Welcome

Formerly titled "The Traveling Job Coach" and then "The Traveling Athletic Director," this blog is
for me and my memory because it's not very good.
My memory is not very good. See what I mean?

This blog has also morphed into a place for me to share my thoughts on life and how I see the world.
These thoughts often bubble to the surface during my travels.

I don't concern myself with grammar. This is simply a place for me to record my memories,
thoughts and feelings while I travel.

I started this blog before my trip to Europe July 10-24, 2009. Email me at brosefield@gmail.com
whilst I'm traveling or comment on posts here if you see something that
strikes your fancy.

Yes, I used the words whilst and fancy in the same paragraph.

Monday, May 28, 2018

Kosher Coffee and a Syrian Haircut

All bull crap aside, has there ever been such a title in the history of writing as the one above?  I didn't think so.  Thanks for checking though. 

What a cool day I've had so far.  I got dropped off early this morning in the middle of Jewish Brooklyn again, struck up a conversation with a local named Jay(by his own admission his name is quite plain compared to most everyone else in that area.....see: http://www.aish.com/jl/l/b/48967016.html?mobile=yes), grabbed a cup of coffee with said local Jew named Jay, walked the streets of Brooklyn (Ocean Parkway is beautiful), grabbed an espresso after being told that the Green Tea Latte listed on the menu wasn't available(a little bummed about that), walked more streets of Brooklyn, bought a banana for $.25(apparently this was the fruit stand owner's first Day and he didn't realize he could charge $12.45 for that banana, walked back toward Ocean Parkway and had the HAIRCUT OF MY LIFE.  

Wow.  Wasim the Syrian Barber.  Where do I begin?  Without a doubt sitting with him for 30 minutes was the best haircut of my life.  He washed my hair, tried to troubleshoot my significant receding hairline, and cut my hair like Picasso painted or Lou Bezjak tweets.  What a masterful job he did.   And for $20 only.  I gave him $23 (as that was all I had left) and he said "$20 only."  I said, "I know.  I'm giving you $23."  

What a great guy though.  It took a little bit for him to tell me he was from Syria.  And understandably his response to my standard question of "do you get home often" was met with "mehhhhh Syria is not a good place right now."  I surely knew that and maybe reading the news more would help me not out my size 10.5 in my mouth so often.  

But anyway, it was interesting to hear him talk about the challenges and expense of living and working in Brooklyn.  $2,000 for a one bedroom apartment.  Yikes.  He had a genuine interest in SC as he wants to leave the city at some point.  So it was cool to tell him about SC.  He was blown away at the size of the House one can get for around $100,000-$150,000. 

Sitting in his shop and getting my jaw busted by one of his regular customers was funny too.   Wasim(pronounced Woo-Shim) and this gentleman had a rapport that I have rarely seen saying things like:
I don't have time for you
Oh so you have time for MFers like him(of course referring to me huh

The funny thing was, when this guy pulled up on his motorcycle, Wasim said "oh boy.  Not good timing" and I thought something might really be wrong.  Like maybe Wasim needed to pony up some dough or something.  

Thank you Wasim for a wonderful experience.  

I then took the train back to, what I thought was near my hotel.  However I got off one stop too soon and had to take an Uber back to the hotel.  This ride with another Dominican and was yet again a wonderful experience.  All three Dominican drivers I had were delightful.  

Since my flight got delayed I had the chance to shower one more time and grab some food up the street at 55 Fulton.  Wow.  Amazing choices and pretty good.  $17 for a meal like that I thought was pretty reasonable for NYC. 

And so ends another trek.  This one was different in a lot of ways.   I only got to see Leslie one day and I'm thankful to have spent the time I did with her.  The Yankees game and hanging with Blas and family was fun as always.  I spent more time by myself than I anticipated, however that was cool as I got to meet some really friendly people.  I was reminded yet again that I love talking with people and meeting people and more than that, finding out more about what makes people tick. 

Until next time!

















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