Bienvenidos a Nuevo York?!?!?

I said it right, Bienvenidos a Nuevo York! I heard that Buenos Aires was thought to be the equivalent to like New York in South America and boy is it living up to those sentiments - unfortunately I think I could survive better in New York. My apprehensions about not being proficient in Spanish were well validated as I pass through customs - where I am stopped - to only be greeted by rapid paced Spanish. True to fashion as a foreigner, I shook my head and answered in one word responses. As i stood, I hoped that I understood what they said and me them.

I step through the gates anxiously awaiting to embark on my journey, I struggle to find the ¨meeting point¨as to where I was supposed to get picked up by this free shuttle which was to take me to my destination - atleast that is what I thought. And the anxiety builds cause I don´t see any sign with my name or a transport with the hostel´s name on it. Cell phone , No. Spanish, No. Looking completely out of place and confused, check! Thus far, I was seriously doubting my decision to travel by myself. So I wait, and wait, and WAIT, hoping I would stumble across someone who spoke English or I could possibly over hear someone else´s conversation and hope that someone else was in the same predicament. HALLELUJAH - I saw someone with the same travel reservations as me, yet there weren´t speaking Spanish nor English; DAMNIT! Not as gutsy as another gentlemen who asked them in English as to where they were from, they responded of all places Israel - shout outs to Ari for reminding me most Israeli´s speak English. They so nicely informed me that the shuttle was running late. I can finally breathe! Yet I spoke too soon. The driver arrives and confirms all the passengers, but then I noticed that the driver was wet - WTF, it´s raining! As I think back, what did my mom ask me before I left - ¨Bryant, did you bring a jacket?¨ NOPE - Oh well, gotta keep it moving. Next dilemma, the driver only spoke spanish and apparently the shuttle doesn´t take me to my final destination - I have to take public transportation - the subway; WELCOME TO NEW YORK CITY - unfortunately I don´t speak the language too well nor have a map of the transit system. Now I allow the craziness to commence.

As I step off the shuttle, I wonder where the hell is the SUBWAY let alone where the hell am I going? People walking everywhere and there I stand - in the rain, CLUELESS! So I do what any confused person would do, follow the masses. I found myself at the hostel where the others were staying and proceeded to play twenty questions - yet if I had to rely on my spanish it would be more like one or two questions. Luckily, they spoke English at the hostel and I was directed to the Subway with map in hand. Ticket purchased - only like 30 cents I might add for one direction; woohoo great exchange rates! I was well on my way, I tried my best to find line going to Palermo. Then it happened, I began to sweat. Not a regular sweat, but I full out torrential down pour on my face. Frazzled, I head to a convenience store to buy water to cool me down. Only while I was purchasing the water, a train pulled off - Damnit was that my train! Aight time to get ballsy, I broke out the español and to my disbelief the police understood what I asked and confirmed I was in the right spot, train heading in the right direction and I did not miss the train and that it was coming next. I thought it was easy going from here cause the hostel was like two blocks from the subway stop; NOPE, try again- That would be too easy now woudn´t it be.

As the train pulls up, I look inside and it is crowded like none other- yup, New York City! I get on with my bags in tow and hope that I don´t get robbed on this train cause I scream TOURIST! I try to gain my composure, put on my best don´t mess with me face and I try to figure out how many stops it is until I need to get off. To my delight it was like 5 stops, so I relax and wait - observing my surroundings and absorbing it all. I step off the train and walk up the steps out of the subway, woohoo the final stretch - I´ve reached Palermo.

TWO BLOCKS...that is all I had to go. One hour and several blocks later, I was LOST! How in the hell do you get lost only having to go two blocks. Well leave it up to me and no street signs! Afraid to ask anyone for help, I wandered and I wandered. Walking in circles. Staying where I see people and following the crowds. Remind you it is still raining. Finally, I fall upon a street sign, yet couldn´t find it on the map in the district of Palermo - maybe I wasn´t in Palermo anymore, SERIOUSLY!?!? To my disbelief, I spent the last hour walking in the opposite direction of where I needed to go!

I go on this journey to aid me in my evolution and help find myself, yet what happens the only thing that I find myself is LOST. I hope this does not dictate the pace of this trip. I finally get to the hostel; nice place, lot of events - Pub Crawl and Bomba Night tonight, walking tour and futbol game tomorrow; looks like I got my days cut out for me - let´s hope I wake up in time tomorrow morning to do it all.

Until next time, know that I am living full out...