New York City!

I absolutely love New York City. The first time I went was my senior year of high school on a class trip, and ever since then I have been looking for ways to get back! I flew in Friday morning and met up with some friends, who drove up Thursday. I thought I would exhausted after my long drive back from Florida on Thursday, but I was too excited to be tired! This trip was definitely a quick one, but we like to think we pretty much conquered the city....

We mastered the art of subway modeling. The subway was actually one of my favorite experiences. We saw some extremely talented musicians and dancers, and we always had to stop to watch. We pretty much danced everywhere we went, which (along with our bright colors and backpacks) separated us from being true New Yorkers.

We ate some authentic Chinatown dumplings. So delicious! And five for a dollar?!?!? Can't be beat. 

And some authentic NYC pizza at Joe's.  I absolutely Greenwich village. 

It really was a wonderful trip. Graham's cousin, who we stayed with in Brooklyn, was an excellent host and we wouldn't of gotten such a fresh perspective without him!

Other highlights:

Sneaking in to Central Park Zoo

Escaping the snow in Financier Patisserie

Sneaking in to the Natural Museum of History

The Cobblestone Streets of Lower Manhattan

Lauren S being forced to eat a pepperoni off the NYC streets. GROSS.

Changing for our fancy dinner in the bathroom of a Starbucks (shown in the mirror pic below ;)

Bagels at Bergen Bagels in Brooklyn

YAY! I love y'all.

Life is sweet. My trip to NYC got me even more excited for my summer in Chicago! City life will be it's own new adventure! I can't wait to find places that feel like my own and explore a new city, as well as learning to better love the people in it!

spring break...part one.

Five days off school equals nine days of no responsibility. A break from work, school, and the confines of a Boone winter that is still going on strong.

TODAY

This year I couldn't pick between two options, so I kind of forced both. The result was a loss of sleep and savings, but lots of memories. When you have to choose, I think you should usually choose the one where the regrets are only temporary. 

Things I learned in Florida:

1. Everyone goes crazy after 12 hours in a car.

2. No body looks good in a wet suit.

3. God created us to be in community.

4. Our hearts all want the same things, even if you are just visiting us from China :)

5. Manatees are scary up close.

I got back late to Huntersville on Thursday night thawed out from the warm sun and with some new friends. Then I repacked my backpack and tried to get some sleep so I could wake up for my 7 am flight to NEW YORK CITAAAAAAAY.

I can't wait to share all about this short, but very sweet, trip to one of my favorite places!