East Coast Ramblings of a West Coast Girl

Catch a tiger by the toe, if it hollers, let him go. Eeny, meeny, miney, moe!

Looking at courses for next semester. Ah, yes...my next semester abroad. The more I think about it, the more excited yet frightfully scared I get. It'll be such an amazing experience, right? But I'll miss New York so much, won't I? (Yes, yes I will)

Anyway, checking out classes is actually a really fun activity! That is, if you are sure what you want to take. Sometimes, you're so overwhelmed by all the choices that you often find yourself dizzy from all the possibilities! I guess I do. I won't lie: I love looking at classes that I can take. Once you find your calling, and you look at all the courses available to you, it's like stepping inside a mall with all your favorite stores (American Girl Doll, J.Crew, Anthropologie, That French Bookstore at Rockefeller Center, Uni Qlo, just to name a few for all you who want to know).

What's especially special is the course listing for France (clap, clap)!

What's not so special is that they haven't made up the times for each course. So while I have a nice variety of courses available to me to take (some of which I'm considering are "Paris through its Museums and Monuments," or even "European Society and Cinema") I don't know if they'll work out! Garr! Thus, leaving me here. Sitting here. Looking at the screen, daydreaming.

I won't lie: It's stressful preparing for life abroad. I have to look at apartments, I have to do the visa thing, and with the visa thing comes zillions of papers to fill out (by hand). Gross. All worth it in the end though, right? I still haven't booked my tickets for Paris yet. But Paris can wait...

...only because I still haven't booked my Christmas tickets for home! It's just such a process to book a ticket (ok, it's not, but I feel like it is).

Part of my France process included the fact that I had to get 12 passport photos (8 for the school, 3 for the consulate, and one for my own pleasure). It was such a pain to hear that I had to get these photos, but something good did come out of it...

After taking my passport photo with Angela, we walked out of the store and noticed loads and loads of (what I assume were) free magazines and a textbook and two umbrellas just on the sidewalk of the street! Of course, we'd noticed it was there before taking the photo, but who knew it would still be there (and with no one guarding them!!)?

I was like "Whoa!" I wanted a magazine. They once belonged to someone, I think, because I saw addresses on them. Doesn't matter anymore, though. Finder's keepers.

Anyway, it ranged all the way from Us Weekly to Time Magazine to Architectural Digest to Men's Health (but not all recent, some were from years ago).

I was debating as I stood in front of this wide array, deciding, contemplating, gawking, awing...If I take a free mag, I could get disease....but if I just leave it be, I won't get disease or a free magazine, for that matter.

You can imagine what I did...

Yep, I took a magazine. The cover was beautiful! It was one of those NY Times Style magazine, and I was so in awe. I love how the stage the covers, they're beautiful! I took it and walked away to see that I had in fact taken the Winter 2007 edition!!

Who had a fun Halloween? Raise their hand! (Me! Me!)

It was only recently that I found out that children living in the city trick-or-treat by raiding each floor and every apartment of the building they live in.

There are no kids living in this building (unless you count those kids over 18).

But, we had nice visitors and we happily provided them with candy and entertainment.

What kind of entertainment?

Jessica dressed as a man.

(PS I'm sorry about my new layout. I thought it was cool, but then, it's just not really...and I am experiencing technical difficulties. I can't...I can't change it!!!---All is well, though)

I want to share something special from the other side of town:

That Bitter Phlegm? Concentrated Elegance

Columbia girl: I fucking hate people who go to NYU.
Columbia guy: Me, too. They're so, 'Oh, look at me! I'm so artsy and don't shower.'
Columbia girl: Yeah, and they smoke weed and do acid! Coke is so much classier.

--Tom's Restaurant

Overheard by: Liz

Yes. I love "Overheard in New York" -- it's always incredibly entertaining, but please, by all means, do not, I repeat, do not take it for the grander population of New York inhabitants. And, let's not get carried away with how our neighbors up the river (the Hudson, that is) think of us. A lot of people I've met actually wonder what's better: Columbia or NYU? Really, as I'm sure you know, the two colleges are extremely different.

