Monday, June 29, 2009
my life as a summer intern: part 3
Another great week has come and gone. Work still hasn't picked up too much so my days are still mostly spent going in and out of meetings, getting to know my team, and working on small assignments here and there for my manager and group members. There have been a few points where I've actually felt bored for 20 minutes so it's my goal to figure out how to most effectively engage myself in those moments.
I attended several guest speaker events this week where I had the opportunity learn about the work experiences and perspective of senior level management:
1. Lunch & Learn with a Credit Risk officer
One of the guys who came to my school to interview me for my position this summer spoke to all the interns in our divisions on Tuesday about credit risk and about the ways VLB has been affected and how the financial landscape is changing because of the credit crisis. He was great - I appreciated him for the simple terms he used to describe things and for sharing relevant, useful, and interesting information in such an engaging way.
2. Firm-wide intern event with one of the global head's of VLB
My internship program has these mandatory speaker series events where Very Important People come to explain their particular division or role and offer career advice to us. The guy that spoke on Tuesday evening was a pretty good speaker but I think a lot of us got the sense that he really wasn't too interested in being there. Even so, there were several overzealous kids during the Q&A time who were trying to out due each other with sophisticated questions. When the Q&A time was nearly over, the speaker looked at the facilitator and asked, "Am I good [to go]?" Yeah, not such an impressive attitude in my opinion.
3. Women on Wall Street panel of Managing Directors
On Wednesday after work, a few of the other girl interns and I attended this firm-wide, women's event where 4 successful, female managing directors held a Q&A time to share their experiences and offer advice to any woman who aspires to reach
a similar level "success" in the business world. Even though I'm still trying to figure out if this type of career path is what I even want, it was very interesting to hear their perspective and learn how they got to where they are today. They had some great stories - one of them told us that earlier in her career, she dramatically packed her desk up and walked out of the office when her manager didn't promote her with the rest of her class, made up of all males. I felt like their advice and encouragement was useful since they've all been through so much - both good and bad - and have come out on the other end.
Aside from work, things have been going really great. On Thursday night, Daniel took me out on a dinner date to a fabulous, Food network-featured, Indian restaurant called Tabla. It was SOOO good! We had a 3 course meal and every course was absolute perfection - from the combination of flavors to the spices used to the food placement on the plate. I don't know if I've ever had such a perfect meal. The service was great as well - the waiter actually brought us a 3rd dessert that we had been debating over, just so we could try it! Daniel and I both felt very spoiled by it all. I am so thankful for Daniel's desire for me to know and appreciate all the great things that NYC has to offer!
This past weekend was so much fun too. On Friday evening, Daniel met me downtown and we spent a few hours hanging out in a fun area of town called South Street Seaport while we waited for the rain to stop. On Saturday, I went running in Central Park with one of my new friends in our community group. It was tough (since exercise has not been the biggest priority here) but it was our excuse to enjoy a tasty burger and chips with Daniel at a great outdoor restaurant that overlooks the Hudson afterward! Later on, Daniel and I took advantage of our down time and went to see "The Proposal" in Lincoln Center. Even though it wasn't that realistic, I thought it was very cute and the actors were great! When nighttime came, Daniel and I met his roommate and girlfriend in an area called "The Village" which is known for its restaurants, bars, and nightlife. The 4 of us enjoyed a drink at a small, dimly lit lounge and it was a great time to see them and catch up. While I'm thinking about it, I have to mention that one thing that really sets New York apart is the ridiculously close association between "fun" and "drinking." When people here think about having a good time, it almost always involves drinking in some capacity. Everywhere else, drinking is 'an option' but in New York, it's 'THE option.' This mentality is difficult for me to get used to, mainly because it's hard for me to understand, but I hope that God will show me how to relate to people here through their perceptions of drinking, not just around it or in spite of it.
On Sunday, I met a few of the other VLB interns at the Met museum. Honestly, I am not a museum person at all. In fact, I find them pretty boring and they put me to sleep. But, I figured it would be a good opportunity for me to get to know some of the interns - especially since I'd have such little interest in the artifacts around me. One of the girls I got to talk with told me that she moved to the US from Turkey for her undergrad and is now about to start her 2nd year of grad school. I was reminded of one of my missionary friends who just finished her first year ministering college students in Turkey. How crazy is it that we're doing the same thing thousands of miles apart! Anyway, this girl I met is not the first I've talked to this summer who has picked up everything, left family and friends, and come to a foreign land, knowing there was more hope and opportunity here than in their home country. I am so impressed and don't know if I could do it. I'm eager to dig a little deeper into these incredible stories.
I'll leave you with a few more valuable life lessons from my time here:
1. Pantyhose and velcro are not friends
2. If you want to be successful in business, use key phrases like "I'd be happy to do that,"I'll reach out to _____ [for that answer]", and "per our conversation..."
