Ahhhh....back in Whitesboro. What could be better? Quite a bit actually, but that is besides the point. My weekend was filled with nostalgia as it brought me back to Buffalo, the place of my undergraduate education. Otto was a fantastic host, as were his parents (his mom is a superb cook, she made some delicious Moroccan bread for breakfast...now my Cheerios just seem boring. Thanks Mrs. Bousseg). His father didn't speak too much English, but I was able to get "thank-you" and "hello" in with my rudimentary Arabic.
Anyway, I arrived Thursday after leaving directly from work, and the evening in Buffalo was gorgeous. Otto and I walked around his neighborhood and caught up on each other's goings-on, eventually making our way to a large Japanese garden that I didn't even know existed (most of my time at UB was spent on the campus in Amherst, a suburb of Buffalo. Otto lives in Buffalo proper, so much of this was new to me. Yes, in my four years there, I didn't do much venturing into Buffalo). Later, after dark had set in, we stopped in at a favorite Buffalo eatery of mine, Jim's Steakout, home to everything bad for the human body. We split a Stinger, a sub with chopped steak and chicken finger on it, along with cheese and bleu cheese. All healthy for you. It was good to be back in Buffalo.
Friday was our Toronto day. Otto invited a friend of his, Saleh, to come along with us. Saleh, who was born in Yemen, was the driver. He and I hit it off immediately, we have similar interests and, more importantly, similar senses of humor. The drive went quick, and soon we found ourselves shelling out for parking in the bustling city. Our main destination was the top of the CN Tower, and that is where we ended up, snapping photos of the panorama of Toronto offered by the tower's viewing platform. There were some old ladies from the Red Hat Society up there (apparently that group is allowed to roam around freely, scary stuff), who took a liking to Otto, and had some photos taken with him. The man, it has to be said, is a pimp. That is, of course, if you like over the age of 60, overweight, and wearing clothing that would make Liberace say "oh dear Christ".
After the CN Tower we walked along Yonge Street, the longest street in the World, up to Eaton Centre, Toronto's shopping district. There we grabbed something to eat and moseyed about, eventually having to head back to the car to avoid having to pay more. We didn't have much time, as Saleh had to work the next day, so we drove around some more, venturing further up Yonge Street, before heading for the border. We were only in the city for about 5 or 6 hours, but since it has been more that 15 years since I had been there, I had to see Toronto again. Nevertheless, we vowed to return soon, next time to check out the ethnic neighborhoods. At the border, as was expected, we were hassled. With two Arabs in the car and near the anniversary of 9/11, it was no surprise that the "random" inspection found its way to us. The customs officials kept us around for about half-an-hour, having us wait in one of the buildings while they searched the car. After not finding anything of interest, we were free to go, and eventually made it back to Buffalo after ten.
Otto decided he was hungry all of the sudden, so we stopped at a Chinese place, creatively named Great Wall, on Elmwood Ave. Elmwood I was familiar with, I had been on this street before. It is a bastion of bohemianism in the rapidly crumbing Buffalo. The street is lined with restaurants, boutiques, and coffee shops, and draws out late-night revelers on the weekend. Unfortunately some frat houses have also popped up on the street, adding some douche-baggery to the atmosphere. We cracked jokes and swapped stories over some sesame chicken, occasionally casting a glance at the potpourri of people walking by the restaurant through its big glass window. After filling up, we strolled the street for a few minutes, sharing the street with people out on the town, young and old, as well as some homeless dudes mumbling to themselves. The bums all seemed to know each-other, which is pretty cool....I guess.
Even as the hour approached midnight, Otto wasn't done yet, and convinced us that we should see a movie. We caught the midnight showing of Contagion, which I will be posting up the review for tomorrow. Be sure to look for it. After that, we had to call it a night, finally retiring after two in the morning.
Yesterday was my day to see some other friendly faces. I met with a Chinese professor/friend on campus, and spent nearly three hours with him. He was never actually my Chinese teacher, but we got to know each other quite well, as I was always hanging out at the TA sessions to practice. After that, I drove to my friend Davon's house. Davon was my roommate in China, and we have been good friends for some time. I hadn't seen him since I left China, so it was great to see him again, though we have corresponded pretty regularly online. We too chatted for hours about politics, future plans, and travel. A good conversation, one I plan to have again soon. I still wasn't done, as I had to see my old pal Nick. He was actually on campus watching the UB football game, but left to meet up with me. We shared a dinner of buffalo wings and roast beef on weck, topping off what was becoming a very unhealthy weekend.
Saturday finished with myself and Otto heading out again to Elmwood, first driving around downtown for some time and then taking an outdoor table at one of his favorite coffee shops, me drinking an orange juice (I know, I know, I am very boring but it was too warm to go for a coffee or some other crazy hot drink. Next time), and him a soda (that is pretty boring too). We sat and chatted for a while, but all things must come to an end, and we eventually headed home.
This morning started with some of that delicious Moroccan bread, and then another walk around the neighborhood, as the weather was again gorgeous. Around noon I said my thank-yous to his family (in English and Arabic) and hit the road, driving straight through to Whitesboro, encountering no hitches. So here I am, back where it all began, having come from where my life as a young adult began. Some aspects of Buffalo suck, like the winter weather, but even so I am always going to be fond of that place, in particular the campus area, but most especially the people I met there. I will definitely be going back again soon.
