New York

Hey y'all, I'm in New York flippin' city as of today at 6pm Eastern Standard Time. How does it feel? Well not all that different from anywhere else I have been although everyone here is very friendly, but short. I have already met plenty of people in my apartment, but I get the sense that everybody has somewhere else to be and I make their day a little more stressful because I would like to talk for more than three seconds. But such is life here I suppose. Tomorrow I look forward to meeting with a friend for an apartment in the Bronx, way north of where I am sitting right now in Astoria, which is a part of Queens. This apartment has great location, the neighborhood full of people from all over the place though if I had to pick a dominant nationality at this point I would say Greek. I really would have looked to have been able to make it to mass tonight, but that was not in God's plan I suppose as Amtrak ran three hours late getting into Penn Station, downtown New York City.

A few opinions, the Empire State Building does not look as majestic in real life from what I could tell, people like healthy tips, there are restaurants everywhere, including anything from Latin American to Greek to soul food to corner markets where they will make you a sandwich for a buck. Right down from my apartment there is a supermarket owned by an Asian family of whom I met David the cashier who works only on Sundays, and there are two laundromats. Tomorrow I explore the possibilities of the New York subway, there are two stops within five minutes walking distance of where I am staying. Oh and cockroaches really aren't that bad, especially when they are particularly small and stay away from your food. And the tenants who preceded me whom I met today are a nice family, but they really are quite forgiving when it comes to the landlord. But as a woman who lives in the same place told me, those who find apartments in Astoria generally stay where they are!!! We'll see about that.

The biggest struggle I could see having here would be the boredom, and/or loneliness. Yeah I know that sounds ironic, but every single door in the apartment is closed and I can hear TV's blaring behind the sadly-painted wood. Some people actually do wander aimlessly as I have discovered so I suppose I will have to get to know more people like that. Such a see and be seen city, I do not know if I can take it, but I do plan to go for a run tomorrow to get to know the city better as well as attend mass in the local area, at a place called either St. Francis of Assisi or Our Lady of Mt. Carmel of which there are at least 20 of the same name here!!!

Forgive me for going skindeep, but for the moment I am left quite in awe of actually being here and the realities of living will be to come. Please keep me in your prayers that I might find a more permanent living situation, especially with a Catholic host family or something similar. I have some contacts, but anyone you know who might know of something could always be helpful as well. Know that you are all in my prayers, for it is ultimately He who cares for us all!!!

Tim