3. Practice makes perfect - except when it comes to ironing button down shirts
4. People are happier on Fridays
I attended several guest speaker events this week where I had the opportunity learn about the work experiences and perspective of senior level management:
1. Lunch & Learn with a Credit Risk officer
One of the guys who came to my school to interview me for my position this summer spoke to all the interns in our divisions on Tuesday about credit risk and about the ways VLB has been affected and how the financial landscape is changing because of the credit crisis. He was great - I appreciated him for the simple terms he used to describe things and for sharing relevant, useful, and interesting information in such an engaging way.
2. Firm-wide intern event with one of the global head's of VLB
My internship program has these mandatory speaker series events where Very Important People come to explain their particular division or role and offer career advice to us. The guy that spoke on Tuesday evening was a pretty good speaker but I think a lot of us got the sense that he really wasn't too interested in being there. Even so, there were several overzealous kids during the Q&A time who were trying to out due each other with sophisticated questions. When the Q&A time was nearly over, the speaker looked at the facilitator and asked, "Am I good [to go]?" Yeah, not such an impressive attitude in my opinion.
3. Women on Wall Street panel of Managing Directors
On Wednesday after work, a few of the other girl interns and I attended this firm-wide, women's event where 4 successful, female managing directors held a Q&A time to share their experiences and offer advice to any woman who aspires to reach
a similar level "success" in the business world. Even though I'm still trying to figure out if this type of career path is what I even want, it was very interesting to hear their perspective and learn how they got to where they are today. They had some great stories - one of them told us that earlier in her career, she dramatically packed her desk up and walked out of the office when her manager didn't promote her with the rest of her class, made up of all males. I felt like their advice and encouragement was useful since they've all been through so much - both good and bad - and have come out on the other end.
Aside from work, things have been going really great. On Thursday night, Daniel took me out on a dinner date to a fabulous, Food network-featured, Indian restaurant called Tabla. It was SOOO good! We had a 3 course meal and every course was absolute perfection - from the combination of flavors to the spices used to the food placement on the plate. I don't know if I've ever had such a perfect meal. The service was great as well - the waiter actually brought us a 3rd dessert that we had been debating over, just so we could try it! Daniel and I both felt very spoiled by it all. I am so thankful for Daniel's desire for me to know and appreciate all the great things that NYC has to offer!
This past weekend was so much fun too. On Friday evening, Daniel met me downtown and we spent a few hours hanging out in a fun area of town called South Street Seaport while we waited for the rain to stop. On Saturday, I went running in Central Park with one of my new friends in our community group. It was tough (since exercise has not been the biggest priority here) but it was our excuse to enjoy a tasty burger and chips with Daniel at a great outdoor restaurant that overlooks the Hudson afterward! Later on, Daniel and I took advantage of our down time and went to see "The Proposal" in Lincoln Center. Even though it wasn't that realistic, I thought it was very cute and the actors were great! When nighttime came, Daniel and I met his roommate and girlfriend in an area called "The Village" which is known for its restaurants, bars, and nightlife. The 4 of us enjoyed a drink at a small, dimly lit lounge and it was a great time to see them and catch up. While I'm thinking about it, I have to mention that one thing that really sets New York apart is the ridiculously close association between "fun" and "drinking." When people here think about having a good time, it almost always involves drinking in some capacity. Everywhere else, drinking is 'an option' but in New York, it's 'THE option.' This mentality is difficult for me to get used to, mainly because it's hard for me to understand, but I hope that God will show me how to relate to people here through their perceptions of drinking, not just around it or in spite of it.
On Sunday, I met a few of the other VLB interns at the Met museum. Honestly, I am not a museum person at all. In fact, I find them pretty boring and they put me to sleep. But, I figured it would be a good opportunity for me to get to know some of the interns - especially since I'd have such little interest in the artifacts around me. One of the girls I got to talk with told me that she moved to the US from Turkey for her undergrad and is now about to start her 2nd year of grad school. I was reminded of one of my missionary friends who just finished her first year ministering college students in Turkey. How crazy is it that we're doing the same thing thousands of miles apart! Anyway, this girl I met is not the first I've talked to this summer who has picked up everything, left family and friends, and come to a foreign land, knowing there was more hope and opportunity here than in their home country. I am so impressed and don't know if I could do it. I'm eager to dig a little deeper into these incredible stories.
I'll leave you with a few more valuable life lessons from my time here:
1. Pantyhose and velcro are not friends
2. If you want to be successful in business, use key phrases like "I'd be happy to do that,"I'll reach out to _____ [for that answer]", and "per our conversation..."
3. Practice makes perfect - except when it comes to ironing button down shirts
4. People are happier on Fridays
Monday, June 22, 2009
my life as a summer intern: part 2
Week 2 has come and gone and it's already the start of week 3! I cannot believe how fast time is flying - it's almost July already! I knew this summer would go by fast but this is ridiculous. I'm definitely getting more comfortable around my team at work and have very little inhibition when it comes to chatting with them about their weekends, asking questions, and asking them for stuff to do. Everyone is noticeably older than me (the youngest one may be between 28-30. Okay, maybe that's not too old) but I still feel like I can relate to them well (some more than others) and I am blessed by how friendly and accepting they are of me.
