2 People Birthday Party in NYC

                 - Morning, Alex! Are you still up for meeting today?

                 - Sure I am! Columbus Circle under the globe at 2, right?

             It’s hard to explain how much I valued the fact of meeting Alex. Here I have to clarify something. I’ve never met her in person before. That’s definitely something I would never expect form myself – meeting a friend online through another online fiend.

             The thing is, a couple of years ago, there was Ringo Starr concert in Moscow which obviously became an absolute must-see for me. And, as all dreams become true, I got the tickets to the concert as my birthday present! The performance went amazing, and, as I knew, the All Starr Band’s tour was continued in St. Petersburg, I found a girl who went on that show and asked how it went.

            It turned out that we have a lot of similar interests, and we started regularly writing long letters to each other. At one point, she found out about my plans on coming to the US to study. ‘My best friend is a student in New York, you guys should so totally talk to each other!’ – she told me.

             Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? However, Alex and I started Skyping and writing letters to each other. By some chance, we also had very similar views and interests and, more than that, a bonding fact of being a Russian student in the United States. Even though, we’ve kept in touch the entire time, we never got a chance to see each other as Oklahoma and New York aren’t the closest states.

             But, time has been passing and my life has been changing a lot, so today, after 2 years of online friendship I finally met Alex.

             - This is for you! – she said giving me a little bag. I know you’re a sweet-tooth just like I am, so I’m sure you’ll like it a lot! 

             As we didn’t have a certain plan, we just started going to place that looked like fun.

             I was pretty amazed that little ice-cream shop gave me a free frozen yogurt just because it was my birthday! It’s just so cool to be a birthday girl in NYC!

     

        'Toys R US' was one of the cool stops we made. It’s probably one of the greatest stores ever! I couldn’t believe my eyes seeing the carousel inside.  And being typical internationals, we got pretty excited about the dancing video game. We had to stop when we spent all of our coins though. Being in this store I felt like I was in Neverland, where childhood lasts forever. Nevertheless, I think it is person’s choice to keep the child in his/her heart or not.

           

      Later that day we walked down Broadway and I saw IT! Times Square at night – the view the visitor usually has when he/she is coming to the city. Commercials, movie trailers, cool interactive screens – all of this lightened up the entire square making it bright as it could be during a day. The skyscrapers looked so tall (obviously they are), people were all over the place and, for the first time in my life, I felt so small! I felt like I was just a little drop in the ocean. However, I didn’t get scared by this view. It gave a challenge to be on the top of the wave in this ocean.

                   -  Linda! Wake up! Haha, you got fascinated by the view, didn’t you? The more you’ll stay here, the more ordinary it will look to you.

                  -  No way! How can you get used to this? I mean, it’s like pure MAGIC out here!

             As Alex lived pretty far away from the city, I invited her over to my place. And, as we’re adventurous and pretty brave Russians, we decided to walk at least half way to my apartment which was, as you remember, in the very top of Harlem. Walking along Central Park we were talking about everything and nothing at the same time. All of this and even more was discussed during that walk - dreams, problems of the past and present, life views, thoughts about NYC, and even some girly talks about boys

            - Oh, no! I’m not interested in all of this right now at all. I mean, my family and friends keep bothering and asking me about that, but I’m just interested in career and studying right now, they’re definitely my priorities at this moment, - I said. (Just a little note, but don’t ever say ‘never’, as I bet your views or situation is going to change right away).

             Finally we got to my apartment. We had

some hot tea with the amazing cake Alex got me and planned out our next day which we were going to spend at Columbia University Campus.

            -  Good night, Alex. I’m so glad I met you!

            - Good night, Linda. I know! Me too! Oh, and Happy Birthday again.

The Offer You Can't Deny

              Whenever I got home I called my mom. I'm just very happy that I have this kind of relationship and communication with my mom. She's more than just a parent to me, she's my friend who I trust 100%.
              - Hi, - somehow my voice wasn't that stable anymore. I'm sorry, I think I kind of suck. I thought I could do anything, and it's been just week, and I feel like I failed, I'm afraid that I'll give up... I mean, I promise, I'll find a way. We've always found one. What? Mom! I know.... Okay.... Thanks.
              Through our conversation. the person, who I'm grateful for who I am now, gave me probably the greatest advice I could get at this point. She told me to stop thinking about money, which she let me to borrow from her, and to understand that this kind of mood does not suit the city or me. 'Everything you get, everybody you meet is your own reflection, so if you're sad, concentrated on money and hopeless, you probably won't find things you should find.'
              Even though, usually I'm the person who makes most of the decisions in my life pretty independently, this time my mom, which happened in my kindergarten for the last time I think, told me what to do. 'Use this week exploring the city, finding new awesome places, meeting interesting and friendl
y people and just enjoying your time. Oh, and get a new pair of jeans!'
              Do I need to say that I was totally ok with such an order?
              The next day I got to the ATM and got some money which honestly already made me happy (that makes me sound like a total dependent on materialistic world). The first thing to get in NYC for some touristic exploring? 1-week Unlimited Metro Card!
              The night before I created the top list of places I wanted to visit in NYC.
              Central Park was #1 in this list.
              So wearing typical Central Park uniform - tank top, shorts and headphones, I went on my real New York City run. Running on the path and observing all the gorgeous views of the nature including blooming flowers, shadowy trees and singing birds, I could not believe I'm in the heart of Manhattan until I looked up and saw the tops of skyscrapers.
              The sun was warming up not only the city, but all of us - joggers, bikers, skaters. It was getting hotter and hotter every minute, so I decided that such a great morning start for my NYC experience should be continued with a cup of coffee and a book. Maybe for you, my dear reader, it doesn't mean anything special, but for me this was a moment of true happiness which later became my normal mood in the city of dreams. Sitting on the grass in the tree's shadow with a great book by my favorite author in my hands with a cup of amazing strong dark roast, I though to myself: 'what else is happiness, if not this?'

                As I was pretty close to Strawberry Fields, I definitely went there to see the place I've listened the song about hundreds of times. Just a few meters from it, I saw the peace sign with flowers covering it and a few pictures of John Lennon in the center. I couldn't believe that I actually have this opportunity , this honor to be here. Right around the corner I saw the building where John Lennon was killed. Being the Beatles fan since I was 12 these places were some kind of sacred territory where I was allowed to go which was very important and valuable to me.
              Just following random paths and enjoying the weather I saw a statue. 'I definitely saw it before,' - I thought. And in a few seconds realizing what it is, I actually said out loud, which I have to admit was very unexpected and out of nowhere to other people: "Balto!" It was one of my favorite movies when I was little, and here it is, the monument I've seen in movies so many times. It felt like I was inside the movie! I was about 4 or 5 when I was watching it. This made me to realize that tomorrow is my birthday. Would I ever believe if somebody 15 or even 5 years ago told me that my 19th birthday I'll be celebrating in the city that never sleeps, the city where your dreams become true, the city that gives or breaks hopes?