Hoboken, USA -- This post is dedicated to all the people who told me that it will just be a lovely 15-minute walk from 6th street to Newport city.  There's a special place for you in the fiery dungeons beneath the earth.

Keys
It's another day at the ICSB Academy! Except I got a bit of a problem. (again) I don't have the keys. They told me that they left my card key at Westin Hotel in Newport City. "It will be a lovely 15-minute walk downtown'' as I was advised. After my class at the Babbio Center, I went to my dorm to get another layer of clothes and went out. I was walking tirelessly and got to the point wherein I realized that I was moving slowly in the map.

Walking for more than 40 minutes now, I got to the point where I'd slash my money for a cab. I asked a very kind gentleman at the carwash and he said that there's no random cab for hire at the streets. He said I was very far away from Westin Hotel. A walk that would cost me another hour.

Now I don't want to fill this post with rants but it was truly a painful experience.  But along the way, I've seen so much, experienced so much and understood so much. I got to see Carlo's Bakeshop with his famous cakes and goodies! I was overwhelmed by the vintage color combinations in Washington Street at Hoboken, as if it was cleverly orchestrated. It was a beauty by itself! Even the 7-11 looked vintage with its pastel colors and brass lamps. The dentist's clinic looked super fancy schmancy. It was a difficult walk -- but a surprisingly pleasurable walk!

Westin
It was almost 2 hours and I've finally arrived at the Westin New Jersey. To make things worse, I forgot my ID. What if they ask me for an identification card? I couldn't possibly go back and try again tomorrow?! But then I realized that my LPU card was at the back of my planner and eventually thanked God a million times.

I got the dorm keys and finally, I could now rest in peace. No wait...now I need to go back. Long story short: Got a 10-dollar cab at the concierge, dropped off at the best pizza place and went back at the dorm with a happy tummy and an immobile pair of legs.

Hoboken, USA -- I've finally arrived!

It was 1:00 in the morning. While I was walking to the nearest building, I saw the breathtaking New York skyline across the Hudson river.

Welcome to the Stevens Institute of Technology!

I rushed to the admin hall and asked for the dormitory keys under my name. Unfortunately, the university concierge didn't have the list. I know what you're thinking; as if I hadn't enough bad luck for today. I stayed for almost an hour at the lobby with the officer-in-charge and we weren't able to find the keys or the list anywhere. I searched my mac, contacted almost every organizers at 2:00 in the morning (sorry) and felt that I could just honestly sleep at the lobby couch for the night cause I'm DEAD tired.

The thing is, Officer McCauley just needed to see the list so that he could just escort me to the dormitory hall and get myself some sleep. Catch: I downloaded every single document and guide the ICSB sent me except for the room assignment list and I could've sworn that sometimes, life really wants to play with you. I prayed several times and waited for any reply from the organizers. After hirty minutes, we got a go signal. (God bless your kind soul, human.)

The officer called someone to help me get inside the dormitory. I passed the well-lit hallway with the vivid turquoise doors to room 101. Michael (the other winner at the World Bank Business Competition -- Jury's Choice Award) was already asleep. I was just exhausted and the next thing I did was hit my head at the pillows. While I'm about to fall asleep, I realized that I've downloaded the excel file of the room assignments in my dropbox app. Yes, I shall soon punish myself for my feeble-mindedness.

I slowly lifted my eyelids as the rays of sunshine shone directly to my left eye. It was 6 in the morning; and I've been forever ready for this moment! (At least for all the things that happened to me before I got here) I was ecstatic and I couldn't wait to kick the day with a new breath of positivity! Carpe diem! (to be continued)

New York, USA -- I finally arrived at the Port Authority Bus Terminal! Good heavens! We rushed to the gates and asked for directions at the counter. I was instructed to go to bus route 126 at Gate 323 (PABT-Hoboken, New Jersey 12PM)

Long story short, we dazzled upon the maze-like gates inside the terminals. I went crazy with the broken escalators (I mean really? I got two huge suitcases y'all!) I had to bring it upstairs and cry ever-so-slightly until we reach the third floor. The NYPD were very kind and they gave us the directions for our specific gates. Up to this point I still don't know why we were running.

When we got the the ticket booth, my friend realized that he'll be staying for a night at the terminal since the next bus will arrive at 8AM the next day. I still have a bus going to Hoboken after an hour. So we shook hands, gave each other's business cards and hope we could connect later in the virtual world! Thank you Jasurbek!

And so I'm alone; everything went slow again. I got to the point where I was going in circles; they just kept giving me the wrong directions! It's almost 12AM and I'm still not at the correct gate. An officer was nearby and I went to her for help. Fortunately, she assisted me with the ticket dispenser and was finally at the waiting area.

While waiting for the bus, I was so lucky to connect to the terminal's wifi. There was definitely no time to spare as I searched for the maps and directions at the terminal's website. When the bus arrived, I got the chills again. I STILL DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO.

While I knew the location I'm bound to go, a first time visitor wouldn't obviously know where in 9th street Washington Av. would you specifically go. Poor Adam flashing the maps across his face and praying for the best.

Then there's this lady beside me who told me to not use my phone as long as she's there. Just when you thought that you've already had enough confusion, poof! Voila. I'm assuming that she's not allowed with too much light? (I really don't know)

I told her that I was lost and I needed to look at the maps to keep track. She said, "Oh you're lost? Well where are you going my dear?" I said I needed to go to 9th street. "Oh don't you worry!", she exclaimed. "I'll tell you when you need to go down. It's a lovely place! You'll feel the breeze in your face uphill."

While I was already super thankful for being saved from my worries, I was kinda worried what she meant by "uphill."

It's time -- 8th street and I'm off! I have bidden farewell to the surprisingly kind lady and got off the bus. It was awfully quiet and dark; I thought I was at an abandoned village with vintage looking  dollhouses. It was nerve-racking. I could've sworn that I was the only person walking in Hoboken at that hour. My maps was obviously not loading and there was no single human whom I could talk to.

I was praying and walking and praying and walking (you get the drill) until I stumbled upon a dormitory with two guys listening to some loud music. I yelled from the outside and I felt like I scared them (lol). I mean, what would you feel hearing voices from the window at 1:30 in the morning? They replied, "Hello, who's there?" like I'm some kind of a telephone call. But then I replied that I was outside their window and was terribly lost at that moment. They told me that Stevens Institute of Technology was just straight ahead and it was already there after a 2-minute walk!

After a few steps uphill, I felt the breeze from the Hudson river. There was a huge open gate as if it was waiting for my arrival!

I AM HERE. I couldn't believe my eyes. I was facing the golden New York Skyline. T'was truly majestic! I could sit there all night.

Right off the bat, I was about to produce man tears.

TIP: Choose an earlier flight.