My Circle

Times Square

Well since mom's been gone I've done many new things. New things are sort of inevitable when you pick up and move to the other side of the country and you have no idea what you're doing or where you're going! : ) My one touristy adventure was going to see Times Square with my friend Ashley last Thursday night. It was very crowded and I think I will from now on avoid that area but I did it, so that was good.

Sunday I took the longest way possible to church because I couldn't handle too much newness in one day, my circle of newness wouldn't allow it. So I took the subway all the way down to Grand Central Station and crossed over to the other side of Central Park and went all the way back up again so I wouldn't have to deal with trying to figure out the bus system as well as make new friends at church. : ) Everyone thought I was crazy but I kept my sanity so it was okay I think. The people at church are very nice and welcoming. I am super duper young. I'm in a special activities group designed for 18-22 year olds to help with the transition of moving to NYC. Super tender. Oh well, at least in my program there are a lot of girls who seem to be about my age, so whatever. 

Yesterday I had orientation for the Social Work program. Everyone seems really really nice. We're social workers, I think there's a rule that we all have to be pretty decent human beings right? We had a nice overview of the program and about Columbia in general and what things are like here which was good. We had a nice long Q&A session with the financial aid guy and the woman in charge of admissions. Now we all have a better understanding of what is going on with our class schedules and our money, both of which are all we really care about right now. 

Today I had my first class. My teacher is very animated and interesting to listen to which is good because it's a 3 hour class 4 days a week! Intense! I think that he will be a good teacher, I'm excited to learn from him. It should be good, this little month long getting to know my fellow students thing. 

New York is crazy and big and fast, but I'm taking it on a little bit at a time : ) loves!

More Pictures...

Sorry I'm still getting used to how to organized this thing. These pictures were actually taken after the ones in the previous post. Hopefully I'll get better at organizing this thing! : )

My new favorite store : )

The front of my apartment building

Mom and her peanut butter meal : )

Pictures

Columbia's Library. It's a big deal?

On the super hot tour bus : (

Statue of Liberty

My awesome cake!

Mom and me at Tavern on the Green

Hello New York!

Well everyone here I am in the Big Apple!!! I can't believe I'm finally here and moved in! Mom just went home this morning so I'll recap what we've been doing for the past few days.

Friday we had tickets for a bus tour of lower Manhattan. It would have been absolutely wonderful EXCEPT! it was one of the hottest days we were there and we were sitting on top of an open bus in 95+ weather and lots of humidity. It was HOT. But we got to see lots of different sites and as a part of the tour we went out on a water taxi and got to see the Statue of Liberty as well. Overall it was neat but overshadowed sometimes by the hotness!

Saturday mom and Dan helped me move everything into my apartment. Sunday we went to church in CT with Dan's family. Then! Monday was my Birthday!! Jan (Dan's mom), mom and I went into the city and went to Tavern on the Green for lunch which was delicious. Mom had told them before that it was my birthday so when we sat down someone brought over these awesome balloons with paint in them. We had lunch and then they brought out a little cake especially made for me with Happy Birthday Madison written on it. It was so neat! After that we walked down 5th Avenue and stopped in Tiffany's. I think that's my new happy place : ) That night we went back to Dan's and had dinner and ate some of our melted cake. Dan gave me a beautiful necklace from Tiffany's. It's a silver chain with a black onix heart. I absolutely love it! : )

Tuesday was mom's last day. We had an adventure getting our big suitcases from the train to my apartment. Ummm not all subway stops are handicapped accessed apparently! I had to haul a 50lb suitcase up 2 flights of stairs and then when we got to my apartment I couldn't get my key to work in the door of my room. AWESOME!!! So the morning started off bad but the rest of the day was fun having some mommy and me time. 

So today is my first day in the Big Apple all alone! Wish me luck! I think that this is going to be crazy fun : )