My actual work flow has slowed down a bit since the first week. I haven't attended as many meetings and although my manager still takes time to teach me and explain concepts, he is asking me more and more to consult the other team members to help with any projects they have on their plates. I don't mind this but I just wish my team would actually have stuff to give me when I ask. It's one of those things where they mean well but they get to be so busy that it would take more time to explain how to do something and answer my questions, than if they were to just do it themselves.
Because of this, I've decided that I need to be more proactive in emailing others in different groups within the firm and plan meetings or lunch. It's important to me (and my manager) to learn as much as possible from other people and get the best insight and perspective about VLB as possible before the summer is over. That's a whole lot easier said than done though. My biggest inhibition, by far, is that I'll go to the trouble to meet with somebody that's way smarter than me only to understand a mere 15-20% of what they actually tell me. I wish I were more confident in myself that I can still hold an intelligent conversation with someone, even if I understand very little of what they tell me. Plus, there's a good chance I'll understand more than 20%... maybe??
This past week also marked the start of growing friendships. It was week 2 of our little summer intern community group that Daniel had a vision for back in April and May. After getting the blessing from a pastor at church, Daniel shared this vision with me when I first moved to NYC and we decided to go for it - see if students interning here for the summer were interested in studying the Bible and living life together in the City. Very quickly and easily, God brought 5 girls and 1 guy into our lives who are thirsty for community and the Word of God. Daniel has graciously hosted the group both weeks in a conference room at his office in midtown and our meetings have been the highlight of all of our weeks. We adore Daniel as our leader for his wisdom, exhortation, and testimonies which has affirmed all of us that we are in NYC for a purpose that is greater than we know. It's been so beautiful to talk about Jesus right in the middle of a City - in the middle of a building - that so desperately needs Him.
Funny enough, all of us go to school in Texas and 4 of the 5 girls plus the guy are all from the same school and are great friends. They are all wonderfully accepting, kind, genuine and so, so joyful. It usually takes me some time to warm up to people but I can honestly say that I love these people already. I admire their character and the way they long to know Jesus more. Without a doubt, this summer is the start of some beautiful friendships. I'm excited that we will get to learn from each other all summer long through our weekly meetings.
Lastly, I have decided this summer, I am going to practice the Sabbath. I've never made a good effort to do this before but after some emotional ups and downs last week (and the fact that I don't have to study for tests!!!), I decided that I need an evening to myself and to be alone with the Lord. I need time to pray and let my thoughts run without interruption. I need time that I don't feel guilty about NOT being with someone else, whether that's Daniel or church friends, or people from work. I've designated Mondays nights as my Sabbath and am excited for what God has to show me through it.
My actual work flow has slowed down a bit since the first week. I haven't attended as many meetings and although my manager still takes time to teach me and explain concepts, he is asking me more and more to consult the other team members to help with any projects they have on their plates. I don't mind this but I just wish my team would actually have stuff to give me when I ask. It's one of those things where they mean well but they get to be so busy that it would take more time to explain how to do something and answer my questions, than if they were to just do it themselves.
Because of this, I've decided that I need to be more proactive in emailing others in different groups within the firm and plan meetings or lunch. It's important to me (and my manager) to learn as much as possible from other people and get the best insight and perspective about VLB as possible before the summer is over. That's a whole lot easier said than done though. My biggest inhibition, by far, is that I'll go to the trouble to meet with somebody that's way smarter than me only to understand a mere 15-20% of what they actually tell me. I wish I were more confident in myself that I can still hold an intelligent conversation with someone, even if I understand very little of what they tell me. Plus, there's a good chance I'll understand more than 20%... maybe??
This past week also marked the start of growing friendships. It was week 2 of our little summer intern community group that Daniel had a vision for back in April and May. After getting the blessing from a pastor at church, Daniel shared this vision with me when I first moved to NYC and we decided to go for it - see if students interning here for the summer were interested in studying the Bible and living life together in the City. Very quickly and easily, God brought 5 girls and 1 guy into our lives who are thirsty for community and the Word of God. Daniel has graciously hosted the group both weeks in a conference room at his office in midtown and our meetings have been the highlight of all of our weeks. We adore Daniel as our leader for his wisdom, exhortation, and testimonies which has affirmed all of us that we are in NYC for a purpose that is greater than we know. It's been so beautiful to talk about Jesus right in the middle of a City - in the middle of a building - that so desperately needs Him.
Funny enough, all of us go to school in Texas and 4 of the 5 girls plus the guy are all from the same school and are great friends. They are all wonderfully accepting, kind, genuine and so, so joyful. It usually takes me some time to warm up to people but I can honestly say that I love these people already. I admire their character and the way they long to know Jesus more. Without a doubt, this summer is the start of some beautiful friendships. I'm excited that we will get to learn from each other all summer long through our weekly meetings.
