B

has been working in New York City for the past five years. He is from Hong Kong so he is no stranger to the crowds or the fast paced city life. In fact, he enjoys seeing all the smiling and curious tourists in Times Square whenever he goes out for his lunch breaks. He thinks Times Square may be congested with people but it is a much happier area to be than say, down by Wall Street, where people seem to be more serious and down to business.

During the limited period of time that I worked down in that part of town, I just loathed the windy and shortened winter days. People seemed to vanish from the streets by the end of the business day. Definitely not a place for those like B, who used to enjoy the bustling night life of a city like Hong Kong, where many businesses (restaurants and retail) stay open until the wee hours of the night.

B has no major plans for the holidays. Looking back at the past year, he is most grateful that in spite of the tough economy he has a job. He hasn't made any New Year resolutions. According to B, if he needs to accomplish something he can work on a goal at any time and doesn't need a "New Year's resolution." At the expense of sounding a little arrogant, I must say that I share that sentiment. But nevertheless, for the less determined like me, I will make a resolution for the upcoming year, which is to talk to more strangers during my mcbreaks.

As the holidays close in, the shopping is done, the cards sent out (nah - was too lazy for that), I look back at the people I met through this venue and appreciate that no matter where we come from or where we're going, most of us are grateful for the family and friends in our lives and for having a job or (for those who are searching for one) being able to pursue our dreams. Until 2010, I wish a Merry Christmas to All And To All A Happy New Year!

Patti

barely made it out of Minnesota yesterday due to the blizzard. But by the time she arrived in NY, the weather was beautiful. She is visiting NY with her two daughters and they are enjoying many of the Christmas attractions and pastimes. Tonight, Patti and her daughters will be going to see the Radio City Rockettes and will stop by to admire the famous Saks Fifth Avenue Christmas windows.

Patti's favorite carol and Christmas songs are O Little Town of Bethlehem and I'll Be Home for Christmas. Ironically, Patti will be spending this Christmas at her home away from home in Rio Grande, Texas. Even though beautiful MN is where her life-long "home" is, Patti and her husband started to spend winters in Rio Grande, Texas, because her husband could no longer bear the fierce winters in MN. This will be their second winter there. They chose Texas because they had gone to school in Austin and still have close friends there.

Patti planned this NY trip in March but decided to make a few changes at the last minute. While her daughters will stay in NY for a few more days, Patti decided to take up her friends' offer to join them on a cruise. So tomorrow she's headed to sunny Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Christmas in the south must make for a completely different experience, similar to Christmases in South America when we celebrated the holidays in the midst of the summer. Yesterday's episode of ABC's "Modern Family" portrayed how a modern family incorporates and adapts to the changing traditions. The head of the family, Jay, has recently re-married. His new wife, Gloria, is a hot Colombian divorcee who is about the same age as his grown daughter. Jay's step-son with Gloria is the same age as his grandkids. In addition, Jay has a grown gay son who has just adopted an Asian baby with his partner. It makes for some fun family dynamics. One of the new traditions that this modern family was incorporating to the celebrations were fireworks, courtesy of the Colombian influence.

We had those fireworks in Argentina too. I'm not sure whether it was an Argentinian tradition or the tradition of a Korean family living in Argentina, but my parents would always gift a bottle of Sidra (sparkly cider) and a Pan Dulce (dried fruits cake) to all our closest neighbors and friends on the day before Christmas. At midnight, we would watch the midnight mass on TV and then head outside to admire the fireworks, which in retrospect were very modest. At the time, my brother and I could only "dream of a white Christmas." Same holidays but just so many different ways to celebrate them.

E

was punching away the keys of his PSP game (hand held video game). What started like a casual conversation about his NY background (lives in Flushing, Queens) and and the holiday season, turned into a talk about some current events like Tiger Woods, of course. Until very recently, one of E's favorite PSP games was a Tiger Wood's game and he would have never guessed that all hell would break loose in the golfer's life. E thinks that a guy like Tiger who's allegedly a sex maniac, should have never married and stayed single like George Clooney.

E then went on to share his opinion on other topics like the healthcare debate and government spending. He believes that the current administration should be more fiscally responsible and allocate resources to pressing issues like the economy and national security as supposed to healthcare and green projects. According to E, Democrats want too much government control and the solution to unemployment is less government and less taxes, along the lines of the income and capital gain tax cuts of the Reagan era. The government has lots to juggle from the economy, war, healthcare, trying terrorists in NY, and E doesn't believe the Obama administration has a handle on these matters. He thinks President Obama is leading the country in the wrong direction and away from the entrepreneurial and capitalist values that represent the US.

Except for supporting the President's decision to deploy more troops to Afghanistan, E practically opposes all of the executive decisions and legislative agenda of the administration or their party. But in spite of his conservative stance, in the not too distant past, E had succumbed to Obama's charms and had hopes for a brighter future under a Democratic administration. Such hopes, however, were very short lived and now he believes that the President is a sinister character and a socialist. Let me just say that these were E's kindest words when opining about Pres. Obama. Although my eyebrows rose a few times during the course of the conversation, I welcomed this opportunity to hear the opinions of an ultra-conservative who didn't mind sharing his views and opinions with a stranger and without reservations and in a very animated fashion, especially considering that we are in a primarily Democratic state.

Not surprisingly, E is a fan of Glen Beck, Rush, Cheney, Huckabee, Palin, Giuliani, and he voted for Bloomberg for NY Mayor. He works in Times Square. I am not sure what E does for a living because he didn't get into details about his job. But since we're so close to Fox News and given his passion for the current state of affairs in the US and Fox's most popular anchors/shows, I said that he should apply for a job at Fox. He did say that he had once worked for a radio (or cable) show but unfortunately, that didn't go too well. He still liked the idea. May be the next time I see E, it will be as a commentator or guest speaker on the O'Reilly Factor.

For now, E's political inclinations are predicting that in 2010 the "Republicans will be coming back like a Tsunami" following the gubernatorial victories in New Jersey and Virginia.

