The rain starts to stop. The patter of rain has turned into silent drips. A car, from which hip-hop music sounds out, drives through the street. I crawl out of bed, walk to the window. What I see are many little puddles. In them, there are green, brown and some yellow leaves. I see a small boy, how he jumps through the puddles in his sneakers with a big smile. And how his mother pulls him with the words “Will you get out of there NOW!” A slight wind passes and causes me to get a shiver over my arms and back. While I close the window, I know: it is fall.

I informed myself on the internet and chose a provider, who was recommended to me because of the coverage. According to the provider’s ads, 97% of Americans have it. Wow. For me it should be a prepaid card plan. But which one? While I was clicking through the different plans, a pop up window appeared. “A sales representative is ready to help you out with your order. Would you like assistance?”. I clicked on OK, without actually knowing, what will happen next.

A chat window opened and I was able to ask question, got answers and information on the different possibilities. I am not completely sure if it was really a homo sapiens are just a compute. Because some questions I deliberately phrased difficult and the correct answer always came.

Snapple (Raspberry Tea) Real Fact #698: Stepping out for a walk every day can actually help you sleep better at night.

On the next day I walked into a store and bought a prepaid card for 50 bucks. It works in my beloved Nokia cellphone from Germany – yay. So I can continue taking photos for my Diary 2.0. When I received my number, I also got another interesting info: when I am called, I pay. Yes, you read correctly. When somebody calls me, I pay 20¢ a minute on average. The same for texts. This was very new to me, since in Germany, it is not like that. And this system is only in the US of A. Why that is, the sales representative did not know either.

Snapple (Mango Madness) Real Fact #800: Most lipstick contains fish scales.

Well, my first small USA adventure is over and looking back it could have been more complicated. And Carrie Bradshaw is probably jealous, because my cell number starts with a 917 area code. For those, who do not know what I am talking about, here the dialogue from the first Sex and the City movie I am referring to:

Carrie Bradshaw: “I’m a 347 area code. How awful is that?”
Samantha Jones: “347 is the new New York.”
Carrie Bradshaw: “Well, I want the old New York, with my old 917 and my old will to live.”
Samantha Jones: “Old New York, new New York. Honey…, at least it’s New York.”

The flight itself was not the greatest either. Not only that there were strong headwinds, but there were also bad turbulences. So I could not really sleep and arrived at JFK rather unsettled. But I did get my suitcase fast and warm sunbeams tickled my skin. And I landed safely, after all that is the most important thing.

I then went shopping for the week, many great things – from apples to Snapple. Snapple is defintely one of the things I miss in Germany. A drink with natural flavors in various tastes. And the real facts underneath the cap are great.

Snapple (Kiwi Strawberry) Real Fact #685: Dogs can make about ten sounds, cats make about 100.

Right next to the supermarket, at the water front, we ate a yummy sandwich, as usual, when I arrive here. But this time arriving here felt different than the times before. This time I also have the feeling that I am in a city, in which I have to fulfill duties and not only sightsee and visit family and friends. But one thing stays the same: I am in New York City, baby!

Snapple (Raspberry Peach) Real Fact #922: Maine is the only state with a one-syllable name.

Soundtrack of my USA stay: \”Empire State of Mind Part I\” by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys.

With my only 21 years of age, I have traveled alot. Once a year at least. And still the question always arises again: how do I pack, as little as possible, but as much as is necessary, in order to not stand without X or Y in another city? The check-list is written, although not in any thematic order. But how am I supposed to get all that into a small, but very fine, bag? Do I really need everything? More importantly: did I really not forget anything?

These thoughts crossed my mind this afternoon, while I started to pack for my short trip. And then I realized that I will be packing again in two weeks – but then for three months, instead of for four days. How is that supposed to work, if I cannot even pack for four days? That is why today was some what a final rehearsal.

My check-list was followed, outfits were re-thought, chosen new; some things were not packed, others on the other hand were. The bag is not going to explode, the zipper closed without a problem. How is that possible? I do not really care. The final rehearsal was a success. But does not one say that when the final rehearsal goes well, the premiere does not… Nah. Not thinking about that now. Just hope that it will work with the packing in it’s extended version in two weeks. And now the best part of the evening before departure begins: excitement and impatience concerning the next day!

What would Bryan Adams possibly say to this ad? Thank you to my personal blog helper and best friend Simon for sharing this discovery.

Some wake up early on their own, make coffee, have breakfast and make a list, what one has to do throughout the day. Those things are then done one by one, lunch is eaten and then the to-do-list is worked off further until the early evening. Then there is time for anything, whatever one wants to do. A stirdy, eight to nine hour sleep ends the day.

Others however also get up relatively early. Breakfast and coffee also are made. But there is no list. At least not a specific one. Things are done, many thousand other little things are done in between, which are not that important, the important ones are shuffled off. Latter pester one in the head until the pressure is just too huge. They then need to be done (often it has something to do with studying/work or something boring) and it does not happen seldom that it will be a long night. With a little less sleep.

And again there are others, who sleep long. Really long. Breakfast turns into lunch or it is not eaten at all. The morning, no the afternoon, begins with coffee. Lots of coffee. Because it is a different take of the day when one’s day begins in the afternoon. A lot should be done. Should. But still half asleep things are done, which should only be done, once everything what is important is done. Therefore everything is delayed into the night; prior to 4 or 5 a.m. one does not lay into bed. And in the end, not much has been done. Or sometimes maybe even nothing at all. The rest was somehow more interesting.

Which of these types I am – there are definitely also mixed forms – I am, can be guessed. But with what I will be spending my next days, one can define once one saw my purchase from yesterday:

10:35 p.m. Not really tired yet. New night stand lamp on. Reading a few pages.

11:15 p.m. New night stand lamp off. Eyes shut.

11:17 p.m. It’s warm. Turn. Roll over. Eyes open. Eyes shut.

approx. 01:30 a.m. Eyes open. Still warm. Right ear hurts again. Awake.

02:14 a.m. Thought: You need to sleep. Eyes shut.

approx. 06:00 a.m. Eyes open. Bright. Tired.

06:10 a.m. (buzzing coffee maker)…

(picture source: ikea.de)

This week (04/12 – 18) I listened to Adam Lambert’s “Whataya Want From Me” about five times (*click*).

This week (03.01 – 07) I listened to Robbie Williams’ “Let Me Entertain You” three times (*click*).

This week (02.22 – 28) I listened to Ke$ha’s “Tik Tok” around 8-10 times (*click*).