Day 9!

The days are getting busier and busier! Wednesday is not far away. I'm beginning to feel the stress from all the preparation I have to do. But knowing that stress only ties me from being able to show joy, loosen up and show empathy in my talent, I have placed that stress in a box under the bed.
What I need is rest. I'm not completely healed from my trip, I haven't started my usual dance program in the mornings and my voice is not yet at its best.
But I'll get there.

Today I had a long day! I started my morning heading straight towards New York Film Academy by Battery Park. Roger (the director of acting and musical admissions), who had seen my audition back in february was back from another audition trip, and he wanted to personally welcome me to the school and show me around.

It was extremely exciting seeing him there and talking about the next week and seeing all the new facilities. He'd been my adviser from the day he admitted me into the program and he's made my financial support from the school possible.
Once again, I walked from room to room glancing at the enormous rooms with brand new floors and walls. They are extremely lighted rooms, situated on the 5th floor, meaning the sunlight shines up the whole floor through the big windows.

The building is right by the sea, and no other buildings are in the way of the beautiful view. So while I dance in either of the rooms, I will have a clear view of the Statue of Liberty!

And much, much more about my school is to come. However, I will leave the best bits to when I shall write about my first days!

Straight after that, I went to take the Staten Island ferry. Primarily, it was to see the Statue of Liberty, which we would sail closely past.

Seeing the statue was wonderful. Such a story. The world is full of great stories. So sailing by the Statue of Liberty, a great story unfolded, filling up my mind.
I love things that are created with a great meaning to them, and this is definitely one of them.

I also couldn't help looking for the mouse in the crown - from An American Tail, the animation movie I saw with the Wittenberg family :)

Isn't that sight something?

This was the first thing the slaves saw, when

they came ashore, packed in small boats for trade in the country.
Beautifully ironic.

My school is the big brown/orange building

a little left to the center of the picture!

Imagine the view!!

This afternoon at 2pm I met with Josephine, a girl from the Salvation Army in Denmark, who's working at the social justice department in upper Manhattan. We went for a Starbucks and THEN for New York Film Academy's musical theatre showcase (from the students of the 1 year education). I had been looking forward to that ALL week.

To meet some of my class mates, to catch the ambience of the musical theatre course and find out what I have to live up to.

My first theatre trip in New York City.

A very special day!

I learnt a lot from seeing it. There were some good stars amongst them, and some very touching and funny moments. However, I definitely wasn't anxious about not living up to the level.
To be completely honest, this showcase was just as good as the showcase our musical theatre group did back at Guildford school of Acting, when I had a summer course there in England, which only we'd been working on in the 2 week-course.

I don't think it's about the faculty. What I'm sure about, is that my class and myself will be the best group NYFA has seen in decades! Everything starts wednesday!

Heading back to 13th street I quickly had my dinner downstairs in the Dining room. I hurried on to the next part of my program of the day. This evening at 7:25 was a huge evening for The Salvation Army's Eastern territory. It was the welcoming of the cadets.
I met with there with the Wittenbergs.

Already now, I feel extremely bad about my writing being really rushed and not very colorful!! The time is almost 12 and I'm sooo tired. But I honestly feel kind of addicted, telling you all about my adventure, so I'll go on with a few more lines!

What is important for me to say, is that I had a wonderful time at the meeting for the welcome of the cadets. 
So here's a confession. I am 19 years old, I've been raised in a very religious family, being a well-taught catholic and having been to hundreds of meetings in different churches in different countries.
- But I've never experienced anything so intense and so moving, as what I did at the meeting tonight.
I've always been drawn to the music in the meetings of the Salvation Army, because music speaks to me in a special way that words alone can't do.

I've never experienced myself being so lifted from the ground and held into the messages of the worship.
It was a relief and a wonderful fellowship that happened in that hall tonight.

People cried, hugged each other, lifted their hand up as high as they possibly could, kneeled on the spot, screamed Hallelujah or whispered Amen. And when I leaned over to Susan, saying that "this was incredible, and that this could only happen in America", she got shivers down her neck and seemed to cry a little tear, for she probably felt an instant confirmation of how much this place was truly full of grace.

As a perfect ending of the day, I took Josephine to my favorite place on Manhattan - the roof top on my building!
It was late and all dark, which excluded our view to only the lights of the city.
We took a cup of tea with us, and just sat there for about 30 minutes talking. About the city, about our new home and how we saw the people around us. About how thankful we were of the help we'd received and the smiles we'd met.

A good cup of tea, but a breathtaking view!

Or at least I really do feel thankful. Today the theme of the meeting was grace. And grace is often given or shown to us in times when we don't deserve it.

So today my writings are dedicated to the people who've helped me along the way. On this big journey.
The people who put everything they could into making it possible, knowing this was my dream.

*

To my parents who was and is an endless support. They are my biggest fans, and they wouldn't doubt in me a bit now. I broke their hearts singing publicly in a huge theatre about my dream that was too big for me in our home. About my need to break free and do it with their help or not.
But they know - and if not - they know now, that I love them more than words can say, no matter what. The great thing about you being my parents is that you're the best and easiest parents to love. Because you are all the support. You encourage me and tell my siblings to believe in themselves and work hard into achieving their goals like their big sister does. I know that it is not of parental love, that you believe in me, because you have learnt to see me the way that I have wished for to be seen. I couldn't be prouder holding your hands.

To Mormor and Morfar. When I called you in february shortly after my audition for the school, I could hear how you proudly nodded, amazed at my achievement, but not surprised. You said "so when are you going to New York?!". I laughed a little, since this was only a dream come true, but nothing that I had made possible yet. It was as if you knew from the beginning I could take it all the way. And still can - further on.
You blessed me with the most important thing - my living! You made the contact to New York, and spent hundreds of hours letting that part of the world know that I was coming.
I can achieve a lot, and most of it was my work - but I would not have been this blessed and in such good hands, at such a perfect timing, hadn't it been for you.

To Phil and Susan, who have been the greatest help from the day I arrived. Most of all, you made my journey possible, by creating the contact and finding the room for me. And even though you didn't have to, you have been such a blessing to me, opening your home up for me and letting me know that you are always there to help. When I looked around the meeting today, whilst speaking with other officers, - though they were all extremely kind - I thought to myself that I wouldn't pick any other couple over you. You are the nicest and most openhearted people, and I feel really lucky being introduced to you both.

To Farmor <3 You know that I'm pursuing the dream that you never had the opportunity to  live, even though you had the talent and the devotion. My talent is from you, and this is our dream. I will never let it die. You will be with me in this travel to the end of time - the ring you gave me is never taken off.

To the rest of my family, for their support, to Grith for putting herself into a great deal of work , helping me gather donations for my school money, to everyone else at the army who has welcomed me with smiles and excitement of how I will contribute to their chore, to everyone who donated on my gofundmepage raising about $2,000 for me!, to the friends who didn't judge me for not having time to see them in the process, but standing on the side signifying their support, while admiring my hard work, to the ones I can't even put a name on or remember, but you donated of kindness or read about my adventure wishing me luck and sending your angels every day.

I don't know how I deserved being taken so good care of, being so loved and supported.

But that is grace.

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