When the City Speaks Louder Than You Expect

Brooklyn weekends are usually all laughter, coffee runs, and the kind of chaos that only happens when I’m with my forever friend and the MTA decides to test my patience. But this one? This one came with a plot twist.

I went to visit my forever friend at her new apartment in Brooklyn and if you know me, you know I got lost getting there. When in doubt, call an Uber. Finally made it to her place (which, by the way, was super cute) and we decided to explore Brooklyn the way Brooklyn should be explored.

We tried Citi Biking to the park but of course, had a little hiccup. So, we walked all the way to Prospect Park, chips in hand, chatting about life when suddenly, this random lady walks right up to my face and says,

“Go back to your country.”

My friend and I froze, half-shocked and half laughing in disbelief. Like… ma’am? That was not on my Brooklyn bingo card. It was unnecessary and ugly a reminder of how politics and ignorance can still make people feel unsafe just existing outside. But we refused to let that moment ruin our day.

After we made it to the park, we walked around, took pictures, and soaked up the peace and nature tucked inside all the city noise. When we left, hunger hit and we wandered into Cornbread, where we absolutely devoured fried chicken, fried catfish, and mac & cheese. (10/10, highly recommend.)

But apparently, Brooklyn chaos wasn’t done with us yet. On our walk back, a guy said “hi” to my friend and suddenly another woman decided to start yelling about, “We’ve been here for 30 years!” Like… what?? The vibe was off. Maybe it was tension around gentrification, maybe just bad energy in the air. Either way, I get it people want to protect their neighborhoods. But that doesn’t excuse rudeness toward strangers just minding their business.

Through it all, my friend and I handled everything like the resilient angels we are.

The next day, Sunday was smooth brunch with her roommate and her friend, some football, lots of laughs, and of course pasta and wine to end the weekend before I headed back home to Jersey.

It was chaotic, yes but also real, beautiful, and unforgettable. Brooklyn always gives you a little bit of everything, even when you didn’t ask for it.