More than halfway there!

Picture descriptions (These were mostly stolen from Kelsey because my camera is inoperative):
1. Titanic pose! yes, we proudly spent 20$ on this tacky souvenir. Pay note of the magnet with the late great Fuzzy's picture above it.
2. Pose again
3. Our lovely friend Albertus who was responsible for the prank below
4. On the night before Halloween we told Albertus we would be leaving the next day and we wanted him to make us a special towel animal for the occasion. He said he could do a big one but he didn't want to frighten us. We told him we love being scared and not to worry, so that night we came home kind of late and opened our door to find all the lights off but the TV on and THIS GUY sitting there staring at us. we both screamed and i quickly shut the door while kelsey ran screaming to the other end of the hall. We miss Albertus
5. Our bus ride in Dominica
6. A village in Dominica
7. A terrible view of St. Thomas in our bus on the way to K-Mart!
8. Drinking fresh Dominican water
9. Me and Kelsey at Trafalgar Falls
10. Trying not to fall in the falls
11. Me and Kelsey with a view of Roseau in the background
12. Walking to the not-so-close village to catch a bus
13. Dominica: The land of rivers
14. Trying to assess the situation

Two months since my last blog, and I unfortunately have very little to report on. I’ve been waiting to update this thing in hopes that something new will happen or I will have some exciting miracle at work that will send me rushing to my computer to report the good news. That is far from the case, and I’m going through a dismal pessimistic plateau of frustration, homesickness, and stagnation at work. At this time last year I was going through a similar period, but it was more connected to being in my own place and trying to figure out what I’m doing here, and this year the tiredness is a byproduct of a year of learning what it is really like to work here.
I love St. Kitts and I don’t want to portray the wrong idea when I sometimes go on a negative rant. I have to pick my words very carefully because I am speaking to people whose maybe only perception of St. Kitts stems from what I live to tell on this blog. The experience of a Peace Corps volunteer living in the countryside is a polar opposite to what a travel blog might tell. I recently went on a cruise with another volunteer, Kelsey, which was quite an experience. We wanted to find a way to travel to the different islands in an economical way. Flights to other islands can be as high as $250 US and we figured taking a cruise that cost $450 which included food and “entertainment” would be the best way to see the Eastern Caribbean. I have always hated the idea of cruises and while I had an amazing time with Kelsey and savored every minute of endless food, we found ourselves unable to get into the cruise life and mentality.
First of all, the idea of spending 8 hours in a country left us feeling unfulfilled, at best. I can now understand why people respond with “You’re so luck you’re going to get a two year vacation in the Caribbean” when I tell them I’m serving in St. Kitts. Most people disembark the ship and take a taxi straight to the beach or wherever they have planned their island excursion. Because Kelsey and I were on a bit of a budget, we had to use local transportation which does not take you to the gorgeous white sand beaches. In St. Thomas we took the local bus to K-Mart to stock up on cleaning supplies and toiletries because they’re incredibly expensive in St. Kitts. It was so humorous to share stories with our dinner table because they would tell us about the sea turtles, the snorkeling, and the sail boats, and we would tell them about the local bus system, how excited we were to see street lights, or the side streets in the capital city that sold fake leather booty-shorts. The couple we had dinner with every night, Dave and Jessica, were incredibly sweet and fun to hang out with, but our experiences were just so incredibly different, even though Kelsey and I were also on a vacation. One day in Antigua, Dave and Jessica decided to walk to the beach instead of taking a taxi. The trip was longer than expected, and they fond themselves in a local village much like where we live. They were so amazed to see that people live in shacks and there are goats, chickens, and cows wandering around uncontained. This was normalcy to us and I was so surprised that people don’t realize that outside of the resorts there is actual poverty in these places and local people don’t live in timeshares and drink daiquiris all day.
Dominica was by far my favorite island and I would love to travel back one day. It is so unique to the Caribbean and I found myself loving the change of scenery. Going on a trip to the Caribbean when you’ve been living in the Caribbean doesn’t really feel like traveling, so we were both very excited to be in a place that felt unfamiliar and new. Dominica is called the Nature Island, and with good reason. The mountains are so obstructing that they make you wonder what is on the other side. In St. Kitts we just have one tall peak and a few large hills which were dwarfed by the size of Dominica’s cascading mountains. We walked around the capital city of Roseau for a while and came across the Peace Corps office which was a home away from home. The woman working there told us how to catch a bus up to Trafalgar Falls. I was so amazed that a bus ride for one US dollar could take us to such a beautiful place, but it makes sense considering everywhere in Dominica is a natural oasis. After hanging out in the falls for a while Kelsey and I realized we should head back to catch a bus. On the way down the very steep hill, Kelsey fell in a way I can only describe as James Brown doing the splits, which necessitated a pause and several minutes of laughter. I saw out of my peripheral vision a bus driving off but figured there would be another one shortly. WRONG. A man standing close to where the bus left said we’d have to walk to the next village. “No problem!” we thought and decided to walk, taking our sweet time and admiring the scenery and one particularly defensive crab on the side of the road. After about 30 minutes and no village in sight I started feeling a little bit anxious, and then a taxi came by full of people from our ship and the taxi man asked if we were heading to the cruise ship. We told him yes but we were walking to catch a bus to which he laughed and sped off. That was catalyst that sent me into a panic.
