR A TIE at lunch!!!
2. Now, to help right-hearted people that expect people to wearing ties and are thus suffering from shock, one would expect some coffee at lunch - NO COFFEE!!! I was aghast. Literally, a-gh-ast.

We met some lovely people - Levi in text processing, Warren in the art department, Andrew in Audio Visual (who works on Caleb!!!) and Andrew and Peter in Sign Language. Everyone was so kind and gracious and upbuilding to myself and M+R. (forgive the formatting and placement of the pictures)

My new best friend

There's your contributions at work people!

This is how they dress him!

The many faces of the family 

How they make him jump

New album recorded

Saw the original - love this

On Tuesday, I was invited to lunch by a couple who are in Translation Services. I met them on Friday with M+R, at their apartment, and they are two of the most lovely people you would be able to meet. They were so interested in M+R and their experiences (note to self: get new stories) and really encouraging for me to continue in Guyana. They patiently listened to my frustrations with the language and the field in Guyana and gave some excellent advice. It is good to know that my feelings are not new and are at least in line with the governing body's wishes. It is just up to me to be patient.

The area around Bethel is amazing - lots of cafes and grocery stores and the river is beautiful. The rooftop culture here is awesome (forgive the American hyperbole). The Bethel residences have rooftops gardens and pizza and salads have been plentiful over the last week.

I call this: 'Sun behind a big building in Jersey'

Massive pizza on the top of Towers, a bethel residence

Another bridge / sun picture... part of my bridge / sunshine series

The lights

Heavily edited photo ;)

New York, New York - why did they name it twice?

Because it is sooooo good!

It is so nice to be back in a city - with all the trappings from Satan wrapped up with a bow and a sprinkle of sugar. with the option of frying. I really do love Guyana, but there is something truly beautiful about walking into a cafe and asking for a malbec and not having to explain anything! - the simple things in life, ha.

So, my new best friends (sorry Jo, they are mine now) are Matt and Rachel - voila!

These two are really inspirational and have given up so much for Jehovah, 'as refuse', and have made themselves so available to Jehovah. They are currently on the amazing Warwick project for three months, having spent much time in International work. So, anyway, they are my guides/fellow tourists. They are from Virginia (they arent but it is easier to say that they are) and so they do not know the city that great either. Matt is actually from New Jersey but is in denial and pleads ignorance. So, the new phrase is 'Yelp it'.

So, I am staying with a friend of a friend of a twin sister - Mike. He lives in Battery Park daarling. This is what welcomed me:

and then...

and then...

I miss Guyana already! Hic

Port Number 1...

TRINIDAD!!!

So, I have landed in my home from home - Trinidad. After having come here a year ago for the ASL pioneer school, I have been able to return to Trini (TT) a number of times now - it is such an amazing place with such amazing people.

So, with free flights on offer to travel to America for work, I couldnt help but wangle a few days stop-over in TT to see my lovely friends - Che and Natalie. They are just so hospitable and relaxed. The word that sums up TT is 'hospitality' - say it together now: 'hospitality'. I remember at pioneer school, the class ended up singing to us 'Guyanese' a song that was written for the International Convention called 'Welcome'. The thing is, in many places, this is said in jest, with levity, or utter hypocrisy. In TT, it comes from the heart. It was so funny last night, Natalie was complaining that they have not had the privilege of feeding the speaker for about 8 weeks - so funny, here they WANT to host the speaker!

Anyway, so I flew from Guyana after being dropped off my my friends who wanted to drive me up and say goodbye. We hired a car and travelled up to the capital to go to the movies, eat and play around until the early hours when they would drop me at the airport. It was cool, but I regretted it, as the flight was delayed by about three hours.

So, here I am in Trinidad, ensconced in my cocoon of luxury working whilst my friends are out at their jobs. Last night, a brother - Carlos - came over to cook for us. He is a chef at a five-star hotel here in Port of Spain and a great personality. He is flying out on Thursday to Uganda to cook for the government! But, he spared time to come and cook for me - so cool. Okra, pig tail and swordfish pilau... was lovely!

Carlos - the TT Ainsley Harriot

Pig Tail... Yep...

Smells awesome

Enough to feed 20

So, today I am heading off to New York - actually, tomorrow at 0040. Thankfully, I have a business class ticket, so me and the minibar are going to be fine friends. Two of my sister's friends that served in Nigeria with her are meeting me - the Priscos. They are an amazing couple whom I hope to get to know better over this month.

Ill be trying to make my blogs interesting... sorry in advance.