I realized that I'll actually have to go through more paperwork than I thought in order to be able to sign the lease. Not only do they need pay stubs and bank statements but of course the freaking social security number around which everything seems to revolve here AND something obscure called credit rating...
Apparently you need to build a credit history by using a credit card - but in order to be able to do that you need to get said card and without a credit rating no bank will allow you to get one. Seems a bit like a vicious circle. But luckily a nice colleague of mine has experienced exactly the same when she came over from London and she finally found a credit card that I can apply for without a credit history. But guess what - first I need a social security number. And the same goes for the company credit card btw...
But enough about boring administrative stuff that I'm just gonna have to live with.
So in an urge to see more of the city today I decided to go to Brooklyn. Another nice colleague had recommended the Keith Haring exhibition at Brooklyn Museum and the adjacent botanical garden. As the free admission to the museum only started at 5 I got to spend quite some time in the garden - a beautiful spot I can only recommend on a nice spring day. It was quite popular too with lots of people wanting to enjoy the first rays of sunshine...
After having stood in line for almost an hour I realized that I was waiting for "hands on art" which is not actually what I had planned on doing but it turned out to be fun. So I am now the proud owner of a "Keith Haring inspired print" that I can put up in my new room :-) For other impressions - pics will follow as soon as my phone is charged again. I liked the way the museum was making the free Saturday a real event and happening with artist interviews, special acts, music, drinks. Will definitely try joining another one of these in the future.
Another observation - I was briefly wondering whether Obama was Jewish when I saw on TV that he was hosting a passover lunch ( a tradition he's apparently started). Generally, the whole Easter experience has been interesting - although some colleagues have their cubicles decorated as if this was the biggest thing ever we don't even get a single day off. Neither Good Friday nor Easter Monday are official holidays but since kids are off school for a week quite a few people take vacation days. And the fact that this year Easter and the jewish holidays fall onto the same dates unfortunately doesn't chance that. There will be a Easter "bonnet parade"that I want to try to check out tomorrow - I wonder whether there's a passover equivalent...
Apparently you need to build a credit history by using a credit card - but in order to be able to do that you need to get said card and without a credit rating no bank will allow you to get one. Seems a bit like a vicious circle. But luckily a nice colleague of mine has experienced exactly the same when she came over from London and she finally found a credit card that I can apply for without a credit history. But guess what - first I need a social security number. And the same goes for the company credit card btw...
But enough about boring administrative stuff that I'm just gonna have to live with.
So in an urge to see more of the city today I decided to go to Brooklyn. Another nice colleague had recommended the Keith Haring exhibition at Brooklyn Museum and the adjacent botanical garden. As the free admission to the museum only started at 5 I got to spend quite some time in the garden - a beautiful spot I can only recommend on a nice spring day. It was quite popular too with lots of people wanting to enjoy the first rays of sunshine...
After having stood in line for almost an hour I realized that I was waiting for "hands on art" which is not actually what I had planned on doing but it turned out to be fun. So I am now the proud owner of a "Keith Haring inspired print" that I can put up in my new room :-) For other impressions - pics will follow as soon as my phone is charged again. I liked the way the museum was making the free Saturday a real event and happening with artist interviews, special acts, music, drinks. Will definitely try joining another one of these in the future.
Another observation - I was briefly wondering whether Obama was Jewish when I saw on TV that he was hosting a passover lunch ( a tradition he's apparently started). Generally, the whole Easter experience has been interesting - although some colleagues have their cubicles decorated as if this was the biggest thing ever we don't even get a single day off. Neither Good Friday nor Easter Monday are official holidays but since kids are off school for a week quite a few people take vacation days. And the fact that this year Easter and the jewish holidays fall onto the same dates unfortunately doesn't chance that. There will be a Easter "bonnet parade"that I want to try to check out tomorrow - I wonder whether there's a passover equivalent...
So you found an apartment? Interesting read about Easter traditions :)
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