Lastly, I have decided this summer, I am going to practice the Sabbath. I've never made a good effort to do this before but after some emotional ups and downs last week (and the fact that I don't have to study for tests!!!), I decided that I need an evening to myself and to be alone with the Lord. I need time to pray and let my thoughts run without interruption. I need time that I don't feel guilty about NOT being with someone else, whether that's Daniel or church friends, or people from work. I've designated Mondays nights as my Sabbath and am excited for what God has to show me through it.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
my life as a summer intern: part 1
Just to make sure everyone is on the same page: I was offered a summer internship position at a very large bank back in March. From this point on, I'll refer to them as VLB (Very Large Bank). By very large, I mean that this bank has a very strong global presence and I was privileged enough to be placed in their New York City office, which is by far their largest office in the U.S. It was my only offer but it was by far my best offer and I know without a doubt that the only reason I am only here because it was the Lord's good, pleasing, and perfect will for me to be here. I am fully confident that He has ordained this time for me and I am so grateful.
I just finished my first official week of work and I am getting ready to start week 2 tomorrow. Monday and Tuesday were training days for all the interns, regardless of which division we were placed in. I made a point to introduce myself to as many people as possible and among other things, remember their names. It's been great to hear about their backgrounds and where they are coming from, as well as realize that despite that, we all have so much in common in regard to work this summer - same anxieties, same expectations (or lack thereof), same questions. It's been easy to relate so far and I'm enjoying all the new faces and new stories.
Wednesday was my first real day of work and it has been a crazy whirlwind ever since but I am loving it so far. It turns out, I was placed into the Equities Compliance division of VLB and the specific team I will be working with is kind of like an advisory group. Because they handle a lot of real time questions from traders, they have to be pretty close to the action. In fact, they actually sit on the trading floor and because my manager is kind of awesome (more on him later), I will actually be sitting on the trading floor at my manager's desk with my team as much as possible (my manger has a separate office on another floor as well). Isn't that Crazy??? In case you don't know too much about the financial services industry, a summer intern working on the trading floor is crazy talk.
Like I said, my manager is awesome. He multi-tasks like no one I've ever seen and he has this naturally kind of restless nature. He always seems to be in a bit of a hurry (in fact, I find myself all but running after him through the office) and he's great at thinking on his feet and making his perspective known in a group of people. He's like a Type A cubed. At the same time, he is incredible patient in teaching and mentoring me and he fully and actively supports me getting the absolute most out of my internship experience. In fact, he actually told me that his door is always open to me and that I am here to bug him and make my presence known - he actually expects face-to-face interaction with me on a daily basis. What a unique opportunity I have been blessed with! I can't describe how wonderful it is to know that someone in his position, with his industry knowledge and esteemed reputation is on my side - pushing me to learn and grow as much as possible.
As a result, he has asked me to join him in most of the meetings he had scheduled last week and usually introduces me as "a member of his team" vs. just "a summer intern." He has also taken time out on several occasions to explain everything from the premise of upcoming meetings to important concepts that were discussed within the meeting to the way certain projects the team is working on fit into the overall picture of what the Compliance group of VLB. I was given a few small assignments here and there but most of my time so far has been spent shadowing my manager and other members of my group through their meetings and commitments, getting a few for the culture of VLB, and trying to understand the nature and responsibilities of the Equities Compliance group.
Since I am now a working woman, here are just a few lessons I've learned so far regarding full time work at a global bank:
1. If you go to bed early enough, it is possible to wake up before 6:30 AM.
2. The ability to actively listen and think during meetings is way more important than I realized. I need work on this.
3. The best way to remember Indian people's names is to associate it with an object that sounds somewhat similar to their name.
4. Managing directors, VP's, supervisors, CEO's, etc are just everyday people.
5. 8 hours of work goes by way faster than I thought it was going to.
6. The 4 hours in between work and sleep goes by way, way, way (way, way) faster than I thought it was going to.
I just finished my first official week of work and I am getting ready to start week 2 tomorrow. Monday and Tuesday were training days for all the interns, regardless of which division we were placed in. I made a point to introduce myself to as many people as possible and among other things, remember their names. It's been great to hear about their backgrounds and where they are coming from, as well as realize that despite that, we all have so much in common in regard to work this summer - same anxieties, same expectations (or lack thereof), same questions. It's been easy to relate so far and I'm enjoying all the new faces and new stories.
Wednesday was my first real day of work and it has been a crazy whirlwind ever since but I am loving it so far. It turns out, I was placed into the Equities Compliance division of VLB and the specific team I will be working with is kind of like an advisory group. Because they handle a lot of real time questions from traders, they have to be pretty close to the action. In fact, they actually sit on the trading floor and because my manager is kind of awesome (more on him later), I will actually be sitting on the trading floor at my manager's desk with my team as much as possible (my manger has a separate office on another floor as well). Isn't that Crazy??? In case you don't know too much about the financial services industry, a summer intern working on the trading floor is crazy talk.
Like I said, my manager is awesome. He multi-tasks like no one I've ever seen and he has this naturally kind of restless nature. He always seems to be in a bit of a hurry (in fact, I find myself all but running after him through the office) and he's great at thinking on his feet and making his perspective known in a group of people. He's like a Type A cubed. At the same time, he is incredible patient in teaching and mentoring me and he fully and actively supports me getting the absolute most out of my internship experience. In fact, he actually told me that his door is always open to me and that I am here to bug him and make my presence known - he actually expects face-to-face interaction with me on a daily basis. What a unique opportunity I have been blessed with! I can't describe how wonderful it is to know that someone in his position, with his industry knowledge and esteemed reputation is on my side - pushing me to learn and grow as much as possible.
