My first days at NYFA!

The first day of school, all the new students of musical theatre and acting for film were put into one room, where we had to present ourselves to everyone. 
This is how we start working as actors. Getting to know one another. Because that's what our job will be in acting class.
Before that the head of New York Film Academy talked about how professional we should work in every class, in order to pursue the best of ourselves. And I thought; of course I will pursue the best, because I want the best there is to get. And for the teachers to choose me out of thousands of applicants, that must mean that they see my ability to reach that level.
I want to be an actress and perform on the stages of Broadway, I dreamed to myself. 
I want that career more than anything.
One day, soon. Very soon. 

But then he stopped my thoughts by saying: "Your career has started from this day on."
And that's how it all began.

This is how I became a performer of musical theatre.

On the first day of the new chapter in my life, I spent the time exploring the school, grabbing as many New York Film Academy t'shirts I could carry (because they're free!), listening intensely to the teachers giving us all the inspiring opening speeches, meeting as many people as I could on my way - either musical theatre students or folks from other programs, sharing my eagerness with young dreamers like me, starting to fill up the next weeks in my calendar, nodding to teachers and smiling because I now belong to their professional work, getting my official student ID card and developing such a great desire just to BE here every single day.

My musical theatre building at Battery Park is simply perfect. It's truly the best location in New York City. And everyone says that, so I'm not just trying to color the story well ;)
The musical theatre department is located on the 5th and 4th floor.

While walking around these halls, you can follow cruise ships to the bay, watch helicopters take off  and see how the sun sparkles on the Brooklyn Bridge.

I know that even the teachers are jealous of their students!

The rooms are incredibly big and bright. Lovely, but empty - which makes it seem even more like the rooms are calling for new students to fill the rooms with song, dance and acting - all their heart's desires.
Because there's space for this. When you stand in the rooms, all you see is the sky, a few tree tops from Battery Park, and the Statue of Liberty that stands beautiful and tall on Ellis Island.
And there's space for this, because the teachers are so welcoming and just as excited to get the rooms full as we students are.

So I'll be the first year of students that create the atmosphere and start living the soul the rooms were made for in the first place.

My first day was the longest and most packed day I'd had, since I arrived - and it felt GREAT!

And Dad, - there are tons of Brazilian people, who in fact are staying at my residence! I've told them to speak Portuguese to me, so that I will be fluent, when I come home in some years <3

Caraca! For a whole day, I walked around with portuguese to my ears ;) How wonderful!

That feeling of running between appointments/meetings, not having more than 20 minutes to finish my lunch, was the best I'd had since I got here.
It had begun.
I was finally getting started on what I love the most.
Being busy.
- But being busy for musical theatre.

On the same night I had dinner with the Wittenberg's at the Markle residence. It was so nice to finally have them at my place! ;)
Plans were to go to the 9/11 memorial meeting with the Salvation Army on 14th street. Max Lucado, a great author, and one of the biggest and most loved in the Christian world, came to preach and speak about his new book 'You'll get through this' .
He is a great storyteller and funny too. And the meeting was beautiful and very touching.
I felt nothing but encouraged by his words, which uplifted the room with hope.
I got a free copy of the book, which I'm long way into already (those ones of you who are interested, I can really recommend it - the sale started today!).

I finally got the chance to show my American family the roof top - my favorite place in the city.
A bright light shined from where the Twin towers once stood, in remembrance of the lost ones. This light can only be seen a couple of days - and rarely like this!

It went about twice as high further up through the clouds!

Thursday was my audition day. Already! We had to audition again to the school, so that the whole faculty could see us, and get to know us better, before we were put into separate classes. There was going to be formed 4 levels of dance and about 5 levels of singing.

My hopes were not to be in the worst dance class, since I have really worked hard and trusted my dancing, since the passing away of my grandmother.

I had a good peaceful morning, so I could start my audition day with as little stress and as much devotion as possible. With a cup of tea, reading in a book for an hour, just waking up and preparing myself for the pressure of the day.

But I didn't feel nervous or pressured, I was really looking forward to my dance audition in the morning! As soon as my eyelids would allow it, I jumped out of bed, and started my 1 hour dance/stretch routine, and had a good portion of breakfast.

Getting the wrong foot out of bed,

leaving in stress or even without breakfast

puts a hugely bad effect on your audition, or just your day in general!

(Just imagine what I'd look like, if my feet didn't know which way to go!)

I was looking forward to the audition, because I was looking forward to be in the presence of my grandmother. To feel her in the room. To feel her smile down at me, like she's done every time I've danced or sung since sunday.