My political prediction is that it will be an uphill battle because the administration is still young and people will remain receptive for at least another year. I do believe, however, that conservatives could gain ground by doing a better job at rallying the crowds in cyberspace, just like liberals reach millions of citizens every day through MoveOn.org and therein lies the benefit of having a broad base of young followers.

On Dec. 21st, E and his family will be going to Wyoming to spend time with his wife's family. E is Jewish (but not too religious according to him) and his wife is Lutheran. They have a 16-month old son. It may be the most wonderful time of the year and just as hectic as the family celebrates Hanukkah and Christmas. E's favorite part of the holidays is spending quality time with his friends and family, regardless of their political views.

Bob

was wearing a green sweater so I figured he may be in the spirit for Christmas. Indeed, Bob has already put up his 6 1/2 feet tall Christmas tree. It took him four hours to decorate and hang each of his 1000 ornaments! Yes, 1000 pieces!! His favorite ornaments are the ones that his students made for him over the years.

Bob is a Social Sciences teacher in upstate New York and teaches students in grades 5 through 8. I immediately made the assumption that teaching teenagers must make for a high stress job but Bob believes that it is the best age because the kids are old enough to get the jokes but not too old to get jaded. I asked if he would share a few words of advice for parents, like me, who are prematurely dreadful of the teen years. Bob suggested to encourage open communication at all times and to refrain from over-reacting because it is important for kids to be able to come back to talk to you. I shall keep that in mind and will try to keep the jokes flowing while the kids are receptive to them. Kids grow so fast though. On Saturday, we had "breakfast with Santa" (school sponsored event) and my five year old daughter whispers "that is not the real Santa; he's too young." I was speechless for a moment and then made up a reason for this "pretend" Santa. She didn't seem too convinced by my response but was willing to move on. Whew!

After all the holiday celebrations and eating at favorite places like Da Rosina while in NY City, Bob will tackle his New Year's resolution, which is to lose weight. I bid him buena fortuna!

John

was talking on the phone and telling the person at the other end of the line that he would go to ToysRus and pick up some toys. I admit that it is rude to eavesdrop on someone else but I could not resist. I had made three earlier attempts to talk to someone and today was one of those days when people did not want to be bothered. So this was going to be my fourth and last attempt of the day and at last, someone gave in!

It turned out that John was on Santa duty and planning to pick up some Christmas toys for his children, a son who's 5 and a daughter who's 3. His kids completed their wish lists, mailed them to Santa and are anxious to see what Santa will leave in their stockings this Christmas. If they weren't too naughty Santa may have some nice treats like DS video games or princess themed ornaments ...

Yesterday, I asked Candace her opinion about the Tiger saga so today I wanted a guy's take on it. John feels bad for Tiger's family and mostly for the children who have to deal with all the drama and possible long-term implications of Tiger's "transgressions" but besides that, he deems it a personal matter. I, like so many other fans, am simply disappointed at another clean cut type of guy who's taken a bite or two out of Eve's apple. What's new though? Historically, men think with their penises and woman with their bosoms and that's how we keep it balanced. I will let it go.

Yesterday, Candace asked me whether some people decline speaking to me and I said yes and that the rejections come more often from New Yorkers. Of course, there's no magic formula to determine whether someone is a New Yorker. Many people, especially those who are born and bread in NY, have strict standards. But for purposes of this blog and when trying to decipher whether someone is a New Yorker, I make a determination based on the way someone acts, dresses and talks. Some give it away through their outer borough accent although one of my friends swears that New Yorkers do not have an accent. And what about people like me who don't look or talk the NY talk but live like one? I consider myself to be part of a NY breed of adopted orphans. I have noticed that visitors are more open to conversing with a stranger. But today, John cracked that stereotype and came to the rescue. He was born and raised in Manhattan and made today's mcbreak possible. Thank you, John! I wish John, his family and his limousine business, which is coincidentally named http://www.ROMEOlimousine.com, much joy and prosperity in 2010.

Candace

I forgot to ask Candace about the meaning of her name so I looked it up online and found that its Greek origin means "fire-white" and its Latin origin means "pure". The meaning of her name does her justice because Candace's candidness exuded a combination of serenity and transparency but at the same time, I could see the fiery sparkles in her blue eyes.

Candace enjoyed her train ride from Boston and is here for business and leisure. After attending several meetings during the earlier part of the week, she took the day off today. She may stop by to see the lighting of the Rockefeller Christmas tree and she has tickets for the musical Memphis. Since Candace had a few minutes I asked for her opinion on some current events:

1. On Obama's speech about Afghanistan: She supports our Commander in Chief's decision to deploy more troops to Afghanistan. She is sorry that so many more US men and women will be in harm's way for the next few years but she appreciates the fact that President Obama reached such decision after many weeks of deliberation and in order to further the safety of our country. Candace's best friend's son has served in Iraq and several of his comrades had perished fighting the war so she knows the perils and heartaches of the service men and woman and their friends and families. To all those men and women who serve to protect us, we are forever indebted and most grateful.

2. On the Salahi's crashing the White House party: They should bear the consequences, maybe not by going to jail, but by being fined or put on probation, or something to teach them and others who fancy similar ideas that there are certain things and places, like the White House, that should be off limits from social pranks. I couldn't agree more. What is it with these publicity seeking stunts from people like this couple or the family of the balloon boy?

