Sua in NYC

A Slew of Birthdays~

Right at the end of July going into August is the time of two of my closest friends’ birthdays. Noodles turned 23 on Friday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY) and tomorrow Carol will also turn 23 (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!). What a prominent new age! When I turned 23 in March, I could feel it all the time. Whereas in the past I tended to forget my own age (was I 20? 21?), now that I am 23 it seems more definitive, more pronounced. When I am out and about, lost in my thoughts, I think about how I am 23 and need to accomplish my life goals. I feel older, like the aging process is coming upon me quicker now that I am out of college. Already, I am aware of the fact that I have been 23 for a while now…in fact it seems like I have been 23 for a long time but soon 24 will be right around the corner. What a strangely unsettling thought!

Moving on, a friend in NYC here was also celebrating her birthday Friday. Although her real birthday is not until the 2nd week of August, it was an opportune time to go out with friends. I met with her and the other group of Hmong New Yorkers at Union Pool in Williamsburg for drinks. I hadn’t seen the whole group in a while, so it was fantastic catching up and seeing familiar faces. David, a fellow Minnesotan, had just returned from the Twin Cities so it was great seeing him. He is going to Columbia in the fall for a year long Master’s program in Social Work. Go him! Also met with an old high school friend, who had moved to NYC for work. We stared at each other and instant recognition registered. :D

Union Pool’s backyard

P.S. Eric and I are taking care of a friend’s dog for the weekend. His name is Gak Doogi (Korean radish side dish) but we call him Doogi or Duke or Dukester. Such a cutie! He is a mix of Chihuahua and Jack Russell Terrier. Having a dog is a lot of work though, I must say. I was a bit nervous about taking care of him since I have never owned a dog, but Eric is helpful. All we really have to do is take him out for walks in the morning and evening so he can go to the bathroom and feed him and take care of him. It’s like having a baby though, with the responsibilities lol. I didn’t sleep in much this whole weekend!

Our little Doogi

Good news: I have money to pay for classes in the fall!

This morning, my daily horoscope read like this:

Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011

An exciting breakthrough at work is possible today and it could ultimately affect your finances in a positive way. You have an excess of innovative ideas now that you can bring to the job. But don’t waste time making plans or telling others what you intend to do. Your intuitive channels are wide open, so get busy and follow your instincts.

Without a doubt, I knew it was referring to my recent conundrum of how to pay for classes at Hunter in the fall. Having done the math and knowing there was no way I could be approved for a bank loan by August 22nd to pay my tuition costs, I was starting to despair the reality of going back to school. But then I was talking to Vikas yesterday and he told me he was using his AmeriCorps Ed award for med school…so I should be able to use it in the same capacity, to pay for my classes in the fall. Today I called and spoke with both AmeriCorps and the Bursar office at Hunter and it has been confirmed…I can use my Ed Award for classes even as a non-degree seeking student! What a blessing it has been. I have selfishly and vainly been lamenting the fact that I did not have a rich aunt or relative to help me pay. But of course that is unlikely and I wasn’t serious. But Uncle Sam has come through to me! This year was quite helpful in many ways - not only did I figure out what I want to do, make new friends, make a new city my home, now I also get money to do what I want in the fall! I am quite content right now. :) Yay AmeriCorps!

Happy 1 year anniversary in NYC to me!

It’s hard to believe that it has been one year since I moved to NYC. I came here last summer on a warm, dark summer night and was completely lost as we drove through the streets of Queens to get to Eric’s apartment in Brooklyn. I have come a long way since the me who arrived then. I am wrapping up my year of service with AmeriCorps and embarking on a new academic journey this fall. It’s a bit scary to think of me being here for this long away from my family, but I am also proud of coming here and doing this for myself.

This weekend, Peter was in town with some friends and I showed them around Chinatown, Greenwich Village, and Central Park. It was good to see friendly faces from Minnesota and see the enthusiasm for the city I now call home. Since living in NYC, I sometimes forget the magic and excitement and magnetism NYC has for visitors. I’ve come to take it for granted and so the response I see with my visiting friends remind me of how lucky I am to be in NYC and experience such diversity of life and opportunity on a daily basis.

