How dorky am I?

My TC ID and my room key with touristy "I heart NY" keychain.

Me and my cuz

Well. I have only seen my cousin Deborah a couple times in my life so
last week when walking down broadway with my sister I thought she was
crazy when she said-that looks like Deborah. I mean it's NYC, what are
the chances that you'll run into somone you know. But it was her and
get this--her office is in the teachers college right across the hall
from the office of my program!! What crazy odds. I stopped by her
office today to say hi. Here is a picture of the two of us.

View from my room on the 14th floor

I'm here!

Signs from God come in all shapes and sizes

I saw this on the subway on my second day in NYC.

You can do this.

I can go to the biggest city that I've ever been to--alone. I can
figure out how to get from the airport to my hotel via public
transportation. I can find my way around and entertain myself in the
city that never sleeps. I can and will figure out a way to pay for
another degree. I can keep up with my homework this summer and
contribute thoughtfully and confidently in class discussions. I can
figure out the subway maps and learn how to keep standing when they
come to a stop. I can climb a million subway steps and walk 1200 miles.

I needed this trip.

Because where there was doubt--now I believe.....

I CAN DO THIS!!!!!

Adventurous Spirit

My friend Charlotte has an adventurous spirit. She came to NYC in
november for a conference and they asked her if she wanted to come
back and work there and she packed up her things and went for it. In
just a couple of months she went from New Zealand to New York. I'd
like to think that some of that rubbed off on me in the time that we
spent together back in 1995 and 1996 and then again today. She's
awesome and I am so lucky to spend time with her and to have that
opportunity to do so again this summer. I should have taken a picture
of her today with my iPhone but failed to do so. This picture
represents the adventure that I'm about to take up this summer and the
way that was demonstrated for me by my dear friend. I'll learn to
stand on those subways soon, Charlotte--and you were definitely the
high of my NYC trip.

Picture taken from the 125th street elevated train station (3 blocks
from where I'll be living this summer).

Toni and the empire state building