As a result, he has asked me to join him in most of the meetings he had scheduled last week and usually introduces me as "a member of his team" vs. just "a summer intern." He has also taken time out on several occasions to explain everything from the premise of upcoming meetings to important concepts that were discussed within the meeting to the way certain projects the team is working on fit into the overall picture of what the Compliance group of VLB. I was given a few small assignments here and there but most of my time so far has been spent shadowing my manager and other members of my group through their meetings and commitments, getting a few for the culture of VLB, and trying to understand the nature and responsibilities of the Equities Compliance group.
Since I am now a working woman, here are just a few lessons I've learned so far regarding full time work at a global bank:
1. If you go to bed early enough, it is possible to wake up before 6:30 AM.
2. The ability to actively listen and think during meetings is way more important than I realized. I need work on this.
3. The best way to remember Indian people's names is to associate it with an object that sounds somewhat similar to their name.
4. Managing directors, VP's, supervisors, CEO's, etc are just everyday people.
5. 8 hours of work goes by way faster than I thought it was going to.
6. The 4 hours in between work and sleep goes by way, way, way (way, way) faster than I thought it was going to.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
mom, dad: i want a jewish wedding
Last night, I attended one of the most elegant, fun-filled, culture-saturated, and joyful events I've ever been to in my life! Here is the story of my first Jewish wedding. Daniel's manager at work got married in New Jersey and I got to go as his date. We've been to several weddings together in the last two years but this was our first Jewish wedding to go to and we really had no idea what to expect.
We met some of Daniel's other work friends and their dates at his office in midtown and then piled into a van together to start our crazy adventure. Since we got to the location a little early, we each grabbed a (quite delicious) glass of champagne and wandered around the downstairs lobby area of the beautiful building which would host both the ceremony (upstairs) and the reception (downstairs ballroom off of the lobby). One of the first things we noticed were these extraordinary ICE SCULPTURES which were not only decoration, but would later be utilized as giant serving dishes and bar counters. I had never seen anything like it! The ice was so clear and each was so intricately sculpted - it was breathtaking!
Finally, we made our way upstairs for the ceremony. Most of it was pretty traditional but there were a few elements that made it really unique to me. First of all, most of the men wore a kippah. Also, no one in the congregation stood up when the bride walked down the aisle. This was strange at first but the more I think about it, the more I appreciate the diminished exaltation of the bride. I don't know whether that was the intention or not but it was just something I noticed. Also, at the very end of the ceremony, the couple shattered a bowl of glass which served as a reminder that their marriage vows are permanent and irrevocable. Although I didn't necessarily agree with everything, it definitely gave me a new appreciation for the Jewish culture, their values, and love of family and friends.
After the ceremony we went back downstairs and were welcomed by tons of wait staff and bartenders who stood at 10-12 different serving locations all around the lobby. The food selection was magnificent. The guests were invited to fill however many little plates they wanted with everything from pork chops to salad to pasta to sushi to gourmet chicken and pork to shrimp to breads and cheeses and fruits to quesadillas to all the finger foods that were brought around to us by more wait staff. The guests quickly filled the room and it was hard to find a spot to enjoy all the delicious food so several of us took turns venturing out for 4th and 5th helpings. I am enjoying Daniel's work events more and more as I get to know his team and other friends around the office. They are such nice, friendly people and I really love learning about their lives and hearing their perspective about work and living in the City.
When we were about 3/4 full or so, we found out that all the wining and dining we had been doing was essentially an appetizer as the bride and her family had planned a dinner for all the guests during the official reception. Daniel's face was priceless to watch as we were told this - we were both completely shocked! Shortly after, we made our way into the beautiful ballroom and found our seats at our elegantly set table. The ballroom was HUGE and had a decent sized dancefloor, which I was very happy to see. A 10 person band comprised solely of beautiful, crazy talented men and women (which included 4 back up singers) started playing some fun, upbeat music to help welcome the wedding party into the room. Everyone in the room stood up from the table and clapped to the music as the scene built up more and more. In the weddings I've been to in the past, the bride and groom walking into the reception is practically an afterthought as all the guests are typically involved in their drinks or conversations. This was so different, though. Everyone's focus was completely on the door and all attention was directed toward welcoming the bride and groom - I loved it! I couldn't help but smile and bounce around a little in my heels to the music at the joy, excitement, and anticipation that was so contagious in the room.
One of the singers served as the announcer and walked around the dancefloor with a portable mike. He talked directly to certain tables and areas of the room and he was such a hoot! The flower girls and ring bearers came into the room first, followed by the parents of the bride and groom, each causing an uproar of applause from the guests. Each of the couples had a few minutes to dance a little bit on the floor as everyone clapped along before heading to their table. Finally the bride and groom skipped in and you can just imagine the response!
