An Evening at JFK

I find it quite amusing. I haven’t been blogging much for a while, and here I am, writing my third post for the day (although, since this airport doesn’t have free wireless, it won’t be up on RFS until tomorrow). In my loneliness, I find writing soothing. It’s a way to get my emotions out, without having to resort to Facebook or Skype or MSN. It feels more human to do it this way, almost as if I’m writing in a diary – without the diary and the physical writing parts of course. As my friend Christina said, upon her return from Scotland, it feels as if my real life is actually the one taking place on social networks. My physical life in NYC, seems very distant and disconnected from what’s actually going on.

That being said, today was quite a good day. Apart from having barely slept last night, because I’m still a bit afraid to sleep with the lights out in my new apartment (reminds me of that song from Taare Zameen Par – main kabhii batlaataa nahiin. Par andheron se dartaa huun main maa.) and I can’t actually sleep with the lights on. Finally, at around 3am, exhausted but still fully awake, I got out of bed and turned them off. I was asleep within 5 minutes.

And then my alarm rang at 830am and - as is usually the case – I switched it off and dozed for a short while. After I finally got out of bed, I made myself my much-needed cup of tea (more like cups of tea this morning) and dashed off to the International Students’ office to make sure all my visa stuff was in order so I could fly back to Canada for the weekend. My grandmother passed away (inna lilaahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun) yesterday, so I’m flying back for the funeral ceremonies (hence the reference to the airport above). Anyway, I walked the forty blocks there and back (and experienced my first taste of the New Yorker accent along the way – as those of you who have read my earlier post will recollect) and then went home for lunch. After left-over Bangkok fried rice (so yummy!) and Rice Krispies (I had to finish my milk before I left and I didn’t want to drink it straight), I headed out again to the Staples another 20 blocks away. I hadn’t really explored the Staples end of my part of town, and so I was excited to get out and walk the 20 blocks.

So I turned on my iPod. Set it to my Coke Studio and Pakistani Rock playlist that I’ve been listening to constantly for the past few weeks (Noori. Oh,Em,Jee! And Kinara uff!!), put on my Ray Bans and, dressed for the occasion in my West-Coast Kits Beach clothing (Lululemon and Karma plus a t-shirt from my Alma Mater), I set off for the Staples. My attempt to explore wasn’t that fruitful actually – I was more interested in my music. Sigh. Good music will do that to you. I’m sure I got some pretty odd stares as I walked along, smiling at the brilliance of it all and probably (although I’m not sure) bobbing my head along to the music. And maybe singing. I dunno. I don’t remember.

Anyway, I got to the Staples and was happy because they had a massive sale! As a student without a source of income and flabbergasted by the amount tuition costs (although – one year for my Masters is less than a year as an undergrad at Harvard and my tuition will drop $10,000 per semester after this year), I love sales. *Massive Smile*

I got all my school supplies for the year (apart from 3 notebooks I’ll need next term and possibly binders) for 30 bucks – not including the mail-in rebates that will give me back around $10. Yay! (I feel like such a cheapo.)

Diversion RE: I feel like such a cheapo

I’m dressed quite well right now. In my nice jeans, nice flats – the purple Aldo ones I love, this white blazer-type jacket, a polo shirt and a vest. And I’m drinking Starbucks – even though their coffee sucks (but I don’t want to risk having worse coffee in this airplane lounge, so Starbucks it is). Anyway, so it feels weird talking – well writing – about being a cheapo when I don’t look like or feel like a cheapo. Oh – and I better explain why I’m dressed well too. So I’m taking my small suitcase instead of the carry-on so that I can bring my nice jacket from home that I had to leave behind because it wouldn’t fit in the suitcases I brought with me last week. I thought about wearing sweats, but that would mean putting my jacket and the other clothes I’m wearing in my suitcase, and that would give me less space to bring stuff from home.

Anyway, back to my story.

So yes, I bought my school supplies and thought of taking the subway back home. But then I went – hey, it’s a nice day. You need some exercise. It’s only 20 blocks and these bags aren’t that heavy are they? So I decided to walk. And it was decidedly harder than the walk to the Staples. Apart from the fact that part of the walk was uphill, the bags started really weighing down on me after about 10 blocks. By the time I got home, I was so tired (remember – I barely slept last night [you should see the bags underneath my eyes – Nabz during exam season would be proud]). But then I had to pack. So I couldn’t really relax and take a nap.

Next story.

I’m sitting at JFK, waiting for my flight. When my Pakistani cab driver (who apparently used to own an ice-cream factory with 287 employees and then lost it all after 9/11 because ‘something happened’, and who has 5 kids, all of whom are in Pakistan and either doctors or surgeons or heads of operations at some company – and then you wonder why he’s driving a taxi and wearing tattered clothes?) told me there were 9 terminals here, I was astounded and got really excited about being at the crossroads of humanity (clichéd…I know…don’t shake your head at me) and seeing people from all over the world inside. One thing I remember so well is the first (and really the only time) I spent some time at Heathrow (on my way to Kenya). It was so cool because there were all these people from different parts of this world. I remember this Shi’a mullah quite distinctly – I found him fascinating. I need to go to the East. I really do. *lament*

Anyway. But I feel like I’m sitting in Vancouver – without the pretty airport. This place is packed with Chinese people (although that’s probably because the flight I’m on is heading to Hong Kong and is just stopping over in Vancouver). Dammit. My phone rang and I lost my train of thought.

Maybe it’s a sign. I’m nearing the end of two pages on Word (like I said, I don’t have internet access here) and should probably wrap up. I know this post was random. But I felt like writing, so bear with it.

I’m excited to go home. Even though it’s for a sad occasion. I’ll get to meet my bff after 9 months and a bunch of other people I haven’t seen for quite some time. 1.5 hours until the flight departs. Sigh. I’m going to start Gandhi’s autobiography – given that I’m taking a course on his political views.
I love MEALAC

I love school

Wow. I’m such a nerd. :D

PS – I still haven’t gotten around to finding out how to meet Rushdie. Note to self – do it ASAP.