Frankenstorm

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few weeks you know at least two things. 

1. The election season was extremely dramatic, and at last, has come to close 

2. Hurricane Sandy hit the New York area at the beginning of last week and wreaked havoc in the northeast. 

Actually, hurricane is a bit of an understatement. The media is, and rightfully so, now calling it "Superstorm Sandy". For those of you who haven't been paying too much attention to the climactic issues of the Northeast, Sandy was a combination of a hurricane that hit the Tri-state area from directly off the water that met up with a nor'easter that met up with a snowstorm coming in from the west. That's a total of 3 storms combined into one large Sandy. 

In the days before Sandy hit New York, as anyone would expect, went along with its busy life as New York always does. I felt like I was one of 6 people in the entire city that was freaking out about the storm. (I say that because Sandy was my first hurricane. I had no idea what to expect.) The news and NYU email blasts told us to stock up on water, flashlights, and non-perishable food items as they always do for any storm, so I went to Duane Reade with every intent of buying a stock of food and water to feed an entire village. I walked out of Duane Reade with some Pretzel m&ms, goldfish, chips, water, snickers, a magazine, and two jars of Nutella. In my defense it was the weekend before halloween so all of the candy lay neatly in their display at the front of the store. I'd like to see you try to walk by that without grabbing some. Also, I had just eaten dinner so my mind really wasn't thinking about the meals I would make myself during the coming apocalypse, just the desserts I would enjoy. Hey, at least I bought some water! 

Sunday morning I woke up to find New York in a frenzy. Yes, New York is always moving, but not like this. People were walking faster than usual, leaves were not in their usual spots on their trees, and the New York Times notification on my phone said that the subways would be closing at 7pm. It was then that I realized the rest of the city had finally reached my level of panic. Fast forward a couple hours and I get an email from NYU itself saying that classes would be cancelled on Monday. Like any other student I began to do a little celebration jig and plan out the rest of my newly extended weekend. This email was cause enough to make me forget about the seriousness of the impending storm. I began to sing "Sandy" from the blockbuster musical, "Grease" in my head on repeat. Images of rehearsals and performances of Annie flashed in my head. Every pop-culture reference I could think of that related to the storm was on my mind. I had a clear plan. I would sit tight in my bed, watch something on Netflix, and ride out the storm.

About an hour later I got a text from my roommate that said, "The storm's gonna be really bad. I'm going home. My mom says you're coming," followed by one that said, "our train leaves at 2:50." I looked at my clock and saw that it was 2:00. Like any New Yorker under pressure the first thing I thought was, "I need a bagel." Luckily for me, I happen to live in a building that has a bagel shop right downstairs. I went back to my room and started throwing items of clothing into my bag. I didn't know how long to pack for, but I thought clothing for 2 days will be fine. Naturally, when I think of 2 days, I think of 4 outfits. 2 for each day. With my bag all packed and my bagel in hand, my roommate, Jake, and I got in a cab and headed to Penn Station. We were lucky to get on the train a mere 20 seconds before the doors closed and the train took off for Long Island. The train ride wasn't too bad - mostly because I had a warm bagel, some apple juice, and a refreshed twitter feed that could last me at least 10 minutes. 

After arriving at Jake's house I was given a grand tour - of his house, and his town. While driving around I noticed that everything was closed and it wasn't even 6:00 yet. It really seemed like people were taking this seriously now. We picked up a friend of Jake's that was being evacuated for the storm, headed back to his house, and ate dinner. My first night away was spent watching movies and sleeping. 

It wasn't until mid-afternoon on Monday, the 29th of October that the storm actually started to hit. Trees fell and the wind howled. We were about 2 minutes away from the end a movie when the power went out. Conveniently, the power also went out right as the sun had disappeared behind the horizon. We were forced to spend the night bathed in candlelight and the artificial light of our cell phones that were out of service. Luckily, I've been through a few power outages before, so I knew how to conduct myself, making sure to blow out all the candles in a room before deserting it. By the time I woke up the next morning the generator at the house had been fixed. 

