A Dorm Room Of One's Own

According to Brent, I have now successfully survived the first three steps out of three thousand steps of in my New York adventure. (Only 2,997 to go! ha.)

My flight went well this morning with very little frustration except I had a window seat (I much prefer the aisle), and I sat next to two people who did not speak a lick of English. It was quite an ordeal for them to express to the flight attendant that they wanted a Coke. As a side note...I read an entire YA book cover to cover on the flight to keep my mind occupied: The Tequila Worm by Viola Canales. It was SO GOOD. I just absolutely loved it. I was previewing it as a potential read aloud to start the year with my kids, and it will most definitely be making an appearance in my classroom. I do love Hispanic culture, and this book depicts it with beauty, truth, and humor. It was excellent and inspirational.

The only perk of having a window seat was that I got to see our arrival into NYC. I was on the good side of the plane, so I got a view of the Statue of Liberty and all of Manhattan on our descent. It is really quite breathtaking, and I always get a little surge of excitement when I see it!

My luggage arrived in tact (Praise God) and I easily got a taxi into the city. I've been to Columbia many times, but this time my taxi driver took me a way I had never been before - straight through Harlem. It was fascinating and exactly what I would picture Harlem to look like. Everybody was out and about since it was Saturday afternoon. When we stopped at one corner, a crazy man with a white bird on his shoulder started trying to tell me something through the closed cab window. I just smiled and nodded. We drove right past the Harlem Children's Zone, which I have been reading lots about, so that was fun to see.

I was able to check-in to my dorm with no problems. The bad news: It's a dorm. The good news: It's not quite as bad as I expected. I have included pictures for your viewing pleasure at the bottom. There are certainly no frills - not a colorful throw pillow, candle, or decorative object from Z-Gallerie in sight. I did my best to make it feel homey, but a few books on a bookshelf can only go so far. Oh well. I went ahead and unpacked everything since I have a dresser and a closet and I'm here for so long. While I unpacked, I watched Design Star on Hulu.com. (I'm relatively sure that Hulu is going to be my new best friend for the next three weeks. No TV here.)

It was 3:00 and I did not have lunch due to my traveling, so I ventured out to the local deli/supermarket to get some food. I have a mini-fridge/microwave in my room, so I thought I'd get some breakfast food so that I don't have to forage every morning. I walked down to the store and bought: cereal, milk, strawberries, Greek yogurt, honey (for the yogurt), paper bowls, plastic silverware, a roll of paper towels, and a chicken wrap. Oh, and a Renuzit air freshener. (You must be kidding if you think I'm going to smell dorm smell for three weeks) Total: $39.40. I feel like that's a lot. Oh well, I'll get a bunch of breakfasts out of it. Now I just need to find a cup of coffee every morning.

Here's my new home for 3 weeks!! haha - definitely not the Norwood Nest I'm used to. It makes me feel happy that Brent will be here to visit in 11 days. Don't worry... he is the best husband ever and is going to spring me from the dorm for 3 nights to stay in a hotel!! But I'm not counting or anything.

I'm off to explore the neighborhood. I seriously need a bowl of pasta and a glass of wine.