Shana Tova

As 5769 rolls in and a new Jewish year begins, I find myself in a new country with new experiences and a challenging but exciting year ahead.. who knows what will happen to any of us, but lets hope it is all full of good, character building and enjoyable occasions.

My year started with a great dinner at Jeremy and Nicola's, with Tim, Tali and Lex we ate apple, honey, and other new year mandatories and it felt strangely familiar. Very different to the same family rosh hashana I have had for the past 28 years in sydney but still got the same 'friday night fullness' that I think comes with any jewish meal where ever in the world you are. It was a fun night and lucky for me I had to only walk a few steps (about 25 to be exact...) to get home afterwards :) Unfortunately I didnt get to shule, but i did feel guilty as i walked past a few synagogues on the way to work.

So as part of my new year excitement I have signed up to two new ventures, one personal and one communal... the personal one is that I joined a gym this week.. it was expensive, as things are in this city, but with the winter coming i need to keep fit! and if I cant do it outside, the gym it is... I've been to a couple already and i can spin like nothing else.. so we'll see how long the enthusiasm continues.. they have some really good classes so it should be a lot of fun!

piece of trivia: my flatmate saw renee zelwegger running on the treadmill in big black sunglasses at my gym! so if my fitness doesnt get any better at least my star spotting might (i am still on nil!!)

So the second thing i have started is volunteering. I have joined an organisation called New York Cares. Lots of Americans volunteer to help out in a range of different activities across the city everyday of the week. The activities range from pruning gardens to playing bingo in old peoples homes, helping disabled kids play sport to feeding the homeless. I have to go to an orientation this week, and in a couple of saturdays time i am volunteering at New York Cares Day, a day dedicated to painting murals at schools around the city... I don't know where the urge I have to give in this city is coming from, maybe its to do with all the homeless people i see and begars that i get acosted by on the street and train everyday...im excited to do it so I'll keep you posted with how it goes!

Until next entry... cheers!