Oh Danny Boy!

So I had my last job shadowing event last night. It was FANTASTIC!! The consulate held a party for the play Equus. If you have not heard of this play yet that would be astonishing. But let's just say Mr. Radcliffe shows every side of him possible in it. It has been a very popular play in both the UK and New York.

Only a handful of people from my work were invited and I was one of the lucky few. I have to say Daniel Radcliffe is a very down to earth guy for being a famous actor at such a young age. I think he managed to speak to everyone in the room. Not only speak to them actually have full conversations with everyone. Including me of course! We talked about obviously me being an American and working for the British Government. He said I had to learn how to say the words Research, Vitamin, and Oregano properly. And then wished me luck on....well being an American. Funny. He is still only 19 but I was very impressed with his maturity. I then left the party and just as the elevator was closing a hand popped in and it was Daniel's Bodyguard. I rode the elevator down with Daniel, his father, and bodyguard. I was too chicken to talk to them. It seemed like a decompressing time. It's hard to remember that for him last night was working but for us it was exciting and fun.

Also at the party was Richard Griffiths. He is in the play as well. You may remember him from Harry Potter as well. He played Harry's mean Uncle Vernon.

Unfortunately camera's were not allowed so I couldn't take pictures. There was a professional photographer there and I am hoping to bribe my friend Jenna to send me some so I can post them. But in the meantime this is the only picture I could find that 1-he is clothed and 2-this is pretty close to what he looks like now. Very different from his Harry Potter days. And another side note he is very very short. I think he is about 5'3 maybe 5'4. Shocking really.

I am so sad that my Job Shadowning for Press and Public Affairs section is over. They really do have a fun job. I will just have to try and stay close and hope for pity invites! :o)

My date with the Prime Minister....

Yet another exciting day at work on Friday. My work has a Job Shadowing program and I requested to job shadow an amazing lady at my work. She is in charge of arranging VIP visits. Anyone that is VIP from the UK she schedule's their trips. Yesterday she invited me to come along to such a visit. Gordon Brown the Prime Minister of the UK was speaking at the Council of Foreign Relations here in New York. I got to show up early and watch all the goings on of people rushing around getting prepped for the meeting. The actual meeting lasted an hour and he went over topics such as the Economy, China, and Africa. He also spoke on his thoughts about Obama and his future.

After the meeting I got to go back into the back room where secret service were waiting for Gordon Brown to meet his motorcade. He met with BBC reporters and then came out. It is amazing to see the number of staff that surround a person like him. Maybe 15 people trailing behind him.
I got a chance to speak with the man from Scotland Yard (UK Police Division) that organizes the security for a trip like this. He said that they were off to Afghanistan soon and it's nice for him because they can arrive and guns are provided. Kind of the same as America. Funny but an interesting thought on what a gun culture we actually are.

All in all it was a great morning. I am so thankful that I have a job that I can get new experiences. I have now gone to two meetings with top politicians from the UK. I am observing that these two politicians are different from our countries politicians. After the long frustrating Presidential election it is nice to listen to a politician such as Gordon Brown talk about the issues and actually have an opinion and a stance on what needs to be done to correct them. I don't find that very often with American Politicians.

I have one more Job Shadowing event to go on with Louise. So stay tuned this one will be a doosy! Little hint.....It involves a well known Half-Blood Wizard that now takes his clothes off for money... :o)

Don't Blink or you'll miss Miami!

I had a fun week last week. I went on a trip for work to Miami, FL. I left on Sunday and returned late Tuesday Night. I have never been to that part of the US and wish I could go back to see more. I was in a conference all day Monday and Tuesday so I didn't get to see much of the city. Our hotel was lovely! It was a little boutique hotel in the Coconut Grove section of Miami. The hotel had a tons of trees and water features on the inside courtyard area. It was so relaxing to sit by the fountains.

My room was fantastic. I think it is the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in. It had a jacuzzi on the balcony and a TV in the bathroom. I always thought that was weird, I mean come on you can't even leave the TV to go to the bathroom. But let me tell you that is FANTASTIC!! You don't have to miss anything! :o)

We did go to dinner Monday night to a restaurant right on the water but unfortunately it was pitch black dark. It was a fun trip but much too fast for my taste. I definitely wan to go back to see more!

Adam's thoughts on current Election

Dear Folks,
I wanted stay away from US politics since I had a huge disappointment McCain`s VP pick Palin over Mitt Romney. But since I studied Political Science and have been involved in politics for a long time I wanted say few things....

