Well, first week in NYC was up and down. I absolutely hated it here at first, but then after a really nice weekend, my perspective has somewhat changed.

It probably didn't help that I came with the assumption that I wasn't going to like it at all. Every time I have been to NYC before I didn't really like it. After all, it is a big noisy, smelly, dirty, crowded city, not exactly nice to live in. And the first week of work didn't do anything except prove my fears.

It started with my apartment not being clean when I moved in. It was clean on the surface, but as soon as you looked in the corners, or touched the blinds or looked behind the couch, it was quite filthy. So I had maids come in on the weekend and it took 2 of them over 4 hours to clean the place! Crazy. At least it's clean now. Funny thing when I wrote the leasing company an email to complain about it, they replied back "Welcome to New York City... etc". Nice.

Luckily my apartment is only 2 blocks from an express subway station. So going to work in the morning is only one express subway for 5 stops. The bad thing is it's absolutely packed with people during rush hour. My first week I didn't know any better and times I was taking it were the worst and it was packed, standing room only. So that added to my disgust of the city. But now my second week I have learned that if I come in earlier and leave later, then it's not so bad. I have actually gotten a seat most days this week, so that makes a huge difference because then I can read my book for the 20 minutes it takes, and makes it much more bearable.

One of the nice things about NYC is that eveything you could want is really close by. Especially all the first world services, which is really great after 2 years in europe. Early Saturday morning I went to get my hair cut and it was almost right across the block from my apartment. Open early, they used clippers, not cheap though, but still so easy. Nothing like my last one in France a while ago which was an absolute nightmare.

So, any ways, on Saturday after the hair cut, I was able to do a bunch of sightseeing and it totaly made me feel better. There is so much to see and do in this city it's quite amazing. I guess I knew that, but every other time I have been to NYC I have been too busy partying and running around doing other things that I have never had a chance to just see the city at a relaxed pace. So, on Saturday, I walked all the way from my apartment on 58th street down to Battery Park via Grand Central Station, Union Square, Tribeca, Downtown. Saw the World Trade Center site, and it was actually was quite moving. Had lunch at some renovated pier (17 I think). And then walked back to my apartment via China Town, Greenwitch, Chelsea, Times Square, Theatre District. It took pretty all day from 11am to 6pm, but it was well worth it. It completely changed my perspective of New York City, and am now not so disgusted by it, and actually looking forward to spending a few more weekends here seeing all there is to see. Of course I still would not want to ever live here, well for an extended period any ways, I guess I am living here now for 2 months!

Another great convienience, I forgot my UK to NA power plug converter thing in Vancouver, and I was able to go out at like 8pm on a Saturday night to the Radio Shack only 2 blocks away and buy a new one. You would never be able to do that pretty much anywhere else in the world, except probably some asian cities. It is very nice to have that kinda convienience at your fingertips.

So after getting the power converter and recharging my UK phone, I was able to get a hold of my friend Scott from university in Calgary. Also, with his help, I was able to figure out the number of the phone in my apartment. I had asked the damn landlord (I am starting to really dislike him), but he never returned my call, after a week!

Would have been nice to do something with Scott, but by this time I was too tired from sightseeing all day. Also, I had the maids coming in the morning at 9am. And knowing myself, if I went out to a bar/club, the next thing it would be morning and I would have a hangover. Would not been fun. So I decided just to stay in and I think I was in bed before 11pm. Crazy!! A few years ago if I was in NYC on a Saturday night, I would never have stayed in! Must be getting old! Oh well, I think it was better this way any ways, because if I went out and didn't have fun it would have further tainted my view of NYC.

So on Sunday, the maids came and I went walking about for about 2 hours. Then came back and was another 2 hours before they were done. And even after they were finished it wasn't like it was spottless clean or anything, it was just better than before. I think people in NY are just so used to things being so dirty all the time that they have a different standard of what "clean" is... oh well.

Didn't do much of anything else on Sunday. Walked around for a bit more in my neighbourhood. Went grocery shopping for a bunch of stuff so I don't have to eat out so much. Nice that the supermarket is only about 4 blocks away and they deliver for only $4, so didn't have to lug all the heavy stuff.

And that was about it. All in all the first 4 days I was completely misserable here, but now after the weekend and a good second week of work as well, I quite looking forward to the next 2 months here in NYC. Now if only the bars/clubs are better than all the other times I have been here... not hoping for too much there though. They all seem to be pretty dismill, being either all full of muscle boys or other annoying things. Of course I think there could be a lot of other places off the beaten path that I hope to check out that may be better?.., We'll see.