3. On Tiger Woods: She's very disappointed by the Tiger whom she had viewed as an honorable sports figure. He is "human" after all, and a "man" I would add. Wait, I am jumping to the conclusion that he did have a mistress :p

Candace has exciting plans for Christmas and New Year. Her mom will be turning 90 this month and to celebrate, 32 members of her family, which include siblings, children and grandchildren will head to Florida, from there they will embark on a week long cruise trip. Candace is most grateful that her mother is 90 years old, healthy and that she will be surrounded by her loved ones during this milestone! Candace is from Italian decent. Her Grandfather was the first family member who immigrated to the US. When he was 14 years old, Grandpa worked in Great-Grandpa's farm herding sheep. Grandpa liked to play his mandolin, more so than following his sheep. On one occasion, he got distracted and lost control of his herd. Some of those sheep went missing. When Grandpa told Great-Grandpa that some sheet were lost, Great-Grandpa was furious, took his mandolin and smashed it to pieces. It was at that time that Grandpa decided that he wanted to go to America to pursue his dreams and embrace his passion for music. Several generations later, his children and grandchildren continue to embrace that love of music. For the past 55 years, the family and relatives numbering 100+ have gathered for a family reunion every year. They rent a hall or make reservations at a restaurant. After the Italian feast, each "branch" of the family must present an act or sketch. The mandolin or guitar definitely play a big part during the presentations. I can only imagine the sounds of music, laughter and energy emanating from that room. I am sure that planning and coordinating the logistics of such family reunions is not an easy feat. According to Candace, it takes one person who is willing to keep the tradition. Then, each of the six families take turns planning each annual event.

Families, friends, peace and love ... hope all can enjoy them as we "celebrate the reason for the season."

Ines

Works as a maids supervisor at a hotel in Times Square. She loves her job as much as she loves NY. The tourist industry in NY City may have seen its good share of slowdowns over the past decade, especially after 9/11 and most recently as a result of the economic downturn. Ines' job, fortunately, was not affected by either. She remains very satisfied with the benefits that are offered by her company and continues to give her 100% today as she did when she first set foot at the hotel 25 years ago. A valuable word of advice that she likes to share with her son is to love your job because that is the only way you can give it your 100% every day. A very wise advice indeed, especially since I sensed that she meant and lives by her words! She is a very dedicated person and many people would take all the credit but Ines remarked that it is "gracias a Dios" (thanks be to God) that she has been so fortunate.

Over the 25 years that she has been working at the hotel in Times Square she has come across many interesting and peculiar characters. Recently, she responded to a service call and when the guest opened the door, she saw a man who was dressed, tattooed, pierced and spoke or growled like a tiger. I think Ines was referring to the Cat Man, described by Times Square Gossip as "The Cat Man AKA Dennis Avner. Cat Man has transformed every inch of his body to appear tiger like from filing his teeth, tattooing tiger stripes on his skin and undergoing 20 facial surgeries becoming the most modified human being in the world." I am sure that it was an interesting and somewhat frightening encounter!

When asked whether she would share something that is in her Christmas wish-list, she wasn't able to respond right away but after a brief moment of deliberation, she said money. She wishes she had a little extra money so she could help her family or do something "special" during this jolly time of the year.

On a chilly day like today, even someone like Ines, who loves the Big Apple, reminisces about Colombia, her home country and cherishes the warmer climate that extends throughout the year. According to her, she's getting old and she can feel the chill much more intensely.

Jessica

There were dozens of young girls at McD's who were wearing orange and red athletic jackets with the logo: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Jessica was one of those girls and even though she was in a rush to gobble down her burger, she was gracious to spare a few minutes. She will be performing at the 9AM opening ceremony in Herald Square.

Jessica is a high school senior from Buffalo, NY and had to audition her way through several competitions in order to make the cut and join the Varsity Spirit, a group of talented cheerleaders from across the nation. She's been in NY City before but this is the first time that she will be performing at the parade. She may be a little nervous but ecstatic about her upcoming debut on the national stage! She'll be in the far right side of that stage. For the next two days, she'll be hard at work rehearsing the stunts and flips and shaking her pom poms to the beat of the music. It will be a once in a life time opportunity to entertain thousands of spectators and viewers of one the most celebrated Thanksgiving day traditions.

If the weather cooperates, my family and I are planning to crawl our way through the crowds and watch the parade live from Seventh Avenue in NY City. This will be a first for us too. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Chris

was having lunch and listening to Pink Floyd. I try not to disturb people who have their earphones on but today I did and to my fortune, he didn't mind the disruption. Chris is an aspiring actor who is back in NY in order to purse his dreams. Before moving to NY, he spent a few weeks in California and after debating between Hollywood and New York, he went for the lights and merriment of Times Square. A wise choice, I thought, because if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere ~ New York ~ New York!

Chris lived in NY a few years ago while attending an acting conservatory in downtown Manhattan. On one occasion, Chris and his friend were invited to a party in an unfamiliar section of the Bronx. By the time the party was over, Chris was drunk and his friend was pretty much "gone." It was 3 in the morning but after a night of debauchery, they were both hungry so they went to get some chicken. At the chicken place they encountered a gang who instigated the hungry fellows. Chris' friend was beyond drunk and entertained the instigators. A fight ensued and predictably, the gangsters beat the crap out of his friend. Luckily, his friend came out with some bruises but nothing that a few packs of ice couldn't alleviate. Now he knows better and to stay away from some neighborhoods, at 3AM, when you're drunk. After graduating from school and finding himself financially broke, he moved back to Arizona in order to work and save up some money. Now, a little more mature and with some savings, Chris is back in full throttle to the city that never sleeps and he's "going for the gold." He's young, ambitious, personable and he's definitely got the looks! He has a lot going for him but he is not taking anything for granted. The three things that he's most grateful for are: (1) moving back to NYC; (2) having a wonderful job at Planet Hollywood and (3) having a place to live.

May be the next time I see Chris, it'll be in the big screen or at home, in an episode of Gossip Girl or Smallville ... these shows are not in our DVR queue but I suspect it is only a matter of time for the kids to switch from nick jr to the WB.

