My trip back to the USA so far has gone relatively smooth albeit some bumps along the road. I managed to get everything into two bags, a large backpack weighing 50 lbs and a large suitcase that topped itself off at 100 lbs. I dragged these, plus a packed to the brim messenger bag from Berlin to Frankfurt on the train, then the airport to my hotel, the hotel to the airport, JFK to the YMCA in NYC, cab to the airport and finally got rid of them about an hour ago here in La Guardia. My legs and back are sore and I am pretty sure the big red suitcase is going to get given away once I am home. I never want to look at that thing again if I don't have to. It has officially destroyed me.
First impressions? I was standing in line waiting for them to stamp my passport and they had Fox news or a similarly awful TV news station playing. Within waiting in line for 15 minutes I had seen a report on: two bomb plots, the rape and murder of a 7 year old girl, a man getting beaten in a Wal-Mart parking lot and some congressman apologizing about something which did not look good. Behind me, a large group of teenage girls from New Jersey returning from Italy complaining that "This is sooo slow, oh my Gawd, this is like, so slow. GAWD. Gawd, what are they DOING up there." Ahead of me I had the over-zealous fellow expatriate returning with a Bavarian flag hanging out of his bag that almost blinded me about three times every time I stopped in line.
Some standing around waiting for our bus and I noticed the atmosphere was much more chaotic than I had been used to in Germany. It wasn't quite as orderly, people yelling at each other, dirty and crass. It was beautiful. Much to many people's surprise, I have never been to New York. After 24 hours though I decided that I love it there, and plan to go back in the fall and visit friends when I am not:
a) jet lagged
b) re-learning English
c) on fours of sleep
My goodbyes to everyone except for a couple people were sub-par but I don't think anyone noticed.
That's about all for now. In La Guardia right now waiting for my flight to Chicago, I am flying in at night and I am pretty sure that beautiful skyline is going to bring tears to my eyes. My journey still has quite a ways as I have to land and then go to my home town about 60 miles west of Chicago. I still don't have an apartment or a job, but I can get a big Diet Coke with lots of ice so I am pretty happy for the time being. I will be living out of a suitcase again for the next couple of weeks, where, I don't know but I am sure I will figure out.
Figuring it out seems to be a theme that I have learned to handle.
Incidences:
I went to a NY deli (which, by the way - most incredible thing in the world) and FORGOT how I like my sandwiches. I went up to order and became confused at all the choices. I couldn't even pick out cheese or decide if I wanted mayonnaise. My poor friend Eric who is familiar with the process had to literally ask me questions like, "Do you want mayo? Do you want lettuce?" It was actually pretty embarrassing.
Leaving my tip on the table was extremely unsettling.
I realized for the past year I have been used to people looking at me kind of funny when I spoke due to my accent. I say things to people and they don't do that. This also happens walking down the street, I am speaking English, and no one cares.
I need to stop feeling so surprised when I hear people speaking English.
My first meal in the USA was Chipotle. I ate a thing of guacamole/salsa and a LARGE diet coke with LOTS of ice in it. I got free refills, just because I could.
Strangers will talk to you, make jokes, and I can make jokes and people laugh and it's a beautiful thing.
First impressions? I was standing in line waiting for them to stamp my passport and they had Fox news or a similarly awful TV news station playing. Within waiting in line for 15 minutes I had seen a report on: two bomb plots, the rape and murder of a 7 year old girl, a man getting beaten in a Wal-Mart parking lot and some congressman apologizing about something which did not look good. Behind me, a large group of teenage girls from New Jersey returning from Italy complaining that "This is sooo slow, oh my Gawd, this is like, so slow. GAWD. Gawd, what are they DOING up there." Ahead of me I had the over-zealous fellow expatriate returning with a Bavarian flag hanging out of his bag that almost blinded me about three times every time I stopped in line.
Some standing around waiting for our bus and I noticed the atmosphere was much more chaotic than I had been used to in Germany. It wasn't quite as orderly, people yelling at each other, dirty and crass. It was beautiful. Much to many people's surprise, I have never been to New York. After 24 hours though I decided that I love it there, and plan to go back in the fall and visit friends when I am not:
a) jet lagged
b) re-learning English
c) on fours of sleep
My goodbyes to everyone except for a couple people were sub-par but I don't think anyone noticed.
That's about all for now. In La Guardia right now waiting for my flight to Chicago, I am flying in at night and I am pretty sure that beautiful skyline is going to bring tears to my eyes. My journey still has quite a ways as I have to land and then go to my home town about 60 miles west of Chicago. I still don't have an apartment or a job, but I can get a big Diet Coke with lots of ice so I am pretty happy for the time being. I will be living out of a suitcase again for the next couple of weeks, where, I don't know but I am sure I will figure out.
Figuring it out seems to be a theme that I have learned to handle.
Incidences:
I went to a NY deli (which, by the way - most incredible thing in the world) and FORGOT how I like my sandwiches. I went up to order and became confused at all the choices. I couldn't even pick out cheese or decide if I wanted mayonnaise. My poor friend Eric who is familiar with the process had to literally ask me questions like, "Do you want mayo? Do you want lettuce?" It was actually pretty embarrassing.
Leaving my tip on the table was extremely unsettling.
I realized for the past year I have been used to people looking at me kind of funny when I spoke due to my accent. I say things to people and they don't do that. This also happens walking down the street, I am speaking English, and no one cares.
I need to stop feeling so surprised when I hear people speaking English.
My first meal in the USA was Chipotle. I ate a thing of guacamole/salsa and a LARGE diet coke with LOTS of ice in it. I got free refills, just because I could.
Strangers will talk to you, make jokes, and I can make jokes and people laugh and it's a beautiful thing.
***
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