We started speed-walking like grandparents exercising in the mall and after about 20 minutes we finally reached the village and were told a bus would be coming shortly. We sat at the local bar and had a local beer and enjoyed the local experience, but no bus came. Soon enough a taxi came with a couple who were also headed to the ship, and we got to catch the last leg of their tour as well as a free ride back to home base.
I have found that while I’ve been here I crave the things I cannot have, even if I truly don’t even want them. Excessive amounts of food, especially heavily processed food that I am not used to, leaves me feeling sick and depressed. Huge crowds of people make me tired and crabby so being in a place like the Plazas Las Americas in Puerto Rico, the largest shopping mall in the Caribbean, put me on the verge of a childish tantrum. Sometimes I encounter the panicky feeling of being stuck on a deserted island because so much in St. Kitts is brought in from the outside at incredibly expensive prices. It’s as if we’re entirely dependent on the outside and should crave that which we cannot immediately have or provide for ourselves. In reality, I have become comfortable without having 40 different restaurants to choose from or 10 different types of the same shirt. I can see why Kittitians will take vacations outside to buy what they need and return with packed suitcases to the safe haven that feels like home. We simply don’t need so many choices, places, and changes, and it only clutters and complicates our lives.
I was recently speaking with a friend, Melva, who works at Ottley’s Plantation Inn in my village, and she was telling me about her trip to Oklahoma to visit her daughter who is going to school. She said it was a very depressing trip and the only touristy things she did was see the Memorial for the Oklahoma City bombing and another memorial for a very large fire that had occurred some time ago. Then she told me her sister insisted they go to IHOP for breakfast so she apprehensively obliged. When they arrived she was met with longest line she had ever seen and asked her sister what on Earth everyone was waiting for? She thought it was a special occasion or maybe someone famous was there. Her sister just replied, “Oh, they’re just in line for breakfast. It’s always like that! IHOP is so popular.” This was something incredibly nonsensical and unusual to her. Why not just go to the store and buy eggs and cook them? I know how to cook eggs and I doubt the IHOP chef can do it any better! Why do we have to wait in a long line so someone else can cook us breakfast??
It seemed like such a normal idea to me, to wait in line at a restaurant to have someone serve you, but now I can fully understand the ridiculousness of that concept.
While I have harvested a home here and everything is becoming a normal part of my life, my current frustration is rooted in my work. Progress is moving slowly and there are new obstacles that I never could have anticipated. I am just now coming to terms with the fact that I am not going to move mountains here or make some palpable change in the lives of the people of St. Kitts, and it is quite ridiculous and self-righteous to assume so. We come here with this idea of “development”, but I don’t even know what that is or how to do it in an ethical and culturally preserving way. I feel so unnatural when I work here. I barely have a handle on the culture and I am still quite clearly an outsider. It takes at least two years to even feel comfortable here, let alone come up with ideas that can make the lives of people better. Who am I to change a place I’ve spent just a year in?
I am cherishing this experience as something that teaches me an invaluable lot of knowledge and prepares me for whatever path I will decide on in adulthood. Margo, our Country Director, was recently telling Kelsey and me about a forum she had for Peace Corps. There is a lot of criticism on what Peace Corps Volunteers actually do in their post and whether it is quantifiable or worth anything. Her perspective was focused not on what the volunteer does when they’re actually in their location, but rather the accomplishments returned volunteers achieve afterwards. I am not saying I’m going to be one of those people, but I think the value of the Peace Corps extends far beyond the two years we spend in our posts, and it is difficult even as a PCV to keep that in mind. Every day I have to reassure myself that even if my projects fail here, I will be confident that the two years were not spent in vain. If viable and sustainable change is going to happen, it needs to happen in an organic and natural fashion, not from a foreigner who has never heard of Ottleys Village in St. Kitts coming for two years, weakly assessing what they think the communities needs, and then implementing the solutions upon the locals. I’m finding it’s best to be a quiet, humble individual living with the locals rather than an assertive paternalistic “developer” telling people what’s best for them.

