New York City Thread II

[jiffy]

i will be going to NY in 2 weeks! it will be my second time there and this time without hubby because im just doing a short detour from my business trip! just booked via priceline and got roosevelt hotel at Midtown east area. Yun lang, I read some negative reviews but i think most of them felt it wasn't worth the price they paid for it kase nga represented as 4 star sya... As for me.. ok na din basta location location location and i got it cheap naman! fingers crossed maganda room mapunta saken. mixed review din kase. any tips for good but affordable food in the area? TIA! 

[junetwentythree]

^ You'll be near Grand Central and a stone's throw away from Rockefeller Center so there will plenty of options so far as yummy food I'm sure. My most favorite Japanese restaurant is near the Rock Center. It's called Hatsuhana http://www.hatsuhana.com/ Absolutely worth every penny if you get a chance

[aquacharly]

Arrived in NYC last Dec 3O.  We have been enjoying the extreme weather.

Lots of FB people say:  kawawa   naman kayo, going through such cold weather"
Baket, homeless ba kami?  New York is New York, whatever the weather -- it's a fantastic place.
Just go out prepared:  HeatTech layering, cashmere, Moncler winter coat, gloves, boots & La Mer on the face (specially on the kids)
Fear for Extreme Weather should not be fostered; it is a good time to train kids  for Preparedness & Appropriate Wear.

[rics]

don't dismiss people telling about the weather, they're just probably concerned.  good thing you are enjoying, but a lot of people are inconvenienced by it. this weather right now is major cold, and its hard to cope even with goose down jackets. if you live in this cold months on end, you'll feel bitter about it at some point.

[aquacharly]

^eventually people who choose to stay here long term must yearn for less extreme cold weather.
 It is an inconvenience, this extreme cold,; but every place has it's challenges. In Manila, the humidity is an inconvenience & causes a lot of people to have chronic asthma or colds.  It is warm there, we prefer to be residing there for a lot of reasons; but half of the time, we'd like HK weather. So, we cope likewise with the weather inconveniences (searing heat/flooding/ stalled traffic during rains)

But NYC is NYC, with it's attractions.  I choose to be here than in any other extreme cold weather-hit area/state. 
Also, we choose to stay MidTown, where we have experienced (such interesting timing) the earthquake with tornado alarm the other year.   All utilities continued.  During the Sandy disaster, the area where we stay had no utilities interruptions nor flooding.  Plus, I don't maintain a car nor solo private residence -- so no snow on car nor on front path to worry about. 

[rics]

True, NY is fab whatever the season, but I'd stay out around this time. with the slush, blasting cold plus general chaos, i would rather be somewhere sunny and warm. even though the rest of my family lives there and even with all the attractions it offers, NY is the last place i would like to be right now, but its just me.

[jiffy]

thanks for the tip sis junetwentythree! 

[j_in_tokyo]

although 5 days lang ako sa New York, sobrang na-inove ako sa kanya.
take note, we stayed in Astoria! not really in Manhattan..
After this trip naging NEW YORK > TOKYO na ako!

Im thinking of working there in the near future.
Will it be possible kaya?

I work as an IT (programmer) here in Tokyo,
madali kaya ako makakahanap ng work doon
or company na mag-iisponsor ng working visa ko?

may mga sis ba dito na may ganitong visa now?

[aquacharly]

^Work Visa

IMO (based on actual experiences of my cousins & a sister) -- The companies that sponsor work visas for IT-related jobs are easier found in the Silicon Valley area. Also, Microsoft  in Seattle & Apple in Cupertino are aggressive recruiters.  The last 2 are undaunted by the expense and legalities of work visas.  If Microsoft hires you, and your work visa isn't granted, it throws you to Vancouver; re-files in 3 months, & keeps on re-filing until you get it.

The tricky thing with work visas --  even if a company sponsors you & you qualify, the work visas are raffled off.  There was that year 2009 (2008?) when the quota was 65thou work visas & only 36thou something were filed --  so ang swerte ng applicants, no more raffle (my sister was 1 of them).  That was the 1st time too that the period for filing of applications was extended.   I do not know now what the statistics are. But I am sure you keep track of their employment etc etc statistics and have a good idea of how their economy is.
 (No Comment ako, I don't wanna endanger my 10yr tourist visa.  Hahaha)

The good thing about  their work visa (it's good for 7 years) --  you "own" it. Meaning, if after a year you decide to move to another company, you use the same work visa. 

My impression. (but I just vacation in NYC 3 -4x/yr., I do not seek employment in the US) --    is that if your IT expertise has a good finance &/or managerial accounting background, you'll  have better  opportunities in NYC.  That is what my Ateneo batch mates who went to Harvard/Northwestern or whatever East Coast school for their MBAs say. 

Also, it isn't that easy to live in Manhattan. Pricey.
For example, Mid-town --  A 40sqm studio costs $3thou (with doorman & concierge).  With appliances, but unfurnished.
If you rent, the usual requirement is you must earn 50x the rent and you must have a guarantor within NYC who earns 80x the rent. 
It's probably more reasonable farther away.  But well, Mid-town is Mid-town, is secure & appears to be not flood prone, and snow is quickly salted/cleared away. 

Of course, we hear of the rich & rich Pinoys who live it up in Upper East/West & stay on partying & whatever.  Hindi ko pa na cheezmwaz how they go about it eh. 

