The little differences

"You know what the funniest thing about Europe is?"

"What?"

"It's the little differences. A lotta the same shit we got here, they got there, but there they're a little different."

Pulp Fiction, Vincent and Jules

I arrived in NYC on September 16th. I didn't do much the first week except for my apt-hunting. Actually, I'm still not doing much except apt-hunting... Anyway, a couple of days later stef and I went to buy a book at duane reade on 42nd. In this simple act of walking to the store there was a combination of amazing and unique features that only someone who's spent her last 4 yrs in brussels can truly appreciate:

-it was 10.30 pm and shops were open;

-it was sept 20th, 10.30 pm and the temperature was about 25 degrees -celsius-;

-my outfit was barely one level up the pajama degree of decency and acceptability and no one was staring at me;

-streets were urine smell free;

-no 25 year old drunk layabouts with dogs receiving a 1000 EUR a month from national insurance begging outside the store;

-I got a 5 USD reward coupon from duane reade after one week of membership as opposed to collecting barely 300 points a year with delhaize or GB cards which would entitle you to get a used toothbrush in the best case scenario.