I will definitely blog as soon as things at work become more exciting. I hope everyone is doing well! Much love to everyone, I miss you all!

PaZ

End of Summer

Hello all!

Wow, I am officially a blog slacker. In my defense, it has been summer, so there has been little to do and thus little to report you all on. School is officially back in session, however the first couple of weeks are slow and I feel like I’m being pushy when I ask the teachers if there’s anything they want me to do. That’s okay though because my dad is coming next week so I could use a little more free time from work at the school.
So it is almost mid-September, officially more than a year since my arrival in St. Kitts, and I am still pretty much intact. I can’t really say at this point whether I am made wiser and stronger by life-altering epiphanies, but I can say that I am better versed in Kittitian culture, lifestyle, and workplace. After my first couple of weeks back in St. Kitts I was forced to harden back up and fight away the unpredictable bouts of homesickness and loneliness as best I could. As much as I do have valuable human interactions here, I don’t know if I’ll ever fully overcome the lonely feelings I often experience. Sometimes I am so overwhelmed by the isolation of being on such a tiny island surrounded by vast oceans stretching past the horizon. Other times I get discombobulated by the cultural differences that make it difficult to feel truly on the same page as my local friends and co workers. There is always this omnipresent voice in my subconscious monitoring my every move, making sure that I don’t act too "American", too spoiled, too naive, or give a bad face to the Peace Corps. Because this feeling is always following me, even when I’m in areas inundated with tourists (in those situations the pressure is even stronger to counter the negative images that tourists sometimes bring), I sometimes feel boxed in and disconnected in this little glass house. Maybe today is just a difficult day. I really don’t want to sound too dramatic or pitiful. I’ve been feeling quite homesick because the group that was here when we arrived is preparing to leave the island tomorrow and it’s just another wind of change and uncertainty that I’m not always prepared to face. But that’s life and it does indeed go on.
My work has been looking very optimistic as of late. Charles and I put on a summer camp for STYLE that was quite successful and exceeded my expectations. We had a girls’ week where we got to know each other, did self-esteem building exercises, and completed a community service project of re-painting the netball court. The pictures show the before and after; the paint was completely faded away so it was kind of difficult to see the lines and make them perfect, but quasi-straight lines are better than no lines! Unfortunately, the boys were not as easy to lasso in, and only one of them showed up for their week of camp. I’m not too worried about that because the school year has started and I will have better access to these kids where I will be able to pressure them and harass them until they comply.
The girls were very receptive and open to some very sensitive discussion topics and it was eye-opening for me to see how similar these teenage girls are to those in the states. A lot of them had insecurities about their bodies, sex, family life, and growing up. While there were many parallels between the teenage girls here and in the US, some of their tribulations were also very different to what I and my high school friends experienced. Many of these girls and boys act as second parents to their younger siblings, and a few of the girls would have to bring baby brothers and sisters to camp because there was nobody else there to watch them. They live with their extended families in houses that obviously don’t allow for one room per person, so most of the girls share their bedroom with sisters, aunts, grandmothers, or nieces and nephews. I was already quite aware of this cultural custom, but these girls offered a personal perspective on how small and sometimes unforgotten they may feel. They certainly have to grow up much quicker than many of the suburban youths in America.
Unfortunately, one of my tertiary projects, the recycling grant and feasibility study, has fallen through for the year. Apparently there was a document that needed to be turned in by July in order for the grant to be re-submitted and we did not send it in by the deadline. This means that they grant cannot be re-submitted until next July, when I will be winding down my service. As much as I am disappointed and frustrated by this and many other obstacles, I am sure that it is only a matter of time before St. Kitts has a recycling system of its own. This is a very small island of only 42,000 people, and it is very industrialized. Furthermore, there is a lot of pressure on the government to preserve the beauty of this island as a way to ensure the economic lifeline of tourism. I’m not saying that recycling will be here in the next year, or even ten years, but the seed has been planted with the Ministry of Sustainable Development (and Environment) and I think the work of these two volunteers will not be lost or have been done in vain.
On Monday I went to the school to say hi to my kiddies and teachers. It is quite shocking to see how much these kids grow within a few months time span. Many of my sixth graders are now much taller than me and were joking that they could easily beat me up any day at which I nervously laughed. I am so excited to start up the after school program again but I am also nervous because I am so low on ideas. I’m pretty sure I want to pursue an actual theatrical production where these kids will have a chance to raise money for themselves and make decisions on what to do with their earnings autonomously and democratically. The head teacher informed me that the government is working on having an after school program starting in October which is a huge relief for me since I’ve been so worried about the sustainability of this project. A part of me is a little sad because it is going to be an appendage of the school system, thus certain practices like prayer, whipping, and religious-based life skills will continue. I have tried to create a safe haven where the kids can play without physical punishment or proselytizing, and where they are encouraged to treat each other with respect and are forbidden to use violence against each other. The kids feel open to feel talk about anything no matter how controversial, and they are able to be honest without the fear of suffering castigation. Even though I would love for this program to be continued in the manner I see best, I think it is still a tremendously valuable addition to the school and will keep them occupied, creatively challenged, and inspired.


