Made. In. America.

Had to head back to St. J's Tower, NYC, before I left USA, to get a photo with the great man Mr. F

Wanted to have this written about a week ago but I've been on the beer since I got home and generally being a waste of space so production in any aspect of my life has been very minimal. Normal service resumed then really. I'd just like to begin by stating the joy felt at the reaction to the previous blog post. Jesus, when I actually write these things, I believe it to be just for my own amusement and a bit of fun to pass time, you don't expect anyone to read them, let alone actually enjoy them. So that's excellent, thanks mates!

And yes. I did steal the title of this latest one from the final episode of The Sopranos.

PART I - Upstate New York

Myself & Lindsay at some biker bar in the middle of nowhere

After I arrived back in NYC, from Scranton, on October 1st, I waited four hours at Port Authority station before boarding my next bus, with a load of characters, to upstate New York. Up that direction, I know six very fine people in the form of Lindsay Mion, Amy and Patty Freeman, Alexandra O'Borsky, Laura Ward and Megan Bohn, all through meeting them at NUIM, and I couldn't wait to party it up again with them around their neck of the woods.

Amy, Paul, Patty @ Niagara Falls - not that you can really tell

Upstate NY is a whole other world to NYC, you'd think they were completely different states, at least. The first stop was Binghamton, where Lindsay's house is, about three hours from Manhattan, and there is literally nothing in between them, nothing! I spent two pleasant, drunken nights there before Amy drove me up to her and Patty's home, a couple of hours further north in Hilton. The following day, the two lovely sisters took me to Niagara Falls. It was wonderful, the town is ridiculously touristy but the Falls themselves are magnificent, totally worth the worrying that occurred when we went on to the Canadian side and I was unsure if I'd be allowed back into the US, due to uncertainties over my visa. Basically those clowns at CIEE, the company who sponsor us, had been giving me grief all September, over me not responding to their emails, and threatened to terminate my program. All was okay though, just a little warning from the border patrol guy, as we were re-entering US land, to make sure I was out by the end of the month. Naturally, an impolite douche.

Megan and a hammed (but jolly) PK

So that was Thursday. Friday, Patty dropped me to Megan's house, which is about 15 minutes away, in the town of Brockport, where herself and Laura go to college. Amy also happens to attend school there. Meg, Laura, Laura's friend and I Power Hour'ed it up and then ventured to Alli's place at Nazareth College for her continuing birthday celebrations. We did two Power Hours in a row at Megan's so I was pretty intoxicated (as you can kind of tell from the pic to the left) going to Alli's. Unlike the two girls, and most people who attempt such a drinking game, I actually drank every minute of the two hours (I'm a fuckin' hero, I know). So that was a divine night, I had an equally sloshed night on Saturday when Megan hosted a party at hers, which Amy and Patty came to, as well as Laura and Alli, where a very competitive game of 'Chandelier' ensued. Annnnd that's all we'll say about that night, no need to go any further. Apart from I was retarded drunk.

Alli in the middle (Apologies but I've no idea who the other girl is)

Paul, Laura & her friend Pat

PART II - Chicago

I took the bus from Rochester back to the City Sunday night. Must have been 6 and a 1/2 hours at least, the total journey. But that was nothing compared to the next voyage I was to embark on. Monday I decided to take the train from Penn Station all the way to Chicago, hoping to save a few quid on airfare. Bloody hell, it took about 19 hours in the end. I was lucky enough I had a double seat to myself for most of the ride. Not at the beginning though, some big European, middle aged dude sat down beside me once we boarded and, to my dismay, I could immediately tell he was itching for the chat. Now, I like to think I'm a friendly character, but when on bus/train/plane rides I just want to put my music on and have myself left to my own thoughts and dreams, especially if I'm never going to see the seat-mate again. This fella was raring to talk! Told me straight away he was from Czech Republic. Everything he said I replied in rather blunt fashion, but in the politest way possible of course. Eventually I think he got the message. Felt bad 'cause he seemed a decent enough chap. Jesus, when my table board got stuck and I couldn't get it down from the seat in front, he offered his help and nearly ripped the fuckin' thing off it's hinges for me. Finally, about a third of the way, at one stop he got up and switched to another seat that had been vacated. Looked at me and all as if to say "I'm off. You boring little prick!". I don't know, maybe if it was a 21 year old babe instead, I may have been more in the mood to talk.

