All nations under one roof- the UN

UN Side-meeting room

We all know that New York is a melting pot, even if you've never been here, TV shows you that all sorts of all races, choices of lifestyle and gender live here.
But for a long time I've been in awe that the United Nations stands here and all the 'brightest' minds of all the governments of member nations are invited to come and discuss, make plans and make the world a better place. No matter how cleshay that sounds, or your opinion of whether this forum works, I am at least grateful that it exists. It is a definite move in the right direction I think!
So when I went for my very first meeting, invited by a friend who works for the American Cancer Society, I was in a place I dreamed of being ever since deciding to get my International Relations MA.
Dream come true.

The UK seat is closer to the front over to the left!

Okay so I'm a bit of a nerd..
I sat at the seats with the headphones and microphones, couldn't resist! And even though I tried to have some humility, sitting at the back, I couldn't help eye the United Kingdom seat, which I'm sure my ex-colleagues at the Department for International Development probably sat!

put on the headset and choose any language you like

The side meeting covered Non Communicable diseases: NCD's. The four most common NCD's – cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung diseases.
I heard a woman talk about her cancer, Clover Allen Wilson from Jamaica, who spoke of her health insurance giving her a cheque for 1m dollars, whilst her treatment cost up to 4m. She had her husband leave for another woman whilst undergoing chemotherapy and her health insurance stopped. She had to remortgage her home and borrow from relatives, trying to decide what little money was left on groceries or on the bills. She has had Cancer four times and is currently in stage four.
It moved the room to a standing ovation and not many dry eyes in the very full room.

Standing ovation for Clover, sitting next to the first lady of Malawi

I was very inspired and took to learning all I could to write articles highlighting the meeting to come in September: UN members will meet- at a high level meeting to help decide how to help those in the most impoverished areas.(so my delay with blog posting with giving the spotlight to the magazines/papers first.)

Right now, I think of my Dad who had Diabetes, and how this complicated his recovery from an infection after a hip operation, which took his life just a few weeks ago, and that I didn't get to see him.
Also of my very close friends whose mum had Leukemia and has now been in remission for over a year.
I'm so grateful for the NHS, getting cancer, lung disease, diabetes or heart disease in the UK we will get treatment, that wont leave us bankrupt, and counseling for us and those that care for us and the ones we love.

The UN meetings and all that they stand for is positive and intended for change for the better, for everyone, that's a pretty fantastic thing going on in New York everyday in my opinion! What do you think? have you been affected? any inspiring stories?
 

more thoughts of the people and lifestyle in NYC

Okay so given that 'thoughts of the people of NYC' was never meant to be an exhaustive post/list, I thought it was high time I did a part two of this post!

It's been one of the most popular read posts on this blog, and 'Ella's' comment from that post, has inspired me to update my experience now that we've been here a almost year now! Time flies!

In a year, I've had some great 'people experiences' both making friends and chatting to strangers, I've detailed this in subsequent posts.
I love that everyone is from everywhere here, you never feel like you're foreign!
I still feel NYC is very different from anywhere else in the US, this city is intense and it changes you, as a move anywhere will I guess.
Working hours are long, and holiday allocation is short- two weeks, we get five in Europe.
There is no EU to protect working hours. Sometimes that's their own ambition (like in London, I know), sometimes it's expected, sometimes necessity warrants it, but it's kinda the norm, work/life balance can be ignored, or at least messed with sometimes- this can happen in any big city, I know, London is the same for some, it just feels much more intense here.

Eat out or order in/get delivery, don't cook-space is a commodity and kitchens are tiny- a sort of afterthought-in most apartments, shopping and cooking fresh food is difficult and more expensive. Great thing here is that the supermarket will deliver your food after you have shopped for it, for about $8! No more lugging 4 or 5 plastic bags on the bus home, and they even put it into bags for you.
Washing clothes, is usually in your own home in London, but in NYC you usually drop them off to the Launderette or such service or do them in the Laundry room in the basement of your building like I do.

Of course you know how apartments are really small in Manhattan from the shock in my earlier blog posts. Noise in Manhattan is ubiquitous, all hours of the day, even in Central park.

I learned that many people have a place outside Manhattan to retreat to, else they plan on being here for a while, to establish themselves, to take what they want and need from the vibrancy that exists in a city that never sleeps, then move elsewhere, like greater New York, to settle or have kids much like Monica and Chandler in Friends. (Sorry for being cheesy-It's the closest example I could think of!) again, London is, of course, the same for some. Space and house prices being at a premium, true city tradition.

So with such intensity, I guess it is natural that some people will feel the need to let off steam, or talk loud to draw attention, or loose some politeness to just get through their day. Paitence here is a commodity.
Even if you're not looking to live here, a native New Yorker offers some advice to would-be tourists via some firm dont's in her post!  She's very sweet really:)
 
That said, I have to say, you do get used to it, I'm determined to stay a kind, civil human being, but I am no longer averse to matching someones arrogance or rudeness.
It pays off, and people seem to accept and respect it and I no longer get as offended as I used to.
I've finally found my rhythm here, I feel lucky to have this experience. The subway and buses are great to get around, it's a great city, exciting with neighbourhoods with their own distinctive persona's, much like London does.
I do enjoy the mix of people, and accessibility of things and of course.. Central Park is somewhere I couldn't be without!

Sunshine in Central park, turtles, racoons, Uma Thurman and the fallen child

Anyone in New York will tell you, the weather has been awful for this time of year, the rain poured and I mean torrential, on Saturday night for hours, even parts of NY state were flooded.

So as Sunday beamed into a sunny day, windy, but sunny, we went to the park! After a nice long walk past the boats, and the little turtles who seemed too, to be trying to soak up a little sun.

 

Four on a log, the first one looks like his shell may have been out in the sun a bit too long

Like most New Yorkers, the turtles share a small space

We sat leisurely on a bench, watching the remote controlled boats or 'model sail boats' float around the large pond/conservatory water. (not pictured, we were just soaking up the sun)
Sunshine on our face, and a very busy park, we were dreaming of summer... suddenly, I hear this skid, and then an abrupt stop, I look to my left and a small child has fallen face down the slippery, dirty dusty path.

Of course we're expecting her mum or dad to walk up at any moment and pick, her up, and she lies there a split second too long.. the tears and wailing begin and some ladies about to walk past, run to her aid.
One lady, quite tall, bends down to pick her up.
Now I could be a bit paranoid, but I think she looked at us- split second kinda look- that said 'aren't you going to help this kid/child!' such disdain..tisk tisk..
Anyway her father came rushing down, pushing the other child along in a push chair/stroller, and scooped his child quickly back 'are you all-right sweetie??' thanking the lady, but very clearly showing she was no longer required.
So I looked up at this good samaritan who seemed to be over her disdain for me and boyfriend and saw that it was Uma Thurman!
Mad! How New York is that?!

The boyfriend, had stopped looking until I told him who'd just past us, then commented on how he should fall down.
The mum meanwhile came down the hill, to her little girl and exclaimed 'You just got picked up by Uma Thurman!!' I couldn't help but lean forward and nod to confirm and join in the incredulous scene. Love that about being here, when the pot melts, it welcomes everyone in the discussion, this family were from Australia, but my UK instinct to not say too much relegated me to a beaming smile and nodding head. Sometimes I am so English..
'Mum', was really funny and told her daughter 'fall again, fall again!" While 'Dad' sauntered past us  more non-chalantly stating it was "one for the scrapbook"

It all happened too quickly for me to get you a picture, sorry about that! But hope you enjoy some of the day's pictures and the Racoons (yup, I finally saw them) we saw hanging about  in a tree near the 86th Street park traverse.