I am a Warrior :)

Even before I arrived in NYC I joined one of the most inspiring and wonderful communities on this planet - the Sati life community!

Sati Life was developed by Patricia Moreno for anyone and everyone looking to become more aware of their thoughts, words, attitudes and actions. Initially, the focus was centered around “intenSati”, a workout that was created to bring mindfulness to a cardio-based fitness class. 

Most of you know that I am a huge fan of coaching, NLP and sports - during my training to become an aerobics instructor, I thought that there must be a way to combine positive thinking with actions during the training! First thing I did was to research on the internet to find out if there are people out there who share my thoughts and I was so excited when I discovered Patricia Moreno's intenSati! And as destiny wanted it, I got accepted for an internship in NYC and next 2 things I did were: order the book "the intenSati method" (i think I read it 3 times already^^) and sign up for the leader training! Shortly followed by registering for the Workin'it Out event, which took placce on the day of my arrival (i remember posts on my FB wall about that ;))

I mentioned it already, it was the perfect KickOff for my time in NYC - being part of this event right on the first day was so wonderful and inspiring! This workout empowers you to challenge yourself; it energizes your body, makes you sweat, fuels your mind and positive thoughts and raises your sensitivity to what, how and why you feel or think certain things!

Additionally, I signed up to the Sati Life Warrior Training! Patricia creates monthly programs for all warriors, each embodying a different theme - in August we are UNSTOPPABLE (gosh, I'm actually in NYC - hell yeah I'm unstoppable^^) in September I am looking forward to be MAGICAL :) Each months warrior series encompasses a recorded workout, meditation, the chance to participate in community calls and special to do's to make it (your goals, dreams, desires) come true! 

Being a part of this great community I can only wholeheartedly agree to this: 

"We are a community committed to being a powerful force for positive change in the world. We are devoted to living happier, healthier and beneficial lives. Our intention is to continually train to be the change we want to see in the world and embody love in all that we think, say and do."

Have a wonderful day/night (from where ever you are following my thoughts from on this planet)!

Before I say good-night, I need to get this out: YOU ARE AWESOME!!! Thank you all so much for reading and following my blog! when you are so far away from home and you start sharing some thoughts here and realizing that you actually have an audience is a great feeling and it empowers me everyday! Which is why I will let my blog become a high priority again ;)

Have a great one :)

Love, xoxo 

730 hours...

or 2 629 743 seconds!!! That is the exact time that I have spent in NYC already and I can't believe it -  the time passed by suuuper quickly and I'm thinking "What one month is already over??? Only 6 more left :("

I know that blogging was not priority number 1 in the past 730 hours, but I guess I needed the time to see for myself, if I really like and enjoy living in this city - and with confidence I can say now that this city is amazing, and that I am very grateful to be here!

I have experienced so many fantastic things... NYC offers A LOT in terms of leisure time! A short wrap up of the past month: 

Rooftops - the view over the city is incredible 

Bar hoppings - 1. the beauty bar, where you can get a manicure for 10$ inside the bar, plus 1 free drink included (when you consider that you have to expect at least 5$ for a beer, its a good bargain i would say ;)) 2. a bar, where you get for every beer you order a free pizza :D
And there are maaaaany more, but these were (for now) my highlights^^

Department stores (Macy's, Bloomingdales, Century 21,...) I guess I can save the lines about shopping, casu we all know it is awesome to shop in NYC ;)

Culinary adventure - NYC offers an incredibly enormous amount of culinary delights! Especially in Hell's Kitchen the density of foreign restaurants is a pleasure for every thai, mexican, japanese, french, local food lover :)

Summer Stage in Central Park - in Summer the TV channel ABC is present every friday morning (7am) with their show Good Morning America and the specialty about these events are that VIP'S from the music scene are performing for free!!! So far I have seen Neyo and One Republic performing - next week the Backstreet Boys are on :D 

The fabulous trip to Lake George... but I will do an extra blog post with pics for that ;)

The concious life-style - Since I arrived 730 hours ago, I continued and even intensified my sportive routine and activities! Be it running in Central Park, going to the gym for Spinning (with which I totally fell in love with here^^) or another aerobics class either in the gym or somewhere outside! Also I really enjoy to eat healthy here - the rage of healthy restaurants is incredible (especially for lunch)
Most people would think, omg its NY you have to eat burgers and fries every day - b***sh**!!! Of course, I also indulge myself with a cupcake, ice cream or burger from time to time but I try to control thos temptations - Sporty regards ;)

Oh, I could go on for another hour or 5 about what I have been doing in the past 730 hours ;) but most importantly, I am super happy in this city and I embrace every moment I spend here!!!

Yesterday someone asked me if I already consider myself being a New Yorker; and I asked him what is needed to qualify - and here is the answer: "1st: You avoid Times Square, caus ou cannot stand the crowds of tourists! 2nd: New York is a very fast moving city, so are its inhabitants - so slow moving people, like tourists on the street are the worst! and 3rd: If you enjoy doing sports, you join the running crowd in Central Park!"

