Monday, June 27th, 2005, 6:49 p.m.
To Uptown and The Bronx
Monday evening I moved uptown, to visit with my mother, grandmother, and grandmother's friend, Bonnie. We had a lovely time. I was delighted to have my own bed and lots of space in a beautiful, luxurious hotel room. Is there anything so graceful and gracious as the smooth feeling of clean, cool white sheets? And towels, plenty of hot water, red wine and good, fun conversation with my mom and grandmother. Life is good.
Tuesday we went to the UN, so I could show my Mom and Grandmother where I would like to work someday: in the interpreting booths that overlook the General Assembly and Security Council rooms. It was, as expected, similar to the UN in Geneva, only somehow ... grander. It was larger and had beautiful displays of art photography from around the world. And on my way out I picked up an employment brochure - exciting!
After the UN we had a spectacular lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant - you know, the kind of expensive ethnic place that I would NEVER be able to afford (I LOVE and appreciate my family for paying for me! Love it love it love it love it). Then we went straight to TKTS, where we bought tickets to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - a HIGHLY entertaining show with fabulous acting, singing, and dancing. It was funny and engaging and we never wanted it to end - Broadway at its best.
Wednesday we went to a great meal at the French Culinary Institute of Manhattan, but more than the delectable food, I enjoyed the conversation: I asked my Mom and Grandmother a little about our family history, and they regaled me of stories which included, among others, Uncle Nate and his "I'll have a glass of tea ... " I swear to God I couldn't stop laughing for like 10 minutes straight. People at the next table were staring and everything. Good stuff. My Grandmother is writing a book of memoirs, which I am really, really REALLY looking forward to reading. (Are ya reading, Ruthie? Is it done yet?) We also visited the tenement museum in Chinatown, which was fascinating. Did you know that the first sweatshops were in people's tiny apartments? They had to keep the iron hot so the room was sweltering, plus the mom was trying to boil diapers and cook on the half of the stove not being used for the iron, feed the children, mend other clothes, clean the house, and not die from the heat. It was a humbling experience. I am always humbled when I think about my predecessors and what they had to do just to get by. We (immigrant Americans) come from good stock - not even three generations ago people were coming over from Europe and Asia and who knows where else to start a new life here. I mean it sounds a little cliché but it's truly ... astounding when you think about it. My grandmother's mother - and father (people she remembers! this really isn't that many generations back) moved to an entirely different country for a difficult life, making it on their own, free and out of the persecution of Europe, when they were my age. My age. English wasn't even their first language. Wow.
We then got tickets to Hairspray (totally unimpressive show) and got to hang out with Inga and my cousin, Marisa, at the Mariott downtown. Marisa is teaching 8th grade in a school in the Bronx, so hearing her stories and perspective on education was really interesting.
Thursday we tried to go to Ellis Island - can you believe like every immigrant from the turn of the century up until like the 1950's or something went through Ellis Island? I think that's incredible. Anyway the line was so long we gave up and wandered around SoHo for a while before embarking on an epic journey to the Carnegie Deli. I think it took us (I kid you not) two hours to get there, because of a silly string of familial ridiculousness ... it's my blog so I'll just say it: If everyone had just listened to me we would have gotten there a whole lot faster. But that's OK. We made it and had a quick knish before heading back to the hotel. That night I had a great Japanese dinner with Inga, Sunny, Jeff, Marisa, and her boyfriend, and then got gelatto in the East Village.
I LOVE NEW YORK!