Kind of like when Bella in Twilight seeks dangerous adrenaline rides, because it makes her see Edward, who's left her at the time.
So - a bit like Bella, except the fact that dancing is good for you ;)

I spent 30 minutes making a perfect ballet bun and choosing the right clothes.
I felt proud and tall.

-

But my audition didn't go as well as I'd expected it to. But maybe it felt bad because it went by too quickly. I never got the chance to feel her in the room. That's what I'd looked forward to the most.
I tried to ask her if she thought I did it well, and if she was proud anyway. Usually I'd know what she replies to everything, but I couldn't hear her thoughts this time.

I honestly felt like I'd failed.
Miserable, shaking, with no appetite, I returned to my room at the residence.
I had an hour, before I should get ready for my singing audition.

Afraid that this experience might color my day, that it would affect my singing audition - which I saw as the most important one... But I also knew that I am way harder on myself, than I should be, meaning it might not have been that awful to watch in the dance audition room.

A bit of rest and a pretty dress was a good way to start for the next step of the day.
And in no time I was down in a hall practicing for my audition.

And it went extremely well! - Thrillingly, my voice had a good day, so there was nothing to worry about, theoretically. Only the fact that I might get nervous and let that affect the strength of my voice or interpretation.
But I'd really found the chore of the characters in that practise room, so my hopes were really high. Hopes for Christine, singing 'Wishing you were somehow here again' and Ariel singing 'Part of your world'.
I was dying to go storytell!

In the room the first thing I was asked to do was say red cabbage with cream in Danish - because one of the teachers had been to Denmark and knew that that's what all the Danes asked foreigners to say, knowing they'd never manage the pronunciation! "roed-groed med floede". Random, but funny!

I began with 'Wishing you were somehow here again', an extremely challenging song. But I fell in love with it during my auditions in the summer, when I started singing it, and somehow it has fitted perfectly into my voice.
When I stood there singing the first line, the Christine character suddenly came like a coat over my body, expressing the song better than I'd done it in all the weeks practicing. Perhaps doing it better than I'd ever sung it.
EVERYTHING went smoothly. So smoothly that the teachers nodded and glared from their seats and whispered "oh yes!" and "wow" when I hit the first high note without hesitation.

- I know a lot of people has thought about me in the hours of my audition. But afterwords, I especially knew who had been with me the most. Who had been the proudest.

I was asked to sing a part of the second song too. And that they seemed thrilled about too. Most importantly, I was extremely thrilled.

Then I thought they'd give me scales or do other exercises, like they'd done with all the other students before me. However, they just asked me:
"What is the role you want to play the most, Jasmin?"

And they seemed even more thrilled, when I said I had a really tight top 5.

Eponine - Les Miserables
Christine - Phantom of the Opera
Beauty - Beauty and the Beast
Lorry - Oklahoma
Elphaba - Wicked
Maria - West Side Story

...... see? I can't even keep it to the top 5!

And that was it. Done. Over and out. But I was sparkling with joy and pride when I got out of the room.
But it's not the fact that I did better than I expected. It's the fact that I did the very best I could, and had the ability to give it my 110% - which is always in me - but more often seen in a private practice.
That feeling of knowing - you really nailed it!

Mum and Dad, you should be proud. - And I really can't wait to show you that song!

AND on top of that, I found an email when I got back home, saying that I'd been put in the best dance group. My first thought was that I had NO idea how I was put there.
But on a second thought, I guess grandma really had been there, supporting me.

And I know that whatever I think about my skills, I will always have the ability to dance for her. And just that shows a great result.
I am so proud to have that part of her.

When I got back to my room that night, and looked myself in the mirror, I thought I saw that I'd grown that day. There was something in the look of my eyes (maybe from the makeup I wore to take my head shots for the school's casting site).
But in the mirror, there was a fierce woman, that I'd never seen before. A fire, steadfastness and eagerness shined in my face.
And I knew that I had worked hard and come all this way to get it.

Walking to the mirror now at 1:30 at night, I still see it!
- So please come visit, there's lots to see and hear about! X

Now, I've already written way more than I should have given myself permission to (or Susan my american mammy who cares and checks on my health every day), because I need to prioritize my sleep, to get strongly through the long days.

So let this be the beginning of my adventure, but the shortening of my posts - as the days get busier and busier.
And there aren't as many pictures, since I'm becoming less and less of a tourist now. But I will try to remember it in school some days, knowing how eager you are to see the place and my work.