[j_in_tokyo]

^^ thanks sis
medyo nagbabasa basa na rin ako ng mga forum regarding working visa.
Limited lang pala per year yung inaapprove nilang working visa (the H1B?)

mahirap ba if I enter as tourist, then use my 6 months stay there to find a company
then convert my tourist visa to working visa? I know risky to kasi pwedeng di ma-approve
kasi nga fraudulent action to..but may mga nakagawa na ba dito non??

If ever, i will not live naman in Manhattan, i will live in Astoria or Queens..
and maybe just rent a bedspace or small room lang muna..

[aquacharly]

Do-able yan, come in as tourist & find a job.  But wala pa ko kilala did that.
But heck, ang dami cuento sa atin di ba about people who come in as tourists & stay on forever.  Hindi ko pa na cheezmwaz how that's done eh.
My advice: the less Pinoys know about you doing this, better for you -- kasi alam mo the crab mentality.

BUT, IMO -- when you secure a job -- best you go back to the Phils & wait for your work visa.
Magaling sila mag keep track of people now. Their computerization of facts about people coming in & going out is already comprehensive. Parang your comments or answers all show up on the screen pag nasa Immigration counter ka. Lol

Their general rule is: you do only what your entry visa allows you to do.
Kaya may mga airport-to-airport deportation kasi tourist visa tapos sa interview, t**** tangz say: I am here to marry my fiancé. Ayos, airport to airport.
Yung mga tourist visa tapos nakikitahan ng Seaman's book -- deport en punto din. Mga ganon.

J IN TOKYO: yes, the work visas are raffled. Oo, may annual quota that varies from year to year, depending on how their govt analyzes industry/sector requirements.
Ma swerte na lang those who have applications filed tapos, yun -- the quota is not filled up.. So, pasok agad as what happened to my sister.  Kaya medj ingat din ang sponsoring company kasi ok they pay $thousands for filing & legal fees tapos natalo ka sa affle -- Ngek.  But Microsoft nga throw you muna sa Vancouver then re-files. Their re-filing success rate daw is good. 
You do not file ha, it must be a company that will hire you that files. Ma gastos din -  $5thou to $8thou at least per application filed daw.  You can't say o sige, ako na mag bayad nyan - file it for me. That is illegal.

I will share info here ha --  proven.
You wanna work in NYC?
Kahit tourist visa ka -- go apply sa UN. Just go and apply. 
Kahit na secretary or asst ng secretary patulan mo. It is a stable & legit take off or entry point.
Pag naka 6mos ka doon --  madali na for you to get a position that matches your qualifications (they circularize open positions)
The UN personnel have their own visa category. Parang Diplomatic visa, more than that pa nga.  Susko, galing, they can even  bring in their own maids! (But you must pay legal wages)
You can bring in your whole family (spouse & kids or parents)  too if you work for the UN. 

 

[j_in_tokyo]

sis aquacharly..
UN? you mean United Nation?

Yes I better do the legal way para walang problem.
Mas lalo ayokong mag-TNT, hehe
maayos naman work ko dito sa tokyo..
Na-amaze lang ako sa pwedeng maging opportunity sa New York.
Although di ko lang talaga alam ang way kung paano..

[aquacharly]

Yes, the UNITED NATIONS. 

(Tokyo is beautiful! It's 1 of my favorite places.  But we haven't gotten around to managing Niponggo.   so we're always on managed tour vacations)

[JINJIN:*]

I visited New York in late October, and I had a blast! It was my first time experiencing autumn since my family and I usually travel during spring, and I really enjoyed it. I also found the cold weather the perfect excuse to layer and wear all the things I can't in this Manila heat.

ohh sis I am going July this year too.. lets keep in touch and be a bayan patroller of each other for do's and dont's. lol

Post modified. Please refrain from quoting long posts.

[chasee]

a cousin of mine came here as a tourist, applied at UN, after a series of interviews ( may mga essays pa), she got hired She's working there for 3 yrs na 
sad thing was, when she went home, may stop over sa China, saw her visa, got detained for 3 hrs, asked her a lot of questions, kala ata spy 

[j_in_tokyo]

sis chasee
wow so possible pala talaga to!
tourist to working visa..
may PM me sayo sis

sis aquacharly
Yes maganda naman talaga Tokyo sis..
mahirap lang talaga Nihongo..
But when it comes to working here..
medyo di ko marerecommend..

[joyssabel]

I'm flying to NYC this March, malamig pa kaya? If yes, mga ilang degree celsius? Thank you!

[bagaholic_chewy]

We'll be in NY in about two weeks, we're staying for 6 days lang. Hopefully there won't be any snowstorms while we're there para makagala pa din kami. We plan on renting a car and just drive to Manhattan, since we'll be staying at an in-law's apartment about 30mins from NYC. Ok lang din naman commute but we're after a more comfortable travel since me kasama kaming senior tsaka preggy.

Is it still ok to take a quick stroll around Central Park during winter? Just for photoops and a bit of sightseeing lang sana.. And of course, we want to see Statue of Liberty up close. The last time hubby and in-laws went to NY, they just saw Lady Liberty from afar. Then we plan on going on a food trip in SoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown and Chelsea Market. And also go up the observation decks at Rockefeller Center and Empire State. And a quick stroll and photoop at Ground Zero, Wall Street, etc. we hope to do all these in 2-3 days.

One day will perhaps be dedicated for outlet shopping. To those who've been to both, which one is better: Woodbury Common or Jersey Garden outlets?

[rics]

I'd go to Woodbury. mas marami selection. but since you are going winter time, labas pasok ka sa stores. unlike jersey garden which is a mall.

[j_in_tokyo]

super sarap magshopping sa NY..
lalo na sa century 21..dun ko mostly binili mga pasalubong ko..