GOING TO NYC

This week has been a bit stressful. Not only have I started praying harder and longer before getting out of my car and going into my work building, but the stress of getting things together for the pageant is becoming a hassle. I had planned to go to New York to get my clothes fitted, if that is the correct usage of the word. I planned the trip to coincide with one of my best firend's wedding. I knew that if there wasn't any thing else that would drag me to NYC I would have had to cop out of the wedding, especially since the pockets seem to be leaking. Actually, the impromptu trip for the interview Florida kinda set things awry because I was saving up that to make this trip. But God is good though, He's used others to bless me in a tremendously unexpected way. I guess He wasn't on strike after all.

Trying to get the ticket however was like trying to walk from Kano to Timbuktu. Could not find any thing affordable..they were in the high hundreds, even saw some coach seats going for $1500. I refuse to pay that amount to travel to Nigeria that is millions of kilometers away, then it is now New York that I would now pay such exorbitantly overpriced fare....'Isi gbowakwa ha' (may their heads break).

And Biko, why was the ticket on Amtrak a good hundred dollars more than the fare i'd found on Air Tran. Why in tarnations would I pay $380 to be on a freaking train for like 12 to 15 hours. For that amount there'd better be a chinese buffet, a nail-shop, a cabin with a queen size bed and 'room service'... i guess you can call that 'cabin service'. Thanks to my friend Des for saving the day. She helped me find a ticket for $150 on cheaptickets.com. I mean I was prepared to really take the GreyHound to the Big Apple. Did I hear you say What? Abeg, desperate times call for desparate measures. Plus, it ain't like I aint rode the 'Grey' before. Dude... like that was my ride way back when I used to have to go to Charlotte.

In fact my first trip to New York was on a GreyHound and I freaking got lost trying to find my Aunt's house in Rockland County. There had been some miscommunication. I was supposed to wait at Penn Station for my aunt and her husband and not try to find their house. But I thought I had it all mapped out o. Knew what bus and train to take. I had mastered the freaking New York City transit system all tha wy in Nigeria because I always thought that's where I was headed. Much to my surprise though, my trip took a turn for the worse. I got lost and the bus driver was just taking me all over freaking Rockland, Westchester and Orange Counties.

Meanwhile my aunt was looking for me all over the city. I had tried to call her house, but their nanny was haitian and only spoke french. Being the idiot that I am I too tried to rap some fake french with her... didn't fly because my aunt had also called the house several times and the girl did not even tell them I had called. Eventually I told the bus driver to take me to the nearest police or sheriff's department. At least I learnt that one through movies that the police is your friend. He took me to the police station and I was just crying and wailing that I am from Africa, This is my first time in NY, I've only been in the US six months and I am lost. The officer on duty was like calm down, wash your face and relax, I'll take you to your aunt's houseand then gave me a can of sprite and some oreo cookies from the vending machine. That was a relief because I was hungry and had spent all my money by then... I think... I may have had one or two hundred dollar bills that my uncle gave me, but i've been told if i wasn't Ibo, I would be an Ijebu (nigeiran metaphor for stingy, frugal, tight handed). Anyways I gave him my aunt's address and the guy took me there in his patrol car. Imagine going up to a nigerian policeman, not officer, with some 'i'm lost' BS, the guy will tell you 'Ehn if you are lost find yourself now' or 'Am I the one that lost you' or 'Don't worry, nobody is looking for you'

Well I am glad to be returning to the Big Apple. The last time I was there was this summer for my friends sister's wedding. It was fun hanging out with my old class mates, but boy did that trip reveal a different side of NYC than what I was used to....obviously watched too much Sex and the City. I am sure I'll have some stories to tel about that... might even call my entries in. That ought to be fun fun fun!!!!