City love...

Wahoo! Im back. I've actually been back since January 2nd, working and taking Plato's Republic 3 times a week for 3 hours each. I always thought that philosophy was uninteresting and pointless but I'm actually learning a lot in this class! The professor is super funny and half of my notes are random funny quotes (havent decided yet if thats constructive or not).

I've never really read or studied any philosophy and it was always one of those far-reaching, abstract, conceptual fields that I'm just not really interested in--but now that I'm reading it more deeply and being exposed to it, its not as hard as I imagined! Its actually fairly easy to digest once you get past the style, which is very Greek and very un-embellished. I am having issues writing my essays in this class, though, since we are encouraged to write in the Greek style and it is quite possibly the exact opposite of how I typically write.

But, aside from that, I'm enjoying it. Well, aside also from the 3 hours a class. All in all though, I'm so glad I decided to get it out of the way--I can handle one month of intensity if I get to spend more time during the semester on my art. Luckily after this I only have 2 more gen-eds to finish up...one I'm taking next semester and one I hope to finish the following January.

Work is going well! I'm so happy to be working all of the private parties. I love interacting with people and anticipating what they want, and seeing how the richer side of New York lives. For example, look at this cake for a 1 year old's birthday party:

That's always interesting. January is full of parties, so basically instead of demonstrating the toys, for the most part I've been working Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 2 parties a day. That's also awesome because it ends up being more hours and I'm saving all of my money for study abroad this summer! Its also more interaction with my fellow employees, which has turned out to be a BLAST. The other day in between parties, we put on Disney and show tunes and I belted and acted out "Find Your Grail" from Spamalot for them. They enjoyed that. :D

I'm also super happy because my best friend (the one who visited for my birthday) has finally moved back to the city! We're hanging out all the time, and I'm glad to have him back. He's my new hot yoga partner, since I've been trying (New Year's Resolution) to go to hot yoga 3 or 4 times a week. (: There's a great (and cheap!) Yoga to the People on 38th and 6th that I've been going to pretty consistently. We tend to have a lot of fun together:

My number one NYR, though, I have been SO good about. I decided to stop biting my nails and I've actually stuck with it for...um...thirteen days! That is possibly my record since I was around five years old, so its a big deal.

My final NYR led to me making the leap (which is actually more of a step for me) to becoming vegetarian. It's been good so far. I just dont know what to do with the chicken noodle soup and tuna fish in my apartment. Its actually not hard at all for me, I rarely ate meat before, but I just felt like it was time to make a big girl decision and stop being wishy-washy about it. My new best friends are peanut butter and baked potatoes. I've been obsessed lately...

I could never...

Anyway, I'm happy to be back in the city. My week in Virginia was nice--I got snowed in with my family on Christmas which was nice, and went for a trek in the woods with my black lab, Oscar.

I love and miss them and my Busch Gardens friends, but I think the week was a perfect vacation. I really feel like my home is now in New York...and I love that feeling of coming home. (:
PS--if you are planning on visiting or moving in the near future: IT. IS. FREEZING. Plan accordingly...your face will feel like its falling off if you dont have a fur hood. Enjoy January!

i'm back...

I’m back from winter break early to work at Marymount (I’m a work-study student in the Admissions Office). It’s odd coming back to the 55th Street res hall when only about 30/500 of the students are living here. VERY QUIET. My break was good: it snowed Christmas day in South Carolina (a sight to be seen, since it usually only snows once a year), I was able to catch up with friends from home and see my family that I’ve been missing. But it’s good to be back in NYC.

I am working in the Admissions office this whole month (come and visit!!!). People thought I was crazy coming back a month before break was over, but it’s been nice! I’ve done lots in the city and I’ve been working hard. My nights are free and I don’t have to worry about homework so I have been taking advantage of the free time, catching up on some shows and spending time with friends.

Highlights so far… Gabby, who also works in Admissions, had her 21st birthday, so I was able to celebrate that with her, exploring the city! Elizabeth (who lives across the hall from me) and I went to see the play, “Time Stands Still”… it was AMAZING! Laura Linney from the Nanny Diaries was in it and did such a fantastic job! I also decided to go and see “Next to Normal” before it closes on Broadway… that show was brilliant and the cast did such a great job on stage.

The city has been cold—icy cold—and there have been a few snow flurries and one bad storm since I’ve been back. Marymount was closed yesterday because of it! For Martin Luther King weekend, I am leaving the city to travel to Arizona to see my aunt. Going somewhere warm!!!
What’s your New Year’s Resolution? Mine was to work out more and post a photo a day to my blog!