I know this post is getting long already but the next thing that happened was by far my favorite part: after watching the couple dance for a minute or two, all of the wedding guests gathered around the bride and groom and made concentric circles around them. The different circles grabbed hands and skipped in opposite directions of each other to the music shouting "Mazel tov!" and other such happy phrases. Aside from maybe major sports events, I have never seen that many happy people gathered in one place. Some chairs were brought in and the bride and groom were hoisted in the air on chairs and we all cheered as they were lifted up and down (another Jewish tradition). It was SO. MUCH. FUN. =]
The rest of the night consisted of more amazing music by the band who tended to walk around on the dance floor around the dancers, wine and champagne that kept appearing in my glasses, the best steak I've ever tasted in my life, dancing with Daniel to live oldies and current Hip Hop music, and laughing and joking with people that are slowly becoming my friends. I can't believe I'm so blessed to be here in New York, experiencing something so unique and fun and lovely all at the same time. It was an amazing night with some fun memories that I'll cherish for a long time.
We met some of Daniel's other work friends and their dates at his office in midtown and then piled into a van together to start our crazy adventure. Since we got to the location a little early, we each grabbed a (quite delicious) glass of champagne and wandered around the downstairs lobby area of the beautiful building which would host both the ceremony (upstairs) and the reception (downstairs ballroom off of the lobby). One of the first things we noticed were these extraordinary ICE SCULPTURES which were not only decoration, but would later be utilized as giant serving dishes and bar counters. I had never seen anything like it! The ice was so clear and each was so intricately sculpted - it was breathtaking!
Finally, we made our way upstairs for the ceremony. Most of it was pretty traditional but there were a few elements that made it really unique to me. First of all, most of the men wore a kippah. Also, no one in the congregation stood up when the bride walked down the aisle. This was strange at first but the more I think about it, the more I appreciate the diminished exaltation of the bride. I don't know whether that was the intention or not but it was just something I noticed. Also, at the very end of the ceremony, the couple shattered a bowl of glass which served as a reminder that their marriage vows are permanent and irrevocable. Although I didn't necessarily agree with everything, it definitely gave me a new appreciation for the Jewish culture, their values, and love of family and friends.
After the ceremony we went back downstairs and were welcomed by tons of wait staff and bartenders who stood at 10-12 different serving locations all around the lobby. The food selection was magnificent. The guests were invited to fill however many little plates they wanted with everything from pork chops to salad to pasta to sushi to gourmet chicken and pork to shrimp to breads and cheeses and fruits to quesadillas to all the finger foods that were brought around to us by more wait staff. The guests quickly filled the room and it was hard to find a spot to enjoy all the delicious food so several of us took turns venturing out for 4th and 5th helpings. I am enjoying Daniel's work events more and more as I get to know his team and other friends around the office. They are such nice, friendly people and I really love learning about their lives and hearing their perspective about work and living in the City.
When we were about 3/4 full or so, we found out that all the wining and dining we had been doing was essentially an appetizer as the bride and her family had planned a dinner for all the guests during the official reception. Daniel's face was priceless to watch as we were told this - we were both completely shocked! Shortly after, we made our way into the beautiful ballroom and found our seats at our elegantly set table. The ballroom was HUGE and had a decent sized dancefloor, which I was very happy to see. A 10 person band comprised solely of beautiful, crazy talented men and women (which included 4 back up singers) started playing some fun, upbeat music to help welcome the wedding party into the room. Everyone in the room stood up from the table and clapped to the music as the scene built up more and more. In the weddings I've been to in the past, the bride and groom walking into the reception is practically an afterthought as all the guests are typically involved in their drinks or conversations. This was so different, though. Everyone's focus was completely on the door and all attention was directed toward welcoming the bride and groom - I loved it! I couldn't help but smile and bounce around a little in my heels to the music at the joy, excitement, and anticipation that was so contagious in the room.
One of the singers served as the announcer and walked around the dancefloor with a portable mike. He talked directly to certain tables and areas of the room and he was such a hoot! The flower girls and ring bearers came into the room first, followed by the parents of the bride and groom, each causing an uproar of applause from the guests. Each of the couples had a few minutes to dance a little bit on the floor as everyone clapped along before heading to their table. Finally the bride and groom skipped in and you can just imagine the response!
I know this post is getting long already but the next thing that happened was by far my favorite part: after watching the couple dance for a minute or two, all of the wedding guests gathered around the bride and groom and made concentric circles around them. The different circles grabbed hands and skipped in opposite directions of each other to the music shouting "Mazel tov!" and other such happy phrases. Aside from maybe major sports events, I have never seen that many happy people gathered in one place. Some chairs were brought in and the bride and groom were hoisted in the air on chairs and we all cheered as they were lifted up and down (another Jewish tradition). It was SO. MUCH. FUN. =]
The rest of the night consisted of more amazing music by the band who tended to walk around on the dance floor around the dancers, wine and champagne that kept appearing in my glasses, the best steak I've ever tasted in my life, dancing with Daniel to live oldies and current Hip Hop music, and laughing and joking with people that are slowly becoming my friends. I can't believe I'm so blessed to be here in New York, experiencing something so unique and fun and lovely all at the same time. It was an amazing night with some fun memories that I'll cherish for a long time.
