I am back from my daytrip to Staten Island. I am going to type as quickly as possible to try to get down as many details I have not already forgotten.

My day started at 3:00 in the morning. That is the time I went to sleep. I told myself that I was not nervous about my meeting with the only person who replied to my second ad in the personals (where I was looking for a walking friend). The meeting time was 11:00am at Trinity Church near Wall Street. I arrived at 10:30. Since the woman was not familiar with the two suggestions (statues in Battery Park [a navy memorial or the Korean War Memorial]) that I’d made, I agreed to meet her at Trinity Church.

A little background information…

In my ad, I was looking for someone who liked walking and enjoyed the “touristy thing” (visiting places that tourist would visit).

The response I received from this very nice lady was that she “loved to walk”…”not a tourist, but wanted to review the city”…wanted to “meet at a specific location near Battery Park” to visit Staten Island.

Unfortunately, I misunderstood what was written. She wasn’t interested in “touristy things” because that is boring. She had a camera, but didn’t take many photos. I think she only took 3 photos (and two were of me). The following is a conversation between the Walking Friend (WF) and me:

Since WF did not know about the memorials in Battery Park, I thought it would be nice to walk along the Battery Park promenade to see the memorials. The navy memorial was the one that I recommended in my e-mail, I also included two photos of the memorial (one close-up of the eagle statue in the middle, and the other a wide-angle view taken from the promenade that showed the whole monument area [including the buildings in the background]).

WF: Oh, this is interesting. Please take my picture here. I have a camera. I like black and white pictures something about the images.

She takes out a nice (but old) non-digital camera with the attached 6 inch lens.
Me: I’ve never used a camera like this.
WF: Oh, it is easy. You hold it like this…You focus like this…when you compose the picture you push this button.
Me: I really don’t know how…
WF: Oh, you are a photographer. I’ve seen your pictures on your web site.
Me: Those were taken with a digital camera. I take 50 pictures to get one good picture.
WF: Oh, it is easy. You are in control. Do what you want to take the picture. Just do the same thing you did to take the pictures on your website.
Me: Those were taken with a digital camera (explaining about using the digital camera’s screen).
WF: I know how to use a digital camera. I’ve used a digital camera before.
Me: Okay, I’ll take the picture. As long as you know that the photo will not be the same…
WF: Wait. You need to get down on one knee. I want the buildings in the background.
Me: Look why don’t I take a picture with my digital camera, so you can see what the picture will look like.
WF: Okay.

After my digital picture is taken.

Me: See. Did you see how I took the picture? How I turned the camera sideways? Your camera is more complicated…
WF: You can do it.
Me: Okay. Again, as long as you understand that ….
WF: You have no confidence to take the picture.
Me: I’ll take the picture. It won’t be the same. I move back. I rotate the camera sideways to get the tall buildings into the picture.
WF: Nevermind. You have no confidence to take the picture.
Me: I’ll take 2 or 3 pictures, maybe..
WF: No. No. No. Forget it.

I forgot about film. I have been taken digital pictures for so long I’d forgotten about wasting film. Well, this dialog (as best as I can remember) took place at the beginning of our trip to Staten Island.

There were about 5 or 6 similar kinds of conversations throughout the day, but I won’t repeat them here. But here are a couple of samples:

* Occupation – she is a “generalist”. She said that if she told me what she did I would be confused.

* Hobbies – she has many, but as she grows older they will change. Oh, photography is not one of them Taking pictures is something she does because she wants to. Later, I found out that she has done a lot like scuba diving.

* I misunderstood her pronunciation (that was my fault) of “main”. What sounded to me like “…that mens idea” (Men like woman who can talk a lot and have a lot of conversations). I commented that many men would probably not like women who are very talkative. She clarified for me. She wanted to say that it was her main idea that women should have a lot of things to talk about. Be able to discuss many topics.

* When I was asked to discuss my feelings about various topics (reincarnation, parentage, the “most important thing”, etc… I mentioned that some people are just not introspective and I was one of them. I confused her into believing that I was saying that people don’t change. People stay the same. She was correct when she pointed out that people can change. Somehow, “some” got confused with “all”.

* Picture taking. I give a 5 count before I take the picture (in the past, I’ve been told that 3 is enough, but 5 is more comfortable for me). I mentioned that some people don’t like having their picture taken (I am one of them). Her position was that natural pictures (without warning) are better.


Again, the lady was a very nice person. I just misunderstood what we were doing today. It took her awhile to get relaxed; once she did, she was very nice person.

Back to my day.

I was so excited that someone replied and showed an interest in walking that I did not ask the necessary questions. I just showed up, willing to play follower the leader. I was content to do any activity WF wanted to do. I had no demands and no requests. I also had no idea where we were going, or what we would be doing (other than visit a museum on Staten Island).

We arrived at the Staten Island Ferry terminal. I was very impressed, it had changed quite a bit since the last time (maybe 15 years ago) I was there.

1. New building. Smaller, cleaner, and easier to use. I remember having to walk what seemed like a mile down corridors to get to the ferry.

2. It’s now free! It used to cost a dollar one-way. Wow, something actually costs less not more.

Before today, I’ve only been on the Staten Island ferry once or twice. Both times, it was just to ride over, and ride back. I did not go out of the terminal. I was excited about exploring Staten Island. The information booth even had maps and activity guides on what to do on Staten Island. WF’s main goal was to go to a Tibetan museum on Staten Island. I wasn’t really interested in going to a Tibetan museum, but I didn’t complain. My main goal was just walking.

The ferry ride was nice. The bus ride to the museum was long, but nice. Staten Island is much bigger than I thought. When we arrived at the bus stop near the museum, we next had to walk ¼ of a mile up a hill.

