"Personal relationships are always the key to good business. You can buy networking; you can't buy friendships." - Lindsay Fox

Today was another one of those days where there wasn't anything too big going on so it was a very laid back, chill kind of day. I messaged some friends to meet up for lunch, only about 3 people came and what I didn't realize was that a bunch of people had messaged me (since I had no wifi) so a much more people would have loved to go. I ended up going to the nearby park and ran into a bunch of other interns as well, sat with them and ate. I met some new mission interns who were also hanging out at the park. We sat with them and talked until we had to head back into the Secretariat building.

At the networking event.

I worked until normal time and had a networking event later on that night, but since I had some time to kill, I decided it would be a good idea to take some of the friends that I had met and bring them over to the bar that the interns usually go to so I could have them meet up with some other friends. I hung out with them outside for a bit before the happy hour started and then headed out, met up with my friends and went over to this networking event where I got to meet a bunch of people from start up groups. 

It was very interesting to see the confidence and the sheer aggression from the people who were part of the start up group. Even though I wasn't an investor or an intern with them, they were quite aggressive with their tactics. Interestingly enough, i gave someone my E-mail and asked them to e-mail me with more information about their start up and they still have yet to e-mail me back (oh the business world, nice to your face). I met a few other interns there and they were quite friendly so I guess I networked well? 

fter the event, I decided to go back to the intern bar that all the UN interns go to and hang out with friends there. We danced and sang to the songs they played (actually they played a lot of Canadian music, like Drake, Bieber, The Weekend, Magic!) and just had a great time. I even made some new friends! Near the end of the night, I headed out while others went to the bar beside to watch the hockey game. All in all a pretty cool day.

"For myself, for a long time... maybe I felt inauthentic or something, I felt like my voice wasn't worth hearing, and I think everyone's voice is worth hearing. So if you've got something to say, say it from the rooftops." - Tom Hiddleston

Literally those are all
dates

Today was a pretty awesome day at work I gotta say.

I had my own work to focus on and at lunch time, I met up with a friend and we were walking around the building, just hanging out and soliciting when we walked out to the front part of the UNHQ, down to the visitor's pavilion/center and I saw all these tents with Muslim countries like Kuwait and Morocco and they were all giving away foods from their countries!

The only catch? Everything, EVERYTHING was made of dates.

Literally. Dates.

But I was surprised, it was all quite delicious, there were date cakes, date squares, deep fried dates, dates with goat cheese, wrapped-up dates to go, really any date combination you could think of, they had. It was actually really cool, I got to try some Egyptian coffee as well as some other goods I may not have been able to try beforehand.

More dates here than I've had the whole
year! (Sorry, Chris)

I sat for a bit outside and it was nice seeing everyone so excited to try and experience this new culture. I know myself, I was very happy to try and experience a new culture! I was so happy to be there!

Philippino choir in the lobby!

When I went inside, it only got better, there was a Philippino choice singing in the front entrance area of the UN and they were amazing. I only got to stick around for one song since I needed to go back to work, but the harmony and the different tones and pitches they hit were jaw dropping.

I headed back to work until the end of the day.

What a beautiful view on the rooftop

At the end of the day, I walked down the Union Square to meet a friend and we walked down all the way to lower East Side, where I was yesterday and we grabbed a drink at this really nice place called Tiki bar. It was on the roof of a hotel and there had to be someone there to scan us up. When we got up there, the decor and the atmosphere did not fail to impress. They had some really cute cups and mugs and some great fairy lights out to set the mood in the evenings.

Beautiful view of midtown!

We sat and talked for a bit before we decided to go up town to hit up two more rooftop bars. First off though, I was a bit hungry so we grabbed some dumplings from this place called "Vanessa's" which was pretty cool since they had so many signs that rated them one of the best restaurants in the city. I thanked the guy in Cantonese and I swear I have never seen someone look so surprised at me speaking an Asian language. 

Who needs to pay
to go up these skyscrapers
when you can just go
up the bars instead?

Their dumplings were delicious. The skin was chewy and crispy and just completely and utterly delicious. We took the MTA up to uptown where we went to drop off some stuff, and I went to pick up my keys (Yes I did lock myself out don't judge me) and we dropped by this cute Italian restaurant to say hi to some of my friend's friends and, man, these places treat you like family.

Had to add a photo
of the dumplings.

We headed over and saw two rooftop bars, which had beautiful views and both of which had someone who had to escort you to the elevator. Going to have to go again sometime when I don't have work the next morning!

“I look out the window and I see the lights and the skyline and the people on the street rushing around looking for action, love, and the world's greatest chocolate chip cookie, and my heart does a little dance.” - Nora Ephron, Heartburn

FRIDAY - Webster's dictionary states that this is the best day of the week, full of promise, full of hope and the start of the weekend (that's a lie, don't quote me, I don't know what Webster's says). 

I started it off as I usually do, walking over to work in the throng of well-dressed, slick and clean-cut people. I really do love walking to work as much as I hate getting out of bed. It's always so amazing to see the determination (or dread, can never tell which one) in people's eyes as they walk straight through the red lights and into oncoming traffic (Really, this one is no lie). Or even seeing the annoyance and perseverance on people's faces as they try to hail a cab or navigate through the moving maze of bodies.

People's natures and humanity are almost like poems come to life. It's interesting to see. People are still friendly and polite though. I still have my bad habit (that I picked up as a hostess) of smiling at people whenever we make eye contact and every single time, someone would always smile back at me - even if it's nervously or tensely, they did it. 

