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Hey Y'all!
This blog will feature solely "American Antics"
I flew into THE JFK airport on a cold, dark night with open eyes and ears to find out what American culture is like on American soil. My first experiences of Americans were extremely positive, from the guy who loaned me his mobile whilst I was waiting at a pay phone, to the guy on the subway who used his own MetroCard to give me access, to the frequency of being called Ma'am!
I was extremely excited to arrive in New York, the first time on the trip I had a rendevous with a friend when I landed in a new country. Tara (an American friend from studying days in Perth) had instructed me to wait on the corner of 7th Avenue, and 33rd St fter exiting from the train station. I had thought this would be a suburban station, but I emerged turtle like with my massive backback into the busyness of Penn Station, and then onto THE street of New York, smack bang where Madison Square Garden is, and right in the middle of Friday night partying peak hour. The bright lights of New York City certainly attracted me, and my wide open eyes and jaw on the ground certainly picked me as a tourist (if the backpack wasn't enough of a giveaway).
I had a night driving tour of NYC and then into New Jersey, which increduously is a different state, but just across the water, and a completely different land. Skyscrapers are replaced with shingled, sweet double story houses with massive yards and no fences. Just like in the movies.
It was awesome enough to be in a family home atmosphere, but the welcome got even better with home made cake and a cuppa! I felt like a celebrity as my American family laughed delightedly every time I opened my mouth and spilled out my Australian accent. I may be guilty of a few un-necessary "G'days" to prolong the cuteness!
Morning time, and commute time into NYC! First up was a long range look at NYC from the Empire State Building, before plunging down into the heart with a stroll on the streets (sorry hurried dash - can't stroll on NYC streets). The Empire State Building was lots of fun, especially finding it - which is difficult even though its the tallest skyscraper in the city. ;) The elevators to the lookout are a metaphor for the NYC culture - fast as possibe.
The NYC skyline is overwhelming, to the extent that my trusty guide Tara was at a loss as to what was what;
Trish" Oh what bridge is that?
Tara: Ummm it might be the Hudson, or the Roosevelt, or the High Bridge maybe?
Trish: "Oh which river is thta?
Tara: Umm the Hudson maybe, or possibly the East River?
As I assured Tara I much prefered imagination than a litany of facts in a tour guide.
Entering into the area of Greenwich, I definitely knew it was MY part of the city... funky cafes, ecletic op-shops, and just as weird and wonderful people as possible. The chain link tile fence will always stand out in my mind, a collection of tils dedicated to the memory of those lost in the events of Sep 11. These porcelain tiles have been decorated with pictures and messages by artists, children and whomever from all across America. They hang on a fence in the centre of Greenwich as a constant reminder.
From the cruisyness of Greenwich into the bedlam of Times Square. Lights, flashes everywhere! Broadway is right there as well, and as you do - we "caught a show." It was "In The Heights" about a Latino district in New York and the life of its residents. It featured an intoxicating mix of rap, salsa, Spanglish, NYC references and hip hop dancing. Highly recomended! We were lucky enough to see the writer and original cast member in the central role, named Usnavy.. His Dad named him after a boat he saw when he arrived in NYC from Puerto Rico ... get it... Usnavy/US NAVY!! Hehe.
In New Jersey I experienced a typical Sunday, brunch of waffles, then church, then a Superbowl game.. and an exciting one at that - local NYC team the Jets against the Indiana Colts in the semi final. I perfected the Jets cheer after some coaching, and got the hang of the rules of the game while chowing down a hot dog and American beer. Unfortunately the Jets lost, which was actually perfect as I would be in Indiana to see the Indiana Colts play in the Superbowl.
After a Sunday rest, it was back to the commute into the windiest, rainiest day of my entire LIFE! I almost met the Statue of Liberty from the water, rather than from the Staten Island ferry. Tara and I though were hardcore tourists, and being blown backwards in the wind, umbrellas fighting with us and hair hanging in rat tails did not stop us from seeing Ground Zero, squirrels, Rockefeller Centre, squirrels, Central Park and squirrels. DId i mention I like squirrels - I took so many photos of the cuties.
Hardcore tourists deserve beer, and I had the chance to sample lots of American beer and American bars. I discovered the difference between an American bar/pub and an Australian one... the number of television screens. In American bars I had great fun counting them, I think the winner was a bar with 20 screens - and these were just the ones I could see!
Of course no trip to NYC is complete without a stroll down 5th Avenue - the fashion centre. And I may or may not have brought item/s from Tiffany and Co - a store with five floors purely of jewellery! Other notable NYC experiences... pretzels, watching hip hop dancers spin their stuff in the subway and browsing for a handbag dog ($2200 on sale thank you very much!!).
Australia Day for me was spent in The Australian Bar New York City. Sadly, the Triple J Hottest 100 was nowhere to be heard. Sausage rolls, meat pies and kangaroo were on the menu however, and some Jimmy Barnes was belted out from the guitarist. When I requested some Whitlams, or Crowded House the truth was revealed - the guitarist was an American who had spent a couple of months in Australia... fraud!
The fun for the evening was not over once we left the bar, it only got better! With the train to New Jersy departing in ten minutes, and ten blocks to cover the only option was a drunken sprint through the streets. Unfortunately Tara did not factor in my
1) inability to run fast, or lets face it - at all
2) amazing ability to get lost and disoriented in any situation (alcohol or no alcohol)
After a forelorn twenty minutes of wandering lost by myself, desperately trying to remember the address, phone or anything of my hosts I heard the wondrous sound of "trisha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The next words from Tara's mouth were; "I planned your funeral.....I need a beer." And that is how I found out you can legally drink in the streets of NYC as long as the alcohol is in a brown paper bag.
And one that classy note I will end this blog, with Part 2 of American Antics coming soon.
Bye Y'All!!
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