I arrived into Stony Brook, New York, on Tuesday the 17th of January, 2012. After a gruelling day of waking up at 4am, hurtling out of Guadalajara in the pre-dawn darkness, getting captured by Cesar of American Airlines, enjoying my final huevos rancheros, and making my way through Dallas, La Guardia, NY Bus, Metro and Long Island Rail Road systems, I arrived to a vegan feast at the family home of my couchsurfing host, Chloe. The house is situated along Robin Hood Lane, just off Story Book Road, with names like Cinderella, Peter Pan and Merlin close by. I kid you not. The house also includes four Chinese-crested dogs - you know those ones with just skin and a few tufts of hair-. It's been a great place to have my first proper shower, feel clean, feel comfort, and a refuge from the cold and (now) snow, and to rediscover the eccentricities of American suburban life.
The last few days have been a blur of fatigue, culture-shock, temperature-shock, and shopping. I still hunt for a good quality coat, but I've found boots and a few tops. My other clothes are pretty shabby. I don't feel stylish enough yet to really call myself a local. Give it a few visits to Goodwill.
I move houses tonight. I'm still tossing up whether living on campus is a good idea, but in the meantime I've found myself a cute apartment overlooking the main street of the harbour town of Port Jefferson. It sits above the street, squeezed above a pizzeria and a pub. Things are looking sweet. I can't wait to be settled somewhere..To put my clothes in a wardrobe, and to hang up the decorations I bought in Mexico. Once I find a place to call mine, I can focus on taking NY by storm.
Next week's Australia Day, which may involve a cheeky trip to 'The Australian' - no doubt a horrible pub- in Manhattan, to celebrate getting drunk and Tim Tams, and listening to the Hottest 100 countdown, beginning 8pm Wednesday night. Classes on Thursday may be a struggle, we'll see what happens.
Welcome back friends.
xog
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