Julie and Jeanine

Julie is from Huntington Woods, Michigan, and is visiting her sister Jeanine. Jeanine holds dual residences; one in Pearl River NY and one in Royal Oak, Michigan. Jeanine's husband relocated to NY following a job opportunity in Montvale, NJ. Since the family, including two grown daughters are in Michigan, Jeanine spends most of her time in Michigan and visits her husband every other week or twice per month. Her husband, in turn, visits Michigan once per month. The ladies are having a good time in NY City and while they have been enjoying all the landmarks and entertainment that the city has to offer, at the top of Jeanine's Christmas wish list is the hope for her husband to secure a job in Michigan so their family can be reunited. The best would be a job in Michigan which pays NY/NJ rates - wouldn't that be sweet!

For now, Jeanine is making the most out of the situation and hosting her sister and her 2 1/2 year old niece and showing them a good time in Manhattan. The two sisters are also grateful that as they get ready for the holiday season, they will not have to cut back on their holiday preparations (i.e. gifts) in comparison to previous years because, fortunately, work has been good. In fact, their husbands' jobs have done better than last year.

A traditional Thanksgiving day at Julie's: in the morning, her husband goes down to the harbor to watch the balloons and floats at a local parade, while Julie prepares the turkey with all the fixings. This year, she will also serve spaghetti with meatballs. The family of about 12-15 members will then gather for the big meal. By the way, in addition to her 2 and 1/2 year-old daughter, Julie has two sons who are 18 and 16 years-old respectively. Per Julie, their little daughter was an unexpected but most welcomed surprise. And yes, they're all from the same father and the same mother :) After the big Thanksgiving feast, they kick back and watch the football game. This year, the Lions are hosting the Green Bay Packers and hopefully, the Lions will take advantage of playing in their home turf and deliver a win. The Lions may not have the greatest winning track record but win or loose, Julie and her clan have and will continue to watch them play.

Talking to the two sisters from Southeastern Michigan was like talking to my sisters in law - they exude a friendliness and warmth that is unique to the ladies from "the mitten."

Winston

Now that Halloween is behind us, it is time to gear up for the next major holiday. Hats off to all the veterans but I am talking about Thanksgiving. I like Thanksgiving because it consists of four days of eating, drinking, playing and more eating. It is all about family, friends and food - a lovely trifecta. Guys will probably substitute one of the "f"s for football. And the best part is that unlike many other celebrations, there's no need to worry about shopping for and wrapping gifts.

Winston is from one of the most beautiful places in the world, Cape Town, South Africa. When visiting his town, Winston recommends taking a hike or cable ride to Table Mountain, because it provides some of the most spectacular views of his town. He told me that there may not be a Thanksgiving or similar holiday in South Africa but Sundays are generally designated "family day" and that is when people gather around the table to count their blessings. Winston is most grateful "just to be alive and breathing." Could it be that he overcame some major life adversities which have given him a greater appreciation for the ability to be alive? We didn't get into those details but he did tell me about one of his most recent extra-ordinary accomplishments. Last Sunday, Winston ran the NY Marathon and finished at 5:23 in spite of the fact that he pulled his two tendons. He has run half marathons in the past but this was the first time that he completed a full marathon. Winston came to NY with two friends with whom he had trained for several months. His friends finished at 4:40! A word of advice from Winston to people who entertain the idea of running the marathon: stay focused and don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it.

Winston is only the second person I've ever met who's run the NY marathon. The other person participated in the 1999 marathon and finished at 4:27:11. Why not, I'll brag. I am proud to say that the other runner is my husband. Whenever it is time for the annual NY marathon, I unequivocally remember a Seinfeld episode where Seinfeld is supposed to wake up Jean Paul, a marathon runner who had overslept at the previous Olympics. Seinfeld's alarm stops working during the night and they both oversleep but JP still manages to make the race. JP is eventually in the lead and passes people on the sidelines who are offering cups of water. Kramer and the gang are in the crowd too. Out of all the cups, JP grabs Kramer's cup, which is full of hot tea instead of water. At the sound of JP's scream, they all shriek and look at each other with their classic grimaces.

Now that the marathon is behind them, Winston and his friends are spending a few days sight-seeing and exploring the city. Winston's favorite part of town is Brooklyn. He hasn't had the opportunity to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge yet but alas, he has already run across the Queensboro! Winston may have injured his ankle during the marathon but that will not dissuade him from hitting the running track 4-5 months after his recovery. And he hopes to be back in NY next year in order to take another bite at the NYC marathon.

Kari

Kari is his nickname and it means "white" in Nepali. Most Nepalese have an olive/tan complexion so his friends attributed the nickname to Kari's lighter skin. Some of Kari's childhood friends moved to London and he decided to move there too after completing his studies in Buddhism. He is currently on a three-week leisure trip in NY City. He has been captivated by the Brooklyn Bridge and already made two treks across the bridge during this trip. Since he still has another 10 days or so before heading home to London, I see plenty of time for a third hike.

I went back to his comment about studying Buddhism in Nepal and asked him what is the primary goal/mission of his religion. He said that Buddhists veer away from causing harm to others; achieve a state of happiness by promoting cooperation and respect for one another and by seeing others achieve success. The "other" also includes people who cause harm or provoke spiritual upheaval upon the Buddhist believer. I can see why Buddhism is not the opium of the masses in the Western World. In the US, only a very small percentage of people are Buddhists.

My exposure to Buddhism is limited to (1) a college course I took about the Beat Generation and how Eastern religions like Buddhism influenced the writers of that generation, (2) visiting the ornate temples and golden Buddhas in Bangkok, and (3) watching older Korean ladies chanting/praying to Kwanseum Bosal in almost every Korean melodrama of the 80's and 90's. Kwanseum Bosal is known as the Goddess of Compassion & Healing in Korea, like the equivalent of the Virgin Mary to Catholics. The ladies in the melodramas would chant prayers to Kwanseum Bosal over and over again in hopes that the Goddess would take away all their heartaches and headaches. I could never make out what they would chant after calling out to KB but it didn't matter, you could hear the passion in their prayers. Surely, someone had to feel compassion for these devoted ladies. I don't understand most of Buddhism's principles but I do respect the Buddhist's eagerness to please, help, understand and respect others.

