My first day in NYC has been sooo crazy and intense. It started out by my flight leaving out of Dallas at 7:20 in the morning and then having a layover in DC, aka-the layover from hell. We boarded the plane and then sat on the plane for two hours while there was a tornado watch in DC. While on board I made friends with the old man sitting next to me, he said he was a DC native that was on his way to Midtown to meet his daughter, who he said only carries two things in her freezer, lipstick and wine. I didn't really get the joke, but he told me that once we left the terminal he knew what bus we should take. So I walked out with him and we went to get on the bus and they bus took Metrocards and $2 in change, which i had neither of. Awesome. So I go inside and find a change machine but it was broken and one of the workers told me that I could go to the next terminal and use that one. So then I waited 30 minutes for the shuttle to come pick me up.
After I got my change I got on the bus I needed to take me to the apartment. Please remember that I have 3 suitcases and a bag, and getting it all on the bus was super complicated so I parked it in the front of the bus where there was more room and I could fit all my stuff. When a flight attendant who was off duty got on the bus she had to squeeze by my luggage and muttered something along the lines of, "Well, you're being considerate of others." I just tacked it up as my first encounter with rude New Yorkers. As it turns out I was sitting in the handicapped only section, so I did sort of look like a jerk, but whatever, it was easier for me! So I get off where I think I'm supposed to go, which wasn't even close to the apartment I'm staying is. So, needless to say, I wandered around Harlem with my heavy luggage for literally 45 minutes. I was so pissed off, upset, and sweaty (it's freaking humid) that I wanted to sit down and wait for someone to help, but then I remembered that I don't know anyone. So I flagged down a taxi and told him where I needed to go and he starts asking where I'm from. I ask if its because I have an accent and he said, "No, it's because you're so nice to me, real New Yorkers are mean and don't talk to me." So I asked about his life story and then he got distracted and started taking me to 23rd Street and not 123rd Street. So he pulls around and takes me where I need to go, and $50 later...I was finally at the apartment!
Being at the apartment wasn't at all what I had expected! It's so big! The whole apartment is larger than any apartment I've seen in Abilene! But Jordan, the girl who is going to Belize, who's spot I'm living in has 3 roommates who are teachers in Harlem. 2 boys and 1 girl, they all wanted to go out to eat at a Korean restaurant in a korean part of Midtown. Knowing no one and having a dire need for friends, I tagged along. I had no idea most of the things I ate. Except I had squid. I could see it's tenicles. Gross. But it was fun, until the ticket came and it was $177! But they said, "Welcome to the city! You only have to pay $20!" So that was a relieve! I say all of this to write the most disgusting and embarrassing part of my day! I walked home later (which I figured out by myself! woohoo!) and came home and took a shower and used the bathroom. Needless to say, the korean food did not sit well and it wasn't pretty. SO, of course the toilet started over flowing! In the main bathroom that everyone uses! With my korean food crap in it! This is all probably total TMI, but I don't care. So I flip and start plunging and can only think of what everyone else is going to think (or smell) if this gets in the floor. I'm also thinking about how this exact thing happened in Along Came Polly!! So it didn't get unclogged and I had to go and tell Jordan that I clogged the community toilet. I've really made my mark here so far in NYC.
But today has really been such a rollercoaster of emotions, I cried, I got excited and I cried some more. But I know that God is really going to bless me and hopefully use me in some cool ways. So PLEASE pray for me I really need it right now, I'm in a place that is a total 180 from good ol' Abilene.