Artsy? Yes, NYU is artsy. We have an acclaimed Arts/Media program (this includes Film/TV, Studio Art, Communications, Music, etc), and, you know, look at us! So, in a sense, when we really are too busy doing artsy things, it's only natural we forget to shower.

...Just kidding.

In all seriousness, I think that a good chunk of people who attend the school make sure they look "nice" for class just because you actually are immersed in the city when you attend class. You know? We're not enclosed in an itty bitty square with a fake yard. We pretty much expand around New York City, which is how, I think, we can have such a good artsy program, because, I mean, how can you not be influenced in a city as iconic and beautiful as this?

I also have been loving the fact that one of my professors has brought in special guests to class to talk to us about their real life jobs (take that Columbia). Whether it be the head of the CBS Marketing department, or journalists from various New York City publications, it's very, very exciting to see all the possibilities that have been laid out for me (even though I'm still pretty excited about making French Propaganda films).

Just imagine: in a matter of ten, fifteen years, I could be in that sort of a position...to know a journalist of something something, or a producer of blah blah blah...it's just so mind-blowing that all my professors toss out their fellow colleagues randomly. "Yeah, my friend who films Survivor, she lives in LA, she's pretty awesome."

It's mind-blowing that I'm expected to do something with myself in a matter of ten years' time. I know it's a lot to take in at the moment, but it's just incredible the amount some people have accomplished. It's really scary to think of the next steps we'll take with our lives, with each day that passes, each semester that goes by...I often wonder if I'm making the right choices, if I'm working towards an achievable goal?

What, might I ask, can there possibly be waiting for me after college? I know I'm still a couple of years away from that, but the thought excites and frightens me. I know, I know, you are in college to try to find your interests, see what tickles your fancy, etcetera...But sometimes you find yourself interested in so, so many things, and you want to do so, so much to potentially fulfill your so very, very "ideal" future that you have no way of predicting.

Lots of people I know say they want to major in ________, but then they sigh and say, "but that will get me no where."

Eh...you won't get "no where," per se. You're doing something you're truly interested in, and isn't that what you're supposed to do in life? Enjoy?

I've said too much. It's just an ugly day, and all I want to do is finish two papers this weekend. That's all, not too much to ask, is it? IS IT!? French essay, and Media Crit paper...

(insert heaving sigh)

I don't know if many of you have heard, but there was a suicide recently in the Water Street dorms.

As much as I wish I could have avoided speaking about the subject, it seems somewhat necessary for this blog. I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but this is the second suicide that has taken place in our school in this semester---and it's hopefully the last.

A few years ago, in the 2003-04 school year, five students jumped to their deaths, with another suicide in 2004. Soon after these events, the school was known for its infamous "diving team," and NYU sealed off the balconies of each floor of their beautiful library, as well as windows in every residence hall (as they only open 4-5 inches).

The news about this recent suicide was in a very short article by the Washington Square News. The parents of the student wanted to give very little information, which is, of course, understandable in every way. Coping with a death is difficult for the parents and for the NYU community because it's a difficult concept to grapple with.

New York can be a very scary place. There's no doubt that it can be (I'm not saying it always is, but it has its moments) very impersonal and the people can be rude and pushy. Most of us don't know what it's like to live in a city, let alone one of the biggest and busiest metropolitans in the world. Most of us have come from suburban towns and we tell other people we're from the big city we live "only 20 minutes away from."

In a new environment like this, we are often caught off-guard and we wonder why we ever chose to move out here. I know that when I first moved to the city, I was incredibly overwhelmed. Who knew that I had to walk so far, so long? It's brutal, I'll admit: it's brutal to not only adjust to new college life, but to adjust to life without your parents, and to live in this somewhat disillusioned city.

This is why you should read my blog. No, seriously. You guys out there in the West Coast right now, coming to the East Coast next year...I know what you guys have gone through/what you guys will go through. Don't forget, I'm from the very suburban Diamond Bar. I've been intimidated, I've had to take time to adjust too. You know, especially with the winter coming, if you guys are feeling a little bad, feel free to chat me up: jj766 @ nyu.edu. I've lots of remedies. And, honestly, no one knows more than I do about this drastic weather change. I've actually spent significant time in Las Vegas for the past three years during winter. So, you know, you can't get any warmer than that.

