Christmas with Young Frankenstein

I wasn't sure whether this was to be a review or a simple blog entry about what I did this Christmas. The city was bustling as always during the holiday season and it seemed as though all Broadway shows were either closed for Christmas or already sold out.

I had heard about the show before and although it wasn't my first choice (we passed by 'Avenue Q' and 'Billy Elliott' first), they were having a lottery for the front row seats and as luck would have it, we won!
Winning is always exciting but I can't say the show was all that great. The jokes were a little corny. The music and songs were just so-so and I was surprised it won the 'Best Musical' award for 2008. Plenty of double-entendres.

But you could tell that the production, the set, and the costumes were very expensive. Though the house was packed that night it was obvious the show was losing money and would be closing in January. Spamalot is much better but when we watched it we actually had no seats and had to stand during the show for roughly the same price as our lottery tickets here.

Actually, here's a link to a more comprehensive review in the New York Times (which says our tickets were worth $450 each!):
http://theater2.nytimes.com/2007/11/09/theater/reviews/09fran.html

But despite everything, I really must say, the lottery was definitely worth it! For $27 you get the best seats in the house and I really kept going on and on about how lucky we were because it was a full house from orchestra to both balconies. This probably will be my last Broadway play of the year. Now if only I can get my good luck to work on 'Wicked'.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Joyeux Noël, Feliz Navidad, Maligayang Pasko !!!! May your Christmas be filled with love and joy! :)

Just a Ride

On my way to work, I could not help but smile when I read this Isaac Newton quote in the "Trains of Thought" series on the bus today:

"I do not know what I may appear to the world; but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me."

That's not all. Once I transferred to my train, I had to suppress a giggle when I saw this poster:The picture is just from my phone's camera so it's a bit blurry ... but if you're looking for a unique Halloween costume or want to be a superstar as advertised, you can be Kanye West! I think it's an ad for Absolut vodka but I really had to read the fine print to find that out. Funny how no one else in the crowded train paid it any attention.

Then I did a search on Google and found this (will also upload the video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TrkrSdyIHY

Crazy old big apple indeed!

First and Last

You know that first day high? It feels strange but good having another one of them. Today was my first day as a working girl in New York.

Dressing, grooming and making myself up to look professional. I haven't done that for years. I found this photo of me at my last day at my last real job. I looked so happy then. Probably because I knew it was an exciting ride ahead. But I had no idea of all the adventures I would get myself into.

Now I'm back to office life. Back to getting lost on the floor, not knowing where to get water, and feeling awkward needing a badge to use the bathroom. Anyway, nothing too crazy happened but today is proof that the New York chapter of my adventure is not over yet.

Thies Village Banks

My last week and first time on the field in Thies.

Walking around Thies

Night at Cathedrale Sainte-Anne, Thies

This is the cathedral right across the street from where I lived in Thies. I think it was around 9pm and there were lights inside the church because there was choir practice. It had just finished raining and I went outside with my camera gear, super fantastic tripod, and my travel umbrella (good thing too because it was still drizzling). I soon had to go back inside though because I was being devoured alive by mosquitoes. Thies was part two of my summer internship (the first part being in Kolda).