You know you are all in my hearts and I take you with me everyday on my journey.
Wish me luck! X

The second weekend - a dedication to Farmor

I've been trying to write a post for days, but I haven't been able to know where to start. I keep imagening the smile on my grandmas face, every time she notices the new post on my blog. I know her heart bursts with joy every time she gets the chance to follow me in my life's adventure. But my favourite follower won't be able to open this on her computer tomorrow morning.

Farmor, my grandma died sunday morning.
Whenever I thought about which news would be the worst to hear, her passing away would be the worst case scenario.

My Farmor was my best friend. I could tell her anything. She knew me inside out and we had a special bond, that no-one else had in the same way with her.

But I've come to love her even more, through her shared passion of my dream. When she was my age, she had an extraordinary talent to express herself through dance. She danced ballet on the tip of her toes and she was a natural. She was put in the class level way over the appropriate for her age, and everyone knew how talented she was. She wanted dance and music with all her heart and her teachers encouraged her. But her mum wouldn't let her live through that talent. She was to work for her mum and give every penny to the family, and she was permanently taken out of school to do so.

But she's always sung and hummed whenever I'm with her, and you can still see the great ballet muscles on her legs.
I am sure my passion for the music comes from her.

And she has is my biggest fan, but not just an admirer of my singing. She has always lived with me in it, and everything I've sung and written, I've shared with her.

If I had a bad day, and had dance on the program of the day, she would say that she wished for me, that I would feel released through dancing and turn my pain into a great dance.
She started her day by watching 'Unusual way', my music video, a couple of times and the rest of the day she sang 'What do we do'.
She told me that I had the skill to touch all the strings of her heart. She has always been the first I wanted to share everything with, and I am so thankful that she is the one who's cherished that the most.
And I am grateful that I could fulfill her music and later on be able to pursue it in life.

This is our dream. What we both lived and breathed for. And it still is.

What is important for me to say to the family, is that I can feel her here, right by my side.
I feel her more now, than I ever did before.

The day she passed away I was with my American family, and I can assure you I had a hand to hold. It was a beautiful sunday morning, and we spent the day at the chore to a meeting and a concert.
My comfort was the church. And my heart followed the music all through the day, because I knew that's where she was present. And just when I thought that, a strong ray of sunlight shined through the church, right down at the conductor's sheet music, in the centre of the room.
And I knew it was her. I prayed that this feeling would keep on forever, that she would never leave my side in that way. And just when I felt scared, and doubted it for a second, the ray of sunlight came back through another window, and shined bright in my face.

And from then on, I knew that she and God told me that there was no reason to worry for that.
Because I know that she is in a greater place. I can see her holding the hand of God, and God let's her see down on earth, and to me especially. They communicate together with me.

What's breaking my heart, is the family that's left behind. To my grandpa, who loved her more than words can say. I know that he has difficulties breathing without her, and it pains me to know that he can't be with her. I pray that he feels her too. To my dad, who has lost his mother. The mother he calls when even he needs comfort, or just to tell about her grandchildren. For the times when we call to be reminded of one of the recipe's from the world's best cook. The fact that she was the strongest point in our Portuguese family, and brought so much happiness all around.

That she will not be standing beside us when her grandchildren gets married, and that she will not be holding her great grandchildren.
This is her body gone, and it's what tears me up when I think about it.
Seeing the scene of how my family kissed her goodbye in the coffin. And knowing how much my siblings need me.

But when I lay alone in peace, I don't feel any goodbyes for her. Because as I am about to think I have to, I feel her with me, holding my hand through our journey and waiting for me to take the next step. It would be like saying goodbye to my own journey and standing still in life.

And I am aware that the reality is different for the rest of you.
But every time I speak with you and hear about how you said your goodbyes to her earthly appearance, I feel like I am pulled in the wrong direction.

Yesterday after lying in bed and crying, I forced myself out of bed to find a dance room.
And I danced and sang for 6 hours straight on. Just like in the church, rays of sunlight streamed in the room. 
I hadn't danced for months. But I was free and better than I'd ever been.
If I felt lost for a while and found hard to stretch my ballet legs properly, I felt her guiding me like a teacher bringing the best in me forward.

And when I sang, and finally found my voice again, after being horribly sick for a week.. I knew how her heart was bursting with joy again and I smiled, knowing the sign of her big proud smile.
I sang Phantom of the Opera, The Little Mermaid, West Side story, Oklahoma, Wicked, Anastasia and Eva Cassidy. All through every song, I felt how our journey together developing and I've never been so happy in my life.

