New York, New York. ♥

Start spreading the news, I’m leaving today
I want to be a part of it – New York, New York
These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it – New York, New York

I miss New York.

I miss the feeling of being free – of being let loose in a stranger city with my friends and not knowing where anything is but willing to figure it all out.

I miss the bus rides, getting carsick from staring at too many DS screens, sleeping on shoulders. I miss sneaking into other rooms before curfew, taking turns for the shower, going through my suitcase and wondering what I would wear the next day. I miss taking care of everyone; raising my hand in the middle of the sidewalk whenever Becca, Winsane &I got separated from the crowds and needed to find one another; making breakfast for the boys, carrying it up the elevator and getting stares, knocking on their door until they woke up with twenty minutes to get ready to leave.

I miss walking through the pouring rain, looking for the perfect shoes because Becca forgot hers at home. I miss feeling the water soaking into my flats, and then not feeling the sloshing water anymore because I had gotten used to it.

I miss taking a picture of every passing Starbucks, then having Ariane and Mme. Fournier help point them out as we passed: “Leelee! Y’a un Starbucks là! Vite avant que tu le manques!”

I remember planning the big BUS B SURPRISE!, and just saying the first ideas that ran through my head. It was the end of the day so while most of the bus was asleep, the other handful of people was so tired and acting silly that they laughed along and started coming up with ridiculous ideas too. There was brainstorming of having food fights, of ignoring Bus A, of only answering to certain names… I think there was also talk of cannibalism? I honestly can’t remember that much; it would have been top if someone had recorded that conversation.
In the end we bought I♥NY shirts and sang ‘New York, New York’ in the park in front of Bus A. We learnt the lines and practiced the performance in the street on our way to the park, and my heart did somersaults as we approached the other group. M. Rose ended up filming us so he couldn’t sing along, but at least we have footage of our ‘winning’ achievement. I loved it when M. Gendron sang the second part of the song solo, everyone cheering him on with smiles and laughter. At that moment, I swear Bus B was on top of the world. (:

The bus rides were inarguably the best part of the trip, hands down. I remember watching L’Auberge Espagnole and not understanding a single word but still falling in love with it by the end. (: I remember raising my hands when we went through the tunnel and looking back to see a sea of arms greeting me. Only a handful of people ever saw the dividing line, but it was fun trying to look for it every time.

I remember the last day of the trip, on our way back home… everyone had gotten a chocolate Kiss from Mr.Chassé already, and Ariane and the teachers were deciding what to do with the four, five that was left. Mme. Fournier got up and – I can remember this so well, this moment defined so clearly in my memory – she handed me a chocolate Kiss and said “Particulièrement.” with the sincerest of smiles. They probably don’t realize how much that simple gesture meant, but if I were to be completely honest… I wouldn’t trade that memory for the world. I just felt so… appreciated and I know it must sound silly – who cries over a piece of chocolate? – but it was nice to be ‘recognized’ as someone worth something, anything. I don’t think I could ever fully express what I was feeling and thinking at that moment, or properly give my thanks, mais il reste que j’ai encore le petit chocolat et que je l’ai mis sur mon bureau dès que j’ai rentré chez moi. (:

J’adore Nouille York. ♥
Je me souviens! Hahaha. (:

PS : I am so wearing my I♥NY shirt to sleep tonight. <3 I miss you all.
Happy dreaming tonight. (: