Welcome to New York!

Friday, August 29.
This morning I woke up early, Becky dropped me off at the Princeton Junction train station. My bags were so heavy! I had to use the handicapped accessible ramps so I had to walk about 2 times farther than if I could use the stairs. The train comes and I ask if it going to New York. Just to make sure. The train worker told me that if I wait for the next one, 10 minutes later it was the express one and it didn’t make any stops and arrived 12 minutes before that one. So I chose to wait. Lies! All Lies! We made 2 stops, and they were never announced. I knew we had to go under the tunnel into New York, so after the dark I got off the train. SIDE NOTE: There is a fairly large gap between the train car and the platform. So I have to use both hands and give a giant pull so my bag clears it. They never said Penn Station. I hoped off and all I saw was ‘Pennsylvania Station’. I had a brief moment of panic and then realized that Penn is short for Pennsylvania. DUH! Madison Square Garden is right on top of Penn Station. I was meeting Sarah and Alexi across the street, so I headed up there. I waited about 5 minutes and sarah appeared. She brought the church van, and thank goodness because Alexi and I both had so much luggage, I don’t think we would have fit in a taxi. We got to the church in about 20 minutes. Brian was there and Patrick came about 10 minutes later. We went to lunch at this Cuban place, and then came back to the apartment and played a get to know you game. Then we went grocery shopping to Fairway. It is right next to the Hudson River. In fact if you walk just outside the church you can see the Hudson River.
Fairway is this big grocery store. The refregirated section is this HUGE room where all the cold goods are kept. They even have big jackets you can borrow to wear around as you shop.
Before dinner we took a walk around our area and were shown some places we might need to go. We walked all around Columbia University and it started to rain a little. 3 nights a week we eat dinner at the Priest’s home with him and his wife. They have a Standard black Poodle!!!! His name is Monty, he is really shaggy and cute.
We had Bible study after dinner…it went a little longer than it was suppose, we are all exhausted. Our 5th roommate, Demie made it, and we headed upstairs to our apartment and we picked our rooms. 2 of the rooms are really small and awkwardly shaped, with a foldy portioned between the two of them. The only fair way to pick was pick numbers and then whoever picked 1 got first choice of the rooms. I picked number 5, of course and have the smallest room. Boooo! Also the internet doesn’t really work in it so I have to go into the living room to use it.
I need to go to Target and get some more storage.
I’m too tired to unpack very much!

Plane, Train, Automobile....New Jersey!

This morning I woke up around 5 A.M. I had a few more things to put into my suitcase and other odds and ends I needed to do before I left for the airport. As I was getting ready to take my bags out to the car my mom and dad's whispering alerted me to something outside. I opened the door and there was a large Good Luck banner, balloons hanging from all the trees, and a chalk message in the street that said, "We'll Miss You". Well done, ladies! I loved it! After a tearful goodbye with my dad, my mom, LuLu and I all climbed into my car to begin our drive to the airport. I'm always nervous to fly by myself, so i was nauseous the whole way to the airport. We were also running a little late and I knew I wouldn't be at the airport the recommended 2 hours before so that added to my nauseousness.
We made it to the airport, I said goodbye to LuLu who was stuck in the backseat. Then my mom snapped attractive pictures of me crying as I was taking my bags out of the car. I went into the airport, checked my bags. One weighed 47lbs and the other 23 lbs. My large 80's, purple Quicksilver carry-on bag must have weighed another 20 lb, and my laptop bag with other things another 10. By the time I made it to my terminal my neck and arms were all red from carrying those 2. I made it through the Starbucks line and then it was time to board my plane. I was in the window seat. Never a good idea considering my track record with having to go to the bathroom all the time ( I did however only go once and had to straddle the lady on the end to get out. She was asleep...awkward).
On the plane they showed Made Of Honor. It takes place in New York so it felt fitting. My ear phone jack wasn't working so I used the girl's next to me....she was asleep also. After that I watched 4 episodes of Gossip Girl Season 1. It takes place in New York also....glorious! When you land in Newark, New Jersey you fly right by NYC and you see the Statue of Liberty! Both firsts for me.
After we landed I decided to use the bathroom. So I go in with my heavy purple 80's carry-on and set it on the floor (I know, but I had no other choice) and then my laptop bag on top of it. THIS IS WHERE IT GETS GOOD! I am putting a seat cover on the toilet (safety first) and I see the lady next to me kicking my bag with her foot. At first I was angry and then I heard her saying "toilet overflowing"....my only option...picking up the purple 80's duffle bag and setting it on top of the seat cover that was on the toilet. Thank God I still had my pants on. By then there was a line and half the bathroom floor was wet, so I opted to search for another bathroom. By the time I made it to luggage claim, I was so hot and sweaty. I ended up putting some of my carry-on items into my rolly bag to make it lighter.
Up the escalator to the NJ Transit kiosk where I purchased my one-way adult ticket to New Brunswick. I had to wait in a line for the airtrain elevator because the escalator was broken and no one could carry their large bags up the massive flight of stairs. I rode the airtrain to the end, then walked to the Amtrack Track 5 where I had to wait for my train. 40ish minutes on the train until I reached New Brunswick where Becky was waiting for me on the platform.
We got Pad Thai and took it to her friend's house that was having a meeting with ladies from their church. Then to Becky's house. I am so tired. Tomorrow I am going into Princeton (the town and possibly the college) with Becky. She has work so I will entertain myself at the Princeton library and Panera Bakery. Both have free wi-fi!
I feel like I am justing visiting Becky, but then I remember that I here for a while and I get a little sad.
I hope I am not forgetting anything.
Love.

Next Chapter

In less than 1 week I will begin the next year of my life. On Wednesday I fly to New Jersey to stay with Becky for 2 nights, before I brave the train with all 100 pounds of luggage and arrive at Penn Station. There I will hopefully be escorted through the subway station to the apartment where I will meet my 4 new roommates. I am really excited, nervous, scared, and sad.
I've started to say some goodbyes, and I've been an emotional wreck. My mom and I went and saw Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 and I cried on and off the whole time. Even though there is maybe 1 part that could maybe fill your eyes will tears.
I have so much more packing to do and I'm sort of dragging my feet with hopes that if it doesn't get done then it must mean that I am not leaving so soon.


"And you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed." ~Donald Miller

A Spin On a Classic

Travels Without a Poodle? I know, a little silly. However, if you know about my great love for poodles I guess you would understand. 

John Steinbeck also has a novel called Travels With Charlie. A novel about John and his standard poodle, Charley traveling around America. My mom has a standard poodle, LuLu. I call her mine, but she clearly loves my mom more. 

So this blog will be all about my adventures without a poodle.