Note: This is a random piece of text which is filled with details which are utterly unimportant. If you don't like reading such texts, stop reading now.
I'm in New York City and I cannot sleep.
I've had too many impressions today, my mind is overtaxed and I need some time to calm down, take a deep breath, and make my eyes go sleepy. I'm eating a hot dog and grapes, 'cause those are the only things in the fridge. Quite a good combination, actually.
I find it funny how much I disliked New York City on my first day here. Maybe I just disliked travelling alltogether. But whether it's travelling or NYC, I think it takes time to get into them, you have to get used to them to appreciate them.
My feet are itchy from walking too much. They, too, are overtaxed.
On my second day here, I met up with a guy from Maastricht (Milosz), who was already here for a week. He told me about the people he met (he told me about the girls, especially, and how "interesting" they were). And I was jealous. How did he meet people? How do you get to know people in New York? I didn't know, and felt kind of truck in the Mexican-Chinese part of Brooklyn where Pauls mother was hosting me. Not literally stuck, it was more that -wherever I went- I felt uncomfortable and wanted to go home. New York can be threatening, unpleasant even. But that's not because of New York. New York can't help it. You have to make things nice.
The moment I walked away from Milosz I made a decision. I decided I would stop being scared, and meet people. Somehow. I mean, travelling alone is not my speciality. Sometimes I just end up sitting in the park all day reading a book -which is nice- but I don't want this all the time.
So I walked away from Milosz, who had gone to bed (it was 1 am), and stepped into the subway. That is, after asking where the subway was to some young people who were hanging out on the streets. Subways are hard to find, you have to know where they are. So in the subway I went, and I did something silly, something not-so-New Yorkian. I swiped my subway card, but I didn't go inside. The reason of my hesitation was tipping around on the floor before my feet, making soft noises. The reason stood still, looked at me with small, watery eyes, and then walked on again. It was a rat. A fairly big rat, too, and even though I quite like rats, I was wearing sandals and didn't want to risk anything. I dind't mind the wait. My metrocard, however, did.
When I finally tried to get through the turnstile it had locked again. I swiped my card. "Just used", it said. I looked around for a card machine-but there was none. That, and I had no money on me. So I went back outside, to the people hanging on the streets, asking for another subway. They told me the whereabouts, and I went. One way or the other, I was feeling happy. Now I am often happy-but I was happy that the neighborhoud- wonderful by day yet rather gloomy by night- wadn't frightening me. It was like I was getting used to New York.
So I went into another subway and swiped my card. "Just used", it said. Argh. Hmbl. I wanted to ask the guy at the ticket offce to help me, but he was fast asleep. What a job.
I looked around, helplessly, and a boy walked by. He saw that I had some difficulties, and kindly offered to buy me a ticket, which I- happily, of course:P-accepted. And so I went. Into the subway, at last. "Thank you so much", I said. The guy shrugged his shoulders and said you're welcome or something, and walked to the platform. I walked to the platform on the other side, then realized that it was the wrong one, and walked back. Another guy, black-haired with glasses, familiar-looking, walked up from the other platform. "It'll take like 20 minutes before it arrives", he said, "want to share a cab? Where do you need to go?" I realized it was one of the people who was hanging out in front of the cornershop before. I told him where I had to go, and seeing that it was kind of in the right direction, we went together.
I find sharing cabrides with random strangers much more exciting than waiting at a platform in a ratty subway.
We shared a cab, and he brought me to another subway closer to home. I walked down, smilingy, grabbed my book, and waited. An older guy, medditeranian looking, was standing next to me and smiled at him shortly before going back to by book."It's great, New York, don't you think?" he said, happily, with a strong italian accent. We started talking. He was a very nice. His english wasn't very good, but he was happy. Happy and italian.
While I was talking to him, the guy from the cab walked down the stairs and put a piece of paper in my hand. "In case you want to meet up sometime before you leave", he said, and walked away. The italian guy grinned at me and we continued our conversation.
We talked probably for an hour till I was at my stop and left the subway. We had agreed that we would meet the next morning and he would show me around.
I was sick of walking around the city alone.
The italian, Paolo was his name, turned out to be a lovely tour guide. It's always funny to be shown around by somebody, but walking aournd in Manhattan with soemone who calls you 'bella' all the time is even more amusing. We went to times square, and watched. It was crowded. Very crowded. I didn't like it much. A boy came up to us, tablet in his hand; "would you be interested in going to a musical?" he asked. I secretly like musicals (it's not so secret anymore now, is it?). So I said yes. And he ended up selling me (only me, Paolo wasn't very interested), a ticked to see 'Rent' the day after. He walked us all the way to the box office, a couple of blocks further, chatting. He was also very nice. He gave Paolo his phone number in case he would change his mind and wanted to see Rent as well. Later, in the subway, Paoplo gave his number to me. His name was Ari.
At night I figured, oh what the hell, that guy seemed nice, I don't think I can bear another day hanging out with paolo (nothing against paolo, but he was very italian), I'll text Andrew. And while I'm at it, I'll text Ari as well.
*
I went to the Metropolitan museum of Art with Ari today, after which I went to see Rent. It was overwhelming, and fun, and wonderful. Tomorrow night I'm meeting up with Andrew.
New York City is smiling at me. Or the guys are, at least. But it's in a fun way, not intimidating. Yesterday a guy at the bank told me that he was so sad he was working today, 'cause he would've loved to show me around. Hilarious, really. Must be the long blond hair.
And so it goes. It sounds like dating, and maybe it was (I've never dated so I woudn't know). I knew it wasn't dating and I hope that the guys knew it too. All I know is that I've never gotten that many phonenumbers of guys than I did in that week in New York. 1, 2, 3, 4. That's quite a catch, even it it wasn't dating.
But I take it as it comes, travelling on my own is much more exciting this way.
I'm feeling sleepy. Time for bed.
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