Caught roaming around the West Village during a random warm rainy day in December 2015.
I reach the crosswalk of 5th avenue and 13th and step onto the street, just out of reach of the oncoming traffic. Bright yellow taxis whiz by among the other vehicles that crowd the street. Bicyclists weave in and out of the cars and into the way of pedestrians with no regard to the walk signals. I’m sure there’s probably wailing from a siren somewhere further uptown. I don’t expose my ears to this until I’m just about to stride through the doors of the University Center at The New School, slipping off my headphones to welcome in the calm of the interior environment.
As some of you may know, I’ve been a bit inconsistent with my posts on this beloved blog of mine. For this I have only one excuse: college. I’ve been studying at The New School, located in Greenwich Village, Manhattan for about four months now. Even though I was familiar with New York City prior to moving here, there is a different feeling in the air now that I get to walk the streets of this incredible city on a daily basis.
The classic 86th floor observatory view from the Empire State Building.
The first semester has just ended, but one of my professors said something on the last day of class that stuck; if you live in New York long enough, you will possibly start to think that “one, New York is the center of the universe, and two, there is no universe outside of New York. These are dangerous thoughts.” I reflected on his words and realized that these sentiments ring true. New York, particularly Manhattan, is a lively place. It is a sin to say you are “bored” – boredom doesn’t exist here. If you can’t find something to do involving the numerous hangout spots, museums a plenty, interesting street acts, or shops that are around every corner, then Houston, we have a problem: you.
I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t “go out” much, in the traditional sense. I often have to be nudged into house parties and other typically “lit” social gatherings. But, I do take full advantage of my days in other ways. I’ve started to think of the twenty-four hours that are presented to me in a never-ending cycle in this way; hours 8am-9pm are my active hours. If I’m not in class, or at work, I should be out and about, exploring, observing, and taking in all that is around me. Since I have found over the years that I focus best on my work once the sun sets, my work hours are 9pm-3am. Active and work hours are adjustable, but this is the general pattern. The remaining five hours are for sleeping and other “necessary” human functions. With this schedule I am able to live my days to their most productive peak, while still being able to be an aware participant in the craziness that is New York.
A quick pause to admire Central Park as seen from Belvedere Castle.
Rooftop hangouts are always happy times in NYC.
And let me reassure those of you that haven’t experienced it firsthand, I see my fare share of crazy here. However, the beautiful thing about this city is that everyone chooses to ignore everything not involving them. Anonymity is the flair; unless you see someone you know on the street, AND choose to stop and chat if you want to/have the time, you can choose to keep your stare blank and your mind busy as you move through the crowded sidewalks. This, in my opinion, is the recipe for optimal efficiency – which is the exact trait you need to have to survive in New York.
The ever picturesque Greenwhich Village.
Of course, with anonymity comes loneliness. As far as I’ve come to know, it’s easy to disappear into the roughly 8.5 million people that call this city their home. Over these past few months, I’ve experienced what it truly feels like to be alone in a crowded room. I don’t see this as a bad thing; growing up as an only child, I learned to revel in my alone time. Here in New York, I am able to take full advantage of the few moments I have to myself.
One of the many spots for a photo op along the High Line, an elevated park in Chelsea.
During my breaks between class, I often have an hour or two that’s meant to be used for getting food, finishing up any extra work I may have, or taking a breather. Since I’m the type that can’t go to bed unless I have all of my work for the next day completed, I usually have a bit of spare time on my hands. Although it’s not enough time to hop on a subway and head to an attraction of my choice, I usually can amuse myself by taking a walk down fifth avenue, either towards Chelsea or Soho. It’s inevitable that I end up window shopping on these walks, but shopping is never the main purpose. I like to think of these as observation walks; I take mental note of the faces I pass and the reactions that occur if I accidentally hold eye contact for too long (because there is a limit in New York); will I get a smile, or an angry glare, or just another vacant stare? It’s become sort of a social experiment for me. I also don’t pay attention to the route I take on these strolls, so I often end up in an unfamiliar area. This is always slightly thrilling for me; I love exploring parts of the city that are new to me. The architecture changes from block to block, as does the atmosphere; there are streets where I can feel the air change and depending on the time of day I know to quicken my pace. However, the places I feel unsafe are few and far in between.
Sunset viewpoints at the Hudson River Park are some of the best in Manhattan.
When I don’t have a lot of time but I still need a quick escape, I normally find my way to a nearby coffeehouse. Here, I can do most of my work and my writing in peace with a comforting cup of tea by my side. My favorite coffeehouse in the city is Chalait, a small operation with locations in Chelsea Market and the NoMad. I knew I’d need to find a place to get my weekly matcha fix when I moved to the city, and Chalait's original location in the West Village fit all the criteria and was only a short walk from my dorm: aesthetically pleasing, cool employees, and some serious avo toast slices.
Iced matcha lattes coupled with a matcha cortado and shared with a friend. This was taken at Chalait's original location in the West Village, which has unfortunately since closed, but I'm excited to visit their two new shop openings!
Other than splitting my time between work, relaxation, and a budding social life, I try to to stay fit, whether that means a quick jog or a yoga class. Even though I value my academics, my mental health and wellness comes before all. Balance is key, and that’s what I’m trying to do while adjusting to my new routine. As I mentioned before, college has been keeping me very busy. However, I will try to update as much as possible! After all, there’s more than one story to be found in the Big Apple.
A winter sunset fading over uptown via the window of my old office.