09/14/09- I found TARGET!!

You know how when you are far from home, seeing familiar things makes the distance shrink? I had one of those moments today... Ini took me to Target! It was amazing! Even though the lay-out was slightly tweaked from what I was used to in Holland, it was a familiar place. I recognized brands and products and there was so much of everything, I was in awe. After several days of shopping in local bodegas and pharmacies to see entire aisles dedicated to shampoo and body wash and feminine products was indescribable. I wanted to just wander in circles for the whole day and had I come alone, I probably would have. However, I had brought Ini with me as my official cart-pusher in the store and bag-carrier upon leaving and I felt the urge to show him how efficient I could be in my comsumeristic pursuits.
I had several things to get to make my room feel a little more functional, things like hangers, laundry soap, normal sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner (I had been using travel-sized bottles of Garnier I bought at Duane Reade), power strips (my room has exactly one outlet), I just needed normal things. After only $90 and 7 bags of junk (I so didnt stick exactly to my list) We headed back to the train for the 70 block ride home. I say train, and not subway because we definitely walked up like 45 rickety wooden steps to a platform in the sky to catch the train. I so would have just paid for the convenience of a cab had I been alone!
As is always my luck, I picked the day that my buildings elevator was under construction as the day to go do major shopping, and it's HOT here. Like sticky, no moving air kind of hot... uck, not fun with plastic bags clinging to me... ok not me, him. I carried one measly little bag :) Once all my stuff was dumped in my room, I headed off to get some lunch as this great little middle-eastern place a block down from me called Tabouli. Yeah, I know what all you at home are thinking, 'Regan? Middle Eastern food? Do I have the right blog???' Trust me, you are in the right place. I decided to expand my horizons when I moved here. If I can eat in Michigan, or any other town in the US, I dont want to eat it here. That being said, I began exploring and I discovered chicken shawarmeh... mmmmm... grilled and seasoned chicken in a bed of lettuce with any other veggies you want topped with yogurt and hot sauces and then stuffed and rolled up into a hot fresh pita. Amazing! Beats subway any day (sorry Subway). And it's huge and reasonably priced. for $5 I get the sandwich, a can of soda and a side of rice, not bad for my one major meal a day.
*editors note to Mom and any other concerned parties: No, I am not starving. I just am trying to spend wisely. I keep snacks in my room like crackers and almonds and fruit so I eat more than once daily, I just try to stick to one bigger, store-bought meal a day. That's all. No need to send money or cookies :)*
After lunch, I headed back to my apartment to get situated. I was just stepping into the building when Ini called to let me know his plans had changed and he was now free the rest of the day, and had wanted to give me first dibs on his time. I took off towards his apartment and we hopped a bus, destination unknown.
One thing I have found I love most about this city is the parks. In a world full of concrete and metal, there are these little green, breezy oases, that for even a few moments conceal you from the hub and bub of the city and let you believe you are truly in some small quaint Anytown, USA. I find such peace in these places and love accidentally discovering more little green spots when I go out exploring. With all this in mind, can you guess where he took me? Canya?
If you said Central Park you're right! Sadly, you dont get a prize, just a small sense of personal satisfaction in knowing you are a smart little cookie, and as everyone knows that sooo beats cash or a new car! When we got to the edge of the park, I stood up to get off the bus, wrong answer Regan. We had not yet reached the part he wanted me to see so I had to sit down and be patient (not easy where there is a 70-block long stretch of green staring you in the face). We finally got off about 2 blocks from the northernmost point of the park and as soon as we walked in were faced with the North Pond. Amazing... a pond in the middle of New York, how can anyone not be thrilled?! We walked around the pond til we found a shaded bench where I could just sit and soak it all in. I saw fishies and ducks and tons of dogs and it was all so calm and peaceful. We sat there just absorbing the scenery til the sun started to set then began the long trek back home.
I should point out here that I totally broke my previously mentioned rules and ate Wendy's for dinner with Ini. I not only ate fast food, but at a national chain and for my second meal of the day, tsk tsk.
As my final point, there are moments when I look around that I truly cannot believe I live in this big, congested, over-crowded, incredible, fascinating city. Then I have days like today where it seems smaller, sweeter and feels like home. God is constantly reaffirming me in my decision to chance it and come out here. I am blessed and I am at peace for the first time in a long time. How can anyone not stand in abandon and shout how good the Lord is? I rejoice in the knowledge that my God is bigger than this city, bigger than the moments of loneliness and homesickness I fight. I rest in His strength and in His promise to have plans for my life. God truly is good!!