Thank You and Goodnight - NYC last day

My last hours in New York and now I’ve got the feels! I really love this place and while I am excited to be going home, I feel as if I am leaving a different home as well. This morning how ever was very interesting. I woke up at 8 (very early for college kid times) and vomited for a solid 5 minutes. So sorry about how graphic that is, but vulnerability and honesty = key. It’s weird because I felt fine, except for the acid that had now burned through a few layers of my throat, and now a pounding headache. Sometimes bodies are just mysteries!!

After that little stint in the bathroom, I put myself together, brushed my teeth for about 45 minutes, chewed three packs of gum, and then drank a bottle of Listerine. It was an interesting start to the day BUT the rest of the day was for sure much better! When Izzy woke up (a few hours later), we got all ready and went out for a last hurrah! We walked down the same street we’ve walked down these past 4 days and over to Central Park. Ok, Central Park is freaking massive. I’ve been there now 4 times and every single time I go I don’t recognize anything at all. Also, ever since that tv show You came out on Netflix, and Peach was bashed over the head underneath one of the bridges in Central Park, it gets kinda eery walking underneath those and I lose track of that whole vibe of the park.

Also, shockingly enough, it was really freaking hot when we walked outside. Izzy and I got back home and we were s-w-e-a-t-i-n-g - EW! On our way back from the park, a woman who was coming out of her apartment let out a huge gasp and said, “Oh my gosh what is it summer here?! This is ridiculous!” For those of you wondering exactly how “freakishly hot” it was, it was approximately 61 degrees Fahrenheit aka Antarctica to Californians, so the fact that I was thriving in this weather made me feel pretty darn good about myself! After Central Park, Izzy and I grabbed some salads from Chop’t, which is one of my favorite salad places, ever. I have been craving it since the last time I was in New York (2016!!) Fulfilling a 3 year old craving feels pretty great. It was weird to be eating my last meal in New York (for now, you know). All of my stuff was packed up and I had to head out.

Ok, getting to the airport was a TREK! I know that I have used this word multiple times over the last few days, but I think that today’s journey could only be accurately described as a trek. Ok, it was hot, as I had mentioned, and then I was carrying a backpack full of crap that I didn’t need to bring but that I brought anyways because “Just in case” I was then also lugging around a suitcase that was about to burst at its seams. AND THEN, I was carrying my winter coat and well I think I sweat out my entire bodily content of water on just that 3 block walk. I made my way to the subway and during the entire 1 hour trip out to JFK, I was freaking out that I was going the wrong way. Thankfully I wasn’t going the wrong way, but apparently that’s not what my body had to worry about, instead, it decided to just randomly start vomiting, again. YAY! So, yes, I am now that girl that vomits in the subway and on the platform. I would like to apologize to whoever had to clean that up - I am so so sorry. I however felt fine, so I have no idea what even is going on. WebMD diagnoses are gladly accepted.

But hey, I made it to JFK and when I got to my terminal and gate, it was like a mini high school reunion. I think 5 or 6 people that I went to high school with were also on the flight with me, so I am now thinking about contacting Poly’s alumni association so they can pay for our plane tickets!

I am going to miss New York so so much, WOW! It has been such an incredible experience so far and I could not be more grateful for the ability to have gone. You know all those people that are like, “Let’s do this!” or “Let’s hang out!” or “OMG we should go camping together!” and then it never actually happens. Well, Izzy and I actually made it happen - friendship goals!! New York, I love you, plain and simple. You are a jumble of bizarreness, beauty, trash, gardens - you are a jungle. It means the world to me that you welcomed me into your city. Thank you for your warm weather and delicious Thai food. Thank you for the subway rides and long walks through the city. You have given me so many memories and some pretty hilarious stories to tell. I am definitely going to miss you but I will be back soon!

Here are my favorite memories in New York (in no particular order)

A man reciting the entire Bible on the subway

Eating Thai food for lunch AND dinner (Just missed out on breakfast :/)

Going to the Met

Avoiding Times Square at all costs

Walking 8+ miles a day

Watching the Bachelor with Izzy

Claudia and her roommates

Cesar and Claudia’s gourmet meal (that I still dream about!!)

Izzy and I staying up until 2 am doing God knows what

Catching up with old friends

Meeting new friends

Spontaneous photo shoots on the Hudson

Gorgeous views overlooking Manhattan

Adventuring around on the subway (and getting lost too much, but that sometimes leading to good places)

Trying new coffee and pastries (yay for gluten free!)

Knowing that I get to come back

I love you New York! Thanks for being this crazy, fun jungle but also being homey at the same time. Also, thank you to everyone that has kept up with this blog! I didn’t really plan on writing my trip out onto paper/into words, but it’s fun to look back on :)

Here’s to the next adventure!

Oh, and how could we forget? Izzy’s recap (gathered from the plane while flying over the Minnesota/Iowa border): "Uhhhhh. I miss you. Come back! Sorry I'm drunk and eating pizza I LOVE YOU!"