I'll briefly sum up my time in Chicago which lasted from the 9th - 23rd. In between, there were two trips to South Bend and three nights spent in Arizona but the period where I was based in the 'Second City' was top drawer. Bar from one night at Hanna's home in Barrington, I stayed at Elizabeth's new apartment in the in the glorious Lincoln Park area. Liz (Happy birthday, Elizabeth!) and Hanna probably know by now how much I love their company and friendship so I don't really need to say much but they provided me with an awesome time as expected. We had a few fun nights out together, particularly one where we were boozin' with Hanna's aunt and grandmother (possibly the coolest woman I've ever met) at her fine apartment. Shout-out to Jessica Orlando, whom I thoroughly enjoyed seeing again. If I remember correctly, myself and Jess bonded exceptionally for the ten days I had known her during her spell in Maynooth. That was nearly three years ago though and we hadn't exactly stayed in touch much since. However, thankfully, that didn't seem remotely the case as we got on great once partying with each other again, albeit with the help of alcohol I guess, but what a cool lass! 

PHOTO BOOTH! - Liz and I with Courtney (her very pleasant roommate)

PART III - South Bend

Swiftly onto the antics at South Bend, Indiana. God, I love the place. Well, not particularly the town of South Bend itself, but the two amazing colleges based in it, side by side, St. Mary's and Notre Dame (home of the famous Fighting Irish American Football team). I went to an ND game two years ago and was totally blown away by the whole occasion. College football and The Fighting Irish is like religion there and the atmosphere generated around the campus' on game days is just extraordinary. It's very different to match day at Old Trafford or any football ground in England but just as lively, intense and beer-fuelled. And for the first time in a while, the team is doing really well so spirits are high around campus and among ND fans nationwide.

None of my friends from two years ago are still students there but, thanks again to NUIM and my international student-friendly social abilities, I had amassed a lot more buddies at St. Mary's. Took the train there from Chicago for the weekend of the Stanford game. Again, I'll cut it short but sweet, it was a happy time seeing and partying once more with (alphabetical order) Alex, Angela, Erica, Erin, Jarusha, Kat, those who, realistically, I'm probably closest to, but also anyone else I know, that I ran into. Sean Henno was visiting for the week so it nice seeing him Stateside again. As well as that, Friday night, I got to meet up with the super Catherine Swanson, who came for the game, and we had a few beverages at one of the bars.

My good mate, Kate Hennessy, delightfully, made her way to South Bend that weekend too for a reunion. Unfortunately, by the time we really got to drink together Saturday night, I was in shreds. She's coming back to the Eire soon though, I believe, so hard session then Kate, I promise!

The final call ruling after ND stopped Stanford on the line. Place went absolutely mental. The video I found on Youtube. I, of course, missed all of this action 'cause I was passed out in a bed by 5pm after too much hooch intake at tailgate that morning.

Had to wake then up at six bells Sunday morning to go back to Chicago with Jarusha to do the 'Color Run' with her friends and sisters. It was a proper blast. Though I practically crawled over the 5K finish line (embarrassing stuff from once the finest athlete in Ard Scoil Chiarain). The legs were in bits for about a week afterwards too, sure it was the only physical activity I'd engaged in for about 6 months before that. And since, I might add.

PART IV - Arizona & The Grand Canyon

Monday, came the trip to Arizona, in bid to cross The Grand Canyon off the list. It was quite spontaneous on my behalf really, I actually booked a flight, more or less, in the blink of an eye after seeing a Facebook friend with a photo taken at the Canyon. I said to myself "I gotta get me one of those". It was a shame I had to no one to come with or don't have any friends down near AZ this time of year. Having to fork out cash for three nights in a hotel (in Tempe, just outside downtown Phoenix) was a right pain in the tits. I've realized, as an aspiring traveler, and recognized chancer, I can't be paying that kind of moolah on accommodation for all the places I want to visit. The hotel was probably only 3 star, but way more than what I needed. Jesus, I had a pool, internet, television, big double bed, breakfast served each morning, sure I thought it was fucking luxury at it's very finest! Similar to my longer stints at Jenn's and Elizabeth's. Phoenix was pretty cool though, especially flying into it, the combination of the lights, sand, palm trees with the setting sun made for pleasant viewing from the airplane window. I didn't get to see much of downtown though, which was a pity, just briefly driving passed it.

