Oops...I ended up in Brooklyn

I started off heading to the World Trade Center and I knew I needed to take the ‘E’ train from the 42^nd Street Subway.  Well, I was waiting for the train and low and behold the ‘C’ train pulls up...I knew the ‘E’ train was coming but the ‘C’ train was already here...so...assuming that it would take me where I needed to go, I hopped on - all proud of myself for my "understanding the Subway".  

Side note: I achieved my first goal today!  Someone actually stopped and asked me for directions. I am fitting in, and I didn't even have my headphones in. Booyah!  So, I guess my next goal should be giving someone directions that they can actually USE!

Anyway, I get on the train, and stop after stop there was no sign of the WTC exit.  Finally after about three stops too far I got off to figure out where I was. Well, as I started to climb the stairs I noticed these beautiful trees and the absence of something – it was QUIET!!  “Hmmm,” I thought, “this reminds me of Brooklyn.”  And as I emerged from the stairwell I realized...wait... THIS IS BROOKLYN!!!  Oops, I guess I went a little too far.  Oh well...

It was so peaceful, there were gorgeous tall trees, and the leaves looked like they are about to change. As much as I love the busy city, the quiet was very welcomed.  I walked around and found a place called, “Peas and Pickles” and just had to stop there for my daily bagel and coffee.  Get this, my total was $2.50!!! Normally my coffee and bagel will cost $5.50 in Manhattan. Plus, the guy that helped me actually looked me in the eye and asked how my day was going. Was that Customer Service I just experienced??  Anyway, I took my breakfast to a park nearby and sat so I could soak in the quiet beauty around me and enjoy my oh-so delicious Brooklyn Bagel. 

*sigh* Time to move on...

Since I just so happened to be there I figured I should walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.  Well, what an amazing opportunity to see the city from another point of view.  Last night we had a big storm sweep through and it just left everything so crisp and clean.  As I walked, there was a chilly breeze that accompanied me across the bridge. Loved it!!

 

So, once you exit the bridge you enter into the Financial District, former home of the Twin Towers.  I have to say, there is something about it that just...I don’t know how to discribe it...Maybe knowing that most of these people that walked by me suffered a great personal loss 11 years ago puts a different perspective on things.  I marveled at how they picked themselves up and pushed on with life.  I have a great respect for this area plus it has really cool buildings too. 

  

And, now that I am comfortable with walking around and apparently considered a to be a local, I am going to start bringing my real camera with me - no more smart phone pictures.  So be prepared to see an annoying amount of pictures...:)

Turns Out That...

I love riding the subway.
I love sitting at Bryant Park for hours watching people and/or reading.
I love sipping hot coffee without sugar in it and just cream.
I love eating a bagel with cream cheese every day for breakfast.
I love walking the streets with my headphones in.
I love feeling a, get this, fall breeze.
I love the constant noise of trucks passing, horns beeping, and sirens wailing.
I love not working...(even though I miss everyone)
I love talking to random people.
I love having a full kitchen.
I love the tap water here.
I love wearing scarves, even if it is juuust a little too warm out.
I love hearing the "subway musicians" - who knew a five gallon bucket could be so entertaining?
I love having someone greet me in the lobby every time I walk in our apartment building.
I love walking 6-7 miles a day without noticing.
I love trying new restaurants every time we go out to eat.
I love how there are several different types of fashion represented at every street corner. 
I love having a tiny apartment - it is SO easy to keep clean!!
I love having a smartphone - Adam and I switched.
I love that everyone has a dog.

-----AND----

I love getting 8 to 10 hours of sleep every day. I haven't taken a nap in over a week - that has to be record for me! I've watched 3 movies and haven't fallen asleep during one of them, wha????

So far, being in New York has been so much fun and I've learned a lot about the culture here.  I am starting to get the hang of things and am more comfortable getting myself around. The next hurdle to over come is figuring out which way I am facing when I emerge from a subway hole. North? South? East? West? So far, it is impossible to tell and can only figure it out once I start walking.  I bet there is a compass App I can download, but I really want to figure it out by myself!

