I think I might need one of those little counter bars that people add to the bottom of their posts online. You know, how many day's till their baby is due, how many pounds they are down, the amount of time until their big vacation. Only mine will count the number of times I get asked "You're not from here are you?" It's quite the common phrase in my life right now. It's become apparent that we stick out like a sore thumb by the way we act, dress, speak, clutch subway maps for dear life while waiting for the train, pretty much anything. I even realized it myself today while waiting for the train. I looked around the stop and noticed that literally everyone was wearing black but Cole and I. And I was wearing a sweater from Anthropology called the Red, Red Rose sweater coat( don't you just love their names?) and it is just that, about as bright red as you can get. I was bright red in a black and white world and that my friends pretty much describes my life right now. Here is a list of some of my favorite times so far:
1. Standing in line at Lowe's to buy paint: A woman begins speaking to me by yelling rather cloudy( I think it's the only way NY'ers know how to communicate) " Look at you with your purse open like that, you need a zipper! I could steal your credit cards right now if I wanted to. You're not from here are you? You really need to get a new purse." Then she turns and starts yelling at someone else who cut in line. Ummmm....thanks I guess? Seriously I was holding my purse over my shoulder with my arm over it in front of me, but I'll uh, work on that.
2. Waiting for our first bus with the boys. Cole yells ( he's learning from the people here) "MOOOOOOOM, pigeons, they have pigeons here! I LOOOOOVE Pigeons!" Then the old man next to us yells while laughing, "You're not from here are you?"
3. On the train today, Cole starts yelling in this sing song voice while standing on his seat, "Watch out Manhattan here I come! I'm on my way Manhattan! Just you wait!" The whole train starts laughing collectively and then someone says, you're not from here are you? "Uhhh, no, I said, but apparently we are headed to Broadway. And everyone laughs again. I find that there are very few times people here connect or do anything collectively on a train, most of the time is spent looking down or trying to ignore what is happening around you here so the fact that Cole was able to bring all those people together just goes to show the amazing showman quality he carries with him everywhere. Maybe if Mark doesn't end up on Broadway Cole will.
4. Seriously who am I kidding, this list could go on for days. At first I tried to look like I was a part of things I'd try to hide opening maps on the subway or actually opening my mouth which clearly shows I come from no where near Brooklyn but now I'm sort of reveling in it. If not being from New York means doing things like saying hello to stranger on the street when you pass by, or having your children be excited about the simplest things in life, or wearing a red sweater makes me stand out then, that's okay. I'd rather be known as the weird happy girl down the street than a rude New Yorker. And so I've begun to cherish the shocked expressions on peoples face when I stop them to ask for directions. Or the smile, (well more like a smirk, I'm not convinced people fully smile here) they get when Cole waves to them on the street.
At church recently we had a lesson. It was a special meeting in which they combined everyone to talk about "Having a positive attitude in a negative world" I guess it wasn't just me, the new girl, struggling with the gotham like atmosphere. The lesson was great and it made me realize that yes, I'm different, I will probably never be mistaken for a native New Yorker and I may just hear, "You're not from here, are you?" for the rest of my days. But I'm starting to realize that maybe that's okay.
In other news, thank you for all your comments, it's so nice to know that there are people out there who care enough to comment on some random girls blog and make her feel a little bit better about life. Upon a few days of carefully watching and talking to Grant and meeting his teacher I have found the school to not be quite so bad. I think I was just given a very bad impression due to one really bad day for one untactful teacher. The first day we were there to sign papers a teacher came in the office with a student and said. "He isn't staying on task or doing what I want him to do, I'm tired of him, turning to the student she said, I'm just so sick of seeing your face. Go sit down, I don't want to see you for the rest of the day." And he did sit and he cried for the rest of the hour and a half that we were there and no one said a word to him. He was only in second grade and quite frankly I am and was appalled. I can promise you Grant will not be in that class next year as I just don't think that is an appropriate way to speak to anyone let alone a small child who looks up to you as a mentor.
Grant's teacher however seems to be a very kind patient teacher and he has enjoyed going to school each day. He even said that he made a few new friends this week so that makes me feel much better about things. I wish communication between the school and parents were a little better but maybe joining the PTA will help with that. Also after much emailing, calling, calling and calling we were finally told, at great annoyance by the counselor that Grant and Cole will be able to take the gifted and talented test this summer. Previously they had told us that because they missed the test in February they would miss out on an entire year of the program. I swear the set up of the school system here is harder to figure out than taxes, and our healthcare system so that's saying a lot. lol.
I'm a afraid that this blog is going to become one big mesh of complaints about the big city so I better stop now. Just know that however much I complain or however sarcastic I get( I know that there are New Yorkers who smile, really I do, I generalize out of my need to be dramatic) I realize that I am extremely blessed in life, I have healthy children, a really wonderful husband and a job that I love. I know in the end everything will be alright, and hey maybe by next year I'll be singing the praises of New York, Brooklyn, Broadway, and the school systems. A lot can happen in a year right? So here's to hoping!