"Upon Arrival"

There she is! I finally arrived in New York! Well ... parts of me did. My suitcase is still somewhere on its way between continental Europe, Bangladesh, the Fuji Islands and the JFK airport ... Or - hopefully but rather unlikely - on its way from the airport to my dorm, transported by an incredibly well organized delivery company.
That was what Anne just said to me on the phone. Anne is working for the customer service in the British Airways lost-and-found department. Anne is really friendly when she finally gets to talk to me, after I spent like ages listening to relaxing yoga-music waiting for a free slot. That's what I do since Monday morning. Talking to Anne became kind of a ritual since my arrival. I always enjoy listening to her fruitful advices. I do especially like the part in the end of our little early morning conversations, when she goes 'Sorry, I really can't tell you when your case is going to be delivered. But I am sure they do their best and it is going to be delivered soon. Is there anything else I can do for you?" Well, let's see - I need to get my nails done and there is this review that still needs to be written ... I mean, isn't it enough that you have to run after your lost luggage? But it is very kind of Anne to ask me whether there is anything else she could do for me. Very kind. You see, I am practicing the fine art of patience since Sunday afternoon.

Apart from that little but crucial inconvenience (my internet cable was in there, I finally decided to buy a new one today), living in Manhattan is great! I already took many nice photos I am unable to show you because of course my camera cable is still inside the suitcase, too, I honestly hope people in Bombay have fun with it.

I spent the last couple of days walking around town, getting used to the new things to love (all those people, and those wonderful fire-steps outside those huge buildings) and hate (air-conditioning) in The City. I almost got talked into a game of chess at Washington Square Park and I had my very first starbucks coffee on Broadway and felt very American ordering it. I also finished to read Bill Bryson's "Notes from a Big Country" to find out that he is right about almost everything. I especially appreciated the customer service hotline chapter ... I also spent a lot of time walking down random streets, I walked to the Empire State and went to the Hudson River peers at night and enjoyed the beauty of the screaming citylights - already feeling a little bit at home ... Gotham City rocks!