Happy Thanksgiving :)

 Happy Thanksgiving

Departed NYC, Destination San Diego

With Mer asleep by my side

Thanksgiving up in the sky

Currently flying over Illinois

i ponder on words of Tolstoy

"If you want to be happy, be."

The world, so modern

At a 9150m altitude high

reflecting on all i am thankful for

good health, family, friends

love, happiness, travels

and of course, free wifi.

Forgive and Forget

Smile and spread the love for a better living

in this moment i remind you

You are unique my friend

Happy Thanksgiving!

xxx tash


Altitude 9150m, Ground speed 683km/h. Time at destination 7:23am. Est time of arrival 12:36. Currently flying over Illinois. outside air temp -39C. Seat numbers 26C, 26B. Free pretzels. Free wifii. Dept. NYC Destination San Diego.

California

The Fall.

As autumn falls upon us

Green shades slowly fade to yellow orange reds

Corridors of a freezing wind blow

Bright lights, skyscrapers

With the Christmas spirit awakening glow

Trees stand naked shivering in the crispy cold

While we find comfort under man-made coats

Wildlife seek for shelter

Excavating burrow nests and holes

In central park they meet on their bikes

Never beaten by the oscillating weather

Indulging on life's simple delights

With each other,

Simply chuffed to be living this city together.

(Reflections after a central park cycle with Mer and Jess)

one month in.

Good morning Manhattan!

So a month has passed since I hit the big apple and so much has happened in this time. The Pictet gallery morning latte which was so quickly substituted for a "vanilla single shot soya iced starbucks " has taken a backseat as I replace it with instant coffee in my small east village kitchen. Living a champagne lifestyle on beer money - harder to adapt than anticipated! Life is pretty sweet at the moment. I am loving the fast paced New Yorker ways... A week in and I was already venturing the world of laundrettes. Here I was, lunging my laundry 2 blocks down 2nd avenue to do my first bit of own washing. May i stress there is a huge gap in the "laundrette world" for bars. Seriously, forget meeting new people at your local pub - the new this is to hang out at the laundrette. My mind was clocking how much cash i could make selling beers in that place. Plenty may I add. Next time I shall be taking a 6pack with me and assessing margins for profit. (people spend a couple of hours at least chatting as they patiently wait for their whites and colours to spin in that machine)... food for thought. 

 ‎"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."-- Howard Thurman 

Global Potential has been inspirational so far! I have been so fortune- meeting people of all backgrounds, ages and styles . I really hope to be giving back as much as I feel i have gained. The program is great and myself and Renoly Santiago are running workshops at one of the schools 2 times a week on leadership skills etc... the class varies with 15-20 kids participating each week - its been awesome.  Popping to the Bronx, Brooklyn, meandering my way through different cultures- so diverse.  The GP program at CDI will be staring on Friday... here's a chance for the students at the school to get involved in their communities - action plans, setting goals, solving problems!

A warm welcome to the Big Apple

"A mind that is stretched by new experiences can never go back to its old dimensions." - - Oliver Wendell Holmes

Two weeks in, and I can only say that this city and friends living here, have greeted me with huge open arms. Hopping off that plane I was hit by a mini heatwave and the smell of fish in the air. It reminded me of the feeling I get everytime I land in Rio.

JFK 22.09.2010

With a huge smile on my face, I enjoyed every bit of the journey to my new home in east village, thrilled to know that I would soon be living with my best buddy and childhood friend Mer.  The view as you cross Manhattan bridge is overwhelming. Everytime. I wonder if New Yorkers ever get bored of it.  Huge hugs from Mer, it took me no longer than 15 minutes to feel like I had been living here for months. In no time we got through a bottle of wine and spent a good few hours catching up on our lives while indulging on sushi. Han later popped in  and  flopped on my bed it was like we'd never been apart. Its amazing how with good friends distance does not separate.
Thursday started with an early rise and a long walk from home down to the Financial District where the Global Potental office is currently located. I ventured through the little backstreets, through neighbourhoods like Little Italy and soaked every bit of this city. At the GP office I met up with some of the other staff and was introduced to the GP program.
http://wings-unclipped.blogspot.com/2010/10/global-potential-program.html

The GP program is brilliant. Having met some of the students that have returned from their trip abroad it is overwhelming to see the impact GP has had in their lives- students take on challenges and turn them into opportunities. The idea of replicating this program in both the UK and Brasil is seriously exciting but overwhelming all the same.