Remember, be sure to look for a review of Contagion here later.
Anyway, I arrived Thursday after leaving directly from work, and the evening in Buffalo was gorgeous. Otto and I walked around his neighborhood and caught up on each other's goings-on, eventually making our way to a large Japanese garden that I didn't even know existed (most of my time at UB was spent on the campus in Amherst, a suburb of Buffalo. Otto lives in Buffalo proper, so much of this was new to me. Yes, in my four years there, I didn't do much venturing into Buffalo). Later, after dark had set in, we stopped in at a favorite Buffalo eatery of mine, Jim's Steakout, home to everything bad for the human body. We split a Stinger, a sub with chopped steak and chicken finger on it, along with cheese and bleu cheese. All healthy for you. It was good to be back in Buffalo.
Friday was our Toronto day. Otto invited a friend of his, Saleh, to come along with us. Saleh, who was born in Yemen, was the driver. He and I hit it off immediately, we have similar interests and, more importantly, similar senses of humor. The drive went quick, and soon we found ourselves shelling out for parking in the bustling city. Our main destination was the top of the CN Tower, and that is where we ended up, snapping photos of the panorama of Toronto offered by the tower's viewing platform. There were some old ladies from the Red Hat Society up there (apparently that group is allowed to roam around freely, scary stuff), who took a liking to Otto, and had some photos taken with him. The man, it has to be said, is a pimp. That is, of course, if you like over the age of 60, overweight, and wearing clothing that would make Liberace say "oh dear Christ".
After the CN Tower we walked along Yonge Street, the longest street in the World, up to Eaton Centre, Toronto's shopping district. There we grabbed something to eat and moseyed about, eventually having to head back to the car to avoid having to pay more. We didn't have much time, as Saleh had to work the next day, so we drove around some more, venturing further up Yonge Street, before heading for the border. We were only in the city for about 5 or 6 hours, but since it has been more that 15 years since I had been there, I had to see Toronto again. Nevertheless, we vowed to return soon, next time to check out the ethnic neighborhoods. At the border, as was expected, we were hassled. With two Arabs in the car and near the anniversary of 9/11, it was no surprise that the "random" inspection found its way to us. The customs officials kept us around for about half-an-hour, having us wait in one of the buildings while they searched the car. After not finding anything of interest, we were free to go, and eventually made it back to Buffalo after ten.
Otto decided he was hungry all of the sudden, so we stopped at a Chinese place, creatively named Great Wall, on Elmwood Ave. Elmwood I was familiar with, I had been on this street before. It is a bastion of bohemianism in the rapidly crumbing Buffalo. The street is lined with restaurants, boutiques, and coffee shops, and draws out late-night revelers on the weekend. Unfortunately some frat houses have also popped up on the street, adding some douche-baggery to the atmosphere. We cracked jokes and swapped stories over some sesame chicken, occasionally casting a glance at the potpourri of people walking by the restaurant through its big glass window. After filling up, we strolled the street for a few minutes, sharing the street with people out on the town, young and old, as well as some homeless dudes mumbling to themselves. The bums all seemed to know each-other, which is pretty cool....I guess.
Even as the hour approached midnight, Otto wasn't done yet, and convinced us that we should see a movie. We caught the midnight showing of Contagion, which I will be posting up the review for tomorrow. Be sure to look for it. After that, we had to call it a night, finally retiring after two in the morning.
Yesterday was my day to see some other friendly faces. I met with a Chinese professor/friend on campus, and spent nearly three hours with him. He was never actually my Chinese teacher, but we got to know each other quite well, as I was always hanging out at the TA sessions to practice. After that, I drove to my friend Davon's house. Davon was my roommate in China, and we have been good friends for some time. I hadn't seen him since I left China, so it was great to see him again, though we have corresponded pretty regularly online. We too chatted for hours about politics, future plans, and travel. A good conversation, one I plan to have again soon. I still wasn't done, as I had to see my old pal Nick. He was actually on campus watching the UB football game, but left to meet up with me. We shared a dinner of buffalo wings and roast beef on weck, topping off what was becoming a very unhealthy weekend.
Saturday finished with myself and Otto heading out again to Elmwood, first driving around downtown for some time and then taking an outdoor table at one of his favorite coffee shops, me drinking an orange juice (I know, I know, I am very boring but it was too warm to go for a coffee or some other crazy hot drink. Next time), and him a soda (that is pretty boring too). We sat and chatted for a while, but all things must come to an end, and we eventually headed home.
This morning started with some of that delicious Moroccan bread, and then another walk around the neighborhood, as the weather was again gorgeous. Around noon I said my thank-yous to his family (in English and Arabic) and hit the road, driving straight through to Whitesboro, encountering no hitches. So here I am, back where it all began, having come from where my life as a young adult began. Some aspects of Buffalo suck, like the winter weather, but even so I am always going to be fond of that place, in particular the campus area, but most especially the people I met there. I will definitely be going back again soon.
Remember, be sure to look for a review of Contagion here later.
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