Saturday, April 28, 2007

New position at work!!!

As of May 7th I will no longer be a Program Enrollment Manager I will be 50% Partnerships Coordinator and 50% Recruitment and Alumni Development Coordinator. Yes a lengthy title, I will need a huge business card to fit that on!!!
Basically with Partnerships I will be helping to build and maintain relationships with groups, uni's and companies. I will also be involved in doing information sessions and presentations. With RAD i will helping with the Alumni network and things like reference letters etc. I have not even started yet and I will be helping design the layout for a newsletter being sent out about the Brookings Initiative

I am really looking forward to the new positions and think it will be lot more challenging and creative for me. Also it a newly created position so something that I can really get my teeth into.

We have a dance off with work tonight to raise money for AIDS walk which it going to be hilarious. My I have heard rumors of my new supervisor turing in up in some pink, spandexy and cat suit like. I will be sure to take lots of photos!!

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Laura, Jordan, Me


Laura, Jordan, Me
Originally uploaded by jellams.

Me and Laura at Down The Hatch


Me and Laura at Down The Hatch
Originally uploaded by jellams.

Me and Laura at some random bar on the East side


Long over due up date...

Well had a constant stream of guests staying which is due continue until May or July.
The first lot were Emma and Sarah there are photos previously of that!
Then last week Laura came for 10 days. Fortunately didn't have to play tourguide as she was extremely happy shopping, shopping a bit more and ooo more shopping!
Sian is coming on Tuesday which I am soooo excited about! I have next Friday and Monday off so really looking forward to having some time off.

The dog we have at the moment is a pitbull called Lady, was a bit scared of her when we when we first got her but she actually the softest dog ever. She is petrified of this huge silver bag I have that has some random Victoria Secret model on. She barks at it continuously!
Have enrolled 24 volunteers this month and its only the 14th!
Well nothing else really new at the moment but watch this space....

Saturday, March 03, 2007

I love my job - most of the time!!

Well this week has been a tough week! Georgie and Paul went back to the UK to sort out visa, Summer went to the UK to train the UK PEM's, Jenny went to Vegas and Marge's daughter had a baby so we were a little under staffed this week!
It was really bust but kept us on our toes!
And Grace the Brazil country director was in NYC so that was exciting!!! I t was so nice to see her and practise a tiny bit or my Portuguese on her!
We arranged a meet up for Brazil alum to come and meet Grace at a lounge. I was chatting to some one and Grace brought over a lady and said this is Julie Levin. Julie Levin was some I enrolled and was soo lovely. She said that I was the reason she choose CCS and Brazil! It was so great to meet her!! It made a bad and really tiring week finish on a good note!

Grace the Brazil Country Director in NYC!!!


Julie, Me, Pete, Brooke, Greg


Julie, Me, Pete, Greg
Originally uploaded by jellams.
Julie was one of may favourite volunteers! I was the reason she chose CCS and Brazil!!!

Whitney's back in Town - well for a weekend anayway!


Sunday, February 25, 2007

Whohoo! I got my social Security number!

I am now an official sort of resident of the states now - I have a social security number which now means I can get my health insurance, transit check, all my benefit, open a bank account, pay my rent via checks so I don't have to pay £20 extra when I pay my rent - the list is endless!!!

It is so exciting! I feel like I am officially here now!

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Sing Sing Karaoke!

Well last night was the most surreal experience ever!!!
We went out for a really nice meal for Bonnie's Birthday and then lots of sangria, we went to a karaoke bar - but not as we know it. Basically we went in and it looked like a normal bar, then we got led off to the basement where there were numbered rooms! Basically we rented this room that looked like some dingy lounge in someones basement that had a massive TV screen in, huge speakers, 2 mircrophones and a massive list of songs.

It was soooooo much fun!!!!

Also had my first Brazilian Portuguese lesson today, there are 4 other people in my class and they all seem really nice, really need to work on my pronunciation though!

The Brits singing about the South!


Tyler and Bonnie really getting in to the singing!


Bonnie and I singing our hearts out!!!


Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Tommy


Tommy
Originally uploaded by jellams.
Tommy after having his hair cut - He got a bit cold in th snow so got this very distingushed sweater!!

Thursday, January 25, 2007

See - this is what we were watching!

It started off as this tiny ball, then slowly opened and then the flower head popped up!!!!

Us watching the uber duper special tea


Tea Party!


Tea Party!
Originally uploaded by jellams.
Lots of different types of teaa nd we had scones and cream and custard creams, jammy dodgers - a proper high tea!

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Boston, Disney, Review, Staff Travel.......

Well Boston was great, it was so nice to get out of Manhattan, unfortunately the weather was really awful but it was nice to drive to a different state. We went to see MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which is where 63% of Nobel Prize winners come from. It's supposed to be the best uni in like the world!!! Was very pretty, slightly nice than good old Huddersfield!!!

The interview at Disney went well, it is being aired at 8.30 EST on Sunday morning with Jazzy Jenn on the Kids concern show!!! I was a bit nervous to start off with but it was just talking about Cross-Cultural Solutions which is what I do every day so was fine. No Mickey Mouse in sight though which was a bit disappointing!!!

Also had my review today, which went really well apparently my smile is contagious!
Talked about Staff travel, I really want to go on our new South Africa program but we're not sending anyone there until fall, so I can wait and see what I get offered in Spring or hold out til fall, oooo the decisions!!!!

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Road Trip!

Well, not updated you all for a while so here is a quick one....
We have now adopted Tommy a really cute and lovely schnauzer but are still foster dogs - We have Winston a spaniel as well at the moment - who is the most vocal dog I have ever met and has a bladder problem which our couch is suffering the effects of!

