forever21 dress / forever21 leather jacket / forever21 wedges / asos polkadot bodysuit

last night i cuddled into a ball whilst poking my head underneath the covers in order to keep my body heat concealed. it was so cold. i didn't think everything through when i packed for new york city. i imagined sundresses, vintage shades and giant hats, NOT trench coasts, umbrellas and cloudy skies. no sweat pants, no sweatshirt. i am going to freeze. 

from orientation in a giant gothic cathedral to taking a  (surprisingly clean) subway train to times square, (where my fashion design course waits around the corner!), i have slowly begun to accept and welcome this city. honestly, it will only be a short time until i am wishing, hoping and begging to actually move here. 

first day of class: walking into my parsons class was intimidating. i pictured gagas, lagerfelds and baby mqueens all sitting around tables judging me through half tinted lennon round-rimmed sunglasses.  i walked to my classroom, passing sewing mannequins, sewing machines and fabrics falling off tables.  i was scared to say the least. but i soon realized, everyone else was too. walked into class being pleasantly greeted with a girl wearing uggs and a pony tail. frankly i was just happy no one came in wearing a meat suit or  arriving in an egg. our teacher walked in balancing bags of markers, charcoal pencils and sketch paper. she was so excited and so vibrant. slowly already falling in love with her. her thick accent prompted us to introduce ourselves. i quickly learned a college student from the midwest wouldn't be the farthest in the pack from nyc. girls from california, toronto, new mexico, new jersey, florida, singapore, scottland, london, italy, australia... the list could go on forever slowly started to introduce themselves.  

this is one of the larger impacts on me from this program. the depth and the distance of the different places these people come from. everyone is from a different area. everyone is from a different background and school. everyone is learning something else, but we all have one thing in common; art. 

first day of classes down! going out to dinner with the girls tonight. 

last night, while literally NOT sleeping one minute, i packed for my month in paradise. i had no idea what to bring and tormented myself over which pair of black pumps was the right height for the MET or which long dress was too hipster for Manhattan.  finally, deciding to bring both long dresses and ending with a five-inch high pair of black stilettos, the clock had struck five a.m and it was ready to leave.  i was terrified, excited, tired and impatient. i just wanted to get there.  the plane rides were good. the entire time, i would definitely be categorized as 'that guy'. the guy that falls asleep while standing up, leans on strangers shoulders in airplane seats and does the nod-off/nod-on dance with my head. it was embarrassing, iv'e already accepted it. 

being dropped off in this city was a crazy experience. i stood there, clutching my two suitcases, realizing that this was it. i was all alone in new york city. I WAS ALL ALONE IN NEW YORK CITY! hello hotdogs and blair waldorf! hello pickpockets and crazy hipster emo goth hybrids! hello dirt! 

my sleep depravation hallucinations  suddenly disappeared when i had to promptly tell the cabbie that shouted profanities at me where i wanted to go. manhattan. i NEVER thought i would get the privilege to say that. arriving at my dorm, i met my roommates. madea (fashion design - from toronto) , jean (arcitecture - from singapore but goes to college in ny) and zimbi (drawing & painting - from india). they are awesome and i can already tell we are going to get along great. 

zimbi and i walked over to union square and realized it is only a mean four blocks from the dorms! then jean and i spent the evening eating at Sarita's Mac and Cheese (AMAZING gourmet mac and cheese) and rummaging through the '18 miles of used, new, rare and out of  print books' at Strands. the aisles were overflowing with books on fashion, film, art and photography. i was in text heaven. i slowly realized that strands will soon enough become my second home. today was a great start to this adventure, let's see what trouble i can get into.

forever 21 shorts & jewelry / target fringe vest / walmart deep pocket shirt / asos combat boots

looking up at the calendar that hangs above my bed, all i see are highlighted deadlines, circled study hours and ongoing homework assignments due throughout these next two weeks. these next two weeks are so stressful. they are filled with saying goodbye to new friends, giant grade-determining exams, moving out of the place i called home for an entire year and leaving behind the life i have grown to love.

although these next few weeks are going to be stressful, there are also some good things that are coming along in two weeks. first, i will be finally reunited with my wonderful group of friends back home, sharing smores by a campfire and cuddling while reminiscing on the times we have spent apart. secondly, this summer I WILL BE GOING TO NEW YORK CITY. I REPEAT, I WILL BE GOING TO NEW YORK CITY.

this summer, i will be attending parsons the new school for design in new york city. i could not be more happy or more excited for this experience. i am enrolled in fashion design courses and am literally going to die as soon as i step of of the plane. this is such an amazing opportunity and i am so grateful that i am able to share it and grow from it. :)