Tonight, to celebrate my one year here, Eric and I went out to dinner in Murray Hill. We took the M15 Select Bus to 33rd and 1st and then walked over to 3rd Ave. We decided to get mussels at a tiny French bistro called Le Parisian. The inside was charmingly decorated with old French movie posters and pictures of the city. The tables and booths were oddly reminiscent of a diner, but somehow it all fit together. We got a carafe of sangria and also ordered 2 types of mussels, one in a Thai curry sauce and another in a tomato and chorizo sauce. Both were simple and delicious, complimented with long, skinny fries.

Pictures follow below! :)

Word of the Day: Metaphysical

met·a·phys·i·cal

 –adjective

1. Pertaining to or of the nature of metaphysics.

2. Philosophy

a. concerned with abstract thought or subjects, as existence, causality, or truth.

b. concerned with first principles and ultimate grounds, as being, time, or substance.

3. highly abstract, subtle, or abstruse.

——————————————————————————

I got this word from my horoscope for today, which follows below:

You are very smooth at shifting metaphysical gears and slipping in and out of the real world so fast that no one even notices your absence. Even heavy responsibilities won’t stop you from enjoying your mini-escapes to other realms today. But consider scheduling a block of time for your mental adventures, instead of trying to squeeze them into short moments here and there. Stretching your mind into imaginary places is healthy as long as you also get your work done.

What a relief! All this studying is draining on the brain so it’s good to know my horoscope is telling me it’s okay to take breaks. If only there was more City Hunter to watch! But I reached ep 16 and now I have to wait patiently until Wednesday just like everyone else. :)

Getting closer to my GRE exam date! Yuck. Been doing a lot of studying, it’s tiresome and who knew math could be so tricky? I am definitely a proponent of straightforward, honest testing methods. Oh well, come Wednesday I will be rid of this test. Then it will be City Hunter time! Michelle introduced me to the series and I am in love with it! The music, the plot line, the character portrayals are all great.

Also, I received this book as a parting gift from Lauren and I find it quite fascinating and insightful even at only 18 pages in. Pick it up and read it, it is well worth it.

Taking a Step Back

“It’s scary to push forward so far that you must scramble your way back to safe ground. There’s no need to throw out your sensible plans just because you momentarily forgot about them and then moved too fast. Risk-taking isn’t necessary now; just slow down and stay on the current path. Don’t let the increasing pressure trick you into reacting impulsively.”

^ So that’s my horoscope for today. It’s anodyne, because I am feeling overwhelmed and easily vexed of late, as the work that I have to do has been an accretion. I have to study for the GRE, apply as a non-degree seeking student at multiple schools, work on my personal statement, and apply for jobs. I have to tackle things one at a time.

I’ll take this advice and take a step back, do things carefully and methodically, and get it all done. I have 27 days to go before the day of the GRE arrives, so most of my time right now needs to go towards studying, but I do have to get little essential things in, ie school apps, FAFSA, and resume revision.

Okay, gonna go!

Coffee and Resumes

Good morning! It’s dark and gloomy out - let me rephrase that - it’s saturnine out, but I’m in a high mood because I’m drinking yum yum coffee and revamping my resume. I am polishing up my resume so I can apply confidently for a new job. Maybe I will get an offer to stay here at BLHC, who knows, but if not, whatevs. I gotta make my own destiny - no determinism here!

Listening to Ke$ha (Tik ToK), perfect soundtrack to get my creative juices flowing!

P.S. That reminds me…I watched Midnight in Paris with Vic and Eric on Monday, twas charming if a little over the top. :) Loving the word pedantic as a result, I def know some people like that! ahem

Alexander McQueen Exhibit at the Met

Went to see this Saturday with Victoria on Saturday. We stood in line for 40 mins and then spent half an hour in the exhibit looking at the various collections on display. A. McQueen was a true artist.