#nyusummer

[beckysbae]

Today has been a perfect day :-)

[museum-gateway]

Do you miss NYU Paris?  Do you miss your childhood?  (or both!)  Visit "Madeline in New York: the Art of Ludwig Bemelmans" at the New-York Historical Society this summer. 

http://www.nyhistory.org/

[subtle-z]

More than cliché mixed emotions

As I wait for my hour delayed flight to Prague I’m flooded with more than (and also none of) the “typical” going abroad feelings. The biggest reason being that I’m not going abroad, I’m staying abroad. Other than a brief trip to a military base in the east of Germany in July, I haven’t stepped foot on American soil for almost eight months which has taken a lot harder tole on me than anticipated – only made harder by the giant hole Europe has burned in my savings account, a hole now only fillable by student loans (or other equally unfortunate – and less tasteful – ideas). Fortunately, the amazing people and experiences I have had have done good at making it all worth it. Prague though brings me much hope on a superficial/material level as a city regaled as being very cheap but also on a more substantive level as a form of stability in my life, something that I have missed. While I will still be abroad and somewhat untethered, after three months of being nomadic and living out of a backpack, a stable “home” with a routine schedule and consistent friends (that I probably will see again) sounds almost utopic. I am hesitant to let my expectations grow so large that disappointment is the only possible outcome though, so for now, I await the flight and the next chapter of my life waiting on the other side.

[acrosstheriverspree]

Sometimes people get sad when school semester rolls around again after a nice long summer break. Sometimes people are excited to go back to school. Me-- I'm looking forward to the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.

Also known as the Moon Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival happens on the 15th of the 8th month on the lunar calendar, which falls on the full moon. This year, it'll be on September 19th. It's a harvest festival, much like Thanksgiving.

But what makes this holiday super special are these things: mooncakes. They're a little bizarre if you've never seen them, but they're essentially little cakes with a dense filling of usually lotus or red bean paste. The traditional ones (as seen above) contain a salted duck egg yolk in the middle.

And I am absolutely crazy about them. Since they're a seasonal specialty, it's really only possible to get them for about a month around this time of year. So when I see the first mooncakes hit the shelves, it's like going downstairs on Christmas Day and seeing that Santa has left you presents under the tree. It's that good. 

As always, my life revolves around food-- but there's nothing like a delicious treat to get me excited for the fall semester!

[subtle-z]

And as this car(pool) heads to Paris to greet the sun, my summer comes to a close. Insert meaningful and/or punny statement here about traveling europe alone for 3 months.

[acrosstheriverspree]

It's official... August is ticking down, and September is creeping up on us. The weather might not have caught up yet, but my schedule certainly has.

This past week I wrapped up work officially for the summer. If all goes well, I'll be digging out some time in my schedule to keep interning in the fall, but for now I can hang up that pencil skirt (and invest in some more interesting office attire...)

Tomorrow, I'm starting a week of training to be a College Leader in CAS's College Cohort Program. So if you happen to be an incoming CAS freshman reading this blog-- who knows, we might meet each other very soon! 

So sorry about the lack of pictures! My pile of unfolded laundry definitely isn't worth it. 

[acrosstheriverspree]

New York is famous for its pizza, and Grimaldi's is said to be one of the best of the best. The famous original is in Brooklyn, but did you know there's one on 21st St and 6th Ave? I didn't-- but friends with a pizza craving and Yelp quickly fixed that problem.

I'm a sucker for fresh mozzarella, and add on sausage and mushrooms? Yes please. They only sell whole pizzas though, so remember to bring friends! 

[acrosstheriverspree]

If hectic summer New York life is getting to you (haha, as if, right?), a little peace and quiet can be found-- ironically-- right around Washington Square Park. The Bobst stacks are generally left alone enough during the school year, but now you can't even hear the shuffle of books and papers from hardworking students using the study tables.

What am I doing in Bobst on an August Friday, you ask? I guess I'm a bit of a nerd...