Arrival

Made it safely to the new place after a few phone calls to L and MANY helpful folks.

The plane ride went smoothly and was very quick. The landing portion was a bit rough, and by a bit, I mean the roughest. The nine-ish year-old girl sitting next to me likened it to Coney Island...as she was thoroughly enjoying the turbulence. I, on the other hand, had to use every last bit I had to keep down the lightly salted peanuts I ate earlier on the ride. After getting tossed around a bit in the air, we touched down. The 9-ish year-old's mother proclaimed that we were out of harm's way, just in time for us to skid on the runway at about a 30 degree angle. That was new. BUT all of us passengers, including the cat sitting behind me, made it to LaGuardia safely.
Coming into NYC was a sight to behold. You know you're in the city when you swoop in over the Statue of Liberty (which pretty much takes up the entire island it stands on). We flew over Brooklyn (I knew because I've studied NYC on Google maps extensively...so much so that I was able to pick out the park across the street from "home") and then Manhattan came into view. Incredible.


Took the M60 bus to Astoria (note: no dollars or pennies when paying for your ride and transfers don't work on the subways, as the "nice" bus driver informed me after I asked for one) and pondered for a couple minutes about how I was going to haul 2 rather large suitcases up many flight of stairs to the subway (ummmm, I thought subways were underground? Not always, apparently).

I was about half-way through my ascent when someone asked if he could help. I clearly must have considered myself to be in a pretty rough place because I agreed to take him up on his offer. He not only took my heaviest bag, but paid my fare (only a Metro card is accepted on the subways, and obviously I did not have one), and directed me to exactly where I needed to go. I found out he was from Bloomington, so he passed it off as Minnesota Nice and wouldn't accept my return payment. Truly a blessing, so I named him Cam (Christmas Angel Man) :) and silently gave him a "G-bless" before parting ways.

After a stint with Cam on the Q to Times Square, I took the R into Brooklyn and arrived at my 3-month home around 3:30 p.m. After scoping out the gym, unpacking to Zac Brown Band Pandora radio, and meeting some neighbors, L and I made our way to find some burritos. We happened upon a great place a few blocks away. 5th Ave. is the place to be in the neighborhood.

As a reflect on the day, all I can say is that "moving" to NYC is like running a marathon: I can't believe that just happened.

Wonder

As I finish my packing, look over my itinerary (good thing, cuz I thought I was flying into JFK. Not the case.), and ponder what life outside of the Midwest is like I find myself with some wonders. Some more important than others:

-Does the Manolo Blahnik store have student discounts, like the Limited in Roseville? (Better slip the St. Kate's ID in the wallet just in case).
-How do I get from LaGuardia to living space? (Better download at least 5 apps for that).
-How can I wear my black boots and brown boots on the plane? (Because I'll already be wearing two pairs of pants, at least a couple shirts, and maybe two jackets).
-If I'm already going to be spending 30 minutes on the subway to get to FW, why not take about 20 more minutes and walk? (I think I will).
-Is it OK if I pack two dresses instead of my computer?? (Better find a way to make both work).
-It seems as though there are more winter races in Minnesota than in all of the NE states combined. (Minnesotans are tough).
-(Shoot! I better upload my entire music collection to itunes before I leave. I just don't know what kind of music I will need on the ipod that really is only used when flying).
-Where's a good place to watch the Rose Bowl? (Preferably with a plethora of WI fans).
-Is it OK to run with two different running groups? (If I tell both about the other, it's not cheating...right?)

By this time tomorrow I should be frantically searching for my second suitcase at the baggage claim :)

Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive. My co-workers were amazing during my last week and really helped me to keep it together. I love that place. I can't believe it's been over a week since I've been there. I will have to bother them soon to make sure everything is on the up and up and stalk my patients. Well, "my" patients :)

It was so great to see everyone that stopped by Sterb's last week, too. I never expected such a send-off. Thank you!!

See you in NYC!

Closer

http://tofromnyc.blogspot.com/

I couldn't articulate the moving process better than the above blog. I am told that living quarters abound in NYC, and that may be true, but actually getting into them is an entirely different story. Many of you know about my lack of patience. Now I have even less :)

I am hopeful that I found the perfect living situation, however! A sublease for the duration I will be in NY, awesome neighborhood, and wonderful inclusions (such as furnishing, washer and dryer in the unit, and a gym in the building).

The more I think about this stint away from the Midwest (and the faster it approaches), the higher I raise my eyebrow at myself: "Seriously, Meghan. You are SERIOUSLY going to get on a plane and live halfway across the country? WHAT?!" Nearly every person I encounter gets a funny smirk on his or her face and claims, "Meghan, you're going to LOVE it out there! You're going to love it so much that you are going to STAY!" To which my response is this: I have no doubt this is going to be an awesome experience. And that I will enjoy NY. But my people are in MN/WI. Every person in the Midwest is "my people". And while there might be SOME of my people in NY, not every person out there is "my people". I feel.

