she loves to travel

Dec

28

2 0 1 2 → A Year in Review

2 0 1 2

January was spent body in the classroom mind on a more exciting life anywhere but Northern Michigan.

February I continued to work, study and dream. My wonderful group of friends kept me grounded.

March applications were due, and so were papers. Graduation seemed too far away.

April I quietly turned 19. Road trip to an island off the coast of Georgia, Florida’s freshwater springs and the backcountry of Ohio was a much-needed break.

May I had exhausted my search for a photography internship, so decided to run away to Spain. Oh, and graduated from college.

June was bonfires and beaches. I crammed in as much Northern Michigan summer as I could before heading to Spain.

July I played with 5 and 6 year olds, helped high school kids and businessmen practice their English, and consumed my year’s supply of olive oil in less than a month.

August I wandered through the palaces of Granada, dodged jellyfish with Meghan, and stood in awe of the wonders in Barcelona.

September I cam back to Michigan, lost, and found myself in New York.

October I worked, got lost on the subway, worked, drank lattes in corner cafes, and worked a little more.

November I made friends and saw my first show on Broadway.

December I saw Christmas come in the city. I found a job for the new year.

I came back to the Mitten for the holidays, and here I am now. Looking back I can laugh at my impatience and fretting. He really does work all things for good for those who love Him. I’ve learned so much this year, especially to abide in Christ, to wait, to be still, to trust in His timing. I’m heading back to the city in January to start a new job, a lot of things are still “TBD” but my mind can rest. It’s funny when people ask “So I bet you always dreamed of living in the city?” because I haven’t. It was never even an idea, New York? Take me south to the warmer extremities! It’s crowded, expensive and always busy. But crowded with interesting+dynamic people, expensive because you are in an amazing area with endless opportunity, and always busy with something fun+fascinating. Here’s to another crazy year filled with my plans that “fall through”, turning into something better. 2 0 1 3.

Nov

28

Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade // NYC

Thanksgiving.

I awoke at 6am with great expectations of getting a good place to view the Macy’s day parade. I slowly stumbled about with a pounding headache, wishing I had gone to bed earlier the night before. I pulled on my wool socks and slouchy boots, looked at the clock, 6:31. Wait, 6:31? What am I doing? The parade starts at 9am uptown. I’m going to midtown. 6:31? Is this necessary? The website said get there are 6. That wasn’t happening, and I managed to talk myself into setting the alarm for 7 and taking a nap…. Needless to say I did put up much of a fight.

I got up with a less achy head at 7, went to the kitchen and recovered my half-cut croissant, left mid-prep when the reason of my groggy mind took over. A sunny side up egg, Brie cheese, and a touch of apricot jam and butter. I wrapped up my croissant-wich and sprinted down the stairs to catch the 4 train.

People. That’s what I ran into in my search of a good viewing point and (more importantly?) a cup of coffee. When you can’t move because your shoulder to shoulder with a German boy who is taking pictures with a little silver Nikon and a black mamma with her little baby you just can’t move. Let’s not mention the Columbian guy uncomfortably close behind, and the hat and chain with some mascara and tight jeans for a girlfriend in front, bickering about where they should try to get the best vantage point to see Snoopy.

I made friends with the two short girls in front of me, and they tolerated my occasionally bumping their heads with my camera lens in exchange for a closer position to the street, since I was a good couple heads taller anyways.

After fighting my way back to the train I came back uptown and stopped at the iconic hot dog shop I walk by all the time, but had never stopped. Papaya. I don’t know if that’s what it’s really called, but that’s what the neon sign says! I tried their ”Coconut Champagne” (note: styro cup) and a classic dog topped with sauerkraut and onions. Less than $5 for a quick bite. Good hot dog. Toasty bun. I’d go again.

I had the pleasure of going to Queens with a new friend here in NY, and spending Thanksgiving dinner there. Cliche, but I am SO thankful for the great people I’ve met here. It wouldn’t be the same at all without these great people in my life.

Nov

16

Snow // New York, NY

Personal / she loves to travel / 0 comments

I’m usually adamantly against this frozen precipitation It’s messy, gets my wool socks wet through my shoes, and above all, it’s dang cold. I moved to Mexico at 17. I don’t like the cold. (Ironically it snowed while I was there…) So when the forecast showed signs of snow for NYC, and back in Michigan the ground was bare and untouched, I wasn’t a happy camper. I automatically assumed I’d be unhappy about the snow, but when a little bit of excitement started to creep in as I imagined the city blanketed in a soft pillowy white I quickly abandoned all negativity and curled up in my down comforter, alarm set early, to see if I could get a glimpse of a magically white city.

Although it wasn’t the little storybook sight I hoped it would be, after a few snowball fights and yes, sloppy wet wool socks, I am still in a Christmasy mood. A trip to Anthropologie the other week put Christmas shopping on my brain, and I’m currently composing my list to Santa.

This all sounds so traitorous of me. It’s not even Thanksgiving.

At least I’m not singing Christmas carols. Yet. Where is the hot chocolate and crackling fire?

Nov

06

Sandy Pictures II // NYC

Blog Posts / Personal / she loves to travel / 3 comments

A crowded Grand Central Station, due to the limited availability of the train.

To adjust for the lack of the train they had free buses running… what craziness!

This was my first time in GCS believe it or not! I’d passed through on my way downtown but never gone up to see it. So beautiful!

No power… But a few stores ventured to open their doors to customers.

No starbucks :(

This was a funny moment. I spied these guys hoisting up a flag as I walked down the sidewalk, and waited for a minute while they made the last hooks and adjustments before running it up, knowing that the little wait would be worth the grand photo. The flag raised after such a terrible storm, symbolic and striking newspaper worthy photo right?

Well, little kink in the plan. They had her all hooked up and ready to fly…. Upside down. Needless to say they quickly lowered the flag and started unhooking and latching to switch it. A little anti-climatic but I couldn’t help but giggle.

***

I volunteered last Sunday with some people from my church knocking on doors with groceries in a blind and deaf building repacking food, distributing supplies etc on the Lower East Side. A lot of people were still without power and heat. Thankfully the train is up and running again, but there is still a lot of work to be done near the coast, the news is reporting all that so there’s no need for me too as well, and I’m so removed from the problems up here. Blessed, but trying not to become oblivious as I sit in a heated apartment with a full fridge and wifi. Keep NY in your prayers!

Nov

01

“Sandy” // NYC

Blog Posts / Personal / she loves to travel / 0 comments

As I’m sure you’ve heard, “Superstorm Sandy” tore up the East Coast this past Monday. I’d never been through a hurricane before, and although (thankfully!) my apartment was untouched so many other homes have been destroyed and people are still without power. Tuesday morning I ventured out in the still fairly strong wind, intermingled with little bouts of rain to peep around with my other curious neighbors. Where I am on the Upper East Side of Manhattan was fairly untouched, only a few downed trees and smashed cars, we didn’t even loose power. Thank you to all my wonderful friends and family for the prayers and messages, I’m really thankful to be in a safe area.