It's really the city I kind of want to live in. People definitely live in their own lives with a one track mind kind of thing going on but even with that sense of purpose, they'll still take the time to smile. 

I hope one day I can find my proper purpose in life like the people here but still be down to earth about it and be able to take the time to smile. Although one thing that I have noticed, because there seems to be such a steadfast culture and atmosphere, I feel like people miss out on a lot. They don't take the time to look around and absorb the beauty that is around them, whether it's the weather, the trees, the fashion or the other people around them. I rarely ever see a New Yorker looking around (that's one tip on how to search out the tourist and the New Yorker. I've luckily found that balance so that tour guide people don't look at me but I can still take in the city). I've noticed such small things, like owls (that are meant to keep away pidgeons) and carvings of acorns and oaks (as mentoined in a previous post). 

Anyway, you guys didn't come to my blog to read about my reflections and thoughts, right? Just the nitty gritty of what an average UN intern's life is, so I'll try to keep on track.

When I got to work, I worked a bit on my long term project, which involves synthesizing and summarizing material and documents (some of them of the "utmost confidentiality"). 

At lunch, I went out with two of my friends to the nearby market that was on 41st between Lexington and 3rd. 

The market!

Wow, you could really see the smoke coming off of those BBQs and smell the delicious scent of roasted meat and corn on the cob. It was just amazing to see, there were so many people, so many foods and the line ups were up the street. There was rolls of italian sausage, gyros, Carribean rum cake (oh my god, so delicious please give me more always, all the time), phone accessories, corn, vegan pasteries... pretty much anything and everything you could want. It was amazing. I loved just walking through and seeing everything that was there. And people were so welcoming and nice. I would ask them where they got their food or sometimes join into their conversations and people were 100% okay with it. Sometimes they even laughed at my comments and conversation even though I wasn't invited into them (I need to stop it, I feel creepy sometimes). 

My lunch came in a ridiculously
cute box

I ended up buying a Shawarma/roasted chicken/falafel wrap. It was delicious and amazing. I just talked to the girl as I talk to everyone, open up with whether or not they were busy and I think in general, everyone welcomes someone who wants to talk to them. Especially when they're working at a service job where they may be bored or tired of just asking "what would you like in this." She was really nice and when I had originally asked for shawarma (since it was one of the options), she actually asked me if I wanted a little bit of everything - and that's what I got. 

We were all so hungry so we all headed out to the park nearby, sat down and ate together. We actually ran into a few of my Brazilian friends, including the one I met yesterday and sat with them.

I found out the friend I met yesterday is LEAVING ON TUESDAY. I was so sad and heartbroken. When I told my friend about this, she told me that such is the way of the UN, people constantly come and go. They leave. I was heartbroken because we were getting along so well... and then he had to leave.  It makes me sad because it makes it hard to form really strong friendships (not saying that long distance doesn't work but it is a lot easier to be friends with someone when you can see each other and talk to each other face to face on a regular basis). 

After my heartbreak at lunch, I headed back to work and worked a bit on my project. One of my co-workers at the office actually pulled me out and told me "we're going for a walk." She brought me to the other building across the street, which is another UN building and I ended up just standing there to the side awkwardly as she introduced me to a million people that she knew (She worked there originally). It was amazing to see it. 

Actually, I really do admire her. She's quick, efficient, does good work on time and even in high-stress situations, she maintains her chill. She also gave me good advice. When things are high stress; leave and go out for a walk. It's a good way to relax and calm down. She's a smart lady. 

When I got back, it was just about time to head out, so I left the office, headed back home, ate a little bit (Honestly, my dinner was chips, don't judge me). I walked around with a friend at the market afterwards and we both kind of hung out and enjoyed.

 After relaxing a bit, I headed out to go to the Delegate's lounge. 

At the market

It was as great as ever, but the weather was gorgeous so everyone was outside enjoying themselves on the balcony. It was a really stunning, beautiful view. 

I know that a lot of people now just say "meh" to the delegate's lounge and treat it as though it's something they do every day and like it's not a big deal, but I hope that never happens to me. I want to go to the delegate's lounge every week and still be amazed and awed by the view of the UN, the river and be awed by the presence of some of the world's best and brightest (in terms of politics at least). I want to always feel like it's a big deal - because it is. All around the world, I know that some people would do anything to get where I am now and do what I'm doing now. So I will try not to disappoint them.

Tonight was a pretty good night, I met some interns from Spain, Finland, EU mission delegates and ... almost the whole German Mission delegation actually. It was an interesting and fun night. It was really nice to talk to the German delegates since I love listening to them speak German and I absolutely love their food. I remember back when I lived in France, most of my friends were German as well, so being here and meeting the whole German mission was a bit like France (Ironic I know). It was great though. I met some really nice people and enjoyed.

I found out that they are extremely overworked. They told me that they would be going into work... On a Saturday. Because they had to sit in and take notes about the Fifth committee. Also the German mission has their own building and restaurant (But not a permanent spot on the security council [?] I won't comment further on this, just pointing it out). They were all really nice to me and I got to practice my (limited and almost non-existent) German on them! I don't think they were too impressed but I definitely had fun talking to them.

All in all, a very good night, I left a while before the lounge closed up and went home to relax. I have a tour tomorrow morning of SoHo, Chinatown and Little Italy so sleep is of the utmost importance!

On a side note, I know my last few posts have been lacking a bit on photos, I will try my best to make up for that!