Anyway, I hope I wasn't too preachy. I just wanted to make sure you know that (this is going to be way too corny) you make your college experience what you want it to be. You decide what you want to take, what you don't want to take; it's all about y-o-u. Don't make this once-in-a-lifetime experience get you down. It'll be stressful, sure, that's expected. But, if you don't acknowledge your own potential of success and happiness, you're just putting unnecessary burden on your shoulders.

If you're not happy, or scared, or anxious, sit back, deep breath. Talk to your friends, go to the park. Eat chocolate! Just don't dwell on it too long, because it turns into unwanted weight.

Now on the brighter side, as I've mentioned before, the weather is changing rapidly.

It is now night when it's only 5:00 PM.

It's depressing.

My cure? ...Watch to find out:

Here's the story: So, I had an appointment at the French Consulate on 74th Street for my visa for 12:15. OK? Ok.

I leave around 11:30 to get up there so I take the subway, but it takes the train, like, 10 minutes to come by. So, getting antsy, I decide I want to take a cab.

I get on the cab. We go up 3rd avenue, la dee dah...and then in a few minutes we get up to 30-something, or something, and I am like "OK, ok, this is good. This is good..."

But WHAM there's the MOST TERRIBLE TRAFFIC EVER. The cabbie keeps talking to me, so I'm like ok, ok. But minutes, fifteen minutes, twenty, thirty...pass. We're stuck between 50/51st streets for what seems like forever (15 minutes). It starts to rain, I can't get out, even if I wanted to. Don't want my papers to get wet, do I?

I start to cry. I've already missed my appointment by 45 minutes and there is no way that they will let me do anything, but I want to try regardless.

I eventually get to 74th and Madison.

The taxi fare was $36.

I get out and see that there's just this French flag hanging on some building and it says "VISA LINE" So I stand there, but the door is locked. I go to the door next to it and knock and I'm like "where's the consulate?" This big black security guy (2x my size) tells me to go to 5th ave. So I go, but I can't find anything and I'm frantic. REALLY FRANTIC. I've just had so much stress piled on me...

A lady in front of her building asks me, "Are you ok? Do you need help finding something?"

YES! Please tell me where to do the visa thing...I was just a little late (ok, more than a "little") and I started to bawl. She tells me I was at the right place, so I go back and I knock on the door.

The big security guard feigns sleep and he doesn't get to me. Five minutes later, he comes out, blocks me and says sternly, "we're closed. Go away and make an appointment online."

"No, you see, I had an appointment...there was just this issue and..."

"We're closed."

"But..."

"No."

So I walk away and cry a little on 74th Street between Madison and 5th Avenue. A UPS guy looks at me like I'm crazy. Maybe I was crazy, I was just under so much pressure. I wasn't sure if I'd get another appointment before I leave for California (because I did the paperwork for the New York embassy, you know? And I certainly don't want to go to downtown LA to do this -- it's worse than getting uptown!). But my roommate was able to get me an appointment on the 11th. Yes, a mere 4 days before I go back home. It's cutting it close.

I walked through central park to the west side. Met a friend. Had linner and chat chat chat, before I know it, it's later than I wanted it to be. I'm like, I have to go, I have to go. Ruby Foo's has terrible fortune cookies and terrible miso soup, FYI. So I'm like I really, really have to get back. You know how much work I have to do for this weekend!? For the remainder of my time here, and do so i can not work so hard on my birthday weekend!? Yeah. Well, I get frantic again. Results in my mother calling me, and her trying to get me to be reasonable.

Remember the deep breaths I told you about?

I have to remind myself to do that.

PS: I saw Michael Cera (AKA my love, AKA George Michael!) on Broadway shooting something. Aaah, he's so awkwardly cute. :)

Jessica's words of advice: Plan ahead. Everything can be very stressful, but you have to remember not to freak out. Or else that just wastes more of your time.

