First Post from the US of A!

Hai Gaiz!

I have finally arrived in....

'Merica!

Teary goodbye was had..

After a rather teary goodbye from Ally and 14 hours of sitting down, I managed to get to New York. For the first time in a long time, I felt quite nervous to be in a new country. Went through a series of somewhat tricky questions at the border, had to remember not to use the word 'work' which, apparently is a no-no when I'm not on a work visa.

I don't know if it was just that I had just arrived in an unfamiliar country or that I've seen one too many Hollywood movies but I was very nervous and scared. Even the first "taxi" ride felt sketchy as this Korean man took me into his unmarked van. Probably didn't help that I had fair bit of cash in my bag. 

Anyways, I arrive at my new home to my new flatties..sorry roomies (and negroni). 

Roomies!  

Welcome home Negroni

This welcome/Saturday party continued past 6 am. I found some photos on my phone that I don't remember taking or being taken.

JOOOSE!!!!

A good night was had. 

My new home is in Bushwick (I think), Brooklyn. Not too far from hipster central that is Williamsburg. A nice wee 2 bedroom apartment by the train track.  Here are some photos of places around my apartment. 

Because every room needs fairy lights

View from the rooftop towards Manhattan

View from the rooftop the other way

Today I managed to get a bank account and a prepay SIM card for my phone. Setting up the bank account was relatively simple but it did make me appreciate the NZ banking system A LOT. There were so many fees associated with simple things, like if I want to transfer money to a different bank or if I want to transfer among my accounts more than 3 times a month, or if I don't deposit at least $250 in a month.....Pretty sure all I had to do in NZ was to cancel paper statements and it was free.

I had a Kitchen Server meeting today to attend so headed out to Manhattan. I was starving so went to the famous Shake Shack in the Madison Square Garden by my new work place (!!!).

Single Smoke Shack, half & half (lemonade & iced tea)

When I first got the burger and by just looking at it I wasn't so sure why it was so popular and people lined up ages for it (I lined up for maybe 20 minutes). Someone once famously said, don't just the burger by its ugly looks. The first bite maybe understand. It was so delicious! Possibly the most flavoursome and satisfying burger I've ever had (so far).

Something I found funny and little disturbing at the same time here is that most food joints have calorie information on the menu. Not sure if this is enforced by law but it does make you think twice before you answer the 'would you like fries with that?' question.

Part of the menu. Makes you think twice before ordering cheese fries.

I still had some time left so I went to Eatlay just down the road from my new work place (!!!). I had been there in my previous visits but every time I walked in there I was certain that I walked into heaven on earth. 

  

Basically a supermarket, restaurant, cafe thing where you can find anything and everything Italian. So many interesting fresh produce I had never heard or seen in NZ! Fresh black & white truffles, Osetra caviar, weird potatoes, chillies, cheeses......

2:15 pm. Now it was time to face the reality. 

We meet again...

Super nervous walking in, especially because people often tell me that I have snobby first impression. 

I was also little worried that they would be 3-star restaurant-working-snobbish-jerk-faces but everyone was so welcoming and awesome! 

That is everything to report so far. I officially start tomorrow so I'm sure I'll have heaps to report again next week! 

Wish me luck everyone!!!