Stony Brook!

The summer program at SLAC ended. My final report was submitted, my talk was delivered, my checks picked up.

Around 7:30 AM I was already on my way to the San Francisco Airport. Breakfast was fun and yummy. Security checkout was better than I thought. My flight took off around 12:00 M (pacific time) and landed just after 8:00 PM, I think... (eastern time). It was a surprisingly long walk from the terminal I got off to the baggage claim room. Then the bags were delayed a bit, maybe because of the fact that there were other flights at the same time. I think I got to Airtrain around 9:20 PM. It was really confusing and it turned out that I got into the wrong train once. After a quick change in direction (a tad annoying with all my heavy suitcases), I got to Jamaica Station. Kind of annoying that you have to pay ($5) to actually get out of the station and transfer to the other train systems. When I finally got to the train tracks, I got even more confused and desperate about which train to take. It was 9:44 PM and there was a train on track 7 (or 6?). For some reason I thought it was the one I wanted and rushed to it, jumping down the stairs with my own luggage train. I missed the train, for a good reason: It was not. I went up, this time using the automatic staircase, and asked around for the correct train. It was 9:50 PM and the guy at the information office told me that the next train would be at 11:03 PM. I was depressed :-(.

I remembered that to get to Stony Brook one had to transfer in Huntington or Hicksville. The next train that was coming was headed to Huntington so I took it around 10:04 PM. It was quite a long ride. I got to Huntington at 10:45 PM and had to wait until 11:51 PM for the next train to Port Jefferson. While I was there I met a guy called Steve who spent most of the time writing on a piece of papers. He seemed really concentrate, so I figured not to ask. Also, something along the train tracks catch fire. After a couple of minutes it was put down. The train was on time, and Steve helped me find a less empty train car and also helped with my heavy bags. I got to Stony Brook but did not bother to check the time, it was late enough for me, and for such a long day. Steve came to help, but I already had the bags outside the train. He was heading to Port Jefferson. Thank you Steve!

Many got off at the Stony Brook station, but none seemed to head in my direction. I checked a map, compared it to the one I had and decided to start walking. I had a hunch I was heading the wrong way, and gave a second look to the map after a couple of steps. I turned 180 degrees, and started walking toward the Schomburg apartments. Another fellow, I believe he was called Frederick, help me as I got closer to the apartment complex. We went to the quad office, but the person waiting was in the commons. She is really nice. I finally got into my room. After settling down, I took a shower and finally crashed on the bed, without a pillow :-(.

Welcome to gradschool :-).