Today I checked out of my hostel, went to Union Sq and then came back.
No I did a bit more stuff in between but not much... it's been a quiet day.
I sent a package home to Mum, went to the supermarket to get snacks and also paid for the hostel.
Here, they charge for ATM withdrawals all the time, even when it's the banks own ATM... what a joke. I've enjoyed New York but I'm glad to be leaving tonight. It's exhausting and expensive here, and I can't wait to meet Emma and her family in Boone, it'll be an atmosphere I'm more comfortable with.
So at 9.30pm I get my Greyhound bus to start the 12ish hour journey to Greensboro, where I'll then have to hang around for 2 hours and wait for my connecting bus to Boone, where Emma's going to pick me up, bless her heart. I've stocked up on snacks and I still have the majority of 'Weapons of Mass Deception' to read, as well as that, travelling through the night hopefully means I'll sleep most of the way as I am pretty sleepy. On that front I'm armed with earplugs, travel pillow and sleep mask.
I've got a really good feeling about this next part of my journey. It will be more homely and more like a family, this is the kind of thing I love, and from what I can see on Facebook, Emma's two boys are so freaking adorable!
My finishing thoughts about New York are mixed. The people I've encountered personally are lovely, but on the whole the general public here are cold. I think New York is a lonely place if you don't know anybody. It's also an expensive place and a very hot place. I can find a lot of things I don't like about New York, but the things I do like hold more weight. I love Central Park, and I love feeling part of something bigger. I love that the city really does never sleep. The things I can say about my hostel are good. The truth is, it is in the ghetto. We're in Harlem on 111th/112th and 1st Ave (Google Map it), and it is dodgy. There are guys hanging around at all hours and blasting music. But on the other hand, there hasn't been any trouble. Every night I walk past these guys to my room and no one has ever said anything. I walk 4 blocks to the Subway every day and no one has ever said anything to me, even though I'm obviously foreign. The guys at the hostel say people as pale as me don't live in New York/Harlem. And I noticed that all the white people get off at 96th Street on the Subway. Someone here said to me that the majority of white New Yorkers just will not come here, plain and simple. In lots of ways I find that sad.
I think I've left a little mark here though. I was told I was the 'favourite customer'. And I know I know, they'll say it to everyone but still, made me smile. Plus, I gave Talib 5 British tea bags after he tried some real tea and liked it.
It's 7.18 now and I'm leaving in half an hour. I skyped Vicki earlier and it was awesome, miss that girl so freaking much; she's a star! I've spoken to Mum a lot to day which I love. I've really missed home today. I wish I could have a cuddle with Mum right now, but it's okay. I can see me being extra clingy when I get home though! (So watch out Mum!) I'm going to go have a quick freshen up now, and eat the last of my salad before I get a cab to the bus depot for around 23 hours of travelling all in all. I'll update when I can, love to you all!
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