Later in the day on Tuesday, the day after Sandy wreaked havoc in the Northeast, we decided to take a little drive and survey the damage. After weaving through fallen trees and power lines we made it into the heart of town where few stores had power. Much to my despair, the local Starbucks was one of the unlucky establishments left without power. It wasn't until the next day that we heard of a Starbucks a few town away that had power. The inner New Yorker in me was in desperate need of anything that would keep me connected to the real world that I had lost contact with, so we made a 45 minute trek to get a cup of hot, caffeinated heaven. 

Thursday morning I decided that, as nice as it was to be somewhere where I was safe and warm, I needed to be able to have contact with my family and friends back home. Also, I just really missed the city. I was able to catch a ride into the city with Jake's sister and I set up camp at my cousin Sara's apartment in New York's Upper East Side. Uptown was a completely different world than downtown. Countless references have been made during the aftermath of this storm to Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities", and rightfully so. The cover image of The New York Magazine best describes the utter split between Upper and Lower Manhattan in the aftermath of Sandy. Downtown, home to thousands of clubs and restaurants, known for its nightlife and excitement, was left without power. Jokes were made amongst those who were safely sheltered above 39th Street that Downtown Manhattan would fall victim to anarchy before power was restored. A fate that was quite possible seeing as cell phone service was non-existent in the many neighborhoods below 39th Street. My friends that chose to remain in their dorms had to walk 30 or 40 blocks just to get cell phone service so they could call home and assure their family and friends that they were, in fact, alive and well. 

I remained in the Upper East Side where I was able to walk around amongst actual civilization and enjoy the benefits of living in the city until I received word that power was back in Lower Manhattan. I spent the Friday after the storm indulging in a healthy dose of retail therapy and coffee. These simple - or in the case of my college student-budget restricted wallet, not so simple - pleasures had a way of assuring me that all would be okay in just a matter of time. That my concrete jungle of paradise would soon be restored to its former glory. 

Saturday I received the all-clear that my residence hall was well lit and could accommodate 900 students and their electronics. I made it back down to the East Village in a cab - the subways still weren't running - and walked into my dorm room, only to find that my room was freezing. When I was given the power all clear, they forgot to mention that there was no heat or hot water. I ended up spending that night in one of my friend's room because it was about 5 degrees warmer than my own. Much to my despair, I could not take a shower in the morning, unless I wanted to turn myself into a large ice cube. My friends and I went to brunch, then I went to a local Starbucks to do some homework in a warm environment. After dinner, around 8, I ran a few errands with a few friends, which was to end in a nice hot drink from Starbucks. With an extreme amount of confidence I marched up to the door of the Starbucks I had been in earlier and began to pull on the handle. It was closed. Five hours early. The little bubble of joy inside me had burst. It seems that in the aftermath of Sandy, every store in Lower Manhattan had to shorten their hours because they had such a limited supply of food. 

As I mourned my inability to get a gingerbread latte I got a text message from my cousin, Jordan, who lives in Morningside Heights offering a place to take a hot shower and a couch to sleep on if I wanted to get away from the cold. I decided to take her up on this offer and I took what should have been a 30 minute trip on the subway up to Morningside Heights. The trip ended up being about an hour and a half because of all the subway closures in the week following the storm. I had a warm place to sleep on Sunday night and made it to class on Monday morning 

Monday night ConEdison decided to surprise my dorm building with the steam necessary to heat the building and the pipes. After 8 nights of sleeping on couches I was finally able to settle back in  my own bed. Things were getting back to normal in my area of the Village, but not necessarily in other parts of New York and New Jersey. A few days later New York was hit by a nor'easter, which resulted in the first snowstorm of the year. While everyone else was complaining about the white flakes falling from the sky and freaking out about the impending season of winter, I was outside swirling around in the snow. It was a nice reminder of home. It also didn't hurt that I've been in the holiday spirit since the beginning of October. This only validated my feelings of yuletide and joy. My rule has always been, after the first snow it becomes acceptable to openly listen to, and sing Christmas music. So that's exactly what I've been doing for the past week! Luckily, this storm did not affect the city very much. 

