EPTThis was meant to be written more than a week ago, before my departure on Saturday; however, after a good meal at Peter Luger, two bottles of wine, and a countless number of cups of rum and coke, it was simply impossible.
My last Friday at work was just like any last-days for anyone -- relaxing and laid back. I took about two hours off in the morning going across town, from 7th Ave. all the way to 1st Ave. to the UN plaza. The bus ride was technically my first bus experience in NYC, ironically happening on my very last day, and the bus was literally slower than walking. The bus would stop at every single red light, often missing greens due to traffic and/or jay-walking pedestrians. After submitting my report to my (J1) VISA company, I received a certificate in return, indicating that I have successfully completed a work term in the States -- another piece of paper to be stored in the basement forever.
When I returned back to work, it was already past twelve. My friend had brought me pastrami on rye from Katz, and I proceeded to eat my favourite deli sandwich in NY for one last time, in a long while at the very least. In the afternoon, I had my final evaluation with my supervisor, and it went extremely well as well. We shook hands, and he said he was sad that I was leaving work one month early to go to Japan, and promised that he would try to get me a job at Morgan Japan, but also told me to not hold my breath waiting. After rounds of handshaking, I packed all of my belongings and left the building to go to S&S with my friend. S&S is located in the middle of The Bronx, and it got 28 on Zagat and a perfect score on Yelp. I had had it once before in February and it was an unbelievable experience. After taking the One train for two hours, we returned home safely just before nine to catch my last meal at Peter Luger at 9:45. We gathered a lot of friends working in various companies in NY, and the bacon and steak were fabulous; and thus, I ended my NY dining experience, for a good while at least.
New York was a wonderful experience, it was scary at first, but I had grown accustomed to much of it, and began to love the city as I became part of it.
I grew accustomed to eagerly waiting for the train every morning...
Accustomed to sliding into a jam-packed train and standing near the closing doors...
Accustomed to the endless wave of tourists in every corner of Times Square walking aimlessly fancying at the neon billboards and taking pictures of literally everything...
Accustomed to squeezing through people to gain a few seconds...
Accustomed to working nine to eleven hours a day...
Accustomed to going to the gym four times a week...
Accustomed to dining out every weekend...
Accustomed to relying the subway and taxis for everything...
And accustomed to much more and I cannot even name.
I felt that I have changed quite a bit from before living in New York. I get angry more easily at incompetent people and I no longer fear to raise my opinion. I care less about what other people think -- in NY, people are usually too busy to mind other people's business. I see African Americans just like any other race, they are generally friendly even though they talk and walk differently.
![[image loading]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/ff/Cloverfield_%28Yahoo_trailer%29.jpg)
