One week gone....

As is often the case with me, this blog has been heavily promoted but a long time coming. Nonetheless, the city of New York has been kind enough to finally spare me five minutes to make my first post. It has been that hectic.

Before I begin my ramblings on this first week here, I apologise for this long first post. Nonetheless I personally despise long winded group emails - hence I have created this blog so you can catch up on what I'm doing as much or as little as you want/need. I promise my subsequent postings will be smaller and more frequent. If you have any news or questions then email me on bulebulebule@internode.on.net.

So here it goes.....

I set off from Melbourne with my co-NYC secondee Kate Wilkie at lunchtime on Wednesday. My 24 hours in transit was dominated by a lack of sleep and repeated viewing of the 2005 Ashes series highlights - mildly depressing. A highlight was crossing paths with the chick who plays Sacha on Headland (worst show ever) on the plane and then again a few days later on the street outside my apartment. Despite my anticipation anxiety, I cleared immigration with relative ease at LAX. A 4 hour layover in LA only served to completely vindicate my decision to join the Qantas Club after a shower, some real food and a comfy seat.

I touched down at John F. Kennedy airport late on last Wednesday night. As I hurried out of the terminal keen to begin my Big Apple 'experience', my surge lasted only a matter of seconds before it was abruptly interrupted by a strong New York accent too familiar given the brief time I had been here. Looking up I found myself face to face with John McEnroe (wearing a Yankees cap backwards and ripped jeans). You cannot be serious.

Taking this as a fortuitous omen, I shrugged off my ever increasing weariness and pushed out into the cold Brooklyn night to find my driver and then my apartment. Located on 12th St between 3rd and 4th Ave, my new abode would be described by a real estate agent as "cosy neo-classical two bedroom apartment with rustic touch ideal for young professional buyer". This of course translates to "small but warm, bedrooms like prison cells, built in the 70's, not a finger lifted since, can't flush tissue down toilet, well situated near restaurants and bars". Within the first 4 hours of being 'home' I managed to block the toilet resulting in a flood of the bathroom and a call to the 'super'. (Trav - can you send over some coat hangers?) Enough said.

I spent Thursday to Saturday acclimatising to the cold through a mixture of sightseeing and shopping. And it was a closely run race between the two. I plan to do more committed sightseeing in the first two weeks in April - once I have finished work and it's warmer. Nevertheless I made my way to Central Park, Fifth Avenue, Time Square, Broadway, Rockeller Center, Empire State Building, Wall Street, Ground Zero and the Statue of Liberty on a whirlwind tour of the cities major sites. There is still so much to see and do. It will be a hectic three and a half months.

Consumer goods here are so cheap cheap. Clothes, shoes, electronics, alcohol, everything. I showed controlled restraint during the first two days but the arrival of The O Train (Glenn Ormsby - who was fresh from a two week shopping spree in Asia and clearly in form) on Saturday jolted me into action. Tees, jumpers, underwear, socks and, most importantly, hair product are all so cheap. There are still many items on my "wanted" list but I am holding off for things I only really really want/need.

One purchase however lasted less than 24 hours in my possession. I also welcomed a London-bound Ben Powers to NYC on Saturday night and from his previous experience (he was here on secondment three years ago) he had planned an evening at the infamous Greenwich Village bar, Fiddlesticks ("The Stick"). Already tired, I quickly added emotional to my portfolio and proceeded to introduce NYC to my "loose" side. I can't recall the time but apparently I was escorted from the venue by two 6' 8" bouncers who must have given me impeccable directions home. Somehow I stumbled my way across the city, the walk taking long enough for the others to have a few more drinks, jump in a taxi and find me fumbling with my keys at the downstairs door. I awoke with cuts and bruises from the numerous falls I must have had and could not locate the black DNKY jumper I had found for a steal at $25. Needless to say, Sunday was a write-off.

I am still to fully appreciate the American approach to going out. Plenty of seating and no dancing dominates the social landscape. On the upside, people are keen to chat and listen to country music. If you're reading this Rusty, take leave from Alspec and get over here. You would dominate. All the bars have different drinks specials every night. For Powers last night/birthday we headed down to the Village and partook in $2 Coronas and $2 Cuervos (tequila shots) all night. Would be a cheap night for anyone (Rusty - even if you bankrolling No Engwerdas).

Work commenced on Monday at Eisner LLP which is on 3rd Ave between 46th and 47th St. The weather has been good enough for Kate and I to make the 30 minute walk up 3rd Ave everyday. Fortunately I have only had to replace 43 degrees celcius in Melbourne with 43 degrees fahrenheit in New York. I have been told to expect much colder conditions over the next few months.

Training for the first week at work has been laborious. With about 20 secondees starting with varied levels of experience, the material covered has on many occasions almost induced sleep. I have quickly acquainted myself with the Poms and the South Africans - talk naturally centering around cricket, rugby and soccer. They're all nice and friendly but am reserving my opinion until I see them out on the tear. The firm is hosting a welcoming drinks night tonight for us - should have some indication after that. Otherwise I have found an Aussie bar in Soho that is showing the VB Series from back home and have invited the Springboks to join me on Sat night (first ball is at 10:15pm!!) to watch the Aussies pull their pants down again.

My (and Kate's) boredom has meant that we have had to initiate our own entertainment. So far I have convinced a number of Eisner employees that I came to New York to be closer to my cousin Heath (Ledger) who lives in Brooklyn and has just had a baby. I also have two pets at home - a dog called Sydney and a kangaroo called Skippy. Kate is passing herself off as Kylie Minogue's best friend (they went to school together at Funkytown High).

And that leaves me here. Sitting in the office during a training hiatus. Planning my next shopping raid/sightseeing adventure.

Hope everyone is well.