Apartment Search

I feel like I have looked at every single apartment New York City has to offer. Twice.
End rant.

So the adventure begins! There has been a change in plans. PlanS. Plural. The big one being that I will now be working in the Midwood neighborhood at a bigger school. I was a bit in love with the first school, but I think this will be a great place too.

Finding a 3 month stay in Brooklyn is proving to be a bit of a challenge (unless $4000 / month is reasonable to you). It seems as though many of these options exist in Manhattan as many people intern in that area. I wasn't nervous about the situation until the last couple of days. Right now I just need something solid about this experience and knowing where I will be living (for at least the first week!) would be a comforting start. I know that it will all work out. Even if I have to live 2 weeks here, 3 days there, 10 days somewhere else. Not ideal, but that will just make the story even richer. I have even started to reach out to my "network". (And if you know me at all, you know that things are getting a little crazy if I am asking for help). Desperate times call for desperate measures :)

I am really starting to get excited. Thinking about the races I might do out there. What I'd like to see and do. Who might visit!

Less than 3 weeks of work left. The tough good-byes have been taking place the last couple of weeks. I'm still not sure what I think about all this. Leaving that great place. I feel like I might have to call in a time or two each week and get the low down on how everyone (patients and staff) are all doing! I've made so many great friends there. The support from the patients has been wonderful. Even when they are in the face of health adversity, they have found strength to lift me up and help me in ways I could not expect. And I am so grateful.

Dyker Heights Bound!

Today I found out I'll be spending a majority of time in Dyker Heights (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyker_Heights,_Brooklyn), in the south part of Brooklyn! Turns out, Brooklyn is a big place :) as I realized I had been looking at places predominantly in the northern part of the borough, which looks days away from the southern portion on google maps. I've never seen the ocean and now I get to be just blocks away every day! Another fabulous part of Dyker Heights? The predominantly Italian American neighborhood means carbs for blocks! :) A part of me feels like I will not get the full NYC experience because I'll be there during the winter months, but as luck would have it, Dyker Heights is at its best during that time: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/realestate/13livi.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 and http://gonyc.about.com/od/christmassights/ig/Dyker-Heights-Christmas-Lights/ I might have to forego my original thoughts/hopes of living in Brooklyn Heights (a greener part of the city) because of the nearly 1 hour commute to the school I will be at. Park Slope looks pretty cool at first glance, and it's only about half an hour away, which in comparison to my 12 minute bike ride to work now, is much more my style. (i.e. I have no patience for commuting.) I am EXTREMELY excited to learn more about the school I will be at. It is a self-proclaimed "small" K-5 school with an emphasis on the arts. The foundations and values of the school really align with my personal beliefs about education. I think it will be a good fit!

Countdown

This may be one of the saddest countdowns. Obviously, NYC and Walker are full of anticipation and excitement. But I am not looking forward to leaving my job two months tomorrow. Today I said good-bye to one of the patients I have been working with the longest. She won't be back until the spring, months after my time at the GCC is up. She is the first patient that I had to say good-bye to. I have tried to avoid these types of interactions for a long time now, but now patients on the three-month plan will be coming back in January, and this will be the last time I see them and their families and friends and caretakers. Strange. It makes you realize that your job is so much more than a paycheck. Dona's philosophy is best: We are truly privileged to be a part of our patients' lives. I am not sure how I have been so blessed to have such a great job and be with such wonderful and inspiring co-workers day in and day out at such a young age. It makes be a little nervous that I won't find that again! (How often do you get 20+ women working together in once place and come out with a positive situation on hand?!) Some people never find this situation, and it nearly came out of the blue for me. Sure, it hasn't always been how it is now. At the beginning, three years ago, it was indeed crazy and it still can be, but I have learned so much. I don't know how I will soak in all that I want to in the next 60 days!

It's Official!

Found out today that I'll be a New Yorker for 3 months: January - March 2013! A year in the making and thinking about it even longer. I even had this blog named months ago...just in case :) I've created this as a sort of journal/memory bank of everything related to my travels to and adventures in NYC. Last Christmas I received a book of "The Best Things to Do in New York" (1001 ideas to be exact) from Vatti, and I have been glancing at it on the coffee table occasionally, not wanting to jinx the possibility. But now I get to tear right into it, mark it up, and hi-light it like crazy! This winter I will be completing my first level II fieldwork experience with the NYC Department of Education (the biggest school district in the nation. Do I need to cite that?!), working in the occupational therapy department. Most likely I will be in Brooklyn or Manhattan, but details other that are yet to be determined.