I will update you all when things start gaining back some momentum. I hope everyone is happy and healthy!! Congratulations to my wonderful cousin on her baby boy, Shmuel!

summer!

Hello everyone!!

I’m sorry it has been such a long time since I last wrote. I did get a wonderful visit from my dear friend Stephen, and he spent 5 days here sweating profusely and experiencing the Peace Corps lifestyle. He was actually just nominated for the Peace Corps so I'm very excited for him. :)
After I returned from New York, things were pretty slow and uneventful. School was ending and to my naivety, nothing goes on during the last three weeks of school. And by nothing, I mean a majority of the students don’t even show up. This proved to be a problem since I had planned to take each grade from the after school program on a field trip, yet I couldn’t plan anything because they weren’t even at school. My intrinsic Selman response was “Well if they don’t show up to school, they don’t deserve a field trip”, but really it’s just the custom here. After their test of standards there is no point in teaching anything new, and it was my fault that I was unaware of this custom. I tried to gather as many students as possible, but fourth grade ended up not getting a field trip because I couldn’t secure free transportation.
It’s really difficult to reward these kids when my salary is so low. I know that I have other sources for money and if I really wanted to give them something special my parents would fund it, however that goes against what Peace Corps really stands for. We are not here to do Oprah style acts of kindness and just hand out Dora the Explorer toys like we’re Santa Claus. We live on the local standard so that we can be one with our community and not set ourselves at a higher economic or social platform. We already have to deal with the rampant misinterpretation that all “white” (yes, I am considered white) people are rich, because all these kids see are skewed images of Americans on television shows and tourists on vacation who pay heightened prices for everything. I spend so much time explaining that no, I am not automatically rich because I am an American, when I’m walking through town and people, even school children, come up and ask me for a dollar. I don’t want to completely contradict myself by throwing down a couple hundred dollars to take these kids somewhere special. I think I’ll wait until my very last month of my service and then just spoil them like I’ve wanted to this whole time.
So the point of this long preface is that I had to find a place that wouldn’t cost money and to where we could find transportation. Luckily, at least one child from each grade had a father with a bus or taxi. I begged and reminded and nagged and repeated for them to ask their father for about two weeks, and they kept telling me that their fathers could do it. I knew that I would have to call their father to verify, and after that, let’s just say two of them fell through when they found out that the white teacher would not be paying for this. It actually is a lot to ask these working fathers to take time out of their work day and use their gas money to take us out to the beach. One girl’s father from sixth grade agreed to take us and which I was incredibly thankful for, so we went to the beach. I had the students bring a lunch and a drink, and then I baked them brownies. It was an amazing day and her father was so incredibly kind; he drove us all the way to the Southern Peninsula where the really beautiful beaches are and drove all the way back at the end of the day to take us home.
For fifth grade, we finally got a student whose father drives a bus to take us to the movies, and I brought them a huge bag of candy that we surreptitiously distributed during the movie. Unfortunately a beach trip wasn’t in the cards because a lot of parents didn’t trust me as being the only adult with kids who can’t swim (rightfully so, because I usually turn into a kid when I’m with them and forget to supervise), so the kids then begged me to take them to the movies. This posed a problem because it’s a pretty expensive outing, so I ended up having to pay for three of their movie tickets because their mothers couldn’t afford it, but I told them to promise not to tell any of the other kids. I spent a majority of the time shushing the kids because apparently they don’t go to the movies to watch the movie, but rather to squirm and throw popcorn at each other. I hate nagging, but I also hate the idea that I’m with those kids that I usually want to shake when I’m at a movie with my friends. If the other movie goers can at least hear that I am trying to quiet them then I thought they would be a little bit more forgiving. Even though they didn’t pay attention to the movie, the point of the trip was to reward them and allow themselves to enjoy their time together, and I think it was successful in that realm.