Getting a bike was possibly the best decision I've made since I moved here. There is no greater way to explore a city than to cycle around it -Westside highway, Governors island, Brooklyn, Bronx... Mer and I visited Connecticut and Philadelphia - fun times! NY has so much live music, so many festivals, art, people here are so friendly... the weather has been a spectacular 30C!

NYC Bike CLUB 2010

Global Potential, the program

www.global-potential.org

In short, the Global Potential runs as follows:

1)Training and recruiting: this phase runs between now and June next year. The aim is to get the students who are recruited for the program, to participate in several workshops where they will learn about social development, leadership, life skills, global awareness, civic participation and social entrepreneurship. Each of us school facilitators are responsible for running the workshops at a different school located around NYC (Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn). The training works towards preparing these kids to volunteer abroad over next summer.

2) (July 2011) - The kids will be taken by GP on a 6 week trip to either Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Haiti and a new addition is to perhaps go to a reservation in South Dakota. During the trip, students will be team building, working in underprivileged communities themselves and learning about sustainable agriculture amongst other things

3)When these students return to NYC they are then considered GP LEADERS. Students are encouraged to start an entrepeunerial project of their own (with the help of GP) aswell as participate in social community work in their neighborhoods. Finally, GP leaders become GP Alumni, some joining the team as interns and staff.

London strikes

We could all do with a strike sometimes.
Put the ego aside
Slow down the rushed stride
Relax
Cleanse our own minds

Look up for a change
Shut down our screens
Return to a life more simple
We live like robots
Ever changing machines

London tubes go on strike
no Picadilly, City or District lines
Boris bikes can do their best
while Oyster cards can have a rest

Farewell London. For now.

9-5 9-5 9-5
Pictet view

“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world the master calls a butterfly.”

How perfectly apt this quote fits into my present days. As I approach the final pages of this 9-5 city chapter in my life, millions of thoughts are sparked. I look back at the past 3 years and notice the little dots have finally come full circle- what a satisfying feeling this is. All the challenges and obstacles that I confronted have been the trigger of what got me here. Regaining my independent life, emerged with a new job, new faces, a fresh horizon and discovering what are my qualities and weaknesses. 3 years understanding that stability doesn’t have to be boring but nothing needs to last for too long. Accepting that we can’t always have what we want immediately, but we should never let go of dreaming, moving towards reaching ours goals. Even if it takes time, with determination we can all get there. Slowly learning to differ the disparity between what feeds the ego, to that which makes the soul sing. It hasn’t been so straightforward along the way but for each stumbling block, a new achievement was shaped. As I see it, life is composed of 2 parts: cause and effect, with time (space) being the vital component separating the two. Would the outcome taste as sweet should time be eliminated?

Last Thursday my friends and fam threw me a surprise leaving party. Best. Surprise. Ever! I have to admit I had no idea whatsoever. The shock on arrival, seeing them all staring at me was greater than I could have ever imagined. There was no time to digest the feelings. It’s a strange emotion to be surrounded by so many loved ones when your mind isn’t expecting it. One feeling overlaps the other; shock, then a slight panic, only to be greeted by complete contentment and fulfilment. All these people are here for me? Really? I felt so special. Thankyou friends, family and universe.

An evening amongst my most loved, reinforcing my next reality- letting go of my comfortable life to search for something that feels real to me. With the little savings that I have accumulated, huge excitment and new dreams ahead, just as the butterfly is formed, I too regain my ability to fly…

Farewell London. For now.

 
To my friends;
 
Blind folded she stumbles down the stairs
Only to find the greatest surprise
Stunned.
An ocean of friends smiling back at her

With tears trickling down her eyes
Hugs and hellos,
Ducking goodbyes.

Speeches and poems
Birthday cake for a farewell
What the cucumber was for,
She could not tell.

Each one so special in your own way
Thankyou friends
In Supertramps words
Happiness is only real when shared

Today

Do today what u love
Dance around
Hugs family & friends
Jump the hurdles

Let your life commence

Follow dreams,

Sing that song

Aim so high

Unclip those wings

Regaining your ability to fly

Never settle for more or less

Your life

Your story

Flashing right before you

With every thought

An attitude

Let go of reactive

Learn to be proactive

Live.

Dig deep

Listen to your soul

Let the light guide you

Smile

For it is your life,

Your dreams, your goals.

NRJ, July 23rd 2010

A commuters choice

City life.

those who do not cycle...

Hit the snooze

 For a second time

Confused she awakes

“Do I not get a lie- in?”

