Aqua-Bro

Mom and I went for a walk by the Bronx River recently. She wanted to see some of the local places I like to photograph, before I go, so I showed her a couple of places that are easy for her to get to without having to drive.

While we were there, we met some geese, who were enjoying the nature walk with their little one. Some were skittish, but the majority seemed used to humans, and we’re quite friendly. This guy was really friendly.

He came right up to us, while my mom took a few pictures of the river. His head came up to my hip, when he stood up straight. He also didn’t mind being petted, though he seemed a little disappointed that I didn’t have any food on me. We spent a few minutes standing together, in a row and gazing at the river, before he walked calmly into the water for a swim.

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Without Looking Back

Today is my last day. I can’t believe it.

Thanks, Ella

There is a statue of Ella Fitzgerald outside the train station I take to work. Since tomorrow is my last day, I don’t think I’ll be able to hang out with Ella so much anymore.

The Ole’ College Try

So, today I put in an application for a job overseas…

After a lot of thinking, and a lot of stress, I finished my introductory essay, updated and polished my resume, and sent in the application. I hope to get a call back soon.

From what I’ve read, if they like what they’ve read, I will get a phone call. Then, a Skype interview. Then, a real interview. Then, maybe a second interview  (day after the first) and a job offer.

After that, I get my things together and start working on my visa, which takes between 2 and 6 months. Once my affairs are in order, I catch a plane and spend (at minimum) the next year in another country.

Harlem

I went back down to the city last weekend to meet some friends. Instead of taking the subway, which takes just over an hour, I splurged and took Metro North. Since I live close enough to the Bronx, I can buy a special City Ticket, and save almost half the cost of a regular ticket. These tickets are only available on the weekends, to people departing from stations that are located in one of New York’s five boroughs.

I rode from the very edge of the Bronx to Grand Central, with the trip taking about a half an hour. The train travels through the Bronx, Harlem, and part of Midtown Manhattan.

There is a bridge just before you reach Harlem 125th Street Station. I always loved looking out the window whenever we go across it.

To be honest, I don’t know all that much about Harlem, and have only been a handful of times. I know a lot of good music originated there, my favorite being jazz. Other than that, I am quite ignorant.

The Floating World of Ardsley

Ardsley train station is an odd one, seemingly floating in the middle of the Hudson River. The first time I saw it, I was reminded of a scene in Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し), where the main character rides a train on tracks that run through a river. There is one moment where the train passes a small station platform, surrounded by water, with a shadow of a young girl seemingly waiting for a train. I see that moment, whenever I pass by this station.

Of Stone

Last weekend I took a trip to the city just for the hell of it. I have an unlimited Metrocard this month, so I figured, why not? With it, I can take buses and the subway as much as I like, without having to worry about my budget.

Because of that, I decided I would try a little experiment. I would take public transportation to somewhere new, by randomly getting on a bus or train just to see where it went.

After a few hours of this, I ended up in the middle of Brooklyn. Outside the window was a cemetery called Greenwood Cemetery. It’s apparently kind of famous.

I thought again, why not?

The cemetery is known for being the final resting place of Civil War veterans, the afluent, and several historical figures. I was there to see what the earliest date I could find on a tombstone was. That and look at the statues.

They really went all out back in the day.

I walked around for a couple of hours before I got too tired to continue. In that time I met a few of the cemetery’s interesting still-living residents  and paid my respects to quite a few of its deceased ones.

When the sun began to go down, I headed back to the main entrance. I then took the R train back to Manhattan, treated myself to a filling dinner, and took Metronorth home.

All in all, it was a good experience, and I think I will be doing more impromptu sightseeing in the future. If you can, and have an interest in New York, I do suggest in investing in an unlimited Metrocard  (they have 1 day, 7 day, and 30 day versions ) as an alternative to expensive tours and the like.