It's been exactly a year since my trip to the States. One year ago, I boarded a plane, taking me on an 18 hour flight into San Francisco International Airport. It would be my first visit Stateside in 13 years. My first trip to America took place when I was 13. We flew into LAX back then before flying to St Louis for my sister's graduation. That trip was sponsored by my father. Last year, I used my own hard earned money to make that trip.
I managed to fulfill a long held dream in the 14 days I was there. One of my biggest hopes was to be able to see the Big Apple. I was enamoured by New York City. Watching the movies and tv shows and reading the books, NYC was a city girl's dream come true. I longed to walk the pavements of Manhattan, take a stroll in Central Park, hit up Broadway and spend hours gazing at a Van Gogh original. I did ALL that and more. The thing I came to realize though, was that, I had a more romanticized notion of New York. I still get thrills when I'm watching the opening sequence of CSI: NY or when I see Blair and Serena gossing on the steps of The Met, thinking, "I'VE BEEN THERE!!" but the reality of my visit was that it did not live up to the hype I had bought into. I know, I know, it's sacrilegous to say something of that magnitude about a city that most people deem the greatest city in the world. I somehow felt disconnected from the city, the things I thought would awe had waaay less impact than expected. I don't know why after years of yearning that I would feel the way I did. However, I don't rule out another visit. Perhaps it will result in a change of opinion and I can view the real New York through the same rose-tinted glasses I view them from when I'm away from it.
Our first stop on the US tour de force (an exaggeration since we only hit 3 main cities) was San Francisco. My recollections of the great city by the bay is Full House, Monk, that tv series starring Don Johnson and Mythbusters. I didn't have any expectations when we exited SFO. The only thing I could comprehend was it was bitingly cold for summer. And yes, although I had heard about the cold summers of San Francisco, it still has to be experienced to be believed. San Francisco is a city that I would love to live in. I think I could sufficiently survive here. I know the cost of living in SF is higher than any other city in the US but this is a city that I can see myself living. I always thought of NYC being that place but after my visit, SF has usurped that privilege.
Perhaps the surprise for me was how much I enjoyed Atlantic City. I feel that AC became the turning point for our trip as when we were there we let go of all the travelling stress caused by the multiple logistics issues we had faced and just truly enjoyed ourselves to the fullest. If there was another opportunity to visit the Boardwalk again, I'd definitely go, no question :)
My visa to the US is still valid for a number of years still. If I'm lucky enough and God willing, perhaps there'll be another US sojourn in the future for moi :)
I managed to fulfill a long held dream in the 14 days I was there. One of my biggest hopes was to be able to see the Big Apple. I was enamoured by New York City. Watching the movies and tv shows and reading the books, NYC was a city girl's dream come true. I longed to walk the pavements of Manhattan, take a stroll in Central Park, hit up Broadway and spend hours gazing at a Van Gogh original. I did ALL that and more. The thing I came to realize though, was that, I had a more romanticized notion of New York. I still get thrills when I'm watching the opening sequence of CSI: NY or when I see Blair and Serena gossing on the steps of The Met, thinking, "I'VE BEEN THERE!!" but the reality of my visit was that it did not live up to the hype I had bought into. I know, I know, it's sacrilegous to say something of that magnitude about a city that most people deem the greatest city in the world. I somehow felt disconnected from the city, the things I thought would awe had waaay less impact than expected. I don't know why after years of yearning that I would feel the way I did. However, I don't rule out another visit. Perhaps it will result in a change of opinion and I can view the real New York through the same rose-tinted glasses I view them from when I'm away from it.
Our first stop on the US tour de force (an exaggeration since we only hit 3 main cities) was San Francisco. My recollections of the great city by the bay is Full House, Monk, that tv series starring Don Johnson and Mythbusters. I didn't have any expectations when we exited SFO. The only thing I could comprehend was it was bitingly cold for summer. And yes, although I had heard about the cold summers of San Francisco, it still has to be experienced to be believed. San Francisco is a city that I would love to live in. I think I could sufficiently survive here. I know the cost of living in SF is higher than any other city in the US but this is a city that I can see myself living. I always thought of NYC being that place but after my visit, SF has usurped that privilege.
Perhaps the surprise for me was how much I enjoyed Atlantic City. I feel that AC became the turning point for our trip as when we were there we let go of all the travelling stress caused by the multiple logistics issues we had faced and just truly enjoyed ourselves to the fullest. If there was another opportunity to visit the Boardwalk again, I'd definitely go, no question :)
My visa to the US is still valid for a number of years still. If I'm lucky enough and God willing, perhaps there'll be another US sojourn in the future for moi :)