I had to check for each of these requirements ;)

Again, I can't believe that 1 month of 7 is already over! You can't imagine how much I look forward to the next 6 :)

I'll be back soon - promise ;)

XOXO

The pace of change!

NYC lives up to its image as city that never sleeps, which also applies to me up until now - everything moves so fast and eventhough it can takes ages to get from one place to the other especially when subways are crowded and you are suffering from this incredible heat (apparently we will have an indian summer - look forward to that^^) - a friend of mine said a couple of days ago that the time seems to move faster in NYC than anywhere else in the world! I will let you know about my perception of it, but I assume it won't take long until I will agree to that ;)

When I came to New York 9 days ago with my sister and my mom, we started to experience the city and to enjoy its amazing sights and attractions to the fullest! I hope you enjoy looking at some selected photos and have fun imagining what my past few days have been like...

Before starting off with the photos, I have to tell you about the most amazing KickOff experience that I had on my very first day: Prior to my arrival in NYC I signed up for a fitness event from Patricia Moreno "Workin'it out" - from the previously introduced lifestyle and fitness program intenSati! 

The first 2 hours in NYC couldn't have been better :) this special workout, which I have never tried before, promised a lot and exceeded my expectations - it was phenomenal, energizing, empowering, inspiring, motivating, ...........! I am really looking forward to taking some more classes this weekend :)))

Now, lets get started with a collection of my first impressions:

Foggy Day in NYC - wondering how high this building is?! ;)

Stunning boat cruise...

...amazing...

 

...north of Manhattan...

...like tiny Lego elements^^...

...the only connection beween Manhattan and Roosevelt Island...

...Financial Dirstrict!

Where is Chuck Bass???

Open-air movie @ Beautiful Bryant Park <3

Rockefeller Center

:)

Hello, Manhattan! (from Top of the Rocks!)

Yeees, I was there ;)

and there too ;)

I felt like watching a movie - a happy couple watching the stunning view over NYC and then he pulls out the ring... (you know the rest^^) Super romantic moment & same as in the movies :))) <3 A proposal on the top of Rockefeller Center, can it be more cheesy and romantic!?!

@ Central Park

Pain quotidien in NYC - I like! a lot! ;)

I will be back with some more impressions soon :) take care, xoxo

The final countdown...

"We're leaving together
But still it's farewell
And maybe we'll come back
To earth, who can tell
I guess there is no one to blame
We're leaving ground (leaving ground)
Will things ever be the same again
It's the final countdown..." - Europe - The Final Countdown

In 10 hours I'm off the ground from Vienna International Airport heading towards New York, where I will spend the upcoming 7 months of my life!

Having my mother and sister as company makes the first visit to the city that never sleeps more comfortable. Nevertheless I have to leave a lot of loved ones in Europe, some of them already pronounced interest in coming for a visit :)))

Now that I finally finished packing - the most important materialistic things are packed in 2 suitcases (who would have believed that, but well I had some great learnings from going to London for 6 months 2 years ago^^)

Mixed feelings accompany to bed now: excitement, curiousity, anticipation about the experiences ahead of me; gratitude for living this life; respect against the size and contrast of the city; sorrow for being seperated from family and friends for such a long time; uncertainity about what will await there & pride to take the chance to develop further in a professional and personal way!

Cu in NYC :) the next post you (hopefully enjoy) reading will be brought to you from NYC!!!

Learning is FUN @ SJM12 in Romania

Since Thursday morning I enjoy the last days before the big NY adventure in Mamaia, Romania with 120 Junior Entreprenuers :) - it is another very inspiring international conference happening from the JADE network! With 4 colleagues from the Junior Enterprise, we were travelling to this very promising conference on "Intrapreneurship"!

The first day started with very informative and interesting speeches from experts from the field - the official part of the first day was completed with a panel discussion on the topic!

Opening ceremony!

All participants enjoyed networking at the first night's beach party - but (almost) everyone kept in mind that we have had a packed program of workshops ahead the following days ;)

Incredible sunset on the way to dinner :)

Next morning started with a nice breakfast on the hotel's terasse

the beach :) (in front of the hotel!!!)

StuCons elaborating on intrapreneurship ;)

Taking a break from the workshops, to process the things heard and to get some clarity about the learnings - before clarity, there is confusion! ;)

 Awesome parties in Mamaia, Romania!

Each participant had to choose 3 workshops for Saturday - I was lucky to attend very inspiring ones, which not only were rich in content but also got me thinking!

Major learnings:

1. If you want to change something, ask first 'What do I want (instead)' and not 'How can I change it' caus' this is the latter step in overcoming barriers to change
2. Imagine your desired outcome in order to find the right way to get there (it will come, for sure!) - outcome states motivate people!
3. Imagine the future to define the present!
4. Be open for changing your ideas, to maybe achieve a better outcome and gain more support from others! Don't think of tools - think about your attitude!
5. What drives people: Status, Access, Power & Stuff
6. Rules have to be: Understandable, Memorable & Emotional
7. AND MANY MORE...

