Being a Foreigner has its Perks

New York has been on lockdown this week because the UN general assembly was meeting plus the Clinton Global Initiative's global meeting was taking place. roads were closed, motorcades of heads of state and royalty were ten a penny and I attended the ambassador's residence for the announcement of the declaration against sexual violence in conflict by William Hague. for the record, that's the way he speaks in real life.

it's been surreal to be a part of all this. it's something you see on TV and hear about in the news but to experience it firsthand is amazing.

life returned to normality yesterday. our ED left after a week attending CGI and I went back to my martial arts school for a double session after two weeks off - I learnt various 'destruction' shots in our street kick boxing class last night so don't cross me.

this morning I went to a fitness class that had tabata elements to it. it's all the rage and I think it's in London now. check it out.

pancakes, bacon, maple syrup for breakfast and batting cages this afternoon. I am truly embracing the American way of life and have finally squeezed back into my skinny jeans for the first time in nearly a year. life is good.

to compound the randomness of my life right now, an old friend has reentered my life. I met L and her son for lunch for the first time in 11 years. the last time no doubt would have been a teary goodbye in Paris as students and now she, her husband, and her little boy have up sticks to NYC too. I wonder whether she will be as big a part of my overseas adventure this time round. the good thing was that it was like nothing had changed. I can't wait to find out.