Labels: life
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
the first few, very fun days
I can't believe that tomorrow marks a week that I've been in New York City so far. Since moving in to my place on Sunday, the reality that I'm here for a whole 11 weeks and my purpose is much more than a vacation has slowly started to sink in. Before things start to get crazy here, I wanted to share a little bit about what the past week has been like.
One of Daniel's roommates, Derek, had a birthday on Wednesday so Daniel and I made our way to to Madison Square Park to meet some church friends at a tasty little burger & shake joint to celebrate. I didn't have much to share but it was fun to laugh at the stories and comments made and start the process of getting to know some of the people I hope to grow closer to by the end of the summer. On Thursday, Daniel took me out on a date to a nice sit-down dinner at a restaurant in the upper west side to celebrate our 2 year anniversary. We got to talk about our vision for the summer and what it could look like. Having a long, uninterrupted, face-to-face conversation is such a treat for both of us and our conversation encouraged me so much.
on Friday, I met Daniel in midtown for lunch. As we were walking back to his office building, I commented on the terrible condition of my leather sperry's. For some reason, the leather has been drying out like crazy, even after conditioning it several times with this shoe lotion I bought! Daniel recommended that I have them shined and then said that he knows of a cheerful, charismatic man who shines people's shoes everyday at a particular intersection. Before I could decide whether I was even comfortable with this idea, I was in an elevated chair in the middle of 6th Avenue while my "professional shoe shiner" reprimanded me for the condition of my shoes. He went to work immediately and I'm happy to say that despite my reservations my shoes turned out great! They look almost as good as new!
Toward the end of the afternoon, I met Daniel at his office building for a company happy hour! They catered in quite an assortment of appetizer finger foods and desserts which were all really tasty! It was fun to catch up a little bit with some of Daniel's work friends that I've gotten to meet several times during my visits to the City. Depending on who I'm talking to, I sometimes feel like I'm on my toes to say the right thing or "sound intelligent," especially when they ask me about what I'm doing this summer. But for the most part, conversation is pretty comfortable and people seem to like me and express interest in what I'm up to which is special to me. After happy hour, Daniel and I left for Brooklyn because some of Derek's friends threw him a surprise birthday party that night. I saw many of the same faces from Thursday night but I also got to meet a lot of new ones. I feel like face time will be a really important key to getting to know and feel comfortable around people at church. Several of us made our way to the roof of the building and the view of Manhattan from the edge of Brooklyn was amazingly beautiful!
Saturday was pretty low key since I woke up feeling a little under the weather. Daniel and I relaxed on the couch and watched some TV. In the late afternoon, we made our way to a neat restaurant where we enjoyed an appetizer downstairs and then went up all the way up to the restaurant's rooftop bar where we met one of Daniel's friends from work and his girlfriend. The weather was perfect and I really enjoyed meeting the two of them, especially after finding out that they are both from my hometown! I hope that we can spend more time with them over the course of the summer. Afterwards, Daniel and I went to dinner at a fun, tasty, and very welcoming Italian restaurant where we stuffed ourselves with bread and pasta.
On Sunday, I moved into my new place! It was shockingly tiny at first but I'm slowly getting used to it. Once I actually finish unpacking and find some things to put on the walls, I'll post a few pictures. Everyone who lives on nearby floors are students and student interns which makes it really convenient for me to meet people from all over the U.S. who are here to do exactly what I'll be doing. My goal is to make myself available to meet as many student interns as possible and work to build relationships with them over the course of the summer. Right now and in the next week, I know that it's important for me to take initiative, get out of my comfort zone, and really put myself out there so I won't have any regrets by the time August rolls around. So far so good. On Monday night, I participated in an event called "neighborhood tour" and got to meet and talk with more than 10 other interns who will be working all over the City. After the tour, we all ate dinner together at a diner and exchanged numbers at the end of the night.
One thing that has really been confirmed for me over the last week is that I really, really enjoy meeting and getting to know new people. I walk away energized and excited. I've kind of forgotten that because it's been awhile since I've met so many new people versus just spending time with people I already know. If you think about me, please pray that I would continue to practice diligence by knocking on people's doors and following up with the people I've met so far in my building.
One of Daniel's roommates, Derek, had a birthday on Wednesday so Daniel and I made our way to to Madison Square Park to meet some church friends at a tasty little burger & shake joint to celebrate. I didn't have much to share but it was fun to laugh at the stories and comments made and start the process of getting to know some of the people I hope to grow closer to by the end of the summer. On Thursday, Daniel took me out on a date to a nice sit-down dinner at a restaurant in the upper west side to celebrate our 2 year anniversary. We got to talk about our vision for the summer and what it could look like. Having a long, uninterrupted, face-to-face conversation is such a treat for both of us and our conversation encouraged me so much.
on Friday, I met Daniel in midtown for lunch. As we were walking back to his office building, I commented on the terrible condition of my leather sperry's. For some reason, the leather has been drying out like crazy, even after conditioning it several times with this shoe lotion I bought! Daniel recommended that I have them shined and then said that he knows of a cheerful, charismatic man who shines people's shoes everyday at a particular intersection. Before I could decide whether I was even comfortable with this idea, I was in an elevated chair in the middle of 6th Avenue while my "professional shoe shiner" reprimanded me for the condition of my shoes. He went to work immediately and I'm happy to say that despite my reservations my shoes turned out great! They look almost as good as new!