Mitt Romney is an honorable,successful, and experienced politician. Even though I was a young college student when I met his father George Romney (3 times Michigan governor and very successful businessman) in 1994 in Boston in Mitt Romney`s office he stood up for a half an hour in front of me and gave me friendly advises on what I should do in my political life in the future. I was surprised by his knowledge and his humbleness. I saw a great wise man in him, just like the old Roman Empire Philosophers described in their books. I liked the Romney family (George,Mitt and Ann) and I believe that they have great potential to lead this country. Mitt Romney has worked so hard and fund raised for Republicans but McCain made a unwise choice in an inexperienced Alaskan lady who has spent the republican money for her and her family to buy at high end stores like Nieman Marcus and Saks 5th Ave. While regular Americans shopping in walmart/kmart during this financial crisis. Mitt Romney does not need a single penny from the Republican party. He is not a taker but a giver, unlikely Sarah Palin. I have a very good friend in New york, he fund raised for democrats and raised about $400,000 . I was talking to him few months ago and he confessed to me that there is no better candidate than (between democrats and republicans) Mitt Romney in this elections for presidency. But he said the only obstacle is his Mormon religion.

Well...... I have one thing to say finally if democrats are brave enough to make an African-American person to a US president and if Republicans are too afraid to nominate a very well experienced/well mannered/well educated/successful businessman/politician because of his LDS church beliefs... then you decide who is looking for success and who is looking for a failure in this elections!

Zoo Volunteer Day

Yesterday my work had a 'Volunteer Away Day'. We took a school of special needs children to the Central Park Zoo. It was fun but I am worn out. I was on the committee so I got to be involved with the planning of it. We had a fun T-Shirt contest and as you can see the winner was pretty cool. I bet none of you have and I heart UK shirt! 400 of us adults and children walking around the small Central Park Zoo in these shirts. I think people were thinking there was an invasion going on. The children in my group were all just barely 3. So it was a long day for them. My child Victoria fell asleep as we were leaving the zoo. I had to carry her the whole way back on two MTA buses. My arms are aching! (Just a side note. When getting on the bus not one person offered their seat to me even though I had a large sleeping child hanging off me. Thankfully a coworker got someone to move but he wasn't very happy about it. Only in New York!) Way to go to all you mom's out there that do this all the time. I was never so happy to leave and go take a nap!

This picture below is so funny. The man is Sir Alan Collins, New York's Consul General. That's right I know an actual Sir! :o) He is in deep discussion with this little boy....

All in all it was a fun day out. I think all the kids enjoyed it which was the purpose and I also got to go home early and take a nap afterward! And just in case you were wondering my dad was not there that is an actual goat.....

Celtic Thunder

Last night we went to Radio City Music Hall to see a group called Celtic Thunder. They are a group of 5 Irish guys that sing fantastic. I think they are trying to be the male version of Celtic Woman. They are pretty good but not as good as Celtic Woman.

There is one member of their group that is so good. Mark my words this boy will be famous! His name is Damien McGinty. He is the youngest member of the group at age 14. I have never heard such a clear controlled voice before. He is so good.

If you enjoy Celtic music as much as me you will like their stuff. They do a lot of covers on American songs such as Desperado and a couple Elvis songs.

Secretaries & Pumpkins

Not much has been going on with Adam and I lately. We both have been working hard at our jobs and living life.
I had a great opportunity to go see a lecture at the NYU Law school on September 25th. The Foreign Secretary of the UK, David Miliband spoke on what he sees as the challenges facing the new elected president. It is pretty intimidating sitting in a small room with law students and professors but it was such an interesting topic to be discussed by a Foreign Government Official. You can read more about it on the link I have above.




Now that I have started working for a Foreign Government it has opened my eyes to the way America is seen by other countries. Not just unfriendly countries but countries that are meant to be our allies and friends. As anyone in my family knows from our heated debates over this I feel very strongly about the way we are perceived by other countries and how we can correct the misjudgments that are made. But the main point that I took from listening to Mr. Miliband's speech is that it will be important for the next president to work together for the greater good WITH other countries. That America will only isolate itself more by not joining the international community and taking the proper steps in making decisions regarding other countries. I generally agree with this. I may be more liberal in my thinking because my husband is from a foreign country and I will most likely live outside the country in my lifetime. I found the words of David Miliband very insightful from a Foreign Secretary. I definitely recommend watching the meeting if you have time.





We also did a fun thing last weekend. We went to a pumpkin & Apple picking farm. But really was disappointed. We went to one a few years ago that was great. But this one was very commercialized. They didn't really let you pick your own pumpkin they just laid them out for you pick. Oh well it was a fun day driving in the countryside. Getting some fresh air!