Lisa Rao
Getting to know me...getting to know all about me...!
Here I am at the New York Aquarium, getting friendly with Otis the Seal. I actually had brought a bunch of kids to the aquarium for a photo shoot, but when Otis came waddling out of the pool screeching with excitement, the kids burst into tears! I had to get "up close and personal" with Otis to show them there was nothing to be afraid of!
Anyway...hello! My name is Lisa Rao, and I am finally seeing the light at the end of my Bachelor's degree tunnel. I am down to my five final classes! YES! It's been a wild ride, as I decided to "finish what I started" after a 20+ year absence. A couple of years ago when the economy was at its worst, I realized it was NOT a good time not to have a college degree. There were a few layoffs at my job; luckily I was not affected but it was enough to scare me into applying to CUNY online. I've loved pretty much every minute of it.
I work for a large book publisher in NYC. I am a full-time writer/editor in the children's division. If you have or know kids who love Yo Gabba Gabba! or Dora the Explorer, you may already have some of my books. Here is a link to some of my titles on amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Lisa-Rao/e/B001JPCJCM/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1359479087&sr=1-2-ent And I also have a personal website from when I was a freelancer, www.LisaRao.com.
I'm looking forward to a fun semester with this class. I'm VERY interested in learning why people move, as I am a native New Yorker who has never left the Big Apple! But from the time I was little my mom always told me, "Someday you'll realize how lucky you are to live in New York."
But when I think about why people move the obvious answer is "to make a better life for themselves." Whether that means a better job, or a better home, or an easier way of life is up to the person. But the first thing that popped into my head was the classic movie The Grapes Of Wrath, based on the amazing book by John Steinbeck. If you haven't seen the movie or read the book, I highly recommend both. Here is a YouTube video which captures "the essence" of the film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRjpqJozOcI
Maybe part of the reason I've never left New York is besides my career, is that I happen to be really happy with where I live. I live in what is known as the country club section of Throggs Neck, New York, which is a very long way of saying the nicer part of the Bronx!
Here's a map that shows exactly where "Country Club, Bronx NY" is (since many people think I'm kidding when I say that's where I live. Right click on "view image" to see the map larger. Country Club is right underneath Pelham Bay):
I even have a teeny strip of private beach right below my apartment complex. The photo of swans that I use in my eportfolio icon was taken steps away from my apartment building. And here is a photo I took from my terrace (the water is Long Island Sound.)
My commute to manhattan is anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour. I really don't get why people will pay thousands of dollars in rent each month for an apartment the size of a shoebox just to say they live in manhattan, whereas I can walk out on my terrace and see this every morning and pay about 80% less than all the folks in my office who brag about "living in the big city." But...to each his own I guess!
Here's a larger photo of the swans I took from "my" beach.
Can you tell I really love where I live? : )
For Angela Isaac, who asked if I was affected by
Hurricane Sandy:
Hi Angela,
Here's a photo I took from my balcony when Hurricane Sandy was just landing in New York. In the bottom right hand side of the photo you can see a small part of a fence. That's a parking lot which of course, was completely flooded. We were really lucky. The building directly to the right of mine lost power and so did the building directly to my left. I guess they took the brunt of the storm because our power didn't even go out--the lights flickered constantly all night long but never went out. Like I said we were really lucky!
11. ANGELA ISAAC
Hello again Lisa,
Thanks for your reply. I'm glad that you were spared during Hurricane Sandy. You are really lucky! Was your building's basement or first floor flooded? That must have been so scary living so close to the water during the storm… I would have probably evacuated. Anyway, I just wanted to reply to you regarding your post on my e-portfolio. I had my settings to where I had to approve all comments, that's why your initial post didn't show up. I just approved it, so it's there, and I was able to read both comments. :)
I'm sorry to hear about your experience in Montreal - but I'm glad you were strong enough to fight the guy off, and win that real life tug-a-war battle. I went there during the Int'l Jazz Festival in the summer, and I loved the city, it felt safe, although at night there were a few questionable people on the street.
I think it's awesome that you visited a lot of the same places that I have. We have good taste! The place that I liked most during my travels is Paris, as that was where I got engaged. It's hard for another city to compete with the romance of Paris. About your next trip - if I had the chance, I would travel around Italy. There are so many beautiful cities and islands to see…Venice is beautiful, (and sinking!) the flood waters come in often, and in a few years, the city may never be the same! I also really want to visit Positano, Sicily, Milan, Torino, and Florence. I really enjoyed visiting London, but it wasn't as charming or relaxing as Italy, and the exchange rate isn't as good as the Euro. :) In my point of view, London is more on par with NYC.
