Jan 19
Sight seeing
Jayla Tunstall
Today went by really fast. After breakfast we all went back up to the room and slept. Flying can take a lot out of you and if you don’t put it all back you will crash. And that’s exactly what we did. So after a nice nap we headed out to the streets of New York. We only had enough time to go to Columbia University, breeze by Central Park, and head on over to 106 & Park (the studio location for a top-10 video countdown that airs on BET). Even though we didn’t really tour Columbia, we took some great pictures and we even frolicked some more in the snow. Since we were all hungry, we thought we had enough time to get something to eat before we went to Central Park. But as it turned out, we didn’t. So we skipped Central Park and just headed on over to 106 & Park. We almost didn’t get in because it was full. But since we were from California the lady let us in anyway. After a long wait, we finally got on stage. Nothing is like it is on TV. The stage is small and dirty. The couch that the hosts sit on is tiny, and the hosts were stiff and didn’t interact with the crowd at all. After more than an hour of screaming, clapping, and getting “hype,” the show was over. Soon after that we were on the road to Philly.
Jan 18
I need sleep
Jayla Tunstall
Today has been really tiring - so tiring that all I wanted to do when I got to New York was sleep. But as it turned out, I couldn’t sleep because after getting off of a long flight from Houston, we had to wait an hour for Mr. Banks to get the rental car. When we finally got to the hotel we had to wait two hours for our rooms. Even after we got checked into the room I still didn’t get all the rest I wanted or so desperately needed. But I did get to shop in the multi-story Macy’s, frolic in the snow, and ride the New York subway, so all is well that ends well.
Jan 08
This is just the beginning
Jayla Tunstall
On January 20, 2009 I, Jayla Tunstall, will be witnessing history in the making. Of course I could only be talking about the inauguration of the first black President! I’m excited, but at the same time it feels so surreal. At this time last year, if anyone had told me that a black man would become President, I would have looked at them like they were crazy and never would have believed them. But low and behold here it is . . . happening in my lifetime and I’m going to be there seeing it, hearing it, breathing it, and feeling it. Every time I think about it, it just blows my mind. I am going to be at the inauguration of Barack Obama, the first black president! I can’t say that enough. This is crazy! This is exciting! This is real! This is monumental!