The Canyon was what I thought it would be, quality! Even if it took six hours to get there which wasn't ideal. It's bang in the middle of the desert though. Also when I booked the tour, I was thinking the bus would be something like this….

You know, big bus, where we could sit back, relax, maybe listen to a few tunes on the iPod to ease the frustration at the journey length… But, instead, this was our tour bus…..

And of course, I was stuck up at the front with this absolute yapster of a tour guide. He was relentless with his assault on my ears of every single piece of information about the state of Arizona. It was wretched, I was in no humour to care and didn't take in a single word of what he was saying. Being up so early had me very sleepy so at one point I took one out of Homer's book and put my dark shades on so he wouldn't notice my closed eyes. He probably had an idea I wasn't listening when I began swaying back and forth on the seat.

This was me on the bus.

On the way home from the big GC, I bagged myself a back seat to try sneak a sleep in, but I could still hear him yapping away about stuff he must have missed, or forgot about, on the way there. I suppose he was just doing his job and, when he dropped me back at the hotel, I gave him seven dollars for his efforts. Not sure if that was regarded as a good tip or not but it was all I had and seven dollars more than the other nine people on our tour gave him. Sound man was Robin the tour guide.

Our crew, consisting of couples and old women, then myself and Mohammed, a middle-aged Egyptian and my mate for the day!

PART V - South Bend again & return to NYC

I returned to Notre Dame that weekend for the BYU game. I actually only had the intention of tailgating that morning and heading back to Chicago in the evening. Jarusha, along with her nice room mate Ellie, took me to my first ever ice-hockey game Friday night, the Irish were playing Minnesota in a pre-season encounter and won comfortably. Like American Football and Basketball, there's way too many stoppages in play for my liking but the Yanks do know how to put on a show so there's always music and fun at each of the 10,000 breaks. Either the students are just really into supporting their team or most of them were on the piss all day, fuck me the place was rocking. Tailgating, for the football game, this time was a little better, mainly due to the much improved weather conditions and there were a few more pals around, such as Shannon D and Lauren Bruner, along with meeting new guys and gals. I was quick to offer up Noel and Pauline's house as a place to crash to people I just met, who told me they were visiting Ireland in the near future. Sorry, parents, I was locked!

FINALLY NEARING THE END OF THIS. Fair play to you if you stuck with it to this point. I returned to NYC via railway on the 25th and hung out with Jenn for the last couple of nights, finishing off where it all began. We went to Clarke's pub on McLean Ave one night for a few drinks. It was grand because I got to see Rob Kelly, who was working, again before I left, top man is Rob. Had a few one time many though and tried looking for the shift off good old Jenn. Unlike me to want a shift when I'm out having drinks with an attractive girl… She was clever though and wasn't having any of it. Going to miss that chick. Along with everybody else. It sucks not knowing when or how often I'm going to see them all from here but hope they know I'd fondly welcome a message from them on the book anytime and they've always got someone this side of the Atlantic to come visit!

There's the conclusion of this blog anyway, I enjoyed it. There were a few people, in NYC and the mid west, that I regret not being able to get to meet up with but, for the most part, I wouldn't change a thing. And after three summers in New York City, that book is finally closed. But I made it in America.

Don't know what's next for PK, I'm fucking broke, still phoneless and obviously Noel and Pauline are on my back to get a job somewhere, after a heavy first week back in Clara on the beer. I'm currently a complete loser but if I've changed in any way over my travels, it's that I've become much more ambitious and confident that I can ultimately achieve good things. I just have to focus and actually put my mind to it.

For this week though I'm just going to head back to Maynooth and drink. We'll work out life afterwards.

What an amazing yet very upsetting shot of NYC after the storm!
Can't believe I almost forgot to mention this. Was absolutely gutted to see the damage done by Sandy the very weekend I left New York. Keeping updated with the news, I was honestly nearly in tears looking at the City and area, that I've become so attached to, getting uncontrollably destroyed and my thoughts were with all friends being affected by it throughout the east coast, hope everything is well now or en route back to normal!

Rock on,

Love

PK