Back in NY

I always go through a day or 2 of culture shock when I return home to New York for a visit. Ok, well maybe not a shock, but more like a mini-jolt. This includes various random observations and events like:

-Why are my floors so cold? Maybe I need to turn up the heat.
-Oh my god! They sell granola! I need to buy some now!
-Waiting for the back door of the bus to open by itself when I want to get off. Then feeling like a total tourist numskull when a stranger says, "Um, you need to push it."
-Reminding myself to say "Excuse me" when I push past people in the supermarket and the subway.
-Re-learning how to cross the street properly, which means whenever I want and wherever I want! The pedestrian is king in NY!
-Having random small-talk conversations with store cashiers, waitstaff, taxi drivers and thinking how nice it is to be able to do that -- it kind of rounds out the day pleasantly.

I'm here in NY for 6 weeks! Unfortunately I arrived at the worst possible time and place -- in the middle of a snowstorm, at Newark Airport. Getting into the city was hell, and the roads have been icy for days. But now I'm cozily encamped at my parent's house, getting pampered and stuffed with great mom-cooked food, stuffing some lai-see envelopes with dollars for the little ones, ready to celebrate the new piggy year.

Gung hay fat choy, everybody!