It has come. My friends, I have turned another year older. Another year full of experiences, another year wiser (perhaps?).

I wish I were able to spew a slew of wise words here just for your enjoyment. Rather, I am sitting here, contemplating the final paragraph of my Propaganda essay, wishing that I had never looked at an American Girl doll, and listening to a cover of John Lennon's Christmas song.

I wanted to make myself into a cartoon.

I thought to myself: That would be great. Jessica in cartoon form. What could be better than a Jessica that can have a bigger-than-normal head and an itty bitty body and big feet?

...I love that idea.

Unfortunately this week I've had inklings of a cold. But luckily, through a very fancy combination of Robitussin and Zicam, I have overcome (so far)! As an adult, you never really realize that you are expected to take care of yourself more and more. Reading the labels, opening the bottles, and all the while having an apprehension of: what if I'm doing this wrong? What if I'm doing it wrong, so I won't get better?

No more mother and father here to help you out. Make sure you know that, all of you home-dwellers (those of you who haven't come to college yet): "Mommy" and "Daddy" won't be here in school when you can't sleep in the middle of the night (but thank God there's a TV and internet). Luckily there are things like roommates, for which I will forever be thankful. Thankful to each roommate who bought me some sort of medication, and to Valerie: dear Valerie who looked inside my throat and told me things beyond disgusting about the human anatomy.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Isn't it great to have a day revolve around you? Unfortunately the History channel is revolving around Pearl Harbor, but, you know, otherwise, it's for me.

One of the things about having a birthday on such a historical event is that my mother has bought me all sorts of books about World War II and Pearl Harbor. You'd be amazed at how intent she was on making me learn.

But anyway, as I sit here, halfly making a powerpoint presentation for French class (about their education system, which is really interesting and my French penpal Gaelle actually helped me out because she, unlike me, is actually, you know, in France and her university is blockaded and there's everything happening there that I will discuss later) and halfly thinking about my life.

Twenty years have passed me by, and I am thinking: what comes with the next few? Actually, that's too much to think of.

Already in this short span of life, I've moved.

I've gone to school and entered college.

I've gone to many, many locations all over the world.

Met great, great people.

I've lived and I've learned.

Now, to spare myself from being too corny or something...

I made a cartoon this week that I feel is especially important.

NYU has a flaw. They have interesting meal plan options, but they have tried again and again to limit us and our uses of the flex plan especially. What's the worst part is that sometimes we are unable to finish the meals in our flex plans (which is why I changed to a 10meal this year). We have unfinished meals, but out meals DO NOT cross over to the next semester, which I find a little ridiculous. But maybe that's just me?

Anyway, as a solution, I feel that especially since we're in a city so full of homeless...we should help them out. Not just because of the number of excess meals, but because of the holiday spirit, because of everything that we should do to try to help them out.

THUS...brings me here:

Happy December, everyone.

And, a special thanks to my Mother and Father who bought me wintery clothing accessories.

Friends,

Finally my bags have been packed. It was terrible...I had to tear down everything, stuff things in suitcases, books, ship things...

I hate moving out, especially when I have to take home my winter clothes (only because I have to wear them in Paris too, of course).

Luckily I have a friend in the city to hold some things for me, but still---it's not enough! Loads and piles of things that excrete dust into the air, making me very allergetic (if that's even a word). Sneezing back and forth, nose blowing, eye puffing...

Luckily it's gone when I'm outside...

Here's an example of the mess I caused:

But at least I'm done! Hear me? Done with all my papers! I'm very, very lucky that I only had to deal with final papers (granted 3/4 being due on the same day). The final schedule in NYU is really crazy. It's as if a bunch of monkeys (sorry) got together and threw darts on a chart listing of dates/times.

Why, if I may ask, are there finals at 8 in the morning? That's incredibly unjust for people who have to take 8 AM finals when those classes are held at 11 PM. A lot of times 11PM is the first class of the day for many people.

Anyway, I just think it's unfair. I know, "fairness" is such a kid-like ideology. Nothing in life is "fair," but good God, if you expect people to do well on finals, don't make it so early in the morning! 9 is fair.

