Daily living

A lot of people have told me I should update my blog more regularly. I feel like I do it often. I think I’ve posted very two weeks or so and I’m sure no one wants more of my news than that – aside from mum that is, who I email every day.

Speaking of every day, here is what my life is like here.

I wake up and talk to Max, while eating Granola. I really miss toasted muesli and weetbix. So far I’ve found it impossible to buy cereal that’s not full of sugar. I get ready and head in to uni (or “school” if I’m being American) just after 7am. Commuting has made me a meaner person. I started off very cognizant of who should get first priority on seats, now I fight to sit down so I can do my reading; although I’ve mastered the art of standing, reading, highlighting, and making notes. I have seen ridiculous things on the Subway: a homeless lady going toilet into a cup in the entrance (I almost cried) and an unbelievable breakdancing, acrobatics show – people literally doing back flips in the middle of the subway car. My commute is about 40mins.

When I arrive in the city I have my favorite street to walk down from the subway station, which has my favorite fruit seller, my 45cent bagel shop, and my favorite pastry shop (there are so many amazing ones everywhere, thank you early Italian immigrants).

I do my work all day and I’ve already blogged about my classes. I also have to work 20hours a week on a research project and I’ve decided to work on the Early Adolescent Cohort Study, which is a longitudinal study of diverse youth. I should get to conduct interviews with some of the youth so I’m excited about that and there’s so many different things in the study so there’s lots that I’m interested in. The general university environment is so intellectually stimulating too. I’ve been to public lectures by Nick Clegg (the UK deputy Prime Minister), by a congressman and by numerous big deal psychology professors (the academic celebrity is a curious US phenomenon). There’s always free food at these events too.

After school I either go to the gym, yoga, or Wholefoods, and then cook and do more work.

Aside from general life, there is always something exciting to look forward to. Recently, I’ve been to the Lion King on Broadway and then to Magnolia’s bakery (very famous).

I’ve walked Brooklyn bridge and then spent the day in Brooklyn Bridge Park, right on the water - it’s so nice that Manhattan is an island. I went to the Cloisters, which is the medieval collection of the Met museum and such a beautiful area, again, right on the water.

I went to a great movie about America’s failing school system, which inspired me. I love to just wander the city and feel that it won’t be long until I become one of the New York City snobs who think this is the only real city in the world and won’t live anywhere else but here. That being said, I am very excited to come back to Wellington for summer break next year and see you all in NZ (and eat kumara).

So that’s my life – tell me about yours please?

P.s. Here are some pics of my furnished apartment, more are on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=204174&id=623451051&l=b9aab20194)