I had to attend the International Students orientation so Di and jiju planned it. Jjiju took the responsibility of being my guardian for the day. He googled and found out the best way to get to NYU from Stamford; take the MTA from Stamford to Grand Central. From Grand Central take the 6 subway Downtown to Bleecker Street and then walk a couple blocks to NYU’s Kimmel Center.
Bleecker Street Station-My favourite ;)
Kimmel Center NYU
Well so now you are thinking; how difficult could that be! Right?
Guess what, you are right! It was not difficult at all.
As planned, we reached safely and I attended my orientation. After the orientation, I drailed along with some Indians I met there to get my NYU Id Card and to submit health documents at NYU's Health Center. They were walking like experts and I felt everything around me looked the same.It was as if I had spent million hours walking. I could not tell one building from the other.
Before leaving Jiju asked if I wanted him to stay back and take me home after the orientation. I was over confident and a little considerate, I felt it was not right to bother him from 7 in the morning to almost 5 in the evening, so I decided to find my way home.
The day was long, crazy and freezing! At about 7 PM I started from Kimmel Center to find my way to the 6 uptown train from bleecker street. It was mid January. It gets dark by almost 4 or 5 in the evening. I had never before in my life walked so much in a day. I was tired as I woke up early which was a very unusual phenomena. To add it up I was hungry and could not find a place to eat. Rather I did not know of a place where I could eat.
My only goal was to reach home. But before that I had to get to Bleeker Street Staion to get to Grand Central.
Now, all I could remember from what Jiju had told me was take a train from the same street station to get to Grand Central. I trusted my memory way too much, and did not write the directions!
So I tried to look around and started walking in some direction that I thought was right. I kept walking around, without a map! I walked for about 15 minutes and realised that I should be asking someone the direction.
I stoped by the Bursars Office and asked them how to get to bleeker street station. The security guy was kind enough to help but by the time I started walking again, I lost my way.
I was really frustrated and asked almost every person on the street but I was not asking the right thing. I was suppose to ask them "how do I get to the uptown 6 train station on Bleeker Street." One gentelman looked at me with a "leave me alone you homeless girl!" look. Another lady very kindly told me she did not understand what I was saying. Come'on now give me a break, its my first day in NYC I do not have an American accent.
I was tired, cold, lost and yeah I also did not have a cell phone!! There was no way I could call Di because I did not know how to use the pay phones.This is when I though how over confident I have always been about my road sense and I wish I had asked jiju to stay back. Finally when I was almost on the verge of crying and giving it up, I thought I could make one last try. I saw a young Indian gentleman(atleast he looked like one). I ran towards him and told him I was lost and needed help. I explained to him that I needed get to bleeker street station to go to Grand Central. He was a very very kind and handsome man ;) he walked me to the Uptown 6 train on bleeker street.
I got off at 42snd street Grand central and the rest of my journey was uneventful.
Horray!!! I finally reached home and almost was in tears on seeing Di and Jiju.
I was kinda amazed that I made it home safe!!!
Well but I did learn my lesson, I do not brag about my road sense after that day because in those two months I was almost lost everyday and the bleeker street station was the most dreadful part of my travel to school.
This is how far I was !!
0 comments:
Post a Comment