Busy, Busy, Busy

Wow. I have been so busy the last few days I haven't even been able to write a new post to update you all on my life here in NYC. On Wednesday, I spent the day doing more errands and setting up my room. I went grocery shopping at Trader Joe's on E. 14th Street and it was ridiculous. In New York, there really needs to be a certain way to set up grocery stores because there are so many people here. The Whole Foods was designed just for NYC and it runs very smoothly. Trader Joe's, on the other hand, is like every other Trader Joe's I've been to. So, when you walk into the store, it's small for NY, all the food in the refrigerated section is completely gone, and the line goes through the entire store. You might as well just get in line right when you get in the store because you snake through all the aisles while waiting. That's what I'll do from now on...shop while in line. Anyway, after I went grocery shopping and came back to the apartment, I cooked myself some broccoli and was about to make pasta but was invited to go out with my roommates. We went to meet up with their friends Pete, Brian, and Nick. Their friends are amazing and so talented. Pete does animation and is a musician and Brian and Nick do some great sketches and comedy routines that you can see on their website, http://www.briTANick.com. Pete's YouTube channel is http://www.youtube.com/user/petescalzitti.

I'm really lucky to be surrounded by so many talented people in New York. My roommate, Emma, is an amazing singer and I get to hear her singing around the apartment during the day.I'm going to try to find some dance classes or singing groups around here so I can be a part of these great communities of talented actors/singers/dancers/etc.!

After we hung out with their friends, Emma, Liz and I headed back to the apartment. Since I hadn't eaten any dinner (besides the broccoli) Liz and I went to Mamoun's for a late-night falafel. It's fun to live in a city where everything is open so late and many places are even open 24/7.

On Thursday, I slept in a little bit, and then walked to NYU to get my NYU Student ID card. After I filled out some forms and sat in the waiting room for a little while I was able to get my picture taken and walk out as an official student with my ID card. After that, I got on the subway and went to the Upper West Side. I got off the stop at Columbia University at 116th and everything was so familiar. It was weird not having my sister there because the only time I've spent there is when I've been with my family visiting my sister at school! Speaking of Rebecca, she gave me a letter to drop off to Nussbaum & Wu for her favorite person who works there, Sharon. I walked into the bagel shop and got in line and Sharon kept giving me weird looks. I knew she couldn't figure out who I was, so when I got up to the front of the line I handed her the letter and told her I travelled from the East Village all the way to the Upper West Side to say hi to her for my sister, Rebecca Pollack. And, of course, she was soooo excited and happy to see me and misses Rebecca a lot. I ordered a lemonade and she said it was on her. It was worth the trip to make her day with a letter from Bec and get a free lemonade! After I left Nussbaum, I walked down to 96th Street and hopped on the subway to go back home. I transferred trains at 42nd Street and was very tempted to leave the station and explore Times Square, but I decided to save that for another day. By the time I got home and did a few more errands it was time to meet up with my friend, Mark. He met me at St. Mark's Place and we walked E. 8th Street to a restaurant called Cafetasia. I had Pad Thai, which was really good for the price. After dinner, we walked back towards St. Mark's, stopped at the Blockbuster so I could rent a movie, and then Mark headed back to Brooklyn where he lives. Liz and I ended up watching the movie last night (He's Just Not That Into You) but we didn't really enjoy it.

Today, I woke up earlier to get ready to register for classes. I walked to NYU and sat with a bunch of other special/visiting students while we waited to register with an advisor. I have spent the ENTIRE day trying to figure out my class schedule and I still haven't figured everything out. I ended up not going to Smith tonight because I was working on my classes and it got too late. I'll be taking the bus early tomorrow morning to Smith so I can get things from the trunk room and bring them back to NY.

I PROMISE that when I get back from Smith and have fixed up my room a little bit, I will take pictures and post them here for all of you to see where I'm living.

Miss you all...*HUGS AND KISSES*

Love Always,

Jess