RAI Corporation Internship Program

My fellow americans, italians or wherever you come from,

Well, speaking about NYC is really a great challenge for me.

I can try but I'm sure that I'm not gonna say anything new and I'm pretty sure also that before me other interns have written about that far more eloquently than i'm equipped to do, especially my friend Andrea Alessandrini the interns CSO, Chief Stagista Officer.

So, I'm gonna do the easiest thing, change the subject and use my Arnold Schwarzenegger's english to speak about the city where i live here, Jersey City.

It's a wonderful place, I have no words to express how I love it and how I feel like I'm living in the NICEST City in the World or in Chilltown (which actually my doorman told me that it is one of the Jersey City's nicknames....the others are Jungle City and The Bullets City but i don't think i want to mention them in this post)

It's WORLDWIDE famous for 2 things, that makes me and all the others 242,389 Jersey City's citizens proud of:

- The Colgate Clock, or probably should I have to say the UNBELIEVABLE Colgate Clock.
It is an octagonal clock, The BIGGEST in the world, with a diameter of 50 feet (15.24 meter) and a minute hand weighing 2,200 pounds. It is really astonishing, a landmark of America and humanity. Every time I look at the Colgate Clock I always feel like I'm in the right place and in particular AT THE RIGHT TIME. 

Actually it's just a copy of the original one that was relocated to a Colgate factory in the middle of nowhere in Clarksville, Indiana....ask my doorman for the directions.
...but however the Jersey City's Colgate Clock is still the COPY of the BIGGEST clock in the world and then...who knows where Indiana is?

- The second thing is the FBI's ANNUAL CRIME STATISTICS, here in Jersey City are more awaited by the people then the SuperBowl or  the Academy Awards... We wait all year long to see the results of our city and it's been more than 50 years that it never disappoints us. This year for example, Jersey City was (rate per capita):

EXCELLENT in Robbery... 2.68 times more than the National Average...  The TV says that a lot of robbers are coming from all over the country to train here... My doorman said that it is going to be good for our economy, especially in these hard times, bringing a lot of new jobs.

QUITE GOOD in Murders... 1.30 times more than the National Average... My doorman was a little upset about that, because usually it's 2.20/2.50 the National Average. He wasn't able to figure out why only 42 murders in one year... He told me that probably the very cold winter with a lot of snow is the reason for this result because also the arsons were just 0.70 times more than the National Average, but I'm not really sure about that.

FAIRLY GOOD in Burglary... 1.22 more than the National Average... This really doesn't surprise me because one week ago I realized another unique thing about amazing Jersey City. I came home in the middle of the night and by mistake I put my house key in the wrong lock, in my neighbour's door. And It opened perfectly. I was scared stiff about that but my doorman told me to not be worried at all. Here in Jersey City everyone's apartment's key opens all the other houses. It's a local policy to help the economy in these hard times... One key for all the apartments actually is a great save of money... It's really a great idea. When I go back to Italy I should talk about that with Milan's mayor.

Last week I was a little shocked in the morning because while I was walking to the Subway station a little group of people was yelling and showing a lot banners... I just read one of these and I was completely surprised because it sayed "A Better Jersey City" and I can't even immagine how Jersey City could be better then it is already.

So, when I came back from RAI I told about that at my doorman and he told me...

... "Don't be worried Andrea, tomorrow you are not gonna meet them again... I promise you"

And he was right because the day after I didn't see them... Actually I never saw them again...

I want to conclude my post with a suggestions for all of you. If you are around New York in the evening don't go to the Brooklyn Bridge or to Central Park, they are overestimated. Come here in Jersey City, believe me, come in this wonderful place and sit in front of the Colgate Clock to admire how the sunset gives him a unique unbelievable dark petroleum colour.... Make sure you bring your camera.

Thank God I live here in Jersey City, where in the moring you have a problem and in the evening your doorman has solved it.   

Andrea