Germany Doesn't Suck

My USA trip began at 5:12 on 24 June, when I left my building and caught a taxi to the train station, arriving at 5:20 (no traffic at that time of the day). Upon arrival, I realized that I had left my new cell phone and SIM card at home! Oh no!

What to do?

I had 11 minutes.

First, I thought about forgetting about it and buying a new one in the USA, but the remembered a few things. To begin with, I had bought the phone in Thailand so that I could use it in the USA (and, of course, Europe). Also, I had had a SIM card bought for me and sent over, and also given the number out to people I would need to contact once there. Also, once I landed at JFK, I needed the phone right away because of a lunch appointment.

So, I went back to the taxi rank and told a cabbie that I would pay him €20 to run me home and back in 10 minutes. He said that because it was so early and there was no traffic, it would be no problem. He did, I got the phone and was back at the station in 9 minutes – needless to say I caught the train.

It’s no secret that I love Singapore Airlines, and that’s who I was flying. As always, it was great. Very attentive staff, lots of movies to watch, excellent food and lots of tea/oj/water. No complaints.

However, the flight was bittersweet for me. This was the fourth long haul flight I had taken on Singapore Airlines and I knew it would be my last. Luckily for me, Singapore Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance and I was able to use frequent flier miles from other airlines on it. However, the frequent flier miles are now gone and so are my flights on that wonderful airline. I guess that one of the reasons that Singapore Airlines is so good is because of the high prices they charge – prices which are way out of my range no matter how far in advance I book. Singapore Airlines is in a class of it’s own and I highly doubt if I’ll every find another airline that good.

Upon arrival at JFK, I made my way up the gangway and have to admit that it was great setting foot in MY country again. For the last 12 years, I have lived in OTHER people’s country. Now I was in MINE! For the first time since 2003. MY country again.

Passport control at JFK was no problem. The guy swiped it, looked and then handed it back. He looked quite surprised when I asked for a stamp. I know that I didn’t need one, but I wanted one. He appeased me after I told him that I had never had one from the USA.

JFK is a quite easy airport to get around. I got my bag and then found my way to the monorail that leads to the main terminal and then to the train that takes one from the airport to the NY Subway, after finding out that my lunch appointment was canceled due to a work commitment on his end. One of the things that struck me as different than my current country of residency was how nice Americans are. The airport info person was extremely knowledgeable and helped me with a few question that didn’t fall under the category of airport – something that rarely happens in Germany. Additionally, there was an attendant at the monorail who not only told me how often the train comes, but also how to get to my destination in NYC as well as how often those trains run and also how much it costs.

On the AirTrain, I had hoped to hear English with a New York accent, but heard only Spanish being spoken. Fine with me, at least it wasn’t German. I had to change to the Subway at the Jamaica station and made my way underground.

The New York Subway is great. It’s frequent, not too expensive (but getting more expensive). Unfortunately, my lunch plans fell through, so I headed to Port Authority to find out about a bus to my next destination. I had to wait an hour and a half, but then boarded the bus to my next destination. While waiting, I exited the building to just sit outside for a bit and soak in a city that I love. Cabs going by, people rushing around, etc. I loved it.

I also noticed that the weather was blazing hot. I had changed out of my long pants and shirt at JFK and into short and a polo shirt at JFK, so I was prepared for it.

And quite frankly, it felt great.

Until I left, we hadn’t had much sun or warm weather in Germany, so I loved it.

One of the things that confused me a bit at first was having to speak English to service people. The person at CVS, the shop assistant at the newsstand, the server who gave me my chicken and broccoli stromboli, the bus station attendant, etc. They all spoke English to me. How strange!

I descended to the lower level by elevator due to my broken wrist, and then found my way to the subterranean gate and waited for my bus. While doing so, I struck up a conversation with the lady in front of me, who told me of her destination: the first stop in Pennsylvania. Knowing that that wasn’t anywhere near NYC, I asked her if many people do that, and was told that quite a few do because of how much cheaper it was to live there and take the 75 minute bus ride in each direction than live in NYC. That struck me as strange, but whatever works for them is fine with me.

After boarding the bus, the driver expertly guided his steed out of the traffic of NYC. Of course, that meant we were in New Jersey.

Admittedly, I haven’t spent much time in New Jersey and know very little about it. I had been to Atlantic City a couple times and Hoboken (which is not as bad nowadays as it’s reputation) once because a friend lived there, but that’s about it.

It appears that I wasn’t missing much.

All I saw from the window of the bus was parking lots and strip malls. A saving grace from the monotony was the bus. Granted, I intensely dislike bus travel, but this one was different than other buses I’ve been on.

It had free wifi.

Yes, FREE WIFI ON A BUS!!!!!!

Wooo hooo!

Go Ipod Touch!

Obviously it wasn’t Greyhound.

While traveling through NJ, I saw a street sign that confused me: Upgrade ahead.

Huh?

Upgrade ahead?

What on earth did that mean?

I saw it twice more before realizing that it mean that there was a steep hill ahead of us.

The rest of the trip was rather boring until we got closer to the PA border and the forest became thicker, the hills steeper, the strip malls less and the scenery better.

After a couple stops (it was an express bus), I finally made it to my stop – where I was met by family members. After exchanging cordialities and using the bathroom at a minuscule bus station, we piled into their car and headed to their place: The Middle of Nowhere.

But first, a stop.

It must be remembered that I had broken my wrist ten days before and had a cast from the lower part of my elbow to the middle of my hand. While I was generally fine, there was still some pain (the doctor had told me it would subside in two to three weeks). So, I needed to stop and get some kind of a painkiller for when that happened.

Rite Aid.

I knew what I could get over the counter in Germany, but had to see what I could find in the USA (I didn’t have time to pick up enough extra for the whole trip before I left). After being completely confused by the wide selection, I finally went to the pharmacist and showed her what I had and what they were for (pain and inflammation), and she recommended something to me however I would have to take to of them to make them as strong as the German ones I had.

From there, we sped off to The Middle of Nowhere.

My family in TMoN has a lovely house, but I don’t like where they live (and they know that).

Why?

Due to the fact that it is The Middle of Nowhere and there’s nothing to do there.

Absolutely nothing.

However, I do visit there when I go the USA because three of my family members live there.

Once there, the non-stopping conversation that started when the picked me up continued – and didn’t stop til I went to bed. While talking, of course, other things happened.

Like: My favorite meal was made.

Yum!

All in all, a very long day for me (I got up at 3:00 Germany time and went to bed at 22:00 USA time), but an excellent day.