NYC Day 1: Less Than Perfect

Today was... interesting. You'd think your first day in NYC would be absolutely fabulous, which it was, but for different reasons than I expected. I woke up at 4:15am to catch my 5:45 flight to the big apple. On my layover flight to Denver were 3 friendly people on their way Maryland for business meetings. I think they were mainly friendly because they had had a little too much to drink the night before, but I was thankful for their company. Then came the long flight to the Newark Airport in New Jersey. My seat assignment was in the very, very back of the plane, right in front of the bathrooms. I had been warned prior to my flight to do whatever possible to not get this seat, but there I was stuck in the back with people bumping into me every time I tried to sneak in a couple of minutes to stare at the insides of my eyelids. Before liftoff I had already become friends with the flight attendant through the means of teasing. What can I say... some things never change. The flight attendant took very good care of me; I felt like I was first class, but better! He even gave me free food! While waiting to get off the plane, the first class flight attendant came to the back of the plane to get her carry on.

We struck up some conversation and she asked me the regulars, "What brings you to NY?" being the main one, which when I told her led to the question of how old I was, which then threw her into 'mom mode.' She practically took my hand through the next hour of hell, so to speak. She called me her plane daughter when familiar faces would ask who I was. At baggage claim we waited, and waited, and waited for my luggage to come, but it didn't. How in the world could they have managed to lose my luggage between

flights? The flight attendant helped me figure out where it was, made sure that it would be to me by the next morning and then put me in a taxi. I am so thankful for the flight attendant and the other people I met along the way. They were all my guardian angels! Oh the tender mercies! So there I was in my first taxi, obviously nervous for the unknown, and decided to strike up conversation with the cab driver. I think it was obvious to him that I was new to the city and within a couple minutes I had him talking about his three daughters and his fatherly wisdom. I asked him what advice he'd give me if I were one of his daughters and his response is as follows with the explanations for each:

Number 1: Don't drink. My niece went to school and got a wild streak in her and has been throwing up every morning for the last 2 months. I just don't understand how a person is willing to spend such a large portion of their life in front of the toilet. She's throwing away her dreams.

Number 2: Don't smoke. It costs too much money.

Number 3: Don't party, it's not worth it.

Number 4: Work hard and you'll get where you want to go

Smart man. Thank you Mike for your 15 minutes of friendship, although we'll never meet again, I will keep and follow your words of wisdom forever. I had made it, and all in one piece might I add! The down side, I had no bedding and no luggage and I had got to school a day earlier than all the other students so I was super stressed out. Thank goodness for my aunt’s friend Genelle Wells who let me stay with her and her husband. Above you can see the view from where I stayed my first night in NYC. In luxury! Plus, the next morning she took me to my class registration and took me to buy bedding and get my room all set up. She was a God send. He must really love me, something I can't deny. These people came out of nowhere and I am forever thankful for them. God is good!