Fall
has official taken over here in New York City. And no, it wasn’t the festive
autumn Starbucks cups or the pumpkin spice-everything on the store shelves that
gave it away. There’s a light chill in the air and the New Yorkers have
officially broken out their boots, sweaters and scarves. Coming from Texas, I’m
not quite used to having these cool temps in early October. It’s the kind of
weather where you could comfortably wear that adorable Fall outfit you pinned
on your Pinterest board and not have to fear that you’d be sweating by the end
of the day.
However,
there are days when the temperature is a little higher and a jacket and scarf
combo just seems like too much. Especially when your morning commute consists
of a packed subway ride and 20 minute walk outside. New York is a much more
humid place than you might imagine. Once you go underground and get a little
overheated, stepping outside into the sticky air causes that light sweat that
had begun to accumulate on your brow to multiply.
I’ve
learned to just carry my blazers and cardigans, rather than wear them, in order
to try and make sure I make it to work without looking like I just ran a
marathon. I’m serious here, the sweat is real. Like, why did I even bother with
make-up or blow drying my hair, real. Yesterday morning it was in the low 60’s
and I was rocking a short-sleeved shirt. I swear I got so many weird looks,
because everyone else was all bundled up. I thought it felt great! And when I
got to work, no sweat. Make-up intact, hair still looking pretty good. It was
magical. Adapting is key.
Did I
also mention a couple of weeks ago we were told to stay alert regarding a
particular hurricane named Joaquin? Yeah. Never did I think I would move away
from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast and still have to monitor a hurricane.
Luckily, we just had some rain that weekend as a result of Joaquin’s close
proximity, but nothing too extreme. Our friends in South Carolina weren’t so
lucky. Prayers to all of those affected by the horrible flooding there.
Seasons changing not only mean a shift in the weather, but also the passing of time. And speaking of time, it has officially been a little over a month since I moved into my new apartment! It’s been nearly two months since I left Texas for my new life in the city. I’ve also just had my one-monthiversary at work. It’s all very exciting.
While
my apartment still isn’t quite as decorated as I would like for it to be, it is
definitely starting to feel like my place. My mom shipped me five boxes full of
some of my things I’d left in Texas, like kitchenware, pictures, wall hangings,
décor, and my winter clothes. Now that I’ve got photos of family and friends
all around, the place really feels like my home, rather than just a place where
I live.
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| Photos make a place feel like home |
The
same day all of my stuff arrived, I finally secured some pots and pans, which
means I’m now able to do a bit of cooking. It is expensive eating out all of
the time, so for the past two weeks I’ve meal-prepped my lunches and dinners.
It’s not only a money saver, but also a healthier alternative to eating out. On
the weekends, I treat myself to something good, which I usually stretch out
into several meals that I eat all weekend long.
I’ve
already met some pretty amazing people through work. We try to all get together
once a week to do something fun and hang out. One week it was a rooftop happy
hour followed by dinner at a Korean restaurant (a type of cuisine I’d never had
before but it was quite delicious!). The next week was a movie (The Martian for
those curious…it was really good and much funnier than you’d expect) proceeded
by hours of conversation on the steps of the New York Public Library.
Our group is very diverse, which is
one of the things I love most about us. Growing up in a small town in Texas, I
was surrounded by people who were all very similar to me, in background,
upbringing, religion, etc. When I went off to college, there was a more diverse
population, but it was nothing compared to the diversity here in New York. I’ve
always been interested in getting to know people of different cultures and
religions. I’m fortunate that my parents taught me to be open-minded,
respectful, and tolerant of those who were different from me. It’s humbling
really. Our world is such a large place and rarely do we get to see what life
is like for the other people who share it with us. This group of people that
I’ve met have come from all over the world, from different upbringings and
backgrounds, have different religions than me, and different life experiences.
It’s been so incredible getting to know them, and I’m looking forward to
continuing our friendship.
Even
though I’ve only been here in New York for a short amount of time, it feels
like I’ve been here ages. It’s amazing what getting into a daily routine does
to your brain. Another thing I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older is that time
seems to start moving faster. The weekends these days seem to go by in the
blink of an eye! Or maybe that’s just what happens when you’re a working adult.
I’m not sure, I’m kind of new at this.
I’m
looking forward to the holidays, seeing the city change along with the times. The
ice skating rink has been erected in front of Rockefeller Center and the
flowerbeds have been filled with pumpkins and gourds. Window displays have
adapted to have a much more autumnal feel. And Saks Fifth Avenue has an
incredible Christian Louboutin window-display going right now…but I digress. I
know it won’t be long before the Christmas season hits and I can’t wait! But
for now, I’m going to enjoy each holiday as it comes.
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| Ice Skating Rink construction at Rock Center |
This
past Sunday, I threw on some comfy clothes, grabbed a blanket and a book, and
headed to my favorite area of Central Park. I found a spot close by where I
spent several hours just reading and enjoying the amazing weather. Sometimes I
still feel like I’m living in a dream, but then Monday rolls around and I have
to go to work and I remember that if this were a dream, I probably wouldn’t be
working.
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| Lazy Sunday in the Park |
Those
feelings of anxiety and that questioning mind I had when I first arrived, have
all gone out the window. I keep Texas always close to my heart, but for right
now, I’m embracing New York and seeing what life has to offer. Just enjoying
this experience one day at a time.
Happy Fall, Y’all!
Alex