Amazingly Amazing NYC!
cc'ing from email...
Hello hello! I decided to email in one go so I don't keep repeating stories! Read only if you have bum time! It's full of my usual stenie rants!
First things first -- to those who've considered or are considering coming to NYC (for a visit or what-not), come! PIA (with dad in october!), Lorr, Dre, Rissa, Jo, Danny, Julia, Les,... - I really think you'll love it here! Once you get past the claustrophobic smog and all. Haha!
New york's crazy (a jungle, as dad says) but there's just SO MUCH to see! Literally. I was just talking with a friend about going to a photo museum and we can't pick among 10 different ones to go visit! There's even one which is so old-school that they don't have proper, gallery-style frames -- when you enter, all you see are clothespins everywhere. I won't even begin with restaurants. Jen Kelly and I found a great shabu shabu place right across school! (It actually serves authentic pearl milk tea -- YUM.) I keep falling into the tourist trap and going to places in the movies/stalking random people but I don't mind really. Or at least, not yet. =)
I'm staying at International house, which seemed shady at first - 1) TINY aka inexistent living room space 2) housemates are from Nepal and Ethiopia so they cook SPICY smelling food. BUT mom did some magic with my room so it actually looks decent (There's a small sofa-bed for Kata) and they actually serve GOOD food at the dining room downstairs. I had some weird concoction of mongolian barbeque for dinner earlier tonight! AND people are FUN! There's a whole range of activties from floor hockey, movie marathons, ballroom dancing, singing lessons, tutoring, etc. but I haven't really gotten the chance to join any yet since it's been so crazy the past week. It's great for networking too. (Jen, they have a mckinsey orientation next week but I don't know the details.) One of my classmates lives right next door to me, he's from japan and looks and acts exactly like an anime character. (Kata I'm introducing him to you next time we meet. He's called Taka! Kata and Taka!)
As for school, my registration is falling apart! I think I'm giving up on the practical and going for electives I'll really enjoy. I was supposed to take mostly finance and stat classes but now it's more economics based -- long story. I have Edmund Phelps as my econ teacher - he's popular with students apparently but when I went to the first lecture he seemed SO OLD and slow. Hee. My core classes are fun since they're mostly seminar based (aka us talking vs. the teacher talking). Our classmate from Beirut talks non-stop but otherwise everyone's really friendly. It's a big enough group (40 our batch) that's diverse but small enough that we'll all get to know each other pretty well. The classrooms for the most part are old but pretty (stained glass windows in Hamilton!) and the library's amazing! Well, even the New York Library's amazing too!
I was supposed to audit a chinese language course but decided against it. When I attended the first class though, met another filipina (Irish, super coincidence, she stays in the same building as dichi!). She went to Yale for undergrad/worked in china and singapore/ and is doing her MIA here..wonderfully nice girl! Had lunch with her and Plim, etc. today at the faculty house. I didn't even know we could enter the place.
Best part - I got in the photo class of Thomas Roma! (Google him, he's famous here and has an interesting biography) Liz, I have you to thank for this. I didn't know that as a non visual arts major, I couldn't really do classes in the arts department as an elective. Luckily they give priority to graduate students, so the professor kicked out most of the freshmen at the "interview." For around 60 dollars a semester I get free access to the darkroom/equipment/chemicals! I have 6 hours + of photo a week but I don't mind because it'll be FUN! My classmates probably think I'm from another planet though - they're all either in print media, cinematography, directing, journalism, writing, that sort of thing. Roma had me speak up in front of class and "audition" - told him who my favorite photographers are, why I wanted to study under him, etc. I'm ecstatic about it because his teaching's fantastic! (except for the part where he said that art is life and finance is bullshit or something like that hahaha)
The neighborhood around school isn't too bad too, surprisingly! Lots of students walking around even at night so I don't get scared of being mugged. Only thing I'm scared of is the WINTER COLD. But I went to Woodbury with Biboy and company last weekend and got coats (which look more like blankets frankly) and boots so I feel better now that I'm prepared. 30 minute drive out of New york and one's back in suburbia! I want to go skiing in the winter! I can't wait for the christmas lights! And Fall color! I'm so HAPPY I get to use the photolab!
For the aegean people, Cindy and I met up twice and we're thinking of going down to Rhode Island to visit Pook! =)
Oh! And Mom, Marc and I finally watched Wicked! I loved it!! It wins over any other play I've seen, hands down! In short, I'm having a great time here (I have to stop with the superlatives) - one year won't be enough! =( But I have to start figuring out how to look for a job if I want to stay at least for the short term. I still miss Manila and all of you! I'll keep you updated.
Lots of love,
Sten