Day 0: CIA Boot Camp
It’s 10 PM New York time, and I’m watching the clock with increasing agitation since I have to be up at 5 AM tomorrow morning for a 6 AM orientation meeting. This wouldn’t normally be such a big deal, but after being up at 3:30 AM this morning to catch my flight from San Francisco to JFK airport in New York City, it’s clear that I’m sleep deficient even on Day 0. Regardless, the day has finally arrived. Boot Camp is about to begin!
An uneventful flight, some mild panic getting across Manhattan, a pleasant drive through upstate New York to Hyde Park (within spitting distance of Poughkeepsie, if that helps), and I arrive starving at the Inn At The Falls, a nice, but free-of-all-frills-including-room-service hotel located 10 miles southeast of the Culinary Institute. But, first things first! A drive to the CIA to get acclimated: the school is calm, with “kids” hanging out on a quiet campus that is bordered by the wide and imposing Hudson River and populated with historic looking brick buildings.
Then, time to stock up on the essentials: a fine bottle of Oban single malt scotch from a liquor store literally within 2 minutes of closing! That’s Karma, baby. It’s going to be a good week – stay tuned!
– Chris
