spring in nyc...
So, New York.
(meatpacking district)
Last spring was my first time ever living in the city. Before this, I had never spent more than a few days in Manhattan. Now, having chosen to do a program at NYU, NYC was gonna be my background for everything.
After being at Smith for the past 2 1/2 years, it was definitely different to have the noise, life, and general energy of New York as my daily soundtrack. But here is a collection of some of my favorite parts of having the city as my home for a few months.
(whitney museum notes)
- it was super cool to have the amount of art in the city available to experience. most museums had special student discounts & there are so many open galleries/exhibits all over - art is literally around every corner. i started to pick up this habit of doodling in my notebook whenever i visited any.
(chinatown during chinese new year celebrations)
- just stumbling upon random & unexpected places/events! my friend and i decided to get malaysian food near chinatown unknowingly when peak-chinese new year celebrations were happening - so, confetti was everywhere!
(walking on the highline)
- being able to explore and reroute yourself around the city in new ways. after going to the whitney one day, i decided to take an extended stroll along the highline - it was chilly, but it was a pretty day & the city was bustling.
(washington square park at night, going home)
- one of my favorite parts of the day normally became walking home. this often meant walking through washington square park after my classes at NYU finished & it’d be less crowded & slightly more quiet & the entire city would feel more grounded.
(train to brooklyn)
The city definitely was a different form of study abroad for me. It was a whole new world to experience and live within. If you’re considering going abroad, don’t limit yourself. I never thought I would wind up studying in NY during my junior year - I must’ve changed my mind on where I would go over 5 times from England to New Zealand to California. But follow where your heart’s calling and make the most of it. And open yourself to all the possible options you have all over the world.
But after my few months in the city, I’m ready to go back to my home at Smith and get used to the lack of sirens outside my window.
x Jemara
