I've had the same chunky red Samsung phone for more than four years, sticking with it while friends have moved on to RAZRs, Blackberrys and iPhones. The poor thing can barely send text messages nowadays, let alone surf the net. Which is a shame, because I would have been posting dozens of Facebook status updates this weekend during my fall break trip to New York.
I went to NYC for four days to visit my (much) older brother and his kids, to see some old friends, and to tour the big city. It was incredible! Fantastic! Amazing! Astounding! Every ecstatic adjective you can think of. The trip was inspired by an offer from Jacques Steinberg, the New York Times reporter who interviewed me in August. Since I showed him around Hendrix for the
article about campus tours, he offered to show me around the Times offices if I was ever in New York. Considering that I am a
huge NYT fan, I figured I should take advantage of the opportunity. So I booked a flight. Best decision ever!
The following is an approximation of the status updates I would have left during this amazing, hectic weekend, if I had had a smartphone.
WEDNESDAY
Katie Rice has an awesome boss, who is driving her to the airport.
Katie Rice just shocked some New Yorkers by stopping them to ask, "Do y'all know which way 9th Avenue is from here?" Arkansas has really rubbed off on me.
Katie Rice loves hostels! Six strangers, in three bunk beds, in one tiny room. Welcome to New York!
THURSDAY
Katie Rice bought a New York Times in New York City, and is savoring it over a cup of Earl Gray and a bagel. This is happiness.
Katie Rice walked 8 blocks to get to someplace one block away. Doh!
Katie Rice is standing outside the New York Times building! And has a reason to go inside! Oh wonder of wonders!
Katie Rice is ascending to the third floor, in the coolest elevator ever!
Katie Rice is impressed with the NYT cafeteria and wonders if Mark Bittman gives them pointers.
Katie Rice wants to buy her sister a book about maps as art. Actually, I just want to buy everything in the New York City Public Library's gift shop.
Katie Rice loves fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt, which reminds her of childhood.
Katie Rice gets to finally meet someone she talked to on the phone once, four years ago.
Katie Rice is really accumulating business cards. Newest addition, a Business Week writer who just walked by.
Katie Rice JUST RAN INTO BEA ROGER ON THE STREET -- a fellow Hendrixian in NYC. How random!
Katie Rice respects the way the world brings old acquaintances back together.
Katie Rice really loves Cuban food -- and drink. ¡Viva Café Habana!
Katie Rice thinks New Yorkers are a lot friendlier than people say.
Katie Rice can't stop looking at the way everyone here dresses. They are an inspiration!
Katie Rice wouldn't mind if it stopped raining.
Katie Rice could really live here.
FRIDAY
Katie Rice just went to the Museo del Barrio ... which doesn't re-open til tomorrow. Oops.
Katie Rice is eating sushi on a park bench in the cold. Cheapest NYC meal yet.
Katie Rice is back in front of the NYT building. Two tours of the NYT office in two days. Not too shabby.
Katie Rice would like to give a shout-out to Hendrix alum Scott Christie for putting her in touch with Jan Cottingham. And to Jan for putting her in touch with NYT reporter Steve Kenny. So this is how networking works.
Katie Rice is astounded that NYT reporters are so friendly!
Katie Rice just met a University of Central Arkansas alum working at the Times. His band got booed off stage at the VFW back in the day, for playing war protest songs. Sweet!
Katie Rice just found out that the nameplate and bylines of the New York Times used to end with a period. E.g., "The New York Times." and "By Arthur Krock."
Katie Rice now owns a 1999 copy of the New York Times Manual of Style and Usage!!!!! And a coffee mug with the NYT logo. My excitement betrays my nerdiness.
Katie Rice just had an "informational interview" with the head of clerks -- the guy who will one day read her resume. Is it too soon to start praying for a job?
Katie Rice feels like she's in a movie, meeting up with an old friend by walking toward him in a crowded city.
Katie Rice just ended up in Brooklyn by accident.
Katie Rice is probably the least cool person in this lounge bar, but is digging the music.
SATURDAY
Katie Rice cannot force her feet to walk around again in high-heeled boots. But she has no other choice. Poor planning.
Katie Rice is drinking tea with almond milk. Delicious! These are the benefits of staying in a sketchy Chinatown hotel.
Katie Rice: second choice career path: oral historian.
Katie Rice is looking at the WTC site, recalling Art Spiegelman's book.
Katie Rice is dining off Wall Street. I can't believe the stuff this stock broker sitting next to us is saying about how he uses his millions.
Katie Rice has run into yet another Hendrix student on fall break!
Katie Rice wants all bars to be like this. Dark, grungy, and filled with middle-aged men watching baseball. And with great beer.
Katie Rice doesn't want to be awed by the lights of Times Square, but she is.
SUNDAY
Katie Rice almost missed her plane, after sleeping through her alarm and taking a mad taxi ride to the airport. Phew.
Katie Rice can fall asleep anytime, anywhere. Except during paid sleep studies and on her 6 a.m. flight. Grr.
Katie Rice wants to know what kind of drug Delta puts in the delicious ginger snap cookies they hand out in-flight.
Katie Rice is home again, home again. Ready for bed.