BREAKFAST IN AMERICA

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My first morning in America, eyes all gunky, I did not sleep at all.

I slept some on the plane. The first time I had ever flew out of my country was to come to America. Actually, it was to MOVE to America.

I checked in the Upper West Side YMCA.

I found myself a computer. In those days wifi was not a thing. YMCA had a few computers available for guests which we could only use for 30 minutes at a time before the session expired. I promptly used them to send a message to my sister. “ Ja cheguei. Estou bem e correu tudo bem. Vou tentar dormir e se conseguir falamos melhor amanha.”

I was too excited to sleep. I stayed in a tiny room with 4 other girls. It was an unassuming, double bunk bed bedroom but with a view to Central Park.

“I hope we don’t lose her.” - my father said to my sister as they saw me depart. My sister confessed my father’s anguish to me a few days into my departure. “Oh, no! The streets are perfectly numbered! It’s quite impossible to get lost!” I uttered excitedly back to my sister. She smiles and nods…”Ok, good.”

It is not lost on me that that’s not what they meant. But I was that naive, that gullible. Well, idiot may be the appropriate word.

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I walk down to Times Square, a veritable Disneyland for tourists and I was in LOVE.

NYC was the perfect background for the movie of my life and I was the MAIN CHARACTER.

I had brought $100 cash and one suitcase. I opened it in a hurry to grab clothes for my first morning in America. A bottle of cheap shampoo I had brought with me had exploded all over my clothes. I had no idea what to pack for a life changing move like this.

I started getting hungry but I had to make my $100 had to last. I didn’t have a secret stash, an unknown bank account or anyone to ask for on the fly. I was alone with a suitcase and 5 $20 bills.

I have yet to learn how to make loads of money but boy can I run on empty for miles.

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I wandered around in the city. My gaze always upwards. I have never seen anything as big and exciting as NYC. I was too scared to take the train and too shy to call a cab (true story) so I stayed as far as my feet could take me.

I find a Diner. I always wanted to go to a Diner. I' had seen them in movies many times before so this would be the experience of a lifetime. Ah, yes! The Diner! Another Dream come true…

I sit down at a booth, take my jacket and my hat off. The place was packed. Not surprising, it was Tuesday Morning around Times Square.

I had never seen so many people in my life.

Did you know there’s almost as many people in Manhattan as in my whole country?!

The waitress brings me a menu and a glass with icy water. I refuse it and say it must be a mistake. I didn’t order anything yet.

She speaks very fast. I thought my English was very good but not Times Square waitress good. My words start slipping and my tongue starts cramping and I cannot seem to be able to articulate a single sentence.

I look up at her and wave my hands at the glass:

-“No Water. No Me.”

She declares: “It’s free. It’s free. We give it everyone”

In Portugal you must pay for water and pay extra for ice and I was on a very tight budget.

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After assuring me I would not have to pay for this water, I start looking at the menu. The waitress tells me about the specials but I quickly tune out because I don’t understand a single word she’s saying. I could be in Shanghai at this point.

I look at her like a Deer in the headlights and she leaves.

I look at the massive menu, pages and pages of word combinations I have no clue what they mean. What are Eggs Bennedict? What is an English Muffin? What’s Rye? Texas Toast? Denver Omelette? Buffalo Wrap? Waffle Fries? Philly Cheesesteak? Ranch Dressing? Sunny Side Up? I felt so overwhelmed. And the prices…

Back home most restaurants had 10/15 items on the menu and they were all the same across restaurants. We only ate portuguese food.

The waitress came over three times before I could make a decision.

I order a coke and a cheeseburger by pointing emphatically at the menu…

I was yearning with the desire to be American.

-“Medium rare, Medium or well done?”

-“Yes.”

-“ French fries, curly fries, sweet potato fries or waffle fries?”

I smile with confusion, like an idiot. Why is she still saying things?

“Coke, Diet Coke or Coke Zero?”

“yes” - I nod in agreement. Had she asked me to join a gang, I would’ve said yes to that too.

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It was not a fancy choice but I was too scared to venture outside of what I knew. I didn’t recognize most of the items and a mistake would be too costly. Besides, when in Rome…

The portions were absurd and they offered UNLIMITED REFILLS!!!!…I was in Heaven.

I sat there watching all other patrons, satisfied with myself. I was just another one of them. Like an extra in a movie. The leathery booths, the salt shakers and syrup bottles, the coffee pots dancing around the place.

I asked for the check like a grown up. Paid the bill… and left no tip.

For a peak at how my mind works, follow on X (also known as twitter).

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