New York

hey

how is everything going?

i spent the first day in the plane. it was very odd. the plane from melb to la was only half full so i had two seats to myself. the plane searved lunch at about 130 aust time and then turned the lights out and gave us breakfast about 2hrs out from la. i managed about 3 hrs on and off. the transfer from the melb-la to the la-ny plane was very rushed and lots of us missed the first boarding call but the plane left on time. the plane from la-ny was very empty i got 4 seats all to myself so i was able to lie down it was so empty that everyone had 4 seats so everyone was asleep. so all together i got about 5hrs in just over 24.

when i got here on of the ladies on the plane who i was talking to had her luggage lost - she was from brisbane and had been rushed with the transfer at la too. luckly i had no problems.

the train worked well and i made it here with no fuss. it would be scary if you were staying in brooklyn!! sorry i didn't call last night but the internet at the hostel isnt working and the internet cafe where i am now wasn't open. ny ariport was bare - there was nothing there, no shops or anything so i was not able to find a sim card i am still looking. the room i am staying in is very small and the mattress is covered in thick plastic so it is very noisy when you move. also there is heating in pipes (maybe 5 cm wide) that run from the floor to the ceiling and the one in my room hisses. i didnt realise that the pipes were heated until this morning when i burnt myself on one in the bathroom - it really hurt! apart from that i was soo tired that i slept pretty well.

it was dark when i got here at 630 last night. it is currently 145 pm here. the area here is weird. it is a residential area with 5 milk bars withing a 2 block radius but nothing bigger. i had noodles for dinner last night. i also bought coke. it comes in 597mls or 1 litre but atleast it is cheap. 98% of the ppl in this area aren't 'white' and some dont speak english all the time. i have trouble understanding some of the ppl here and was able to understand the guy in the chinese shop the best!

it is not as cold as i expected it to be. it is probable between 10 and 15 degrees c but everywhere inside is really hot. i have been wearing a jumper outside and a tshirt inside.

the money here is very confusing - it is all the some colour. it is hard to distinguish between $1 and $20 without pulling it out and reading the numbers on it - but you have to show the whole world how much money you have. just about all of the money is green notes. i have some coins now but they are all 25c. it is about the size of a 10c piece but very light.

anyway i dont know how much longer i have so i had better go before i get cut off.

please write back
sarah