-Austin

Oh The Places You'll Go

As I sit and reflect upon my first semester, I catch myself smiling and laughing about all of the amazing moments I've experienced here. I've met friends to last a lifetime, I've been to some pretty amazing parties, and I've gotten the opportunity to see the things I've only seen in the movies like the Statue of Liberty and Times Square! A couple of weeks ago I went to the tree lighting! I remember sitting in the living room with my family watching it on TV, but I was there!! It's so amazing just to be able to do all of these things, like a dream come true.

I know...it sounds so cliche, come to New York and all of a sudden I'm "living the life". But it's the truth, I didn't come here to be a star or to follow my dreams (although if it happened I'd have no objections :D), I came here to go to school and get an education. But in the process, I've found my home. My entire life I moved from house to house, state to state and not once have I truly been able to call those places my home. This city is my home, no questions about it. And I thank Marymount Manhattan College for the opportunity.

I remember when I got the email saying that I was accepted into the school! I was at a loss for words, (and trust me, that doesn't happen often). Now that it's been a whole semester already, that seems like such a long time ago! I'm proud of the choice I made. The classes were great, the people are amazing, and the professors!! My script-analysis professor is probably the most brilliant person I've ever met in my life! His knowledge of the theatre is so vast and on-point! I just want to sit at his feet as absorb in all of that knowledge! It's just amazing the things I've learned, and the places I've gone since I've been here.

The last week of the semester, I knew that I was going to be leaving the city for a while and couldn't sleep at all! One night I was up all night, and around 5:30 I decided to walk to Hot Jumbo Bagel (best bagel place anywhere near the dorms!) and get a bagel while I watched the sunrise. It was the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen!

That's what I love about the city; it has a beauty unlike anything else. Palm Desert, CA is a pretty city as well, but there's nothing quite like a New York City Sunrise :)

I had a great semester...wouldn't change it for the world. Thanks Marymount Manhattan College for this fantastic opportunity!!

~*Darius A. Journigan*~

End of the semester's here, shed a tear.

I don’t have any classes today. This is good because I’m practically nodding off at work right now. Luckily, Marymount is pretty sleepy at the moment. Everyone has gone home. When I went shopping for last minute Christmas gifts last night, the excuse my suitemate Starr and I used for everything was, “It’s our last night in the city.” Gigantic plate of fried chicken and fries from Plaza Diner ? Last night in the city. Ice cream? Last night in the city.

Of course, it’s not really. We’re going to be back next month; in fact, since my Dad lives in Westchester county I’ll probably be back within a week or so. It’s different when you’ve been living here though. You get used to the sound of horns and your noisy suitemates. In the suburbs, the silence is deafening and eerie.

I was hoping to continue my job at MMC during the break, but with the cost of Metro-North tickets and subway fare, I couldn’t make it worthwhile. I still have plans for my January break— writing my novel, visiting friends and family in Florida, and researching summer internships come to mind—but I’m raring to come back to MMC. I got into the theatre program for the production and management concentration and I want to start my stagecraft class today. 

(above: me in about six weeks, but with glasses and long hair)

Instead, I’ll have to settle for wandering down to Times Square before tonight and picking up a “Stage Manager” star.

I hope you have a wonderful January. I’ll see you when the spring semester starts.

-K.M.

The Time Has Come!

Hello world,

The fall 2010 semester is finally over! I love school, but I need the break. So many great things have happened to me this semester at Marymount, and I’ve learned some amazing things in my classes.

 

I expect to end up with four A’s and one B. So far I only have my final grade in my Intro to Journalism class, an A. Journalism was one of the less interesting topics I’ve learned about this semester. Interpersonal communication, on the other hand, was the most. My interpersonal communication course has actually taught me how to become a better communicator throughout my daily life. 

For example, my skills from my interpersonal communication course helped me to communicate effectively during my interview for an internship at MTV. I got the internship, and I’m psyched! I’ll be preparing media clips and other fun intern stuff. I’m not too sure on the specific details yet, but I will be receiving three Marymount credits for the internship!

 

I’m on winter vacation until the spring 2011 semester begins in early February, although I begin my internship on January 18, 2011. While on my one month break I plan to do a few things: work on my strength and conditioning (something I neglect too often during the school semester), read 3-4 books, and write a television script. I am currently half way through the script writing process, but haven’t started the actual script yet. 

Have a Happy Holiday season!

