Arrival and first day

I have arrived! I made it from LaGuardia airport to my hostel in Brooklyn safe and sound.  After discussing with my parents how I could most easily get to my place with 2 suitcases and a backpack (a subway would take over an hour) I chose to bite the bullet and take a taxi there.

 It was just over 8 miles from the airport and cost me approximately $28.  Not as bad as I thought at least.  But I'm pretty sure I saw EVERY single type of person you can in 8 miles of travel.  And...this is my favorite...aggressive drivers are back!  I love you fort collins, but you got yourselves a little granny syndrome problem.

As I walked into my place, I first met 2 people.  Both around my age and from Sweden.  Soon, I'd come to realize that almost everyone in the hostel is from a different country.  Mexico, Canada, Brazil, France, Sweden, Russia.  But I really like them all!  Actually, their English is quite impressive and they're all pursuing some type of career out here: design, architecture, broadway...etc.

View from my hostel in Brooklyn

 I had an entire day to myself today.  So I planned out my subway route and head out to Manhattan for 1. a test run to my new work place 

The Row is on the 5th and 10th floors

and 2. to just walk around and see the sights.  One thing I'm finding a little difficult at the moment, is figuring out which way is north.  If i ONLY knew which way was north I could go wherever I want.  I find myself walking halfway down a block and noticing I'm going uptown instead of down.  Obviously, it can be figured out rather quickly, but it's still a pain.  After finding The Row I was off to look for food...nothing too extravagant just yet, just subway.  But I forgot to call my bank of course before I left so they put my accounts on hold for the time being.  After explaining that to the cashier, the guy next to me covered my charge! "Welcome to New York," he said...and then walked out the door.  I'm shocked.  Bryant Park was my next stop...just uptown a few blocks.  Since I had missed fashion week, I thought it appropriate that I visit.  I literally just sat there. Took it all in.  Wasn't on my phone...wasn't listening to my ipod. Just watched and listened and....sat. 

I knew that when I got here I'd want to be connected with some sort of church.  I traveled up to the west side and attended a service that was preached by Dr. Tim Keller.  Very impressive.  I loved the service, but hated the "new" feeling of being in an unknown place.  On the way back to my hostel, I had to take different subways and can I just say...if you get lost or confused, just ASK someone.  I asked 3 people today about the subway and they were all really friendly.  I even ran into a group of kids my age and they asked me if I wanted to go to church with them next week.  Where do they go you ask?  The same place I had just come from! weird...they even went to an earlier service.  So the chances of that were actually pretty slim.

I am currently safely in my hostel...made it home in one piece and can prepare myself for my first day of work tomorrow.