Ironically, Easter is Kari's favorite holiday - it is not the religious aspect of this holiday but the food and good times with his friends that make it the perfect celebration. Easter is definitely one of my favorite holidays too, both for heavenly and earthly reasons.

Jeff

After I ordered my coffee, I gave the clerk $1.51 but she returned the coins and told me that McDonald's reduced the price of their small coffee to $1. "Even better!" I said with a big smile. It was a good start to my mcrbreak.

The beauty of talking to strangers is that I get to learn random things about people and their interests. For example, Jeff introduced me to his favorite band, Polyphonic Spree, which performs upbeat orchestra type of music; his favorite foreign film, City of Men; eateries like Pasta Lovers in midtown and Le Zie in Chelsea. I just checked Le Zie's menu to see what kind of ravioli they offer since Jeff is a ravioli devotee. I see that they have a fresh tuna ravioli. Sounds like an interesting ravioli twist but I don't doubt that the Italians can turn any (or most) raw ingredients into a palatable meal.

Jeff moved to New York City three years ago after graduating from college and finding his accounting job in this town. He lives in Queens and is particularly fond of a local coffee shop that he stops by 2-3 times per week. He loves living in this city but remains most loyal to the Buffalo Sabres, his hometown hockey team. It was nice talking to a stranger who was congenial and polite. He seemed pretty receptive to my inquiries so I asked some personal questions too. I asked him whether he would share the most traumatic time/event in his life. Jeff broke up with his girlfriend one year ago, after she cheated on him, not once but twice during their 3-year courtship. They maintained a long distance relationship during the last two of those three years. According to his ex-girlfriend, the long distance relationship was tougher on her .... The heartbreak, however, was probably greater for the unsuspecting. After the break up, Jeff surrounded himself with friends and slowly moved on. Perhaps, it was the fact that a year had gone by but Jeff seemed to be enjoying his singledom. Is a year enough time to heal the betrayal? It is enough time to forgive and forget? I don't think people can completely get over such wounds but I think that time helps relieve the anger, the disappointment, the confusion and re-opens the mind and the heart to new possibilities.

On a lighter note, I asked him if he could share one of the happiest moments in his life. This was during his first trip abroad when he visited Panama. He stayed in the Embera Village in Darien Province and spent his time in the jungle, staying and sleeping in the natives' humble huts. It was a fairly short trip but it was there that he was able to appreciate the beauty of a completely different and unhindered world. He will be going on a three week vacation to Peru in May. I wish him safe travels and the happiest of times.

Nadine

Nadine is visiting from Hamburg, Germany. Since she's staying in Staten Island for the week, she gets to greet Lady Liberty every day on her free ferry ride to and from Manhattan. This is her first time in NY City and she finds the NY subway system to be convenient and cheap in comparison to the cost of public transportation in Germany. $2.25 may not seem all that expensive but I remember paying just a little over a dollar per token when I rode the subway for the first time. There's no doubt that the subway fare was only one of many factors that have driven the cost of living in this city insanely high. That high cost of living, in turn, has driven 1.5 million New Yorkers or 8 percent of its population out of the state between 2002 to 2008. This, according the Empire State Exodus report, is the nation's largest loss of population to other states. Yeap, my family and I were part of the exodus too but the cost of living across the Hudson seems to be just as high ...

Speaking of the Empire State, yesterday, Nadine made it all the way to the top of Empire State Building, where she stayed long enough to view the splendid sunset. I remember heading home at around 6PM and noticing the beautiful hues of purple and red in the skies and wavy clouds. I can only imagine how much more beautiful the view was from atop the tallest building in the city. Today, unfortunately, the skies were not as radiant so Nadine was going to spend the afternoon shopping at Macy's, H&M and Abercrombie. In cold and rainy days like this Nadine may be craving some of her ultimate comfort food, Linsen & Spaetzle (noodles with lentil sauce). Just the thought of this dish brought comfort and glee to this cordial stranger.

Jessica/Christian

Jessica was sitting to my right and Christian to my left. There wasn't all that much interaction between the two strangers; however, as soon as I said the word "Yankees" Chris became ultra animated and big high fives flew over my head. It didn't take me long to realize that I was sitting in the midst of two big Yankees fans. Naturally, they were extremely disappointed at last night's loss but optimistic that the deal will be closed tomorrow night, during the sixth and possibly final game of the AL Championship Series.

I can't say that I am a huge Yankees fanatic but I find that watching their loyal (and eminently boisterous) fans is sometimes more entertaining than watching the actual ball game, especially if there are anti-Yankees in the crowd. Jessica was born and bred in the Bronx so she is a life-long fan of the Yankees. With the Yankees as her neighbors and favorite eateries like Full Moon in her neighborhood, Jessica has no plans to move away anytime soon. Right now, she's pouring all her time and energy towards earning an Associate's degree in paralegal studies and after school, she blends healthy drinks and smoothies at Jamba Juice. Mango Mantra is her beverage of choice. Jessica is a New Yorker but if she could live somewhere else, it would be in a town like Hartford, Connecticut, away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. On the other hand, Christian who is from Ecuador, would choose to live in the Hell's Kitchen section of Manhattan, right in the midst of all the commotion. Christian's favorite dish is pasta bolognese. I've had some great pasta bolognese at Figaro's, which is just a few blocks away, so I mentioned the place to Christian but he said he likes Olive Garden's. Like Christian, most of the strangers I've met during my breaks are big Italian food enthusiasts. It appears that regardless of where we come from, people seem to universally revere Italian cuisine. Outside of Italy, New York has got to be one of the best places to enjoy the prominent assortment of Italian bakeries, pizzerias and restaurants. A few months ago, I made a reservation at Del Posto. It would have been a night out without the kids to celebrate our wedding anniversary. A few days after making the reservation we were invited to a Yankees' game. Going to both was not an option. Without much hesitation, we decided to go to the game - it was free.