Fourth grade didn’t get to go on a trip, mostly because the kid that told me her uncle could take us never responded to my phone calls and school had already ended. I want to use this to teach them a lesson on planning and responsibility (Selman technique #37).
Another big event for me was graduation, which gave me a glimpse of the emotional wreck I am going to be when my fifth graders graduate sixth grade. None of the parents got emotional, so I felt like such a sentimental American when I started tearing up. Local people don’t really show such vulnerability, so it’s usually quite embarrassing if they see me cry. I recently saw a ridiculously sappy movie called “My Sister’s Keeper” and my fellow volunteers and I were BAWLING. Walking out of the movie theater looking like we had hives on our faces was awkward at best. We rushed to the bus hiding our faces like we were celebrities dodging the paparazzi. I also made the enormous mistake of breaking down and crying one day when my sixth graders were driving me insane, and they responded with extreme discomfort and unease. They awkwardly patted my shoulder and just stared with wide eyes. The following week I got rushed by the younger kids who were asking why I cried, and why does my face turn red and blotchy when I cry? Apparently light skinned people are not very covert or attractive when we cry.
I had to be an impromptu chairperson for graduation because our assigned chairperson was an hour and a half late on top of the already West Indian style late start. I didn’t realize that being a chairperson entails a lot more than just introducing each event, but they told me I did an okay job. The graduation ceremony lasted for………wait for it……….four hours. And the power went out so the last hour was in the dark, with no fans, and about 100 people crammed into a tiny church. Of course the Kittitians didn’t break a sweat, but I looked like I was melting.
The most emotional part for me was at the beginning, when each student entered the building to pomp and circumstance. They were supposed to be escorted by their parents, but of course, only two of the 18 kids had fathers present, and the rest walked with their mother, grandmother, or auntie. What unleashed the tears for me was that four of my most troubled and misbehaved students had nobody walking with them. There was a photographer waiting at the end of their walk to take a picture of them, and they looked so upset that they were walking alone. How can they not find one family member to come to their graduation? This event is such a big deal for the community and people treat it like it’s a wedding. It’s no wonder that those are the students that I and other teachers have had to spend so much time and effort working with. People and politicians talk about all of the social ills here and how we have to look out for our children and make sure they go to Sunday school, and it is probably those exact people that aren’t there for their children. That is why I have my issues with organized religion and institutionalized politics, because those are the people that issue so many idealistic promises and leave people dependent on this imaginary reassurance that they will be divinely rewarded if they just attend church or submit their vote. There is no agency or self-motivation because so many people are so hypnotized by a figurative master that is always proved right because of intricate self-fulfilling prophecies and selective perceptions. A lot of my embitterment has accumulated from election time and listening to vehement religious arguments between divisive denominations like Seventh Day Adventist, Reformed Baptist, Jehovah Witnesses, etc. almost every single day. I am not trying to paint a negative image of St. Kitts or the West Indies, just offering some all-encompassing social commentary.
As for my summer plans I am tutoring a few students during the week and working hard to get this summer camp started for STYLE. There are a lot of obstacles in our way and a lot of people that don’t want it to happen, but we remain committed. I am also recreationally experiencing St. Kitts, with music festivals, Culturama in Nevis (which is the Carnival equivalent for our sister island), celebrating summer birthdays, and trying to enjoy my last month with EC 77, the group of volunteers that are about to leave the island. I am also in disbelief that I have been here for roughly a year now, and that I am about to turn 23. I’m trying not to let life pass me by, but I can’t help but loosen up a little and just let it flow. This place is absolutely home for me now, and these kids are my life support here. Whenever I am surrounded by 10-15 smiling, jovial, effervescent children I always have to take a couple of moments to soak up the goodness and internalize the moment, because after I leave here, it will never happen again. Sure, I can come back and visit, but I have developed a particular bond with these kids over the past 12 months that will certainly be severed when I leave. For that reason, I am trying to live in the present and cherish every second.

