Gotta catch em all...the subway

REAR WINDOW: The view of the park and river from my room in NYC,  500 Riverside Dr.

Grand Central Station

Divine Comedy's Matt Meese and Jason perform their
popular Shoulder Angel skit at the People Improv's
Theatre Tuesday.

DAY 2


All the places Tiffany and I visited: 

• The Bronx via the 1 Train.
• Riverdale Press
• Target
• I-House
• Union Square
• Pizza Joint
• Flower stand
• Grand Central Station
• Meredith Corp
• Times Square (briefly)
• People's Improv Theatre (24th St)

One of my favorite parts of the day was being able to go support BYU's Divine Comedy group at the People's Improv Theatre while they were performing with the Harvard Sailing Team in NYC. While I had already seen all the skits they performed (and know them by heart. Yes, I am their No. 3 fan!), it was such a cool experience for some hilarious, clean comedy. And yes, I still love Matt Meese...

Tales of Working in the Bronx:First Day Jitters

The Riverdale Press is located off Broadway in the west side of the Bronx.

DAY 3: 


I have successfully made my way through NYC for three days now. I began my internship at the Riverdale Press this morning at a bright and early 11:45 a.m. They are a weekly paper, and it is printed on Wednesdays (hence the late arrivals). 


There is a small in-house staff of 15 people or less. Ther are ... drum roll ... four reporters. It amazes me. They crank out around four stories each week to fill the paper along with columns, briefs, etc. I think that's amazing. 


Luckily, they found a desk for me to work in. I am currently working on putting together next week's "What's up," which is essentially a calendar of local events. 


The Riverdale Press is a small, community newspaper. Yes, I know it seems odd that I would travel all the way to New York to work at a small paper when I have job opportunities at larger newspapers in Utah. BUT New York news is different. The police beat doesn't cover fake cougar sightings, water balloon attacks or other pranking. ( I love BYU's police beat, truly.) And while working at a huge, upscale national magazine would be awesome (and I would love to do that) this experience is just that: experience in the real world. 


I miss designing already. I can't wait to design for The Press.


Designing is my passion now. I hope I can perhaps do some things with my internship before I leave at the end of the term. 


Tonight I'm off to enjoy takeout with Maria and Institute at the Lincoln Center Building. 


And I continue to search for a fan...or air source of some sort. I need a hardware store. I'm open to suggestions.


CONTINUED...

The Shake Shack is a popular ice cream & burger joint.

Tonight I attended institute in the Lincoln Center Building which also houses the LDS temple in NYC. It was wonderful to be able to sit and discuss the scriptures after working all day. The teacher was enthusiastic and funny. I was so glad Maria encouraged me to go. I was able to get some other girls from the program to attend as well. Afterwards, we went out for dessert at the Shake Shack off 77th with Jim, a guy we met at institute.


A perfect ending to an odd day.

I am lost: Day 1

Day 1 proved to be more overwhelming than I could possibly have imagined. New York is huge. And the subways are an awful maze. I hope I can learn the system in the next couple weeks. Luckily, a longtime best friend, Maria Alexia, was able to guide me and Tiffany (my travel buddy in the same program) around the city with our enormous suitcases. While I really do need the contents of these suitcases, I do not think I will return with both. Perhaps I will just ... ship them. 

After arriving into JFK early, we sat on the tarmac for a good 30 minutes while the airport sought a way to get us to the actual terminal without being docked at a gate. Then we had to walk one terminal over to find our luggage. And maneuver the air train to the subway station. Holy moly. 


The I-House (Columbia's International House) off 125th Street is really lovely. I had heard that it could be dirty and not that great. But I have no idea what those people were talking about. Yes, my room is quite warm. (Why do they think they don't need air conditioning?) I'll post pictures later of the I-House and my quaint room.

As soon as we dropped off our bags at our new home, we hurried to the Harlem Church building for FHE. (Maria is a co-chair.) We passed the Apollo on the way to the building. I can't wait to go to an amateur night. Tiffany and I stopped at Sylvia's Soul Food for dinner since we both had only eaten breakfast (and it was 8 p.m.) 

Sylvia's is a popular restaurant in Harlem serving their famous chicken and waffles. It was delicious. Because we stopped for food, we missed most of fhe, but we did get the chance to meet several people in the ward. 

Well Toto, we're not in Utah anymore. New York couldn't be more different. I hope I will love it here. And the Bronx.

Day 0: I'm leaving in t-minus 9 hours

 


I take off to NYC tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. Yes, I love early flights. Because I'm most definitely a morning person. Love them.


With the encouragement of a certain mother I made four lists of things to pack in my two suitcases, ranging from my portable fan to bedding to an umbrella.


Today I celebrated Easter with the Dwyer family in South Jordan, Utah. Shout out to my favorite little kids Sarah, Daniel, Ashley and Ryan!

Standing for the Family and friends

This weekend flew by, as usual.
I attended a conference of sorts on campus, Stand for the Family Symposium put on by BYU's Law School. There were some wonderful talks and lectures. Several of my Jerusalem friends were also in attendance. Elder Porter spoke Friday night. We feel a special connection to him, since he stayed with us at the Jerusalem Center several weeks last fall, in addition to speaking to us at Stake Conference there in Jerusalem.

The whole conference was based on the fact that societies and people are forgetting the importance of families in regards to traditional values. Eating dinner with your children. Current divorce rates. It was a very interesting weekend.

Last night I covered Elder Rasband's talk at the church's CES Fireside. He spoke on friendship. It is so important to be a good and true friend as well as mentor. It definitely made me re-evaluate my friendships and whether or not I am the best friend and mentor to others.

Here is my article published in the paper today.

Another Poem

I understand why Jesus wept

For all the sins I have kept.
The times when I did go astray.
Insisting that I alone could pay,
A heaping sum of spiritual debt.
I understand why Jesus wept.

He loved you and me up to his death.
He loved through pains of nail and thorn.
He loves us still, even those who scorn.
Tears for us left his cheeks wet--
I understand why Jesus wept.

"If only they would call upon my name."
Christ knew my grief and carried me,
So one day I would live with him in eternity.
I knocked and...to the door he came.
I understand why Jesus wept.

The happiness he feels as we enter the kingdom he rules
The spirit melts my hard heart,
And tells me the atonement is where to start.
"And now, behold my joy is full."
I understand why Jesus wept.

Poem of Jerusalem

I wrote this poem during a musical fireside.

Lord, I am living in the land where you once lived.
—I am standing where you stood;
I am wandering the paths you walked,
Though I cannot hear your voice teaching on the temple mount,
I can hear the testimonies of your pupils.
I cannot feel you in these erected holy places,
But I feel you in sweet hymns that lullaby my heart.
I cannot see you in the icons of lavish churches,
But I see you in the faces that surround me.
I cannot touch your pierced hands and feet now,
But your mercy touches and pierces my soul.
I will not taste the slightest of thy burdens
But you have tasted the bitterness of mine.
I cannot comprehend your tender mercies,
But I know you comprehend the paths I’ll walk.
I cannot forget you, not here, or anywhere.