I finally figured out the secret to the labradors!! I went to pet one yesterday and I asked the man if they were training. He declined and told me they were bomb dogs. They use labradors because they don't scare the ferry-goers. Funny. And now we know!
I had two lessons with my teacher, Mignon, this week. One Friday, one Saturday. She charged me for neither but let me go to the store and get groceries, play with her dog and help with making lunch as payment. She has also offered me the use of her studio at the school after she is done for the day so that I can practice without disturbing neighbors and so that I will have a piano. She is just so nice and really takes care of me. I am finally in a vocal home!
Mignon doesn't settle for mediocre. She fixes everything as many times as needed until I can do it right each time. She also tells me all the time how pretty my voice is and I'm starting to believe it too. I am still struggling with jaw problems, but it is more from misplacement of vowels and my own listening than from any real issue. She is preparing me for competitions for this summer. My first application isn't due until March 15th by which time we will see if I am ready. She thinks I can be but that maybe I don't have the right rep. She wants to reign in my voice for a bit, sing some smaller things, and really work on my middle and lower octaves to get them to match my top. She lets me sing high notes, even encourages it. And she says that one day, La Traviata will be a perfect role for me!! La Traviata is my dream role so yayyy!!!!!!! I am so happy I have made this move. She has been everything I have expected and more!!
I start my new nanny job tomorrow. It is a trial basis since it is a bit of a commute and I haven't actually met the family yet. I have however spoken with the mother on the phone and she seems very nice and very understanding. This week is a bit funny, but eventually, I will nanny Tues/Thurs and work in the office Mon/Wed. That being said, even without extra babysitting hours, I should make enough to pay rent and have food to eat. If I can get a church job, I can then pay Mignon and the coaches and pianists with no trouble. Life is actually happening here in NYC! This is the dream!
I still speak with my Italian man every day. I like him more and more. He is smart and down to earth, even through the language barrier. We talk about everything. Politics, life here versus life there, music, religion, food, vacations, dreams, work. He asks about my day and actually listens!! He laughs at me and loves to make me life. It is almost a bonus too that he is in Italy because I can focus on getting settled here while still looking forward to coming home and Skyping with him at the end of the day. We also text a lot throughout the day: I am thinking of you, this reminded me of you, works sucks, this funny thing happened, yadda yadda. We both have good and bad days and we are able to comfort and support each other, even through the newness of this little relationship we have.
Daisy is doing great. I usually only leave once a day, sometimes for long periods. But she has not had one accident in this apartment!! Not even in the bed!! We go on walks, sometimes just around the block (about fifteen minutes) and sometimes to explore (much longer). Today, we went exploring up the hill. I have been here a month and I had never gone UP the hill! What I found was so surprising.
There is an entire neighborhood up the hill from where I am of HUGE houses and they are all different styles from all different time periods. There is even a little section that has that funny dark brown wood work on the outside and it looks like a tiny old German village, just right at the top of the hill. Inbetween a couple of the houses, there is this amazing view of the valley just behind. I went at dusk, so the sun was down but not all the light had gone just yet. There were beautiful shadows of pink and purple in the sky over the ocean in the distance and all the lights of the niehgborhood were on. What a view!! I can't imagine living in one of these houses and having this view every night.
I get Staten Island. Most New Yorkers hear that I live in SI and they say, "OH!" like it's some sin I have committed, or like I am some lower-class human with whom they couldn't communicate properly. What I have discovered is that most of those people haven't been here. They have no idea what the island is like, with its people, culture, and history. Sure, there is construction. There are houses that are empty, and there are places that are less pretty than others. But there is also history. There are these trees with huge trunks that have seen the times change and have seen multiple cultures pass through this little town. These hodge-podge neighborhoods consist of houses from different centuries and different cultural influences. It is a bit far from the city but it is loveable. The little diners are kept afloat by their regulars. The owners want to be on a first name basis with their customers. The inhabitants are nice here. They greet you on the road, with a little wave or a friendly hello. Not at all like Manhattan.
I know it's a little sinful, but I am falling in love with Staten Island. Maybe I can't personally change the entire reputation of Staten Island for all of New York. But maybe just for those with whom I come in contact, I can provide another side of the story, a first-hand encounter with the Lost Borough.
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