Sunday night in NYC...
I had a good week, but Wednesday was definitely stressful. All of us Macaulay freshman had to register for classes for next semester. We were all fighting for the same good Macaulay seminar professors. =p
We all had different registration times. I was scheduled to register at 1:10, which was one of the later registration times. I had three schedules set up just in case I wouldn't get the seminar I wanted.
OMG. By the time 1:10 came, I was having heart palpitations. =p Everything turned out fine, but I had to run to the Macaulay office because of some biology registration issues. I don't have a perfect schedule for next semester, but I think I'll be fine. (I hope!)
I had to hand in my bio lab report on Thursday. I was glad to be done with it. Let me just say that graphing can get very tedious.
I just finished reading a great book. It's called "Between Shades of Gray" and it's by Ruta Sepetys. Check it out here: http://www.betweenshadesofgray.com/
It is an amazing book!!! Impossible to put down and so incredibly moving. I was reading it on the train, and I had to stop myself from crying. There are some very sad moments, but there's also this amazing courage and will to survive that is so central to the book.
Today was the Snapshot Day Photo Exhibition for all Macaulay freshman. All of us were assigned to take photos on October 11. Today we were given a chance to see how the student curators arranged the photos. It was cool to see everyone's work. We had to also work in small groups and create a video, under a particular theme, of some of the photos we saw. It was fun to learn more about iMovie. =)
Have a great week!!
S.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Strange Incidents on the Last Train Car
In general, NYC is great place to be in. The diversity of cultures, food, and events is one of the best things about the city. However, there are the occasionally not so pretty incidents where it certainly feels awkward. Everyone at some point witnesses panhandling on the train system. You see homeless people, who come and perform, or tell their story to the city's straphangers(some of them outwardly state that they need money for alcohol). There are even young kids, who sell candy, or do an amazing juggling act while the train is in motion. These are fairly common on the trains and one gets accustomed to it. What isn't seen everyday is the extreme; an incident involving a knife, pepper spray, and yelling. (Don't worry though, nothing really happened)
Last Wednesday, I was coming home on the E (or was it M?) train. I usually transfer at 53rd and Lexington from the 6 train. I also have everything planned out, so that I minimize walking and traveling time. This means that I tend to get on the last few cars of either train. Also, normally, I get off at the first stop after I board the E/M train, or the first stop in Queens. I was already facing the train door, waiting for the train to cross the river, when out of nowhere a guy starting talking really loudly. I'm going to try and state the facts, because it became really hard to judge either one of the guys involved. The man, who was in his late 50's, began talking about how everyone on the train has a right to defend his/her self. He continued stating how he is a veteran and perfectly capable of defending anyone on the train. At first it seemed as though the man was odd; until I realized he was directing his words to another man in front of him. Then it all made sense as the dialogue continued. The man sitting down was claiming that the man standing up had a knife hidden. That's when the man sitting down pulled out a pepper spray and continued his claims that if the other man tried to assault anyone, there were tons of witnesses. This is when the standing man decide to talk; he claimed that the other guy was crazy and had no clue what he was talking about. Their yelling and insults continued and I was extremely glad my stop arrived. Throughout the whole time, I was freaking out. It was impossible to tell which man was lying, the man standing up also got defensive and began verbally abusing the older man. It was even more strange how everyone on the train averts their eyes and the silence only increases the tension. It was certainly one of the scariest experiences of my life.
Last Wednesday, I was coming home on the E (or was it M?) train. I usually transfer at 53rd and Lexington from the 6 train. I also have everything planned out, so that I minimize walking and traveling time. This means that I tend to get on the last few cars of either train. Also, normally, I get off at the first stop after I board the E/M train, or the first stop in Queens. I was already facing the train door, waiting for the train to cross the river, when out of nowhere a guy starting talking really loudly. I'm going to try and state the facts, because it became really hard to judge either one of the guys involved. The man, who was in his late 50's, began talking about how everyone on the train has a right to defend his/her self. He continued stating how he is a veteran and perfectly capable of defending anyone on the train. At first it seemed as though the man was odd; until I realized he was directing his words to another man in front of him. Then it all made sense as the dialogue continued. The man sitting down was claiming that the man standing up had a knife hidden. That's when the man sitting down pulled out a pepper spray and continued his claims that if the other man tried to assault anyone, there were tons of witnesses. This is when the standing man decide to talk; he claimed that the other guy was crazy and had no clue what he was talking about. Their yelling and insults continued and I was extremely glad my stop arrived. Throughout the whole time, I was freaking out. It was impossible to tell which man was lying, the man standing up also got defensive and began verbally abusing the older man. It was even more strange how everyone on the train averts their eyes and the silence only increases the tension. It was certainly one of the scariest experiences of my life.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Is it the most wonderful time of the year?
An awesomely impromptu tryptophan Thanksgiving only a memory now, I armed myself for an upcoming month of finals, lab reports and inevitable end of semester mishaps by decorating my room for Christmas. I don't have a picture of my room as of yet, but just knowing Christmas is around the corner helps make the month just a bit more doable. The festive mood that my room emanates obviously paradoxically makes it even more difficult for me to work in my room. Hence I "library hopped" over the past few days between Baruch's Library, Hunter's Brookdale Library and the 68th street main campus library, which has proven to be marginally successfully in producing productive work moments.
Immediately coming back from the Thanksgiving Break (what an awful tease- 4 days of comatose bliss only to be followed by about 13 days of classes and then a full on month of break), registration was for the first time in my life, error free! Not once did I have to wait on line to get an override, permission, or have to deal with any bureaucratic office of any sort. Some departments can be extremely nice and helpful, even on stressful registration days, others, not so much. And I registered for all my classes in the comfort of my dorm, still in my pjs. I can't wait for my Jerusalem in the 20th century class, along with, for the first time ever, two days off! Of course, I have to devote time to DAT studying (ahh, its really happening now!)
Until next time, when I surely will put up christmas pictures!!
Immediately coming back from the Thanksgiving Break (what an awful tease- 4 days of comatose bliss only to be followed by about 13 days of classes and then a full on month of break), registration was for the first time in my life, error free! Not once did I have to wait on line to get an override, permission, or have to deal with any bureaucratic office of any sort. Some departments can be extremely nice and helpful, even on stressful registration days, others, not so much. And I registered for all my classes in the comfort of my dorm, still in my pjs. I can't wait for my Jerusalem in the 20th century class, along with, for the first time ever, two days off! Of course, I have to devote time to DAT studying (ahh, its really happening now!)
Until next time, when I surely will put up christmas pictures!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)