All that being said, I would like to take a minute to encourage all of my readers out there to pay attention to the news. There are many people who lost their homes and lives as a result of Superstorm Sandy. It is almost impossible for anyone to get gas in this area and people are still suffering. I may be okay, but that doesn't mean that everything up here is back to normal. Please, please, please consider making a donation to the Red Cross or any other organization that is helping in the recovery process. I would also like to acknowledge the amazing leadership taken by local and federal government officials in the aftermath of Sandy. While it may seem like they are not doing enough, I assure you they are working countless hours to bring relief to those affected most by the storm. Once again, please do whatever you can to help people who lost their homes and suffered horrible damages in Superstorm Sandy. Whether that is through donations to relief organizations or through your thoughts and prayers, I assure you, they deserve all the help they can get. 

Have a  great week everyone! 

Misery and Woe

Disclaimer: I apologize for the delay in this post. The chaos of life has interrupted my flow of focus. Anywho, here goes! 

Well, it’s happened at last. That dreaded thing that everyone tries to avoid by washing their hands and knocking on wood. And no matter how many times I tried to knock on wood - believe me it was a lot - it happened. I got sick. I must say, being sick in college is a whole new experience. In college, there really isn’t anyone who takes care of you and brings you soup when you need it. Nor is there someone who can be summoned with a simple cough to make sure you have everything you need. 

I came down with the flu on the last day of my fall break. The irony was just glaring me in the eye. How is it that I got really sick after an entire weekend of R&R? Well no matter how many times I asked myself that, it happened. I began to feel a tickle in my throat so I went to the nearest Duane Reade to buy everything I could to stop illness. I got Emergen-C, Airborne, DayQuil, NyQuil, Throat Coat tea, extra water. I even tried sleeping a little longer. At long last I realized that there just wasn’t anything I could do to stop nature from taking its course. I merely had to accept the fact that I contracted influenza somewhere in New York City, and it just wouldn’t let up. I came to terms with the fact that difficulty with swallowing and a runny nose meant that I was taken ill and I put my pajamas on and got in bed. I tried going to class on Wednesday morning to get the information necessary for my upcoming midterm. I do not remember ever being as miserable in one class period. I couldn’t swallow anything, it was difficult to breathe, my eyes were continually drooping, and my nose was running. Rather than give in I chose to grin and bear it. I would simply have to get through this one class, then I could head back to my dorm room and take a nice, much-needed nap. After class was over I stumbled out of the lecture hall and headed to Au Bon Pain for a cup of soup and slowly made my way back to my room. 

As I was slurping my soup and making myself more hot tea I got on my computer to seek advice from any internet source for the quickest ways to relieve myself of this horrible virus. WebMD, as always, was absolutely no help. They tried to tell me that I had a combination of the flu, strep throat, a cold, and mono. I decided to get off that site before it told me I was going to sprout warts all over my body. The NYU student health website was much more reassuring. All of my symptoms were listed under the flu. I then proceeded to find advice on how to get better. I had thought about going into the center and getting antibiotics, but the very first item listed on the ways to recover was, “Stay in bed for 24 hours.” I felt a lump in my throat as I tried desperately to swallow my chicken noodle soup. I had already skipped the first step to recovery. I then vowed to stay in bed for 24 hours. If the health clinic was telling me I needed to stay home and not go to class, then that I was exactly what I would do. 

In that 24 hours I managed to catch up on all the TV shows I had missed in the weeks before my illness, sleep a lot, and do a little bit of personal reflection. As I slowly made my way to recovery I came to realize a few things. 

1. I should really avoid other people who are sick. 

2. Being sick is really a great time to catch up on missed TV. And to discover new TV shows on Netflix. 

3. The NyQuil and DayQuil pills are giant. How do they expect people who are sick and can barely swallow to be able to swallow those giant horse pills? 

4. Being sick is actually very expensive. I must have spent about $100 on tissues, medicine, and cough drops. 

5. It is simply not in my best interest (or my wallet’s) to get sick again. I’ve really got to work on this whole “preventative” thing. 

Autumnal Recess

There comes a time every summer, usually around the beginning of August when I sit down and think to myself, “Ya know, I’m actually excited to start school; to start taking classes and to push myself to learn more.” And usually, this attitude lasts through the first two weeks of school. This year I kept this attitude longer than usual: two and a half weeks! 

