30 Days After Day One

There goes my New Year’s resolution.

Every adventure and misadventure must’ve been written here since I step foot in JFK on the 11^th of January. But, darn, I procrastinated again. And I have left all them now to yesternights.

Procrastination, though, is the least of my worries 30 days ago. That day, I bid farewell to my loving family and friends in Manila -- with tears held at the back of my eyes. Thirty days ago, I embarked myself in what I consider as my paradigm shift.

I had to learn to say goodbye to all the luxuries I have back home.

Adios to having friends and family a text away,
To conveniently driving a 2.0 engine car, (and getting exclusive parking space from that friendly Salcedo Vill. parking attendant!)
Adios to posh dining in Nuvo, or after-dinner coffee at Segafredo,
Adios to extensive travels where my heart takes me,
To endless shopping, accessorizing and my attempts at living my Imelda within.

Adios to all that.

Ola to taking the bus or the train,
Ola to cheap Chinese take-out thrice a day,
To doing the dishes and the laundry,
To cleaning the toilet,
Best of all,
To thinking twice about buying that $80 pair of stilettos.

Ola, ola, ola!

After months of emotional and physical preparation, I was finally able to put a check mark on one of my life’s To-Do list: Live in the Big Apple.

From Day 1, I had told myself that I will begin to write about New York. That despite its capricious reputation, I shall look and write about each day with rose-tinted glasses, avec kitschy purple feathers. That every waking day is a New York moment; my own little version of a primetime reality TV show. This has been my plan – and a half. And I am very blessed to have come this far.

That was 30 days ago. Yes, this blog is delayed, but my adventures and misadventures aren't.