02/15/13, 03:01 am
10. LISA RAO
Angela:
Take a look at my "About Me" page--I added a photo and a note about Hurricane Sandy.
Best,
Lisa
02/09/13, 04:54 am
9. LISA RAO
Hi Angela,
Thanks for your comment. I started my career in magazine publishing--for a while I worked at Sesame Street! For some odd reason magazines weren't as strict about degrees as book publishers. So I was able to get a lot of magazine articles published, and also get recommended to write children's books. Then I worked as a freelancer at Nickelodeon for a few months, and while working there as a freelance editor I volunteered to write a Dora the Explorer book for free (just to get my name on a published book for a licensed character.) Then a full-time job opened up at a large publishing company and my boss at Nickelodeon remembered how much I loved working on children's books and she gave me a glowing recommendation. The rest, as they say, is history.
Best,
Lisa
02/09/13, 04:52 am
8. LISA RAO
Hi Edelson,
Thank you for saying I'm the most interesting classmate you've come across--it's probably just because I'm one of the oldest, LOL. In 20 years I'm sure you'll be just as interesting, if not more so. Wow, who knows what technology will be like in 20 years, can you imagine? You'll probably drive a flying car like in the JETSONS!
Best,
Lisa
02/09/13, 04:42 am
7. EDELSON FLORES
Hello Lisa,
Wow, although this is only my second semester here at CUNY SPS I must say you are the most interesting classmate I have come across! Well, I just think that its really cool that you your an author and sell books online lol. Its great that this is your last semester here, I can't wait till I'm done and onto the next chapter in my life which is hopefully some sort of graduate program. Looks like we're going to be groupmates this semester, I look forward to working with you.
Edelson Flores
02/09/13, 03:19 am
6. ANGELA ISAAC
Hello Lisa,
I really enjoyed reading your introduction! I think your website and Amazon page are really impressive! You are a very accomplished author! Congrats on your success. I am also within 5 classes of graduating with my bachelor's in Sociology. What is your major? I also noticed that the job market is pretty difficult without a degree. I'm surprised that you were able to get such a wonderful job and publish so many great books without a degree - what type of training did you have for all of your wonderful work?
Also, thanks for the info on where you live in the Bronx - I didn't know there was a place called "Country Club". Even though, I have driven up to Pelham Bay and City Island - that area is very nice. When I saw the photo you posted of your view, I thought about how pretty it was, but I was also shocked that the water is so close to your building. How did you fare during Hurricane Sandy?! I know that City Island was pounded hard!
Best wishes to you this semester!
Angela Isaac
02/08/13, 11:18 pm
5. HENRY CHAO
Hi Lisa,
Welcome to the class, and I like how you've revised the layout of your ePortfolio; I think I will adjust my layout to to make it more user-friendly and accessible.
Just so you know, we are groupmates; let's go group number 5!!! I look forward to your comments and working with you throughout the semester.
Congratulations on your final semester and obtaining your bachelor's degree. I myself will have to wait till the start of next year to receive mine.
Thanks for sharing so many photos with us, your view from home is truly spectacular and I agree with you regarding living in New York. There really are so many lovely locations besides Manhattan.
It is quite awesome that you write children's books, you're like a celebrity in this class now! I should request for your autograph!
Again, it is great to meet you and don't forget to post your First Reflection, as I believe it is due tonight as well.
02/08/13, 08:44 pm
4. LESLIE APONTE
Hello Lisa,
I really enjoyed reading your post and seeing all the pictures you’ve posted.
I also have about 15 years of absence from college and can’t wait to complete my BA Degree in Psychology.
I think it’s great that you have edited your own children’s books, I’m sure the kids enjoy reading them as well.
02/06/13, 07:15 pm
3. Bradley Gardener
So many good things. First, thank you for making the template your own. Second, I still remember the Grapes of Wrath, though its been years since I've seen it. (In history class 8th grade). Thanks for the shots of the Bronx!
02/06/13, 04:23 pm
2. LISA RAO
Hi Angela,
Thanks for your comment! OTIS! Aaah, you haven't lived until you've had a seal breathing his smelly fish breath in your ear!! Otis was very sweet though, his trainer said, "Stay" and he held the kiss until my friend snapped a picture. Even the kids who cried were in love with him at the end of the day. Thanks again for posting. Lisa
02/03/13, 01:38 am
1. ANGELA THOMPSON
Hi Lisa,
I really love the picture of you and Otis! You have a beautiful view from your apartment. I can see why you love where you live, it looks great.
02/02/13, 10:04 pm