Some excited news is that Lauren and I are being interviewed about CCS by Radio Disney on Tuesday. We are going to the studio on Tuesday to record it and then it is aired on Sunday. I don't think you can listen to it online from the UK but the link anyway is http://radio.disney.go.com/

Also actually venturing out of Manhattan this weekend - no Ikea in Elizabeth NJ does not count. We are taking a road trip to Boston, MA!
Well better go and actually pack!

Friday, January 05, 2007

I HAVE BEEN IN NYC FOR 6 MONTHS!!

Can you believe it - 6 months I have been here today!!!!!???

Monday, January 01, 2007

Happy New Year!!

Last night was fun, some of the girls from work came over and we hung out with Bonnie, Seamus and Matt, drank lots, the we watched the ball drop in Times Square o the TV. There were lots of fireworks going off so we went up on the roof and preceded to shout Happy New year to everyone passing by!!! Some people from the other apartments came up on the roof and shut the door so we were nearly locked on the roof for 2007! Fortunately Seamus was in Nancy Drew mode and managed to open it with his credit card!!

We then went to a bar on the corner and danced lots and managed to get free shots off the barman!
We also have a new dog - Tommy - he is very cute but he stinks and we cant bather him till his scar from his op as healed!

Happy New Year everyone!

Watching the fireworks on the roof


Watching the fireworks on the rof
Originally uploaded by jellams.

Watching the ball drop in Times Square


Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Our Christmas Dinner


Our Christmas Dinner
Originally uploaded by jellams.
We cooked it all ourselves - How grown up are we cooking a Christmas Dinner!

Opening Presents!


Opening Presents!
Originally uploaded by jellams.
Yay - Santa found us even though we were in New York!

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Mr and Mrs Hutchinson!!!!!


Mr and Mrs Hutchinson!!!!!
Originally uploaded by jellams.

Me and Karen!


Me and Karen!
Originally uploaded by jellams.

Trev de Trev, Karen, Jon and Me at The Cherry Tree


Jay, Me and Katy at Zetlands


Jay, Me and Katy at Zetlands
Originally uploaded by jellams.

Oh my Goodness - What a week!!!!

OK... so I arrived in the UK at 6.55am on Monday morning, then got the train down to London ad 1.30pm - Saw Trinny and Susannah at Runcorn Station. One of them was talking abut Prada and how she was going to have shepards pie for tea!! Was very bizarre!

Had my interview at the Embassy in London at 10am on the Tuesday. I expected to be there for about 6 hours and be totally grilled and interrogated. Took about 45 minutes and asked me about 3 questions and it was done!!!

Met up with Georgie that day and it was really odd to see her in the UK, stayed that night at Sarah’s again, then got the train to Ely on Wednesday. Met up with Sian.

My visa arrived at 6.45am on the Thursday morning much to my relief so booked a flight back to NYC for Monday. Then got the train up to Huddersfield.

Met up with Maria and Karen and met up with everyone for a night at zetlands and some good ole cheesy dancing - ooo how I have missed all that!!
So then came back to Helsby on Friday and got my oldest friends wedding today! 20 years we have known each other - that makes me feel sooooo old!

Got an early Christmas with the family tomorrow and then its back to New York for at least the next 3 years of my life!!! I can't believe after the past 6 months of stressing and paper work and letters I am finally sorted. It’s very surreal and odd but I am so happy.

It’s all very cheesy but I feel like everything has just fallen in to place - eventually - and that it was all meant to be. This is exactly what I am supposed to be doing at this point in my life. It may not be what or where I am forever but who knows..... I am enjoying myself and surrounded by fantastic people in the UK and US so that’s all that matters!

Yay New York!!!

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Georgie's 'see you later' Do


Georgie's 'see you later' Do
Originally uploaded by jellams.

Me and Jenny


Me and Jenny
Originally uploaded by jellams.

Quick update before I come back for a flying visit to the UK

Well let me think....
Saw the Lion King a few weekends ago. Managed to get really cheap tickets - 10 rows from the front. It was amazing!! The animals walked right past and the costumes were so innovative and fantastic. It also turns out that the Guy who was Simba did a Brazil CCS program and I was also emailing him before I came to NY about renting here!!!
Then there was Thanksgiving, a pretty chilled affair, went to see the parade and got soaked though - did see Julie Andrews and Gloria Estafan though. Then went out for a dinner in the evening. The Brits and Irish out numbered the Americans for once!

Georgie goes back to the UK later, so we went out last night for a few drinks, next thing I knew it was 3am!!!

Boo Boo/ Sasha / Sadie / the dog was adopted last week - fortunately by Seamus' parents so we will prob see her again and now we have anew one. Paris!! No we did not name her she's not as lovable as Boo Boo but she's had a rough time and is slowly warming to us.

So plans for this weekend... To go and see the tree at Rockerfeller Centre, do some shopping, iceskating. Then next weekend I'm coming back to the UK!!
Well got to go Brunch with the ladies ...a very late brunch!

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Update!

Well not been up to any extremely exciting this week - although it is still only Saturday Morning!

A volunteer I had been working with for a while signed up for India yesterday. When Janelle the Program Manager for India called to welcome him to the Program he told her he thought it was going to be me on the phone because it was a New York number. When asked why he had chosen to volunteer with Cross-Cultural Solutions he said me!!! He said that I had been really helpful and patient with him and if he was getting that kind help before he enrolled he couldn't imagine what it would be like afterward and while in country!

It's strange but the volunteers don't realize that when they answer the phone they can determine whether you have a good day or an excellent day, when you get a really excited volunteer who understands what the mission and value of CCS is it really makes the job worth while and reminds me of how I felt when I signed up to go to Brazil.