Added to my reading list:

• "The art of non conformity"
• The Pomodoro Principle
• The Lean startup

Thanks to Luca Sartoni & Radu Seuche for making this Saturday a fun and inspiring learning experience!

Summer JADE Meeting 2012 was incredibly awesome - best preparation for my internship in NY ;)

Big thanks to JADE Romania, JADE, and all the organizers of this amazing conference! Cu @ SJM13 in Milan!

Indulgence & Summer shape!

The long awaited summer holiday season has finally arrived :) 

Vacations on the beach, lake or elsewhere in the world have been (most of the time) booked well in advance and everyone is looking forward to get some time off from work, school, uni etc.

Best time to share special moments with your loved ones!

Many have been training and keeping a healthy diet to be in good shape for the hottest time of the year ... But what happens once you are on holiday? Think of the huge breakfast buffets, the nice 4-courses dinner, the delish cocktails, wine, beer a.s.o!!! - Will you forget about all resolutions and good intentions you deliberately followed for months, and for which your body was so grateful for?!??

Staying healthy and fit on the go can be a challenge, but with a little bit of planning it is completely doable and fun :)

1. The by far easiest way to remain in the shape of arrival, is by using the in-house gym of the hotel (if they have one) Just 30-45 minutes a day are more than sufficient to keep yourself fit!
2. Try to not change eating manners drastically to what you are used to at home - sure you want to enjoy yourself during the holiday, but everything with measure and goal ;)
3. A holiday on the beach is best suited for getting your cardio through a long swim in the ocean or a run on the beach (best in the early morning, due to the heat & the crowds arriving forenoon^^)
4. Think of the great feeling and the endorphines a workout, a run or a nice swim provided to your body and mind when you were training at home - why should it be any different in another place on the globe?!?!

It is important that you can also indulge in something - give yourself a treat! And ENJOY it to the fullest :))) like this delish frozen yoghurt here^^

Have a happy & healthy vacation and summer :)
xoxo

Greater than previously expected!

3 weeks to go and still no apartment found :(

Most of my time these days I spend checking all the different platforms & profiles, where people search for roommates and people, like me, who are seeking the perfect flat & roommates to stay with!

Here are my findings & learnings up till today:

I always knew that New York is expensive, but I was quite astonished by the differences in prices in this city - as I have mentioned in a previous post, my search is (still) limited to Manhattan apartments! Interestingly there are huge differences in prices: I found super-cheap flatshares in the very heart of Manhattan for 700$ and some in the north (Harlem) for 1000$-1400$! One thing which I learned from this: unfortunately the more expensive the flat, the more confident you can be that it is not a scam, which happens a lot in this city!!

My favorite platforms:

www.easyroommate.com: Once you register on this website (and enter your personal preferences in location, roommate, flat etc.) you will be able to see every ad in full and contact the owners of the ad! Rarely ad owners put pics of the flat to their profile - so you have to contact them and give them your email address in order to proceed with the conversation. Through this website I do have the most interaction with New Yorkers, who look for a roommate - the best thing on this website is that people will also contact you to find out if you are interested in their ad!

www.metroroommates.com: Another very good address is Metroroommates.com - a lot of listings and pics of flats already in the ad (which makes it very easy to see if it is worth contacting the owner or not)! The big BUT on this one is, the fact that you have to pay a fee to be able to contact someone...

www.nyhabitat.com: This website looks very professional and you don't need any premium membership to view all details about the flats (apartment information includes photographs, descriptions, reviews, apartment layouts). It seems to be a property agency - just discovered it^^ and submitted my request; now I am eagerly awaiting their proposals!

All in all I have to say that I have immagined the search to be much easier - unfortunately I have also come accross scams, but I guess that is something usual when searching for a flat in NY ;)

Some tips derived from my personal experience:

1. insist on viewing the flat - it happened to me quite often that landlords start talking about deposit payments and contract details, before I have had the chance to ask them for a viewing (or they simply ignored this inquiry!) AND no one should ask for money, when arranging a viewing!!!
2. be aware of the style of english - does it change drastically throughout the conversation???
3. weird excuses (scam!?) - try to be sensible to the excuses your contacts give you for certain things (like: " Sorry, due to time issues I can't give you a skype tour of the flat, but a viewing would be ok!" *Häää* or "I would be online and ready for a skype call with you" I go online and think to mysef 'yay', and then the contact writes: "Oh sorry the microphone of my pc isn't working properly!" - What? It just broke?? 2 minutes before, I went online?? *Häää*) 

I will definitely keep on searching till the very end - 3 weeks to go!!! Bring it on NYC... Where are the real, nice, clean and fun people to share an apartment with ;)