I've been in New York for 12 days now. The first week of the course has gone well. It's a lot to take in, and it feels like a long time since I learned anything new. I've already taught three lessons (one hour and 20 minutes in total) and have another four hours and forty minutes to go.

As for New York. Well.

I've walked across the Brooklyn Bridge twice. The pedestrian lane definitely needs to be wider, but it's a great way to get to Manhattan. I'd like to go first thing in the morning, when hopefully there wouldn't be so many annoying tourists. Ok, I suppose I am also a tourist (albeit one who is living and studying here) of a kind, but I am different in a few ways. I am generally alone, not in a big group who insists on all walking in a line and blocking the path. I don't wear a huge camera around my neck which screams tourist. I don't wear t-shirts that proudly announce other cities I've been to. I don't wear I heart NY T-shirts. I don't irritate and bother people who are just trying to get on with their day. So in conclusion, I am a superior human being. (I'd like to make it clear that this is supposed to be tongue in cheek!)

I went to a street festival in Little Italy. All the streets were closed to traffic and there were stalls selling all sorts of food (deep fried Oreos, anyone?) and nick-nacks.

Ate at an Indian restaurant. I'm sorry to say, but it was really lousy compared to your bog standard average balti place in Birmingham. The portions were minute (my tandoori fish had about five chunks of fish in it), and the onions were burnt black. It just confirmed my suspicions that Americans just can't do Indian food. And the people who ran that place were British Indians! Something obviously got lost over the Atlantic.

Took the Staten Island ferry. This is a free commuter ferry connecting Manhattan to Staten Island. It leaves from the tip of the island, next to Battery Park (which I have to say is very poorly lit at night and I didn't feel safe there. I also saw a rat run across my path). Lots of tourists take a round trip on the ferry just for the great views of Manhattan. The views were great, but my photos were not. The combination of moving ferry, dark night, and bright lights were just too much for my camera. I really need to work out the settings on my camera. The tourists were also annoying on the ferry. Some locals were complaining about the group of girls who pushed past everyone and ran onto the ferry to get the best spot. I had a quiet spot to myself, and then some woman came and stood right in front of me and leaned out to take pictures, which I found rather obnoxious, as it completely blocked my view. So I did the same thing back to her.

I've been for a long walk through Central Park. It's very good for people watching. I saw a few drum circles, live musicians, read the newspaper and took photos. It really is a collosal space. I walked for hours and only got around half way through the park. I'll have to go back during my time here.

I've seen a lot of Tribeca, as that is where my university is. It's a nice, non touristy area in the Financial District. It's just two blocks from the site of the world trade centre. Which is now just a big building site and a block sized space in between all the other buildings.

I like Whole Foods, and the Fort Greene farmers market, and free movie screenings at St John's, and the bargain bin at Duane Reade.

I love the fact that the subway runs all night, and seems to be busy at any time, so I didn't feel unsafe coming back to Brooklyn alone at 1am.

Last night there were no lights on the subway, so it was pitch black in the tunnels. It's sometimes hard to believe this is the richest country in the world. The subway stations are kind of shabby and have no escalators. It doesn't really compare to the tube, but then a single ride in New York is $2 (£1), and a single ride in London is £4.