Day 200 - Mort's

My strange affixation with American supermarkets continues into New Jersey.

Morton Williams is bar far the cleanest and best laid out supermarket I have been too so far. Due to the local residents being from a multitude of countries, it has a diverse range of products, which include a fantastic UK section. Perfect for when I am craving Yorkshire tea, digestive biscuits and baked beans.

All at the same time obviously.

Day 199 - Goodbye March 12'

One of the requirements of being a board member of the IMC (Intern Management Committee), is that you 'have' to help out at the March 12' leavers ceremony. Although hesitant at first, it turned out to be an extremely though provoking night. This was all because of the stark revelation, that I still have so much to do while I am out here.

Listening to all the stories from the interns about what they achieved and what they wish they had achieved in the year, has made me slightly anxious about not completing everything that I set out to do. However, as my A Level sociology teacher said to me after my first exam, "Alex, you have undoubted ability to cram".

Not to turn down a challenge, I am determined that I leave this year knowing that I have done as much as I possibly could have. GO!

Day 198 - Big Shift Required

It did cross my mind that playing out every night last week was going to catch up on me. I think I made up for it a little bit though by pulling the big shift at work.

MBA + Full Time Job + Desire to New York in its entirety = The best way to spend a year!

Day 197 - Climbed the Rock

Climb the Rock day has arrived!

We had a 6am wake up, so we could get across to the Rockefeller Centre with enough time to prepare before our 8.15am start. I had a weird sense of excitement and nervousness as I woke up and got ready. This was quickly disparaged though, as we found ourselves running for the train!

When we got there, the organisers had the atmosphere booming. Music was blaring, people were cheering, high fives were being handed out liberally. It did a brilliant job at getting you in the right frame of mind to run 1,215 steps.

The organisers had the start down to perfection. You set off individually at 20 second intervals, so not to crowd the first few flights. It was slightly discomforting though, as you didn't really know if you had started or not. 

As I was making my way up the stairs, I was seeing people of all shapes and sizes, willing to high five you, pat you on the back and humorously ask you for a lift. I even passed a few people in costumes. Huge respect for them, because that stairway was hot! There were volunteers on each flight, more than willing to cheer you on, tell you how far you have been and how far you have to go. The support really was terrific. I even saw a guy that was freestyle rapping to the runners as they went up.

When you reached the top, the roar and round of applause was huge, with people saying thank you  and well done all in one. To make it even better you had the New York City skyline staring straight back at you. I am more than happy to say that I got to the top in 12mins 31seconds and was the fastest person of my team. You can see all the results in the link below. I came 75th out of 1,059 people, in which for a man with the infamous 'LeeLegs' I am pretty chuffed with that.

http://results.bazumedia.com/event/results/event/event-2995

Thank you to everyone who sponsored me and offered their best wishes. I am sorry that I was bugging you all, yet again, for sponsorship money. Your support has been incredible!

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/alexlee

To the top I go!

For the Big Man!

I think James left everything on the stairs.

Happy to say the least!

Getting those calories back on board.

Day 196 - Absolutely Not!

As I played catch up after a fairly mad week, I went for a gentle jog around the harbour. I had to stop for this sign though "Absolutely No Bird Feeding". Although I wasn't feeding any birds at the time, I did kind of feel like it was still telling me off. Strictest signage ever!

Day 195 - St David's Day

To celebrate St David's Day, I was invited to the 178th St David's Society of New York, St David's Day Dinner & Dance at the Yale Club. As I was born in Cardiff, I felt it more than appropriate that I celebrate the remembrance day of the patron Saint of Wales, in true New York style.

The guests of honour at the event were Matthew Rhys and Iris Williams. Matthew Rhys has been in the  the american TV drama 'Brothers and Sisters', as Kevin Walker and is currently staring in 'The Americans', as Phillip Jennings. Iris Williams sang to us beautifully, in French, Welsh and English. They were both extremely friendly and certainly more than willing to have photos taken with us all. I even got to have a good chat with Matthew about the Wales vs England that is coming up in a few weeks.

This has certainly been a week for meeting talented people!

Iris Williams

Matthew Rhys

Day 194 - Train Bras

When I went down to the subway today, I noticed something out of the ordinary... Bras! Lots of them as well.

After asking the station guard, he had no idea. So I guess it's up to your imagine why they were scattered around the rails.