3 degrees frost

At least some blue skies

Back pack, gloves, helmet

To the city

For another nine to five

Early birds do Thai-chi

Through Hyde park she cycles

Change of guards gallop past

Down the Mall quick and fast

Wind whistles "don’t be late"

A smog cloud ahead

Commuters on the phone

Cabs and double-deckers

Envelope her own

NRJ,

May 14th 2010

A trip to the physio - - Based on a REAL LIFE drama.

Sharp pain burns down her back

Thoracic scoliosis attacks

Cocodamol making her high

MRI of the lumbar spine

Endurance.

A disc prolepses

In her physio’s arms she collapses

Ache from annular tear

Avoiding to catch his stare

Disc L4 and 5 degeneration

He is worth every penny of this mutilation

A true poet awakens in me- 07.05.2010 NRJ

A true poet awakens in me- 07.05.2010 NRJ

o Rio de Janeiro continua lindo...

Rio de Janeiro on a shoestring...

Perhaps a little biased but ideally I suggest you kip in either Ipanema or Leblon. That way you are in one of Rio’s nice neighbourhoods and away from the packed tourist spots. From what I gather 2 suggestions of budget places are the "Ipanema Beach House" -  www.ipanemahouse.com  hostel and Lemon spirit hotel www.lemonspirit.com
If you have the cash to spend on accomodation a top choice is the Fasano Hotel - www.fasano.com.br

With the enormous variety of places to eat out, I suggest you start by ordering a
"Picanha a Brasileira" at the famous "Garota de Ipanema" restaurant- (crossroads Vinicius de Moraes and Prudente de Moraes) Although this has increasingly become popular amongst tourists it is one of my absolute faves. Id suggest a stop over at lunch time, order for a caipirinha and get a "brasileira" between you and friends. A little background on it- This is the spot where Vinicius de Moraes used to sit and watch as the girl from Ipanema used to walk by on her way to the beach. The song "girl from Ipanema" later to follow…

Another similar spot is the "Garota da Urca"- Urca Neighbourhood.
On a sat/sun afternoon the Bar Urca - www.barurca.com.br is spot on perfect too. Grab some finger foods and drink overlooking the Marina. Traditional amongst Brazilians.

Work up your appetite before you head to Rodizio Porcao. www.porcao.com.br There is one in Flamengo beach and another at Ipanema. While Flamengo is a better option for its beautiful view, both will equally satisfy your desire for good quality Brazilian meat. Vegetarians should stay away!

Obvious visits include:

• The lagoa (lagoon) stop in one of the kiosques and get a caipirinha. A nice way to do this is to hire a bike and cycle around it. 
• The Corcovado (Christ), a suggestion being taking the tram to the top just before dusk – this way you see the city both by day and by night. If you prefer to take a taxi, make sure he waits for you while you are up there!
•  If you are in luck, and happen to be in Rio on a Sunday (when the road is closed) I recommend hiring a bike and cycling along the calcadao beach from ipanema all the way along to Copacabana and back. You will fit right in with all the other cariocas. 
• Visit of course, the Pao de Acucar (Sugar loaf) but as many would say it offers a similar experience as that to the Corcovado.
• LAPA (historical centre) - visit the Arcos / Selaron staircase / http://selaron.net/Matos/english/selaron.htm - Pop to Bar da Boa for a cold Antartica (beer) - See http://www.lanalapa.com.br/default.asp for excellent options at Lapa.

Copacabana at night can be packed with Prostitutes. Stay clear.

Activities suggested include

• Spending a saturday at Praia da Barra (Barra beach) along where the kite surfers all hang out. - Barraca do Pepe spot- www.pepe.com.br 
• Take up hang glinding for an afternoon launching off the Pedra da Gavea in Sao Conrado. www.riohanggliding.com 
• If you want a taste of Brazilian Carnival, there is a place at the Lagoa where you can go and see the samba schools practicing

Santa Tereza

Eat as much Lula Frita (Calamari) as you can, drink many caipirinhas and soak up the sun!

Find a place to have a feijoada (brasilian typical dish) on a saturday, pop to Santa Tereza (the historical part of Rio) -  stopping at the Aprazivel www.aprazivel.com.br , an excellent restaurant for lunch.

(I hear from friends there are excellent guided tours round Santa Tereza and Lapa- will try to include one here). Have a wonder up and down Ipanema, Leblon, popping in and out of shops, stopping at one of the many juice bars to quench your thirst. BB LANCHES (leblon)a personal fave -  Put on your havaianas and shades and get into the general Carioca way of life...