Enzo

I heard in the morning news that "Procter & Gamble Co. is looking for five people who will, in return for $10,000, spend five weeks in a Charmin-branded, Manhattan bathroom and blog about the experience. The five 'Charmin Embassadors' will work in the Charmin Restrooms in Times Square from Nov. 23 to Dec. 31." It sounds like an out of the ordinary job description but I am guessing that many people will find the $10,000 compensation charming enough. Enzo is a college student so I thought that he might be interested in the Charmin position, except for the minor fact that the holiday season coincides with finals season. When I told him about the gig, Enzo did not show the slightest sign of interest in working at a Times Square public restroom. I don't blame him but if I was a college student I may have considered auditioning for it. For Enzo, it wasn't that he couldn't fathom spending eight hours per day inside of a filthy or stinky bathroom, but he just doesn't need it (the money, that is). "Lucky him!" I thought. As far as I can remember, I was always stripped for cash during my college years and no part time job could ever keep up with the compounding monthly credit card dues. Enzo is fully vested in his studies. His goal for the week is to prepare for an exam that is coming up on Wednesday. His goal for the year is to complete 35 credits. With an ambitious target of 35 credits, I can understand why he would not entertain thoughts about extracurricular gigs, and much less a toilet toiler gig. Interestingly, Enzo is majoring in computer engineering but his favorite subject is psychology. Enzo may find the processes of the human mind and behavior to be more interesting than the intricacies of algorithms and circuit boards but he will, nevertheless, stay the course and earn his degree in Computer Engineering. After Enzo graduates from college he plans to return home to Libya. Libya, according to Enzo, is 75% dessert but after doing a quick fact check, I learned that more than 90% of the country is desert. Another interesting fact, their flag is a plain green flag, without any details or insignia.

Katerina and Ivan

After a week of unseasonably cold weather in NY, it finally warmed up and the temperatures reached the 60's. Katerina Doe and Ivan Doe (both aliases) did not mind the chilly weather and found it to be ideal for an ice cream cone and a McFlurry. NY was the last city they were visiting in their 12-day trip in the US. Previously, they spent a few days in Las Vegas and San Francisco. They were very diplomatic but reluctant to point out any favorite sites, tourist endeavors or other trivial facts. According to Ivan, the one thing that he noticed and regretted during his tour of the various cities was his inability to spot attractive American women. He was not impressed nor found women in the U.S. beautiful or sexually appealing. In his opinion, the most beautiful women in the world are in Russia and Ukraine. Fortunately for him, he was sitting right next to a Russian beauty with blue eyes, blond locks, porcelain skin and delicate manners. Katerina was naturally flattered and giggled a few times as Ivan described the characteristics of a Russian beauty: it's a combination of natural and inner beauty and her overall attention to details like her attire and make up. It may have sounded a little superficial but I welcomed Ivan's frankness. In the U.S., we are smitten by Russian/Ukrainian made beauties like Anna Kournikova, Maria Sharapova, Mila Kunis (That 70's Show), Milla Jovovich, Olga Kurylenko (Bond Girl), Karina Smirnoff (Dancing With The Stars), Oksana Baiul and many others. And the best place to admire the fittest and sexiest ladies from the largest country in the world and its neighbor: the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. As I write this entry, I realize that Ivan's sentiment, or a version of it, is most likely shared by many if not all the men in the US and around the globe who subscribe to SI, including my husband. Up until my encounter with Katerina and Ivan who are both from Moscow; Russia meant vodka, shivering temperatures, matrioshka dolls (nesting dolls), tzars, Eastern Promises, astronauts, the intimidating grandmas/nannies in my neighborhood and my daughters' ballet teacher .... Now I may add hot women, but not necessarily the hottest, because notwithstanding what Ivan thinks, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Eric

Eric moved to NY from the Windy City one year ago in order to pursue his Master's Degree in Communications at NY University. While pursuing his advanced degree, Eric is also juggling a part time job in advertisement at MTV and a research job at Columbia's MBA School. Even though balancing two part time jobs and a full course of study can, at times, be a little overwhelming, he has embraced this unique opportunity to live, work and study in NY, because it is the epicenter of commerce, fashion, culture and the culinary arts. Eric hopes to be more marketable upon receipt of his Master's Degree, especially considering the tough competition he faces in the advertisement industry, which has been hard hit by the economic downturn. Most recently, Conde Nast announced that it will be shutting down four of its magazines, including Gourmet, as a result of the steep decline in advertisement. Similarly, The NY Times announced today that it is planning to cut 100 newsroom jobs by year's end due to the same reason. In spite of the somber news released by powerhouses like these publishers, Eric remains cautiously optimistic and welcomes small but promising signs of the financial recovery. During his limited and valuable downtime, Eric likes to catch up on the HBO hit series, Entourage. Eric Murphy, who plays the role of Vincent's Manager, is our real life Eric's favorite character. Like some of the young actors in his favorite TV show, Eric's overall demeanor was polished and casual, borderline metro sexual and he sported trendy jeans and a leather jacket. But surprisingly, the advertisement professional doesn't believe in spending hundreds of dollars on designer wear. He believes it is up to him and not for the industry to direct how and what he purchases. Simply stated, he likes to be hip but for less so he looks for bargains at places like Urban Outfitters, Century 21 and other local boutiques. As we were wrapping up our conversation I noticed that he had an iPhone so I asked him which one is the best application in his phone. He showed me how Shahzam works by identifying music tracks and then allowing users to buy them. The best part of this app is that it can be downloaded for free. It's been six months since I got my iPhone as a mother's day gift. It is the best phone I have ever owned but as usual, I only use about 40% of its features/potential ... may be Shahzam will be the first app I download.

