Moving to the other side of the Earth

The best part of living in NYC is the people. If you aren’t meeting new people everyday, you are wasting your time here. When I move to a new neighborhood, part of my adjustment period is finding my regulars. The people I see everyday, that will become the foundation of my life. They become part of my routine, no matter how annoying. I have found a few in Washington Heights. There’s Rasputin and Amelia Earhart, the newspaper guy with the Lion King voice and Julio the Super.

I met Julio on one of my visits to measure my new apartment. I was walking back to the subway when he stopped me on the sidewalk. Julio is an attractive middle-aged man with a full head of silver-grey hair.

Julio: Habla espanol.
Me:Un poquito
Julio: Usted Dominicana?
Me: No

Now that I live in a Dominican area, everyone thinks I am Dominican. Unfortunately, my high school Spanish doesn’t get me very far. I get the sideeye more often than not, like I am letting my people down. I see the disgust in their faces. There is usually some awkward exchange where I try to explain that I am black from the midwest in broken Spanish.  Sometimes people believe me and sometimes they don’t, but that’s not the point of this story. Back to Julio.

Julio: My name is Julio. You live here now? I haven’t seen you around before.
Me: Almost, I am Cara.
Julio: Well, I am the super for this building right here.
Me: Ok great
Julio: Where do you live?
Me: Over there.  (I point down the hill, but without a definitive direction.)
Julio: Oh on Fort Washington?
Me: Yes, near there. (Which is the truth, but not really specific.)
Julio: Can I get your phone number? (Julio is very clearly wearing a wedding ring.)
Me: Oh I have a boyfriend
Julio: But we could just be friends (Friends=Booty Call)
Me: Um I don’t think my boyfriend would appreciate me giving you my phone number. But it was lovely meeting you.
Julio: Oh,ok
Me: Bye
Julio: See you soon.

I walked away knowing that Julio was still staring at me and that we were going to have similar conversations in the future. I wasn’t wrong.

Three weeks after I moved in, I met Julio again.  I was rushing to the subway on my way to work, per usual. The garbage was lining the streets and the trash truck was slowly picking up all the old furniture and rotting trash from the weekend. I looked over and caught eyes with a portly black man in a building uniform.  I smiled and kept walking.  He ran over and stood in my path.

Derrick: Hi, I am Derrick
Me: Nice to meet you, I am Cara.

Then Julio ran up from out of nowhere and stood next to Derrick and then I realized what happened.  I had been trapped.  Derrick was sent by Julio to stop me until he could get there. Derrick is Julio’s assistant in the building as well as in trapping ladies on the street.

Julio:  Hi, remember me?  We met a couple of weeks ago.
Me: Yes, how are you?
(Derrick was standing there with a stupid grin on his face just staring at me.)
Julio: Great! You moved in?

Me: Yes, thank you. It was great seeing you.  I am a little late to work.
Julio: Well see you soon.

I ran down the block to the subway station and that little exchange caused me to miss the train. I watched as my dreams of being on time, pull out of the station.

This week I ran into Julio again.  I often wear my noise canceling headphones to block out the outside world. They are usually my protection.  I was almost at the entrance of subway when I felt someone next to me.  I looked to my left and Julio was walking with me trying to get my attention.  I jumped a little and took off my headphones.

Julio: I have been calling you.
Me: I can’t hear anything with these on.
Julio: Are you on your way to work?
Me: Yes
I kept walking, because I was really late. (Disclaimer:I had been working since 7am.)
Julio: Ok, I will catch you on the way back. When will you be back here?
Me: Oh 6 or 7.
Julio: Ok, well I will see you then.
Me: Ok

I get home at 8pm and had no intention of meeting Julio on the way back. But, I am sure I will see Julio a lot while I live here.