Have fun! Be safe!

Until next semester,

            Howard

P.S. There will be no cookies over the break, I’m on a diet!

First Semester of College… CHECK!

The other day we had a hall meeting with our RA at the 55th Street dorm to learn about how to check out of the dorm for the winter break. I feel like it was just yesterday I was sitting in the hall learning about the ins and outs of the dorm, and now I’m already checking out. My first semester of college is coming to a close. With exams, papers, and work, I don’t have much of a life right now. It is a stressful time, but that’s just part of college. I am looking forward to December 23rd @ 9am when I board the plane at LGA and say goodbye to New York for a few weeks, being able to relax at home.

As I look back on my first semester at Marymount I think about coming in August, moving into the dorms for Jump Start, and meeting all of the 25 other people that did Jump Start. I had never met any of the people, other than talking on Facebook. And now I am best friends with many of them and we are like a mini family. It has been really easy meeting new people and friends at MMC. Everyone is so accepting and comes from all over the world, so it’s a good mix. (Left, My Jump Start group @

5Pointz in Queens.)

My first semester living in NYC and attending college has been successful. Meeting newpeople, making connects, getting a job, seeing performances, learning the subway, trying all the restaurants, and late-night Pinkberry. These are just a few of the things that made this semester enjoyable. I came to New York to come to college and have gained so much in the process. I have made friendships with people that will last forever and hope to make many more next semester. I have made connections with my teachers (who all know my name) and have started learning many of the facility at Marymount. It’s like a big family. (Right, Savannah and me at my first Apple Fest)

(Above, My friends and I on the American Eagle billboard in Times Square, really cool! If you buy something from their store you get your picture taken and it might show up on their jumbotron!)

It was hard coming to NYC for school because I thought I would miss my family and friends. But I have had so many visitors since coming to the city that has made the transition easier. Also, I have been able to “become” part of my friend’s families by going home with friends over the weekend and getting away from the city.

I made the right decision to attend Marymount Manhattan College because it is truly a perfect college for me! Everyone should come and explore our campus and see what makes it so unique, and maybe I will even give you a tour!

But for now, I leave you with this video, a unique perspective on the 55^th Street Res Hall…

Until next semester,

-austin

OHMYGOSHIMSTRESSEDOUT! (:

Hullo again fellas and lassies! Well, good golly miss Molly and a bucket of holiday cheer! I've been so incredibly busy lately, I almost fell asleep standing up at work today. I was pretty stressed out a couple of days ago...so I planned out every minute of every day in my handy dandy...NOTEBOOK! (Aka planner) You cant really tell, but I have about 3 free hours this week. Thats when I'll be sleeping hopefully. (:

As much as I'm totally complaining about being so busy, its what I'm used to and what, ultimately, I love. I just hate sitting around being bored and staring at the TV when there's a big, bright, bustling New York City waiting to be enjoyed! And its Christmastime...my ALLTIME FAVORITE! At our apartment, we've just dressed up Bruce the Spruce with some holiday trimmings courtesy of my lovely mother, including a countdown of mini presents to Christmas!

I'm so happy to be making more and more friends lately--I've found that the only way to find friends is to ... MAKE THEM! I've been chatting all the people in my classes up lately (you get more familiar with people as the semester progresses) and I found a group of lovely dates to the Snowball last weekend! All of them are in CAB (Campus Activities Board), so we arrived early (ish) to set up, danced allllllll the live long night, and helped break down. It was a night of swing dancin, big band, flapper-esque partyin'!

Work is getting busier and busier and I'm finding myself getting more and more classically "New York". For example, a couple days ago we had a line wrapping all the way around the BLOCK from 5th Avenue, down 58th Street and then around to Madison Avenue. I couldnt get to work there were so many people. I was getting a little frustrated because of the crowds and the ridiculous number of tourists walking SO SLOWLY. But then I thought, hey, NY is pretty amazing. I'm lucky I get to live here--these people may only get to see it a few times in their lives. Let them walk slow. (: I'm so incredibly lucky to be living in such a truly fabulous city.

So, basically this week I'll be gearing up in classes for finals in my two art history classes and my Bible as Lit class and rushing to finish the copy of a Vermeer painting that I somehow have to have done by Thursday. I'm also working on my junior exhibition. This is what I have so far....haha.

Constructive criticism is welcome and appreciated!

Cant wait--only a week and a half til I'm back in Virginia celebrating my favorite holiday with my wonderful family. I hope you all have happy holidays! (: