≡ Menu

Through new York City, Again

Through New York City, AgainJFK Airport, New York, USASeptember 5, 2007Going to the Sahara. I have been wanting to go there for a long time. Mauritania, my thoughts fill with romance. But I know deserts; and I know that they are dusty, hot, and stifling; yet beautiful, open, and free. I am enthusiastic. But I [...]

Support VBJ’s writing on this blog:

Through New York City, Again
JFK Airport, New York, USA
September 5, 2007

Going to the Sahara. I have been wanting to go there for a long time. Mauritania, my thoughts fill with romance. But I know deserts; and I know that they are dusty, hot, and stifling; yet beautiful, open, and free. I am enthusiastic. But I probably will not get too far into the desert for a couple of months. For the meantime, I should be going into the mountains to hang out with sheep.

I visited my academic advisor, Kathleen Modrowski, at Friends World’s headquarters in Brooklyn today. I am really impressed with her. She is an anthropologist who conducted her fieldwork in North Africa, and she was able to provide me with more than a few insights to chew on. She found records of Isabel Eberhardt while going through economic archives in Algiers, so she investigated and wrote a research paper about her life. I read a book that reproduced Eberhardt’s diaries a few years ago, and have been fascinated by her ever since. The knowledge that my advisor seemed to have an extraordinary amount of knowledge about Eberhardt prompted me to do a little interview with her. I will post some writings about her once I get to a solid base.

New York City. I cannot figure this place out. It does not seem to be part of the USA. It seems to be its own country; no, its own world. But anyway, I still can not tolerate any thing more than a brief pass through that great beast of a city. Maybe someday I will try to get a feel for it, though this is a grudging hope at best.

But I did get to meet up with an old China friend, which was a highly rewarding experience. I though that I was in for another night on the second floor of the Jet Blue terminal reading a book under a plastic palm tree, but JoJo rescued me and invited me to stay at his apartment.

His apartment is basically a long corridor with a couple small rooms popping off of it. He pays $1700 a month for it. That amounts to over $50 a day! That is unbelievable. His place is also considered modestly priced and is in Brooklyn. I cannot comprehend such expense.

SUPPORT

The only way I can continue my travels and publishing this blog is by generous contributions from readers. If you can, please subscribe for just $5 per month:

NEWSLETTER

If you like what you just read, please sign up for our newsletter!
* indicates required
Filed under: Accommodation, Deserts, Friends, New York, North America, USA

About the Author:

I am the founder and editor of Vagabond Journey. I’ve been traveling the world since 1999, through 93 countries. I am the author of the book, Ghost Cities of China and have written for The Guardian, Forbes, Bloomberg, The Diplomat, the South China Morning Post, and other publications. has written 3729 posts on Vagabond Journey. Contact the author.

Support VBJ’s writing on this blog:

VBJ is currently in: Rome, Italy

0 comments… add one

Leave a Comment