You should all know that she's in the best hands. She can now go with me everywhere, see all my performances and all the Broadway shows I'm watching. She doesn't have difficulty with walking the distance or keeping up with everything that's happening. I don't have to call her all the way to Portugal and try to give her the best description of all that's happening, she just knows everything at the same time as me. She's just here. All the time.

*

When I think of it, the ending was perfect. The last thing she saw was the blog post I dedicated to her. I promised her that she would be with me all through my dream forever. SHe wrote back the same night, that I had the skill to touch all the strings of her heart. I said that I loved her with all the strings of my heart. And I think that's when all the strings of her heart found peace.
Because she had a weak heart from when she was born, and the fact that she lived all through the years is a miracle in itself.
But God gave me the honor of creating a place and a mind where she can be when she was too weak to be on earth.

And what I've learnt from traveling, and being far away from family and friends, is that you don't need them near you physically. What's important is knowing the love you have for each other, because that's all you need with you.
Being physically close is for your comfort, to have a proof of the other person's love.
But I believe that our love can do anything.

I am writing this as my family is gathering for the funeral in Portugal. I am tucking the teddy bear she made for me, holding a beautiful picture of her and Farfar, listening to 'What do we do' and clinging on to the ring she gave me.

She once received it from her father when she travelled alone to Portugal as an 18-year old to work. He gave it to her as a protection and a sign of love, which would give her luck and comfort on her journey.
And now she gave it to me, when I had to travel to New York.

There was nothing left unsaid or undone between me and my Farmor. There was no place we missed going together, no things I wished I had had the time to say to her. I sang for her, and told her all my desires through this dream.
She knew my love for her, like no-one else.

One thing I promised her is that I'd get married in her chapel. Even then she'll see me.
I can't think of anything I wish her to be here for. In every way she will see all of it anyway.

Summer 2009

"I Love you with all the strings of my heart"

X

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.

X

Day 8!

I've now been in New York city for a week!

I wouldn't say that the time has flown by, but it sure is weird thinking about the day I arrived full of hopes and excitement of exploring the city. I wouldn't say I've grown much since then - maybe caught up a bit on the american accent, maybe knowing the giant island a little better, maybe knowing more people, maybe feeling more at home.
But here's to another day of exploration in my new home.

Not long after I woke up my mum called <3 It seems like she's determined to come over soon! If you find her on Facebook, don't be confused when she doesn't choose to accept your friend request! She is not a great fan of the social network, and has created a profile just to be more connected with me. X

After breakfast at the residence, I quickly got ready to see more of Manhattan, seeing I'd been over on Long Island 3 days in a row.
Today I was heading for Chinatown and Little Italy.

Before reaching one of the towns, I hit Greenwich village first. It it the closest of the different towns to my street. Greenwich village is the perfect enlargement of what I described my street as. More quiet and cosy with cute little shops and inexpensive restaurants with tables out on the street.

As I was making my way through the streets to China town, I passed the courthouse. Everywhere in the area were lawyers sitting on benches waiting for their case to begin.
I remembered this place from the movie 'The proposal' about a woman and a man who has to trick the court into believe their false marriage is really true, which they arranged so the woman wouldn't get deported.

And BAM! I had hit China town. All the Chinese people, the shops and the chinese calligraphy came like a wave.

Suddenly I could see far up the street because my eyes were higher than the thousands of other heads!

The China town here in New York city isn't like the one in London. I had imagined it to be a small corner of Manhattan where the Chinese shops were situated. Which they definitely were, but the place was like China. Every direction I looked was Chinatown, - just growing.

As far as I looked in every direction, it just carried on. All the street names were written with calligraphy too.

It was the wave of the Chinese smells from their special spices and the plastic industry, the big chunks of trash on the streets, the huge markets with all the fruits in the world, the cats wandering wildly around and the manners of the strangers I passed or talked with felt completely changed - spitting on the street near your feet, shouting conversations across the street, eating with their hands, picking their noses or scratching their bums, not caring who'd see it.

It was very interesting to experience that change. How quickly a part of town could transform into something extremely different.

Even though it had to be seen, it wasn't my cup of tea!

One thing I do like about China, is the laughs you have

over the funnily-translated signs: "NO BIKE ALLOW!"

If I had my own little kitchen back home,

I would've had fresh fish today, for sure!

Cute kindergardeners taking a safe walk!

Suddenly one street separated Chinatown with what they here call Little Italy. I could see other than Chinese people, and green/red/white decorations over the street signaled the Italian culture.

