NYC

The world's longest commercial passenger flight (for now), 19 hours; that wasn't so bad. It also helps that the airline is setup to be mostly Business Class, although I was back in Premium. I often wonder how people travel before entertainment units. I have also started the Harry Potter series, I know right. Quite excited to be back in New York City. It's been a while, it's also been a while since I've been here for a reason other than work.

Reached out to an old friend who know lives over at Murray Hill. It really has been an amazing trip. The city is growing on me, if only it weren't so far from Australia. Thoroughly enjoyed the time exploring the city, caught up with most friends, spent a little time in the office and came to support a friend - which ended fairly positively. Good trip, summertime in the big apple with some good conversations, a bit of soul searching, good food, and a bit of tourist stuff.

Was supposed to fly back on the Saturday evening, but after a nightmare experience with United. Read, original flight to SFO was canceled, changed to later flight, that flight was also canceled. Moved flight to Sunday evening via LAX. My pestering won me an upgrade, but still. Looking forward to getting back to Sydney to see everybody.

 

New York

One thing that still stresses me out, are mandatory events during the school semester. I've touched on this point a few times, and the anxiety that takes places leading up to the event is something I still haven't been able to manage. From weddings to work obligations. What happens, if there's an assignment due that week? What happens if I can't finish it in time?

Each time I've been abroad, there's been something due and it ultimately comes down to just better time management. This time I would be traveling during final project submission and one week before final exams. Yes, there's some apprehension, but changing how I approach school as optional study, versus mandatory study has shifted my own expectations and allowed me to deal with it a little better.

First stop, New York City. Good to meet the US team that I have been working with for the last two years. Caught up with New York folk and even a sneaky Rick Ross concert.

New York City

11/4/08 : New York

I can't re-emphasise how much I hate flying. I don't think there can be anything more uncomfortable than being wedged into a seat that has the comfort factor comparable to an electric chair with a faulty fuse. I was wedged between a large fidgety man on the left and another guy who was listening to loud music on the right. It was possibly the longest, most excruciating flight ever. Consequently I got very minimal sleep on that 5 hour flight. On another note, I have noticed a commonality with the start of each blog entry, constant whinging.

New York City, the Big Apple, I had arrived. My main goal was to get to the Broadway Hotel & Hostel to meet a friend, the instructions I had been given are below:

Take the JFK Airtrain to the Howard Beach station to transfer to a Manhattan-bound train (blue line). Transfer at 59th Street Columbus Circle to the #1 train (red line) going uptown. Get off at 103rd Street stop. Walk south 2 blocks on Broadway to reach 101 Street. We are on the corner of 101 Street & Broadway.

Simple enough right? Well, kind of, I had managed to get myself onto the Manhattan-bound train until the lack of sleep prevailed. Enter sandman. Next thing I knew I had fallen asleep and was being whisked uptown. I eventually awake in a state of confused-panic. Where was I? 200th Street, I had overslept my stop and was now in the middle of nowhere. Well not nowhere per se, New York City.

Seeing an elderly lady on the with all her belongings scattered over the MET seating I asked her for directions. "Excuse me, I'm a little lost, I'm looking for, uh". I had stuttered and was trying to find my next destination, during this brief loss of dialog traction the lady snapped at me. "Well?! Where are you going? I don't have all day, I have to get to work you know!". This borderline-hag who clearly wasn't going anywhere anytime soon had lost her mind. I politely ejected myself from her grumpy presence and headed down to the platform going in the opposite direction (downtown).

I sat there on my now deteriorating luggage and pulled out the MET subway map. Still a little flustered by my first New York City local interaction I wondered if all locals were as unapproachable. This was of course until a sweet elderly lady must have seen my obvious disorientation and asked if I needed for help. Turns out she had been a New York local all her life and she was more than eager to help. "Follow me, I'm going to heading in that direction, I'll show you the way". She did everything but hold my hand, I felt like I was in primary school with my 1st Grade teacher. Long-story cut short I eventually found my way to the hostel and met up with my friend.

We checked into the hostel which obviously prides itself on simplicity. Room description: small 3 metre x 4 metre room. One ceiling fan, a light bulb, a bathroom sink, a window and a creaky bunk bed. It's not really a place you want to hang around too long. Thankfully my roommate hacked a local "secure" network and at least we have Internet access up here. Later that night we grabbed some dinner and had a light wander around Times Square. Going to check some mail then sleep.