My day off in NY City

I do not need to work today.

Oh well, yes, I haven't officially started (tomorrow is my official day and yes, I am feeling nervous about it. You bet!!) but even if I had, Sunday is still a day off.

Anyway, what I meant to say is, even though I didn't have to work today, I was still up early. And that is because I was going into the city!

Yay! Three cheers for the city!

*rolls eye*

It was a long ride into the city from where I live. I have to first take the car to the train station, which is about a 10 min drive. And then from there, I take a train (yes, what else can you do in the train station except taking a train??) which takes about 1 hour plus.

Don't expect the Singapore MRT. It is much much more complicated than that.

We were planning to head for Chinatown today which means there was a need to do a transfer to the metro. And that needed time too.

Which means also, I will need to take a LONG TIME to get into the city to do dance or yoga or attend classes, for that matter.

...

Alice brought me to a vegetarian restaurant in Chinatown.

I think she still thinks of me as a strict vegetarian.

Um, in case you think I am too, that is not entirely correct.

I eat *a lot* of veggies and fruits and I seldom eat meat if I can help it. But I am not vegetarian.

Um, you get what I mean?

(If you didn't, then forget it. Just take it that I am vegetarian. It makes things easier that way.)

The food was ok. But if you gave me a choice, I wouldn't go to a vegetarian restaurant because I think they are paid too much for gluten.

Anyway, I also got to pass by this fishmonger.

Again, forget the fishmonger in the market. It is a shop with many different types of seafood. I don't know what you can call those?? That is not important; what is important is that I saw my favourite fish!!!!

(You can count the number of exclamation marks and that would be an indication of my excitement)

I am still thinking if I should buy it (that would have to come out from my own pocket because the family doesn't like to eat fish...). Maybe somebody want to sponsor?

(Or you guys can take turns to sponsor me the fish ;P)

I was also brought to a Chinese Provision shop to search for 3-in-1 coffee but all I found were expired Owl's products.

...

I had a short walk along Broadway and along Times Square.

It was all very surreal. That is the best way I can put it.

As I strolled along the walkways alongside the gigantic towers, I can't help but feel small.

It was as if I was suddenly transformed into a little man and I was just strolling beside giants. The buildings are really really huge! Gosh, for whatever reasons I cannot understand.

The streets were busy. As with any other typical city. People were just bustling along.

It was very emotional for me, you know.

I don't know how to put it but I am thankful for the opportunity to be right here right now.

Like Alice had put it, how often would you pay for a ticket to this end of the problem to have a 10-day holiday?

How often would you be able to experience life abroad as a pseudo-resident?

...

I didn't bring my camera today because I wanted to 'test out' the city.

The next time I meet up with my other Au Pair friends, I will try to take some pictures and post it out here (but then I am sure you would have seen so many pictures already so they wouldn't look too impressive, would they?).

Till then, cheers for a better tomorrow. I will start my work formally *cross my fingers* and I will have driving also *cross more fingers*.

I am so excited but also, I am so nervous.

=) Life is great, if you believe it is, and you make a conscious effort to make it so.