Eventually there comes a point when every student, myself included, decides that classes have gone on for too long and that it is time for a break. Don’t get me wrong, I really do like my classes and I am learning a lot - I would just like to sleep. 

At last my long wanted break from classes came in the form of Fall Break. I took advantage of this time to also take a little break from the city. Don’t get me wrong, I love it here - the lights, the people, the constant ebb and flow of life - but sometimes, every once in a while, a little break is nice. On the first day of my break I went to visit a family friend in a small town in Connecticut. I woke up earlier than I usually would on a day when I don’t have classes, took the 4 train to Grand Central and got myself a train ticket to Connecticut. It was at Grand Central that I became truly thankful for New York’s endless abundance of Starbucks. Having overslept that morning I felt a little rushed and frazzled; the clear solution was to head to Starbucks and grab a nice hot latte. As always, New York did not fail me. There was a Starbucks just waiting for me as soon as I stepped into Grand Central Station. I grabbed my latte and found a nice seat on the train. The advantage to taking a one hour train ride to Connecticut was finally being able to sit down and start reading J.K. Rowling’s “The Casual Vacancy” (it’s actually quite good so far, just not for the children). 

When I finally arrived at my destination I was greeted with fresh air and an abundance of neutral-colored cars. I was almost surprised by the sudden lack of yellow automobiles weaving through traffic and cutting uncomfortably close to pedestrians. After that initial shock of being able to see over all of the buildings around me I took a moment to take in the gorgeous scenery that Connecticut has to offer. The colors of Autumn only come once a year and they are gorgeous. Here’s a little sample of what I saw. 

After a nice, relaxing day in a small town in Connecticut I headed back to the hustle and bustle that I have come to love. The rest of the break was spent catching up on my sleep, watching Harry Potter, and spending time with my friends that stayed behind for the break. Towards the end of my break I was fortunate to have been able to spend time with my friend Sydney from Denver and her mom and sister. 

Like every other student I enjoyed having time off school and time to myself. And now comes the second half of my first semester in college. Here goes.

Exploration.

“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”

T.S. Eliot 

Walking through New York is a brand new experience everyday. I never breathe the same air twice; I don’t walk the same path two days in a row. The people I see on my way to class on a Thursday morning are different than the people I see on a Sunday afternoon. Nothing in this city ever remains the same, and while this constant change may be unsettling for most people, it is what brings happiness and relief to my day. It allows me continue to explore everything around me. I have no interest in a routine that brings predictability to my life. I might want that someday, but today, today I want to meet someone new, hear a new song, consider a new idea or philosophy. People have always told me that college is the best time to start anew and find yourself, and while I did find a lot of myself in high school, I am most certainly making new discoveries about myself everyday. I have discovered a newfound love of thai food, an old love for Disney movies, a rekindling love affair with the rain - seriously, I love the rain, I just forgot how much. These constant discoveries have introduced me to a new world of nonconformity. A world in which my life choices are based not on what other people think I should do, but rather on what I feel is best for myself. Exploring New York has taught me individuality in a way that no other city has. 

And thus, my faithful followers, I leave you with one question. What aspect of your life will you explore? 

Exciting and New (York)

For the past few weeks I have been fielding several questions from my family and friends back home. They ask about my life in New York, how I like NYU, what celebrities have I spotted from across the park. But the question that comes up in every conversation I have is, “How do you like New York?” The answer I almost always give is, “I love it here.” I know that seems rather cliche and lacks true refection and emotion, but honestly, I really do love living in New York. 

