Coming to America

The Drive

My dad drove the U-Haul the whole way down, from the tree-lined streets of Ottawa down the quiet highways to New Jersey, across the Triboro bridge into the Bronx past Yankee Stadium and down the pot-holed streets with double-parked cars in Brooklyn with the U-Haul’s side-view mirrors narrowly missing (so it seemed) sign posts, car doors and people’s facesThe Move

We arrived at our apartment just before 11am and found an empty stretch of street in front of our new place to park the truck and unload. We unloaded and moved in most of the small boxes, artwork, and other easy things while we waited for the two hired movers to arrive. We had taken care of most of our stuff other than the large boxes and heavy furniture.

The Movers

Two guys pulled up in a black truck while I was unloading things in the apartment so I missed their names. Not that I would have been able to say what they were anyway since these guys barely spoke and when they did it was unintelligible.
It was hot and humid outside and both guys were wearing jeans (the waistbands below their butts, boxers in full view) and Air Jordan’s. The shoes were nice! I hope they noticed my Air Jordan collection. When they arrived we sat back and let them sweat over everything and I directed where they should place the sweaty boxes and furniture.
They broke my computer table and chipped Chantal’s antique dresser. No tip!

The Apartment

We are in a really nice one bedroom apartment that we have now learned is actually in a condo. So it’s pretty new and everyone is very friendly in the building (so far). We are on the third floor, so moving in required lifting things up 2 flights of stairs which really isn’t bad at all. New Yorkers must have the strongest legs in the country due to all the apartment building and subway stairs climbing, not to mention street walking and trying to maneuver bad sidewalks, dog poop and garbage.
Anyway, with everything in boxes and disassembled it looked like everything was going to fit.
After assembling everything we realized it was going to be a bit tight, so there may be some things we get rid of, but it all seems like it will be really comfortable. I will have to get used to listening to Chantal typing on her computer.
Our first few nights here have been silent – no dogs barking, babies crying, shotguns firing or sirens blaring.

The Neighborhood

We live in a very Puerto Rican/Dominican area with a slew of restaurants with their local cuisine. There is a fair share of white, skinny hipsters walking around too.
We are within a short walk of a few subway lines, none of which run through our basement. We’re learning our way around on the lines and trying not to look too much like tourists.
There are plenty of strange sights in Brooklyn, mostly things you just aren’t used to seeing back in Ottawa. There is a sidewalk that suddenly angles to about 45 degrees, there is a Chinese frozen food packing place next door and a steel work business and lumber seller across the street.
The residential areas are nestled in-between. There is barbed wire everywhere, concrete everywhere and I seem to have to point out whenever I see a patch of grass! Trust me, it’s really nice grass!

Homeland Security
You need a passport or a social security number or both to do get anything done. I needed both just to get a cell phone plan. The simplest things become more difficult due to the U.S. Patriot Act instituted after 9/11. All the bank tellers are behind glass, even the liquor at the liquor store and the people at the post office are behind bullet-proof glass.

Brooklynites…

are very friendly and helpful. Chantal and I were looking for a Radio Shack and decided to walk into a service station/mechanic (which are on every other block). The old, Spanish speaking guy at the front grinned a toothless grin and pointed to the loud, muscular, classic slick-talking Brooklynite on the phone. Then I noticed the gigantic, dirty dog bed and the dog bone the size of my arm. When the guy got off the phone, he gave me perfect (almost) directions to Radio Shack with the help of another mechanic who walked in. The pit bull emerged and nuzzled up to Chantal and we were on our way. Moral of the story: Looks can be deceiving!
Getting Settled

We are settling right in and finding our way around our neighborhood and scouting out all the different shops and restaurants when we can. With all the organizing we still have to do we haven’t had much time to explore and take everything in.
It’s hard to believe that not too long ago we were living in Ottawa. It’s a very different world here in New York. Keep reading and we’ll be sure to keep you up-to-date with what happens here in Brooklyn.

Photos coming soon!