We're only at day four of our stay here in Manhattan if you include the day we flew in and already I'm exhausted and achy. However, it's all worth it. We've experienced and learned a lot already. Apart from visiting museums and cathedrals, we have interacted with the New Yorkers and travelled by bus, taxi, subway and mostly foot. We've also tasted different cultural foods and are experiencing the dry weather (no snow yet, aside from a five minute snow globe effect I and some other girls experienced when we went out for a morning coffee at Starbucks).

It's the fourth day we've spent here in the Big Apple, and I finally feel like I'm getting used to the small areas, big crowds, vast diversity and harsh speed of the surrounding area. It's so interesting to me that people here tend to be extremely crass and short with each other. We went out to dinner the other night, and our waitress didn't say more than three words to us before she brought us the bill. When we thanked the bus boy for refilling our water glasses, he looked at us like we were from a different planet.

Hello from the big city! It's been hard to find time to keep up with this whole blogging thing. We're busy all the time here. On the go. I'm currently sitting in the New York Public Library in the Middle Eastern and Slavic reading room, trying to do some research on the internet. The library is gorgeous with big swooping ceilings and beautiful marble floors. Truly an architectural master piece

I have now been living as a New Yorker for about five days and I'm loving it. I feel like I am quickly getting used to the Metro system, the variety of food choices, cross-walk procedures and much more. I have learned that New Yorkers are very brave and walk across streets no matter who or what is coming at them. Through our short time here so far I could definitely see myself living in New York for a couple years after college (maybe for graduate school). I love the options, people and fast-paced lifestyle of New York.

So I went downtown today and had some amazing Indian food in the village. The Village was alive, with the return of NYU kids. They seemed more down to earth than some of the kids here at Columbia. After the meal, I asked them where to find the best dessert called Galabie. The search took us to Times Square and Rockafellar, but sadly the place was closed. So, we decided to hit up the H & M store, so we could look like the locals. Later, I met up with a good buddy of mine on 72nd street and we went to a kosher resturant and had some Ice Cream.

So I have been in the big city for 8 days now and it's not feeling so big. The first time I rode the bus and subway, I was very disoriented on getting to my destination. One time my group was trying to get from the eastside to the westside for class and ended up hiking across central part because we couldn't figure out what bus to take. It only took me a couple of days to feel comfortable getting around using the subway. I have lately found myself making my way downtown more offen. It seems that the upper westside is more appartments and such.

So this is the first time that I have written in the blog since before we arrived, but we have been busy with all sorts of events. Every night when we get back I am ready to collapse in my bed to ready myself for the next day’s events. For the most part this past week has served to get us comfortable with our cameras and photographing in this urban setting. I can certainly say that this environment is foreign from that at home. We may be in the same country, but New York City is a vastly different culture – everything moves quickly and forces you to move with it.

Anyone ever tells you that everyone in New York is rude and would just as soon as run you over, they're nuts. All we heard heading to this city is how unfriendly the people are.
Now, don't get me wrong. New York certainly has its share of, shall we say, unpleasent folk, but I've met nicer people here than I have back home in California, or in Washington at PLU!

People in the service industry here have been surprisingly friendly (Though God forbid you ever split a check, NO way). It's astounding how people act here, so many folks act so differently than what you hear of New Yorkers.

For some reason my PLU blog account doesn’t like me and won’t let me sign on. So here are a few of my past entries that I wrote and saved.

January 13th

January 16th
I’ve learned a great deal while working here in New York. Already I know myself in an entirely different way. I’ve learned to navigate the subway, that most European delis have terrible food, and that I am strong. I’m not perfect but at least I’m strong. There is a sign above a bookstore along our section of Broadway that says, “nobody who can write worth a damn ever writes in peace,” or something like that. But it applies to life as well: nobody who gives a damn ever lives in peace.