Linda

*I met Linda on October 16, 2009*

I've been walking on the "Great White Way" (stretch of Broadway that runs through NYC's Theater District") everyday for the past several years but I have only seen a handful of Broadway shows. On the other hand, Linda, who is from Fort Wayne, Indiana, has made the Broadway Theater trip at least once a year for the past 15 years. Given that she gets to see three shows per trip, she has seen shows and plays galore. On this trip, Linda was accompanied by her best friend a/k/a husband of 45 years, brother in law and five friends. Yesterday's show was 39 Steps and tonight's is Burn the Floor. Thanks to my theatrical ignorance I wasn't even aware of the existence of these shows. Her favorite show is Jersey Boys. There's one that sounds familiar!

Today, Linda broke away from her group and after a late breakfast, she caught up on her reading, strolled around the city and then stopped by McD's. In contrast to today's quick meal (McWrap and an appetizing iced tea), Linda tends to appreciate the slower paced lunches at places like Carmine's. During her latest stop at this festive Italian restaurant, she relished the generously portioned eggplant parmigiana. A few years ago, my husband and I took a big group of relatives who were visiting from out of town. After devouring several platters of their hearty and garlicky family styled pastas we ordered the Titanic for dessert. I will never forget the blissful look in the eyes of our young nieces and nephews at the sight of this gigantic mass of ice cream sundae covered in a cloud of whip cream. I think we managed to finish it all but it wasn't long until we realized that we had overindulged. Every time we eat at Carmine's, we vow not to order or eat as much the next time we visit but such intensions are always short lived. NY is like a good family restaurant. Whether it's the shows, sites, food, shopping, or the people, patrons can't get enough of all it has to offer and keep coming back to explore its menu. Some, like Linda, become regulars because after 15 years she continues to cherish the habitual late breakfasts, strolls around the city, laid back lunches, and a show and dessert afterwards.

William and Gator

27 and 40 - no, these are not the ages of the strangers I met today. Those are the number of years that William and Gator spent with their employers, respectively, before retiring several years ago. 27 years is a long time and I give William a lot of credit for his prolonged tenure but 40 years with the same employer?!?! That is the essence of loyalty. Gator worked for an engineering company and specialized in the design and construction of foundations for commercial buildings. He was routinely exposed to the hazards of working with ruptured gas and water pipes and experienced some life threatening electric shots. It did not sound like a cushy job. Perhaps, it was the very challenging nature of his work that kept him going for those 40 years. I am a person of habit and love the predictability of my routine (little surprises are welcomed every once in a while) but I can not foresee being devoted to one and only one employer for the rest of my working life. Every time the mega million jackpot reaches $100 million, I buy five tickets and dream of bidding farewell to my desk altogether, but those dreams are shattered when Yolanda Vega announces the winning numbers which, predictably, do not turn out to be my numbers. By the way, the mega million is now at $200 million. Time for a little dreamin.
William worked at a plant that manufactures baking equipment and machinery. Back in the days, William did not enjoy the luxury of working in a heated or air conditioned warehouse. During the warmest summer days, some of the pipes and equipment were too hot to touch bear handed. But above and beyond the basic working conditions, there were additional factors that were beyond his control. The company was bought out at least 4 times. As a result of all the changes in management and the economic downturns, William saw benefits and pensions substantially reduced; unions dismantled; hourly rates slashed from $12.60 to $9 and an unfair share of lay offs. But according to William, it was a job and you had to do what you had to do or you could walk out the door. William had already seen all the perils of corporate downsizing long before the global financial crisis of the past two years. He's been there and he knows that things will turn around in a matter of time. Today, the DOW closed above 10,000 for the first time in a year. Let us hope that it is an early sign of the recovery.
Nowadays, William's and Gator's favorite pastimes include poker and watching sports. Gator is a fan of Nascar. They are visiting from Richmond, VA. After spending a few days in New York they will be going on a 9-day cruise to Canada, may be to Nova Scotia (?) They were not sure about the exact destination since their wives made the reservations. But they know that they will have a memorable time regardless of the details. Because in addition to their wives, 200 of their friends are in town and will be on the same cruise ship. Family + friends + food + margaritas + poker + music = priceless. William and Gator are proud of their closely knit family. William has been married to his wife for 54 years. Gator is married to William's daughter. William was proud of his son in law. If it hadn't been through William, I may not have learned of Gator's 40 years of service at the same company since Gator was more reserved. I know it's not all about numbers but those numbers speak volumes of their self-determination and character. The boys were having lunch at McDonald's while the girls were catching a Wednesday matinee on Broadway. Per William, "Life is Good."

Tori

Tori's favorite book, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, is the story of a shy and unpopular high school student who writes letters to an anonymous person about topics like drugs, sexuality, adolescence and similar subjects. They sound like profound topics for a teenager but I understand that whereas many of us struggled with some of these subjects, we didn't discuss them until later in our teens or adulthood. I was a very sheltered teenager, therefore, smoking was the forbidden vice and fornication a deadly sin. Kids are now enlightened much earlier, a little too soon for my personal preference, so I better catch up and see what all the Perks are about. Today, it was a half-day at Tori's school so instead of having lunch at the school cafeteria, Tori and her friends were having a jolly time at McDonald's. In addition to being an avid reader, she is a fan of the series True Blood. Tori is an aspiring Graphic Designer and she is "definitely" going to pursue a higher education after graduating from high school. In contrast to the main character in her favorite book, she did not seem shy and exuded the confidence of a teenager who knows where she is going. I hope she continues to pursue her goals. And by doing so, kids like Tori will help raise the NYC high school graduation rate to new highs. Because regardless of the speculation surrounding the accuracy of the NYC HS graduation rate, it is below the national average of 71%. Tori may become another statistic but I hope that she will go beyond HS and become a successful artist.