It’s hard to describe what it’s like living in New York, or what I like most about this city because every day there is something new that seems to really stand out. On Monday of last week my favorite part about New York was attending my classes at NYU. I feel so lucky and blessed to be attending a university that houses very diverse ideas and people. I am learning from professors who are also working professionally in their fields. The professors that I have are all very passionate about their subjects and really seem to be excited about sharing their knowledge with the many students they are teaching. I will admit, however, that my classes are all very difficult. Although I only have two classes a day, four days a week, I have a lot of work to do. I’m not just talking about the hours of reading and writing that I must do for each specific class, but the constant thinking that I am doing. I mean it, I am constantly thinking. I am always asking myself, why is this relevant? If there is a fact that troubles me I ask, what can I do to change this? While I am sure this is true at almost any other college, being in New York City really seems to accentuate this thinking. Last Thursday what I loved most about being in New York was the fact that I can walk down any street at any time of the day and find some restaurant or cafe that is open and serves incredible food. Thursday night I found a great sushi place that is less than a block away from my dorm. Friday night I found a 24 hour restaurant in Chelsea that serves really good food. Their staff is also highly amusing and they turn a typical night out into an adventure. (I am almost positive that they are all actors simply moonlighting as waiters.) If I want coffee at 11:47 at night there are at least 8 places nearby that are open and ready to serve. 

The thing is, at NYU I am not isolated from the rest of the world in a perfect bubble that is a college campus. When I visited other schools the one thing I noticed was that each school had their own boundaries that defined the school. Everyone you saw within those boundaries were part of the community and it felt very “safe”. While that safety and community is what many people desire, NYU lacks just that. Instead, NYU is located in the heart of one of the biggest cities in the world. When I step outside my residence hall I am surrounded by different people who each have their own story to tell. On my way to class I pass people from many different walks of life. There are men and women in business attire rushing to get to their next meeting. New mothers taking their children out for a mid-morning stroll around the Village. Tourists coming to see Washington Square Park, a location seen in several different films and TV shows (featured in the season premiere of Glee, just saying) and where I happen to be writing this post. Everyday I walk by people I have never seen before and I force myself to to stop living within my own little bubble and notice people. I begin wondering what everyone’s story is. Who is this woman who just walked by me with an iced coffee in her hand, where is she going? Who are the people in this group of tourists to my left? Where did they come from? The fact is, I am in the real world everyday. Many people refer to college as a safe time after graduating from high school when the real world is eerily looming just around the corner, but one can easily avoid it within their campus. Not me. I am in the real world every day. Everyday I am faced with new ideas and beliefs, and I am also encouraged to explore those new ideas. 

The other day I was walking through the High Line in Chelsea (great park by the way, if you ever find yourself with a little free time in New York, take a little stroll over to 15th Street between 9th and 10th Avenue) and I saw a billboard that said, “New York City: Tolerant of your beliefs, judgmental of your shoes.” That truly is the philosophy that I have come to be a part of. New York is a place where you can truly be who you are, have any lifestyle that pleases you, so long as your shoes are in style. I’m talking to you, man who just walked by me with those weird toe shoes on… (I understand they’re comfortable while running, but he wasn’t running.) 

I will admit that I have undergone a little bit of culture-shock since I’ve been here. For 18 years I was in a place that was predominately single-cultured. Every day for fourteen years I was in a school where I couldn’t walk down a single hallway without seeing at least one person I knew and could say hi to. Now, I can walk for hours without seeing a single person I know. Sometimes that can be a huge blow to my extroversion. I like being able to stop what I’m doing just to have a conversation with someone. But it’s also very exciting. It reminds me that there are still so many people in the world that I don’t know. There are thousands of stories that I have yet to hear, and seeing new people everyday reminds me to keep moving forward and to keep trying new things. 

Hopefully this answers that question, “How do you like New York?” If not, feel free to give me a call and I’ll explain it even more.

Chaos.

I would like to begin this post by first apologizing to everyone for my virtual silence over the past couple weeks. The past few weeks can only be described in one word. 

Chaotic. 

A month ago, I never could have predicted what my life would be like at this point. I didn’t think I would be spending my labor day weekend at the deathbed of my grandfather who, over the past 18 years, has become one of the biggest role models and most positive influences on my life. Yet his death, like all experiences with death has taught me something. It has taught me even more to really appreciate the small things in life. To reach out to other people, smile at them, and offer an extra hand. Leon Galoob was an incredible man who, along with my grandmother, Chuck, taught me to love. They showed me what it truly meant to love another human being in both a romantic way, but also in an unconditional manner that knows no boundaries. I miss them both so much everyday and it pains me to think that they are not just a phone call away, but I know that they are always with me, and that I have the responsibility and great pleasure to carry on their great legacy. It also brings me great relief that the two of them are together, as they should be, and as I have always known them. 

