To be a guest at Robin’s place was a warm welcome to NYC for me. I won’t forget where and with whom I started my adventure in the US. Situated in the nice and lively area between Bushwick and Bed-Stuy, the flat was much more than just a room to stay for the night. In fact, Robin provided everything as a guide (rather: a mentor) to the neighborhood and the real culture of Brooklyn. As promised in the ad, Robin and Roland’s flat was full of books, opinions, advices, experiences, and culture – both written (most of them in longhand, taped with love to wherever your eyes turned to, from doors to walls to kitchen cabinets to chairs on the rooftop) and spoken out loud whenever you started a conversation with Robin. I really liked it!!! (and will miss it soon, I expect)
But the most important thing of all: Robin herself was an inspiring source and conversation partner of almost all issues of NY’s and American Culture. She gives you something you wouldn’t experience when you just follow the must-sees of the travel agencies or the advices of the media. Open your ears and heart and you will be rewarded with something great!
Like life itself, not everything was perfect: there were some recognizable discrepancies between insulation and heating, which seems to be an issue not uncommon in the land of power and power consumption. But I think Robin will raise her voice for that too, though it might need some time till this change of mind will show up in real buildings.
Last but not least, an all-clear signal: I was a bit scared about the bed first and spent my first nights on the ground floor. Later, I dared to sleep on the loft. Even though I could never get rid of the fear to die due to my nightly movements, it didn’t happen. Fortunately.