Let me also say, that I honestly could not think it could get as hot as it is now. I move around the house carrying my fan like it's my IV stand. I dread leaving the house, or even worse, going to town where the concrete and unshaded trees feel like someone's holding a magnifying glass in front of the sun. I am actually incredibly relieved that it is hurricane season because we will start getting some rain which may extinguish some of the heat. Luckily this is a great excuse to hit the beach!


Hope everyone is happy and healthy! I miss y’aaaall!

HOME part 2!

I am back and settled into life in St. Kitts. My trip to new york can be described as no less than a chaotic whirlwind. There were so many things to do and so many people to see in those two weeks that it has all blurred together and feels like a distant dream snuggled nicely in my memory box alongside other mementos like snow, sushi, and dishwashers. Immediately upon landing, i felt the air become thicker and more damp, and looking around I was re-awakened to a view of lush, tropical greens and blues as opposed to the steel grays and silvers of the Manhattan landscape. I took a taxi home and the driver, upon reaching my house, asked if I felt safe here. He did it in a caring and protective manner that reminded me of the many reasons why I love St. Kitts.
I certainly did not get to spend an adequate amount of time with each and every person while I was home, yet I know you were all very understanding of the circumstances I was in. When I arrive home for my final stop I know we will have plenty of time to catch up and reconnect.
My first weekend in North America was spent in Ottawa, Ontario for my cousin Jeremy's wedding. It was an appropriately relaxing destination that helped me to ease back into the unfamiliar pace of life up north. Manhattan is a very stimulating environment, however it is simultaneously quite draining, and it was nice to escape from my escape for a few days. Jeremy and Marni's wedding was a beautiful occasion to celebrate and I was so grateful to have so much of my family collectively together. My brother flew in from Geneva, Uncle Tom came up from Maryland with the very entertaining and vivacious Miriam, my very worldly and learned cousin Ari was there in his true radiant form, Ralph and Antoinette Kirshbaum flew in from London, and obviously the beaming parents of the groom, my Uncle Jay and Tanta Patti were there. Of course not everyone could make it, and I was very upset that I didnt get to see my grandparents, my sweet cousin Jessi and her husband, and Tanta Susie during this trip, however I know we'll be able to spend some quality time when I return.
After Canada, I stopped shortly in Binghamton to see some old friends, and then took a trip to Philly to see some more friends. I spent one glorious night in Philly and got to meet the wonderful Doberman Maya who has recently passed away :( . I also went with my friends to see the house that they are moving into, which is coincidentally the house that I will be moving into after my Peace Corps service. It was nice to have met Maya and to see my future home. We ate many delicious sandwiches, drank delicious American beer, and laughed in our usual spasmodic manner over nonsensical gibberish. It's nice to know that no amount of time apart from these people can erase the bizarre and unique idiosyncrasies that we share.
The last weekend of my vacation was spent with some of my very best friends, Shelby and Lyn, who flew up from Dallas, and Jac who drove for 6 hours from Cape Cod with potential corneal ulcers (but maybe just expired contact solution? or eye fatigue?) and very little sleep. Rya was also there. It was wonderful experiencing the city with these crazy women and I can't wait until our next adventure. I hope the world is ready.

There were many precious moments during this trip, whether it was something simple, like coming home to a well-stocked fridge that only my mother could put together, or something new and spontaneous, like going bike-riding with my brother in a city I am unfamiliar to. I was glad I could experience the usual things I love about trips to New York, like having breakfast with my effervescent Aunt Patti or simply walking and talking with my loving and eccentric father. This trip was a reassuring and placating reminder that I know I have a home wherever my loved ones are.

There is much excitement and celebration for the move to our new NYC apartment! which is across the street from our current domain! Upgrades: our apartment is no longer facing the street, which means no loud sirens, loudly cursing drivers, and honking cabs, pets are allowed, which is excellent since I'm bringing Shaggy back to the states, there are friendlier tenants who are basking in the glow of their respective golden-ages, we have a lovely garden with a Selman-like list of meticulous, fun-hemorrhaging rules like no picnics!, the hallways are decorated in an "art-deco" fashion (I think that's what my dad said..I wasn't entirely listening), and the elevators are being renovated. Downside: fluorescent lighting in the lobby.

Hope everyone is happy and healthy
Much love and paz,
alisa