I’m back in New York now and have finally started classes. This week has been very eventful and my next post will be coming very shortly! 

Investing in the City

I’ve only been living in New York for a few days now and I have already discovered many things that one should consider buying when starting a new life in New York. 

1. An umbrella. 

People have told me time and time again to buy an umbrella because unlike Colorado, in New York, when it rains, it pours. A lot. I’m talking torrential downpours that seem to happen right as you need to leave one building to get to another that is a good 7 minutes away. I do think that getting caught in a torrential downpour yesterday was a rite of passage for me. It was fate’s way of saying, “Welcome to New York.” As soon as I publish this post I will head over to Walgreens to purchase one of these ingenius contraptions that seem to keep you and your belongings dry when the rest of the world is running around with messed up hair and wet shirts. 

2. A second phone… 

Or just a portable outlet to charge my phone as I wander through the city of wonder. Seriously, every where I go I seem to be using my phone for something. To send a text message, to tweet something ingeniously witty, to search for the nearest Starbucks, to avoid the people trying to sell me their “up and coming CD” (I’m sure you are a very talented singer and I’m sure you will make it big, I just don’t want to buy your CD), to figure out the fastest way to get somewhere using the Subway. My battery life seems to be much worse than it ever was back home. Maybe it has something to do with the humidity? 

3. An extra brain.

Ok, maybe it’s not something that I need to live in the city, but I definitely need it to store the names and faces of all the people I’ve met so far. There are so many fascinating people at NYU. I’ve met people from Indonesia, Paris, London, India, Mexico, Taiwan, China… The list goes on. If only I had an extra brain, or someone to walk around with me and remember everyone’s names for me I’m sure it would be much less embarrassing for me when I seem to forget the name of someone who apparently remembers mine. 

4. Naps

I’m sure this is true for most colleges, but people apparently do not sleep at night. In New York there is always something going on. Some club that’s hosting an exclusive event, a new coffee shop that I haven’t explored yet, my unsatisfiable hunger at odd hours of the night. That being said, I might want to consider taking naps during the day because I think it has been made quite clear that I will not be sleeping at night. 

5. An extra set of legs 

I have done more walking in the past few days than I normally ever did in a week in Denver. I walk everywhere. I’m sure this is all very good for me and I will end up a lot healthier, but I could really use some help. Sometimes my legs just don’t want to go any further. I think it would be nice if I could just switch them out with another pair for a few hours so that I can let my legs get a little bit of rest, even if the rest of my body isn’t getting any rest. Is that too much to ask? 

I’m sure as time goes on I’ll discover many new things that are necessary for optimum survival in New York City.

Goodbyes.

With any new journey comes the end of another. I am glad to say that this ending is in no way premature. Sure, tears have been shed because I have had to say goodbye to some of the most incredible people I have ever met. The friends I have made and the relationships I have built over the past 18 years have helped shape and define the person I am today, and I am thankful for every single person who has walked into my life. 

I have had to say goodbye to some amazing people, and I’ve had to do it all with the realization that I must also leave behind the support system I have relied on to cheer me up when I’m feeling down, to make me laugh on a gloomy day, to calm me down when everything seems wrong. Please forgive me as I add an extra serving of cheesiness to this already sappy post. Thank you to every single person who I’ve laughed with, cried with, fallen down with, and grown up with. Each and every one of you is a part of who I am, and there is no changing that. 

Just to add one more cliche, “because I knew you, I have been changed for good.” 

“It’s not goodbye, it’s ‘see you later’” 

I love you all. 

My Bite of The Apple

Hi everyone! 

This blog is going to be my own way of keeping people updated on what is happening with me as I embark on a whole new journey at New York University. Some of my post will be as simple as a few pictures from the day or a quote that really stuck out to me, and others will involve stories and some of my thoughts. Enjoy! 

This first post is dedicated to the lovely Sarah Anderson who helped me come up with a name for this blog.