A Love Letter to New York
Dear New York,
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For 20 unforgettable years, you were my playground, my laboratory, and my sanctuary. Within your vibrant streets, I evolved from a naïve, inexperienced young lady, and transformed into a confident, wiser, street-smart, empathetic, comfortable in my own skin middle-aged woman.​
​I shaped my career with you, starting as a dog walker for rich folks in the Upper West Side, until I found my very first job as a Tour Guide at the United Nations, working directly for Ban Ki Moon until I landed a job that I fulfill me at UNICEF.
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There and along the way, I forged lifelong friendships - my chosen family - who made every moment brighter. We shared laughter, tears, and countless adventures, creating an unbreakable bond that transcends time and distance.
​Your global landscape broadened my perspectives, sharpened my skills, and fueled my passion for making a difference and finding my life purpose. Your diversity - a kaleidoscope of cultures, ideas, and experiences - opened my heart to acceptance, understanding, and the beauty of difference. You taught me to embrace change, adapt to uncertainty, and find solace in the impermanence of life.
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Your dynamic dating scene taught me resilience, self-discovery, and the value of true connection. Through trials and errors, I discovered my own strength, learned to navigate complex relationships, and ultimately found my partner in crime - a love that has been the anchor of my life.
Don’t get me wrong, I did want to leave you many times, on those hot humid summer days, feeling the intense energy of your nasty, but equally interesting subway, navigating the sidewalks through mountains of trash piled up, getting overwhelmed by the crowds, honks, noise and pissed off dudes screaming at each other…..so I did leave you, and moved to the suburbs looking for more peace and greenery, however not far enough for not being able to keep enjoying you, your smells, your dynamism, and countless sources of stimulation.
As I bid farewell, I'm filled with gratitude for the lessons, challenges, and adventures. Your energy will stay with me forever - a reminder of the growth, exploration, and transformation that defined my two decades in this incredible city.
​​I’m proud that I managed to make it and become part of you, and I’m honored to call myself a New Yorker who managed to embrace every moment with you; good and bad. You are incredible, you are magical, you are YOU, the best city in the world.
With my eyes closed and my heart open, I embark on a new chapter. New York, you'll always be the city that made me - a city that will forever hold a piece of my heart. I’m going for now, but rest assured that I’ll come back someday.
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Istanbul....here I come!!!!
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November 3rd, 2024
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