Today was also my last day with the kids at PS124 (or is it 128?--sorry, I just know it by the location and name). I know I haven't spoken much about them, but it's only because, I mean, they're 2nd graders and wonderfully cute! Seriously, though, I have this disability here. I can't post pictures up, and so I didn't want to develop such a great story about them and not have anything to show for it.

Imagine a class of 20 second graders who jump on you and tickle you half to death, play catch with you, hug you when you arrive, ask you for help on their homework, ask you to read with them...

It was the most rewarding experience I've ever had. Their faces when I had to tell them I wasn't coming back until next year was just heartbreaking.

"Where are you going?"

"France."

"Where's that?"

"Far away."

"Will you be here next week?"

"I can't---"

"Then Monday?"

"No, I can't. I'm going home tomorrow to California."

"You live in California!?? How do you get here so fast?"

I love it!

Tomorrow is my flight, yes, yes. Two huge bags of luggage and a third one, and a few boxes being shipped home. Not too shabby, I must admit. :)

Now, something very special I want to share:

The POETRY VENT of my room. Everytime someone comes over very often, or spends the night, they are required to make a poem out of my magnetic poetry set and plaster it on our air vent. It's actually magnetic!

Off I go...home...Luckily I think I'm just missing the beginning of the crazy airport holiday traffic.

No more supershuttle, though. Definitely car service.

Oh, and as for my Visa, I got it on Tuesday, and squeezed in a trip to the Met as well! It was really great, and the Visa worker guy who helped me was incredibly sweet, and even wished me a happy birthday!

(Aawww...)

(oh, and also our birthday in months at the time of the writing)

Dear friends,

I know it has been a while since my last blog post, but here I am to ameliorate the situation (or as the cool kids say, the "situ").

Recently, I've had to suffer through Transition housing from summer to fall, where Palladium told me to vacate my apartment in 24 hours. Yes, I came home from work to a sign on my door telling me to leave...in 24 hours.

I packed, and I packed, ready to move to Greenwich Hotel. Which, I did! Despite the biggest storm ever, I moved in successfully with the help of Serena.

Before I say anything else: I love the West Village. It's chic, it's quiet, it's like my new favorite neighborhood because I think I can get to know the coffee shop man.

Now, I'm saying more: Aside from the bunk beds, the small room, the lack of ventilation, the shower that was impossible to turn on, no knob for the oven, a paucity of light, a paucity of internet ethernet jacks...

It's kind of nice.

The internet situation (all situations) in our room is shitty. There's only two ethernet plugs and they're both on my side of the room, and no extension cord will really do it any justice.

I was able to connect for a little while to someone's wireless called "WeAreANiceFamily" (suspicious?) But after I sent an e-mail, my life failed to continue to work.

That night, we (Serena and I) bought the wireless router and set it up, but of course, since our internet connection wasn't originally working, said router did not either. We named it Jon*, after this guy that spoke to us in the lobby and told us to stay away from Belkins brand.

Anyway, our password became something along the lines of saying NYU Fails.

Afterwards we were suddenly far from all our favorite dining/delivery places. Everyone delivers to Union Square -- because all the tasty food is around us. And so we found some place (as I stole internet) and ordered from a sandwich place. It took them 1.5 hours to get us the sandwiches, and they were dry, to say the least.

To make ourselves happy with a lack of TV, phone (my blackberry died the following morning at 9.20AM after it had been fully charged at 8:00 AM --- reasons of death are unknown, but I think he was searching a little too hard for the signal that would not come), and internet, we went next door to D'Agostino and bought myself pudding (and a copy of the New Yorker).

Mmm...yes. We went back (the Security Guard knew us by then) and got free magazines that did not entertain us too much. High fashion magazines and Teen Vogue were not really enticing enough (we also got a copy of this India nationalism magazine...)

We set up Jon, and then suddenly WeAreANiceFamily overtook Jon! I was so confused -- they're too different networks, but for some reason Jon became a part of WeAreANiceFamily --- I was skeptical.

Then 9:00 PM came around and I took a shower.

'Twas an evening to remember, I suppose!

*name was changed for privacy purposes