I can imagine this part of Manhattan to be known as the delicious food area! Restaurants with romantic, but expensive settings were all over.

This street separated the two towns. Take notice of the Chinese people

on one side of the road, and the Italian-looking guys further up the street.

... Apparently, it wasn't christmas - just Italy!

Take notice of the pole colored as the Italian flag!

When I'm rich I'll dine here!

I went back to the residence for lunch, and had a little nap falling asleep to a replay of 'Out of my dreams' from Oklahoma. You should hear the song, the lyrics are amazing.

"Out of my dreams and into the hush of falling shadows, when the mist is low and stars are breaking through, then out of my dreams I'll go into a dream come true."

What I said, before I left for New York, was that coming here would be living my dream. Maybe that's why I slept so well.

.....

After my nap I left for today's 2nd part of the adventure!

Being the lucky girl with a computer and internet, I had found a free concert online which was playing the same night a couple of hours later.

When I got out of the subway on the upper West side of Manhattan, I noticed dozens of journalists surrounding someone. It happened to be 'Bill de Blasio', who's one of the big people running for mayor of the city (as far as I've understood). For my first time in America, I've seen journalists/paparazzis creating a huge buzz on the street for a famous person.

*

I'm walking through the streets of Manhattan with the soundtrack from Saturday night fever in my ears. That is classic. I get the true Manhattan feeling, like it was created at that time. I coordinate my steps to the rhythm of the music, changing them to every new song, - and no-one but me would realize it.

All at once, I experience that feeling of freedom.

And I think that I've today understood maybe a 10th of how extraordinary and fantastic it is that I'm walking the streets of New york - at last. How amazing it really is, that I have made it.

Because I'm just a girl living my life in a city, like everybody else around me. It feels so easy to walk around Manhattan. And knowing my story, - seeing now how easy it is to do what I wanted to back then, it makes me feel like I can do anything.

YOU can do anything, go anywhere. If you set your mind to it. You have the world at your feet.

I don't feel how fantastic it is that I have made it to here every day, every second, to be honest.

Only I know what I've achieved, and in order to feel that, I need to know how thankful I am for it, every single day.

I am entering Central Park from the West Side. I'm sitting in Strawberry fields, by the 'Imagine' mosaic plate.

"Imagine all the people living for today. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope some day you'll join us, and the world will live as one." 

- John Lennon's words from the Beatles song 'Imagine'.

By the square near the plate, a man is sitting with his guitar, playing 'Let it be', a newly wedded lesbian couple take their picture on the Imagine plate, tourists take dozens of pictures of the monument and some even put flowers on it and every passer-by has a short moment here.

Another wedding couple comes by and the people who sat here on the benches from the moment I came still sit peacefully, just gazing around.

It's like this place has a special aura around it.

I realize that this place has been kept in the spirit of John Lennon's messages. This is a blissful and peaceful place, where people hope, dream and love.

Young girls, aged women, worn men, bikers, homeless people, photographers, mothers.

I am looking from one person to another, and I can see it in their eyes.

Ouch! and there I saw a rat - so I hurried further into the park...

The benches of Central Park can be specially

bought for putting a personal note on them.

Most of them are in loving memory

of children or other family who passed away.

In Starbucks I tried the probably 5th new type of drink. This time the autumn season's authentic combination with apple, caramel and spice in a hot chai tea! It wasn't one of the best one's, however, I got the best seat - right by the window! Just people-watching.

STARBUCKS!

A really funny thing happened, when I walked outside again. A young lady COVERED in tattoos, not wearing much clothes passed by. There was an African lady in front of me (the real African mama type) who turned around in shock, saying loudly to the street: "Jeez one or two tattoos is okay, but isssssshhhhhhhhhhh!".

I just love how these little things occur so easily over here. It's not like walking around in Copenhagen or most other parts of Europe, where you see people walk around in their personal boxes, not interfering with one another.

Then to the concert, which I was very excited for (by the way I was actually already amazed by how many places I'd been with my feet - hooray for my trainers that I missed big time!).

The theme of the jazz concert was 'New Orleans over time', giving me the perfect taste of what it will be like when I have the chance to see New Orleans - the home of jazz.

They were insanely good, and they created a fantastic mood in the room!

On my way back I grabbed a $1 pizza slice. Back in my room I'm listening to American radio, while drinking tea (I gifted myself with an electric water kettle - best buy ever!).

I can imagine most of you will read this to your morning tea, so let me make this cup up for the company with you!

Cheers!