Jaya

Before meeting Jaya, I had a brief encounter with Lisa and her husband (will refer to him as John Doe) who are visiting from Raleigh, NC. When I saw that John, the one sitting closer to me, was checking his iPhone, a chain of questions flew through my mind (What's your favorite app? What feature would you improve? Do you like viewing the fall foliage? According to climatologists this is supposed to be the perfect weekend for it, at least in the Northeast, etc.) But I asked Lisa and John what they thought about President Obama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Just as John began to overcome his reluctance to talk to a blabbering stranger and said that "it is premature," their friend (or relative) arrived and swept them away. As they were leaving I realized that my first chance to speak with a stranger from the heartland was slipping away. While I thoroughly appreciate speaking to strangers from foreign lands, I was really looking forward to a conversation with someone from the US - I just haven't come across them often enough at this particular McBreak venue.
After a few minutes of solitude, a girl carrying several backpacks, some of them over sized in comparison to her tiny but tall frame, settled next to me. Jaya is here from Korea on a month-long trip and made her way from California to New York all on her own. Jaya struck me as an unusual Korean name. It means "ye-ppeun ahee" or pretty child. She looked very young but her height (may be 5'8) and sensible demeanor threw me off. So I dared and asked her how old she was. She didn't seem to mind the question and asked me, instead, whether I wanted to know her Korean or American age. I told her it was completely up to her so she soft-spokenly said 20 (American age). I continued to indulge my curiosity and asked her how is it that she was not in school? Why did I assume that a 20 year-old would or should be in school? It comes from the age-old bias that Asians are nerds and from an ambitious desire that my kids will be off to college by that age, and hopefully a college that we can afford. By the same token, I hope my daughters will grow to be as confident and adventurous as Jaya. For now, let's hope they're not talking to strangers.
Jaya took some time off from school to undertake this trip across the Pacific and while spending only three days in New York, she managed to squeeze in the Broadway Musical Hairspray in her schedule. This was after a failed attempt to get tickets for Billy Elliott. As the latest Tony Award winner for Best Musical, Billy is indisputably in high demand these days. Billy the movie, ranks high in my list of all time must see films.
As Jaya wraps up her brief but hectic stay in New York and gets ready to head home, she is looking forward to a hearty simmering pot of "Denjang Jigae" – Korean bean curd (miso) stew (best made with mom's TLC). But aside from this favorite comfort food, she is an enthusiast of crispy fried chicken. When it comes to fried chicken, I like it the traditional KFC way or with a Korean twist a la Boom Boom/BonChon.

Mark

I have noticed that people who are from the Caribbean usually convey that they are from a specific Island or nation but Mark simply said that he's from the West Indies. Isn't that where Columbus landed 517 years ago while searching for India? I am confident that when he landed in the island of Hispaniola (comprised of Haiti and the Dominican Republic) half a millennium ago, Columbus and his ship mates enjoyed plunging into the tepid and translucent waters of the New World as much as we do today, albeit under somewhat different circumstances. Like Mark, I too, enjoy the warmer months of the year and when walking through the wind tunnels of the Big Apple (top it off with some slush) numbs my toes and ears; my mind takes a quick detour to the affable waters and exhilarating banana boat rides in the beaches of Puerto Plata. But for now, we better gear up for the possibility of another fierce winter. I asked Mark whether he was planning to get the flu shot. Like most healthy man between their 20's and 40's who believe that they are invincible and that flu shots are for the immunologically weaker types, Mark will not succumb to it. That or he may be getting plenty of vitamin C and antioxidants from the home made West Indies' meals he favors. Either way, I should have predicted that his answer was going to be "no." As for me and my household, we are scheduled to get the flu shot this month. Let's hope that there are plenty to go around.

Gildete

When Gildete told me that she is from Santa Catarina, Brazil, I had a flashback to my childhood in Buenos Aires. Our neighborhood carnavales were very modest in comparison to the sophisticated productions in Rio de Janeiro. But they were, nevertheless, the last and most anticipated celebration before the end of the summer. The best part of carnavales as a kid was filling up water balloons and aiming them at unsuspecting passersby. Since practically all the kids in the neighborhood were doing the same thing it is hard to believe that people were caught off guard. But you could still witness the pure delight of those teenage boys at the sight of a soaked mamasita who was conveniently wearing a white t-shirt. Ok, we all enjoyed that sight but for girls it was a different type of appreciation. At night, neighbors would gather on the streets, dance to the music while watching the parade and admiring the men, women and transvestites dressed in provocative customs. Then we would go home and watch more Brazilian carnival on TV. We simply couldn't get enough of the festivities.
Flash forward to the present and Gildete tells me that it's not all about carnivals in Santa Catarina. Blumenau, which is in Santa Catarina is home to one of the biggest Octoberfest celebrations in Brazil. Gildete is of German and Italian decent. And even though she spoke to me in Portuguese and I responded in Spanish, I could understand that she spoke proudly of her mixed European ancestry and the fact that she was on a family vacation. Gildete, her mom and 10 additional members of her family had made the 9-hour long voyage from Santa Catarina. Most of those family members were having lunch at McD's too.

Lorraine

Lorraine is visiting NY for the second time in her life. During her first visit thirty years ago, she was on a road trip from the Midwest en route to Long Island. At the time, she drove by Harlem and most likely continued her journey without stepping out of the safety of her car. It's unlikely that the Harlem of the 80's was a must see sight for tourists or even for New Yorkers as it boasted some of the most dangerous blocks on the map. In spite of such reputation, Harlem was the capital of Black America and remains one of the richest cultural and artistic neighborhoods in Manhattan. Over the decades, some of those dangerous blocks have become the foundation of fancy properties and home to many lucrative real estate developments in NYC. For someone like Lorraine, who spent 3 days at the Metropolitan during her present visit and who evidently enjoys history and the fine arts, perhaps venturing uptown once again may not seem like such a bad idea. And the next time Lorraine speaks to her best friend back in New Zealand, she may be able to illustrate how thirty years have culturally and socio-economically transformed an American city. I think it is time for me to explore that part of town as well because yes, I am guilty of driving by Harlem and failing to make a stop to appreciate the stark difference between Ralph Ellison's Harlem in the Invisible Man and today's must see destination ... all the while enjoying some of the most celebrated soul food in the country.