Black Vines Rambles

This has been one of the longest weeks for me. It has been equally fun and exhausting. I’ve had to move back to the city after being absent for 8 months. In those 8 months I’ve had one of the best adventures of my life in Shanghai. Now that I am back in New York its time to get back to work and hopefully have more fun on the way.

I think it was exactly 8 days ago that I took a red eye from the west coast to JFK. When I arrived the snow started falling in Queens. It was one of the coldest days in NYC so far and I was lucky enough to arrive on that day. The worst part of it was having to get all my stuff from my storage locker to my new dorm room. Speaking of dorm room, I am living in the same place I lived for my entire Sophomore year. The only thing that has changed is that I’ve moved 3 floors up and I’m living with new people. At first I felt a bit awkward, but throughout the week I’ve been adjusting to them. Having five girls share a bathroom is no picnic, but we are all pretty good about time management in there. 

My class schedule keeps moving back and forth. It went from four classes to three. I’m only taking classes for my major this semester…I have a tough major. Although, I love Economics as a subject I don’t like going into a lot of detail about it regarding theories. I like the policy aspects only. I really wanted to take my Korean Media class that I had been eyeing for a while. Unfortunately, one of the times for that class happened to overlap with a recitation. As fate would have it though, right after I dropped my media class due to the conflict my TA for the recitation emailed us about switching the class schedule. This means I could have totally watched Korean movies and dramas in class for a grade. Dayum…

Regarding my social life, after my 8 months away I found a new group of friends. It feels like each year of college I make a new group of friends and lose contact with the old. Making friends is something that is not horribly difficult for me, but keeping in touch is. I don’t like to make an effort to see people unless they want to see me equally if not more. I think it might be a pride issue and the fact that I don’t want to seem needy. Anyways, on Sunday night I met up with my lovely friend (let’s call us S) for dinner and a drink at BAK. It is a restaurant/bar/lounge that has a gigantic tv the size of the movie screen theater inside. The place is large and roomy and dim. It would be a nice atmosphere for a date. I had a OB! beer and she had a sweet ale logger. It was nice being able to catch up with an old friend.

Monday I went to my first class: Intermediate Microeconomics. In class I saw two people who were in the same program as me in Shanghai. Actually on this day I think I saw around 8 people who were in that program with me. It makes me happy when I see a friendly face on the street that I recognize. One of the downsides to living in NYC and going to a large school without a campus is that its hard to see a familiar face. I guess the upside would be that its hard to see people you can’t stand either. That night I went to dinner with my two friends from study abroad, D and V. We had a lovely dinner at a Japanese restaurant on St. Marks street. The food is really cheap for Japanese. The restaurant decore was interesting. They had vintage Japanese porn plastered all over the walls and menus. I guess that is considered cool somehow. After dinner we went to Spot and had fantastic dessert. Another pro about living in the city: amazing food.

Tuesday I met my friend M for dinner at Je Bon. The name is French but it serves Thai, Chinese, and Japanese food. After lunch we walked around and I bought a shirt at the Loft. When I went to my recitation class for Stats the TA never showed up.

Wednesday was not memorable.

Thursday I saw the guy I pretty much liked before I left the city. I always hated myself for liking him. Have you ever had that? He is funny and outgoing which are qualities that I appreciate in a guy. But he can be such an ass sometimes. Liking him really made me question how much pride I had. When I’m with him I try to act indifferent and cool, but my heart is beating hard enough that I can hear it. Before that I had lunch at a Crepe place with V and M.

Friday I went to one class and then walked around fifth avenue for a while. I visited lots of stores trying to find something to wear out later that night. I was pretty proud though that I didn’t spend any money. I had self restraint! I think I went to about 7 or 8 stores in total. On the way home I got subway and ate it after I took a shower. I re-did my makeup and went straight to work. Work got relocated to a basement location inside a dorm. After about 2 hours I got to leave. Yay! I met up with D M V (omg lol their initials together) at Ktown with D’s boyfriend.

We ate some korean food (I had ddukbokki). Then we got some alcohol at Woorijip. Then we hit about two Karaoke joints until we finally found one that doesn’t card. Unfortunately, it was over priced and the waiter guy took our alcohol. That’s something annoying about your friends turning 21 later than you. They’re all 20 years old and we have to still sneak around trying to drink. At the end of the night we went to wooripjip and finished our 2 six packs of OB and 2 soju bottles. It takes a ridiculously little amount of alcohol to get us tipsy.

Saturday night I went out to St. Marks place with S. First round we went to Spot for dessert where this waiter guy was flirting with me. I find guys who aggressively flirt to be a major turn off. Second round we went to a Korean restaurant and had yogurt with soju. Its oddly yummy. You can’t taste the alcohol at all. Then third round we went to pho32 and had happy hour and brisket pho. I have a bright Asian glow and this ajjusshi was majorly judging me. Oh wellz.

As you can imagine I am very broke now after this long week. After buying books and new supplies for my apartment I am officially in dire need of a paycheck.