Many firsts...

It was my first time in the city, the first time meeting granddad when I arrived and my first day at work. New York has quickly stolen my heart and it has only been a few days! I've already been able to do so much it feels like I have been here for weeks.

When I arrived on Wednesday my good friend Bernadette Higgins picked me up from the airport and took into Chelsea to see the city. I loved it but was a bit overwhelmed. We grabbed a late lunch ("lunner") at Cosi's and took a stroll around a few blocks. Then she brought me to Queen's to meet granddad, my summer roommate and see the house. My room overlooks the driveway, I have a kingsize bed (!!!) and all my clothes fit inside the dresser?!?! He took us all out to eat at a local Italian restuarant in the neighborhood where we became more acquainted.

The next morning granddad took me on the route that I needed to get to work and luckily it's a very easy commute, which put some nerves at ease. When we got home, we enjoyed leftovers from the night before, went grocery shopping and got a library card to use the internet. I've also met all of granddad's neighbors so they don't think "he robbed the cradle and got married." We then went to the local bakery and I had first cannoli...FOR FREE!! Later on that afternoon, Bernadette came to pick me up and took me to her house at Rockaway beach and we had dinner at Whiney's, which is a seafood bar that overlooks the New York skyline.

On Friday I as the New Yorker and grandad was the tourist so I had to show him how I get to the subway and back. Then we went sightseeing to St. Patrick's Cathedral, Time's Square and the Rockefeller Center where we had lunch. I am amazed by how quick this man is! He's 85 and keeps up the same pace both mentally and physically. He said that his secret is that he walks everywhere and does something youthful everyday. Everyone in Queens knows him because he simply walks up and down the street and strikes up conversations with strangers. Later that afternoon I met up with some friends in Manhattan for some drinks and to experience the nightlife.

Saturday was a little bit more chill, I found my way home on the subway from a new location, which was exciting! Then granddad's nephew, Chris and his wife, Vanessa, who is also from Georgia, joined us for dinner at a great seafood place in Queens called London Lenny's. I joined granddad for mass, which was a surprising 35 minute service compared to the usual hour down south. Afterwards Bernadette picked me and we went back to Rockaway to join her sister-in-law at Connolley's, the lifeguard bar. There I was introduced to the local's secret of "frozen's" also known as Pina Colada's, which were probably the best thing I've ever had (like coconut icecream).

On Sunday we woke up and went to the beach. After 3 hours some dark clouds came in but we got to watch a space shuttle being flown in from Florida to be put in a museum. It was a great, relaxing day to calm nerves. Then finally came my first day of work! It was so cold and rainy out but my irish mother always says that rain is a sign of blessings being showered upon us. However, on the subway into the city I noticed a tooth paste stain on the front of my blouse. (O,O!) But other than that, my first day was awesome! Everyone at Nautica is super nice and welcoming which made me feel at home right away. I work under Lauren and Jodie, who were also interns so they have been in my exact shoes which is nice. Jodie is the Men's Sportswear Merchandiser and Lauren is her assistant. On the first day I learned the computer systems and met a lot of people. One of the many great things about interning with them is that they want me to learn as much as I can so get to go with them to every meeting and if I ever want to learn about another department (production, sales, etc) then they said they could set up a day with that department where I could intern with them. As far as tasks for the day, I helped Lauren get the men's swim line-up ready with all the wholesale and retail prices for a meeting with the buyer's. We are also getting Spring '13 ready for market week in a month so I made binders this afternoon for the updated merchandise line up and copying the dates of  arrival from production. I got off work at 5 and stopped at a cafe called "Mangia" to get a cappucino and cannoli to tell my family all about my first day. Then went home and made granddad an appetizer of pears with goat cheese that has proscuitto wrapped around it!

Sorry this has been such a long post, so much has happened and I wanted to keep note of it but so far I'm soo happy being at Nautica in New York and I have a very positive feeling about my experience here this summer! Pictures to come soon!!