Toward the end of the afternoon, I met Daniel at his office building for a company happy hour! They catered in quite an assortment of appetizer finger foods and desserts which were all really tasty! It was fun to catch up a little bit with some of Daniel's work friends that I've gotten to meet several times during my visits to the City. Depending on who I'm talking to, I sometimes feel like I'm on my toes to say the right thing or "sound intelligent," especially when they ask me about what I'm doing this summer. But for the most part, conversation is pretty comfortable and people seem to like me and express interest in what I'm up to which is special to me. After happy hour, Daniel and I left for Brooklyn because some of Derek's friends threw him a surprise birthday party that night. I saw many of the same faces from Thursday night but I also got to meet a lot of new ones. I feel like face time will be a really important key to getting to know and feel comfortable around people at church. Several of us made our way to the roof of the building and the view of Manhattan from the edge of Brooklyn was amazingly beautiful!
Saturday was pretty low key since I woke up feeling a little under the weather. Daniel and I relaxed on the couch and watched some TV. In the late afternoon, we made our way to a neat restaurant where we enjoyed an appetizer downstairs and then went up all the way up to the restaurant's rooftop bar where we met one of Daniel's friends from work and his girlfriend. The weather was perfect and I really enjoyed meeting the two of them, especially after finding out that they are both from my hometown! I hope that we can spend more time with them over the course of the summer. Afterwards, Daniel and I went to dinner at a fun, tasty, and very welcoming Italian restaurant where we stuffed ourselves with bread and pasta.
On Sunday, I moved into my new place! It was shockingly tiny at first but I'm slowly getting used to it. Once I actually finish unpacking and find some things to put on the walls, I'll post a few pictures. Everyone who lives on nearby floors are students and student interns which makes it really convenient for me to meet people from all over the U.S. who are here to do exactly what I'll be doing. My goal is to make myself available to meet as many student interns as possible and work to build relationships with them over the course of the summer. Right now and in the next week, I know that it's important for me to take initiative, get out of my comfort zone, and really put myself out there so I won't have any regrets by the time August rolls around. So far so good. On Monday night, I participated in an event called "neighborhood tour" and got to meet and talk with more than 10 other interns who will be working all over the City. After the tour, we all ate dinner together at a diner and exchanged numbers at the end of the night.
One thing that has really been confirmed for me over the last week is that I really, really enjoy meeting and getting to know new people. I walk away energized and excited. I've kind of forgotten that because it's been awhile since I've met so many new people versus just spending time with people I already know. If you think about me, please pray that I would continue to practice diligence by knocking on people's doors and following up with the people I've met so far in my building.
Monday, June 1, 2009
may happenings
May has been a crazy month of transitions which is part of the reason I haven't found much time to blog. I spent much of the 2nd week of this month buried in a library preparing for my comprehensive accounting exam that was on that Thursday night - it felt so good to get that thing over with! After that, I decided to go home to see my family even though I had a Finance exam early in the week. Daniel flew in to see his family that same weekend and we were able to spend some time fun, relaxing with each other and with our college friends. Daniel and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary of dating on May 19th! Because we couldn't actually see each other on that day, we decided to plan a fun date night to celebrate after I moved up.
When my last final was over, I went back home to spend a week and a half with my family before flying to NYC for the summer! Time at home was really good. I don't always know how much I miss running errands with Mom, telling stories to Dad, goofing off with Mike, being real with Rachel, and making Jackie laugh until I'm actually at home doing those things that I love. Home was also great cause I spent time laying out by the pool with one of my best friends, Katie, right before she left to spend the summer teaching English in Romania! I also hung out with my other best friend, Sarah, in between her traveling for internship interviews. I also got my fill of tasty Sonic drinks which I'll have to go without until August.
I'll end this post with pictures of another big change: getting a summer hair cut!
Before:
After:
When my last final was over, I went back home to spend a week and a half with my family before flying to NYC for the summer! Time at home was really good. I don't always know how much I miss running errands with Mom, telling stories to Dad, goofing off with Mike, being real with Rachel, and making Jackie laugh until I'm actually at home doing those things that I love. Home was also great cause I spent time laying out by the pool with one of my best friends, Katie, right before she left to spend the summer teaching English in Romania! I also hung out with my other best friend, Sarah, in between her traveling for internship interviews. I also got my fill of tasty Sonic drinks which I'll have to go without until August.
I'll end this post with pictures of another big change: getting a summer hair cut!
Before:
After:
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