NYC Gathering Report
Date: April 19, 2003
Place: New York City (Botanic Gardens & Chinatown)
Attendance: (by alphabetical order) Erica W., Jenni C., Jina L., Jing Z., Joanna K., Mandy L., Minnie C., Nina S.
Summary...
Supposedly, the initial meeting time and place was 10:30 at the main entrance of Botanic Gardens. But due to the fact that no one knew the layout of Botanic Gardens and where exactly the ��main entrance�� was (if some of you don��t already know, Botanic Gardens has more than one entrance), we had some difficulty meeting up. I had arrived to the Brooklyn area at about 10:25 and was heading towards Botanic Garden (my dad was driving me) when I received calls from Erica and Nina separately telling me that they will arrive shortly. I told them to try and find each other and I continued to head towards the meeting place. Unfortunately, when I got closer and closer to Botanic Gardens, my parents and I realized that we were on the opposite end of the main entrance, causing us to u-turn and having to drive around the surrounding neighborhood to get back to our destination. And in the process of doing that, Jenni had given me a call and told me she had arrived with Jing. I decided to go and pick her up (btw, Jenni, you have to learn your left from right, lol).
Finally, after the whole big mess, Jenni, Jing, and I finally arrived to Botanic Gardens and found Erica, Nina, and Lisa (a friend of Nina��s) already there. The time was about 11:30 then. We entered Botanic Gardens and strolled around for some time. About 15 minutes later, Joanna called and told us she had arrived, but at the opposite end of the park. We walked over to pick her up (well, technically, Erica did since we stopped midway and waited for her to pick up Joanna). After gathering up the group again, we took walks around the park and took pictures.
At around noon, Minnie has arrived and we went to pick her up at the main entrance. After doing that, we gathered at the nearby grassland and sat down to check. (*Note: We were so loud, some people were looking at us kind of weirdly) After chatting, looking at some F4 things that some of us brought, and exchanging screen names and telephone numbers, we decided to leave and head for Chinatown.
At this time, Nina left with her family and the rest of us walked towards the subway station. Without exaggeration, I think that walk covered my exercise for the week. We walked for about 15-20 minutes before arriving. After buying our subway tickets (*inside joke: I��ll leave out the ��one-way to Chinatown" thing), we waited for the subway to arrive (I��m sure Erica enjoyed the wait while looking at ��cute�� guys; lol). By this time, I think I can safely say that everyone��s feet were aching and there were no seats on the subway (what a surprise?!?!).
Upon arriving to Chinatown, I had given Mandy a call and we had lunch at Saint Alp��s. We had a nice meal, but had a little problem with the money counting in the end (*Note: I CAN COUNT. IT��S JUST THAT I DIDN��T FEEL LIKE IT!!!). After the so called lunch at 3 PM, we walked around for awhile. Erica and Joanna decided to bring us to see a ��friend�� of theirs (but let me restate that they never introduced us to HIM!!!). We continued to shop afterwards at several CD shops and various stationary stores. (I have to say that I did manage to take some pretty good pictures. Right, girls?) We finished the night off with a drink at a dessert store and then a dinner at Yummy Noodles!!!
Special Quotes...
Jenni: ��Erica, are you cold? I��ll give you my coat!!!�� (Translation: Erica, it��s hot! Would you like to hold my coat?)
Joanna: ��I don��t talk to all of you that much!�� (Translation: I only talk to some of you for about 5 hours per day.)
Jina: ��Look, F4!�� (Translation: Who would actually believe finding F4 at a basement mall in Chinatown? Well, apparently, someone did! Right, Mandy?)
People & Things to Remember...
Erica: Mom, litter bug, punk kid, Patrick
Jina: one-way ticket to Chinatown, counting money
Joanna: kiwi drink, scallion, doing things to Jerry��s poster, phone, Patrick
Mandy: picture
(by Jina Lee)