The leaves have not started to change, but they said by next week we should get a sharp drop in temperature which will jump start the transition from green to glorious red, yellow, orange and brown! Woo! I can 't wait for that.  

Fitting In

Three days in and today I put my observations to the test.  My ultimate goal is to be walking around and have someone stop and ask me for directions. I think then it will seem as though I have slipped into the culture and look like I belong. Right now I feel as though I stick out like a dove amongst crows...

What I have learned so far: 

1. Keep my head down as to not be bewildered by the fascinating sights that surround me.  Make it seem like I have seen everything a thousand times and nothing is new to me EVEN THOUGH IT IS!!  I will leave the sightseeing for when I am not wondering around by myself. Which brings me to my next point.

2. Even if I have NO idea where I am...make it look like I do! This will take the touristy look away when I look like I know where I am going.  For example: I was searching for The Food Emporium yesterday and, for the love, couldn’t find it.  What is the acceptable number of times one can walk by people eating breakfast at a café before they start to notice my ignorance?  I tried not to find out but I am sure by the third pass, they started to notice.  Anyway, every time I stopped to look at my phone for directions I tried to make it look like I was just checking a text or something (even though most people just keep walking when they do that). It was hard to discreetly look for what street I was on to try and figure out where I was, but I finally found the grocery store.  

3.  Don’t buy more than you can carry.  Ha! So on Tuesday, Adam and I traveled an hour northeast to go to Costco and Target to buy things for our tinsee winsee apartment carrying an empty backpack and an empty brief case to hold all of our groceries. It was all well and good until I started to notice how heavy the CART was just pushing it around the store.  Well, this was a good lesson to learn after an exhausting journey back home. My backpack was filled with thirty pounds (I swear!) of stuff and Adam carried a packed brief case for the 2 mile walk and 5 mile subway ride during rush hour. We were exhausted after we got home only then to find out that Food Emporium was seriously 2 blocks away...Daaaaa!!

4.  Finally, if I am going to fit in around here I have to start looking like I do.  So...I don’t smile when I am walking, I try to walk as fast as I can weaving in and out of the crowds, and to top it off I have my headphones in as to look like I am completely indifferent from what is going on around me.  People live in such anonymity around here. They are all walking quickly with their heads down with their headphones in (like what I am trying to execute), or talking into their headset. I was listening to my iPod while walking and the battery died!  Did I take out my headphones?  Nope...just kept walking!!!  

I am really enjoying it though. There is so much to see, smell, and laugh at :)  

T minus 48 hours

Well, it is Saturday night and we are finishing up getting ready to leave on Monday for New York City.  I just packed all my clothes and Miley, my dog, is pouting because she hates seeing suitcases...gonna miss her!  Anyway, Adam has training for his job and it is bringing us to New York for 2 WHOLE MONTHS!  Not gonna lie...I am pretty nervous about this new adventure.  I've never done anything like this and I anxiously await this drastic change.  I had to say goodbye to my wonderful co-workers and adorable kids at work yesterday.  Checking that off my list of things to do felt good. I hate goodbyes, even if it is just for two months, so having that done is a relief but it solidifies the fact that WE.ARE.LEAVING!!!  Woo. 

I am excited to experience a real Fall season.  Coming from Scottsdale, Arizona has minimized my exposure to what Fall really feels like.  I am used to a slight drop in the evening temperatures and maybe a couple of trees loosing their leaves by December. But this year I get to wear scarfs and actually need them! Wear a jacket without sweating!  I can't WAIT for that.  Oh Fall Fashion...I think you and I need to be friends. 
  
I was told that I need to take the first week and just observe what everyone does. What are the different vibes throughout the day?  Do people go out for coffee first each morning? Where do they go? What do they eat?  What do people do?  What happens after 9am?  What happens after 5pm? Once I get the hang of it I was told that am supposed to just jump in and become a Native New Yorker or try since I can't really go back and be born here!!  Ha! I can't imagine pretending to a local but I intend to try...minus the accent. That will be an immediate give away...

So, here is to the next 87000 New York Minutes! 

Source: destination360.com via Hannah on Pinterest