The museum?!?! The museum turned out to be a room in a house. No picture taking was allowed inside (only outside in the garden). Museum description? A rich lady (I am assuming is rich) collected a bunch of things and put them in a room. The room was the size of a medium sized living room. 2/3 of the room contained Tibetan artifacts. 1/3 of the room had enlarged photographs with various Tibetan themes taken in 2001. Wow.

WF walked in first. My shirt got caught on a screw sticking out of the front door, causing me to get a minor cut. I also needed to change my sunglasses to my regular prescription glasses, and I had to get my wallet out of my pants pocket not really designed to hold a wallet, at the same time I am hold a 1 ½ liter of water. What does all this mean?

I was fumbling. I was also usually nervous in new places. The woman behind the desk said to me, “oh, I can see that you are very organized. I know you are organized. Very organized.

The museum cost was $5.00. The woman made change from my $20 and gave me the change, then said:

“Okay. This is for you. Put it away. Make sure you put it away. I know you are very organized. I was married. My husband was just like you…VERY organized. Now, you put this away. Put it away. Go ahead put it away.”

I’m slow (mentally [and at the moment physically]). I was trying to get myself together, and trying to put my bills in sequential order with smallest denominations in front (portraits facing forward), rotating a couple of bills that were upside down. While I am putting my money in my way, the elderly woman is still speaking (to an almost 40 year old man) as if I was a child. She said, “Put it away” in that sickenly-grandmotherly voice at least 4 times.

The woman then turns to WF (who is not a native English speaker):

Woman: Can you take him anywhere?
WF: Huh?!?!
Woman: He’s so organized. Let him follow you. I used to be married.
WF: I don’t…
Woman: It’s a joke dear. fake laughter.
WF: Oh, good joke. Hahahahaha…fake laughing.

A whole lot of things went through my head…after I was out of the room. See, I am slow.

We are escorted into the exhibition room and given a tour guide. Yes, a tour guide for a room.

We’re given two options (self-tour or guided tour).
I let WF choose. She takes the guided tour.
The guide gives a 5 minute lecture. WF is wondering where is the rest, but politely asked questions like where were the other items? What else was there to see? Etcetera… Another 5 minutes, she is ready to go. Being the cheapskate that I am, I felt that since we spent our money, we should get as much as we could. I read every caption, asked as many questions as I could. 20 minutes later, WF seemed bored. We spent about 10 minutes in the garden and then we left. We had spent more time getting there than being in there. WF made the comment that she thought the museum was going to be bigger than it was. I have to admit that I found it an interested exhibition. I hated the old lady behind the desk, other than her, I enjoyed the museum.

I learned:
Yak milk has many purposes.
Tea bricks were a form of currency
People were expected to carry tea cups. Or was it soup bowls?
Stuff about gods and enlightenment.
No bible. Prayers were written on hanging clothes so that the prayers could blow with the wind.

WF asked me if “there was anything else I wanted from Staten Island. I lied. I said no. I knew (or should I say I believed) WF would not have been interesting in exploring other places on the island. We had free tour guides, we did not look at.

To be honest, I have to say that WF seems like a very nice person, I just thought we had different ideas of walking and exploring. Also, I had to work too, too hard at what should have been a relaxing and easygoing experience. I carried a 2 ½ liter of water all day, since WF did not have anything to drink with her, I did not even open my water.

At the bus stop, WF decided that we should take the same bus we came on (S74), ride it to the last stop, and then change to the S78 “so that we could see the whole island”. A quick look on the map, it is easy to assume that the S78 would take the scenic route along the eastern coast of the island, but if you look closer, you can see that it is not scenic. I have to be honest; I jumped at that thought (without thinking). The ride back to the ferry was 2 hours and 15 minutes.

I noticed that WF fidgeted with her telephone a few times, I think she had plans. Back in Manhattan, WF seemed to be in a hurry. She did give me a nice good by handshake, with a promise to mail me the photos she will develop. I thought that was very nice.

Back on my own. I decided to walk to my station. I stopped to take a picture of the Wall Street Bull. It was moved to a strange location (on a small island where Whitehall Street merges into Broadway). Tourists were walking into traffic to get a picture. At times, the island was so jammed with tourist that some were standing in the street waiting to get their turn. Other tourist would just jump into someone else’s shot. I waited about 12 or 15 minutes, but I managed to get a photo without anyone in it.

I walked 1 mile to Canal Street. I brought a couple of paper fans. I had two which I never used and threw away before I left Japan. I threw away the paper fans, but I keep the two pair of chopsticks. Strange.

For years, I never used the fans because I thought it might make me look effeminate. I would carry a piece of cardboard to use as a fan. However, when I did not have my backpack (like today), I did not have the cardboard. But paper fans are (of course) foldable and really do work. Well, now I have my paper fans. Now, will I actually use them? Well, on the Grand Street station platform, I wanted about 10 minutes before taking out my fan, but the train came as soon as I did.

Oh, I almost forgot. The only thing I had eaten today was cream of wheat for breakfast. While I was on Canal Street, I ate dinner at a Chinese restaurant. I ordered beef with broccoli on white rice with a side order of vegetable soup. I also had an English speaking waitress. I was the only one in the “eat-in” area. Usually, I would just order take-out and eat at home. But I wanted to eat before I returned to my shoebox so that I could exercise when I returned.

Unfortunately, when I returned to shoebox street, I bought a cake (ate it), and decided that I wanted to write my blog entry before I forgot most of it. It is now 12:40, too late to exercise.

Post Date - Tuesday, August 14, 2006 12:34am