Single, Ready to Mingle, but Only to Mingle with Pringles (and Cookie Dough)

FIRST "THING" IS FIRST...

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My mother always tells me how she and her friends want to hear about "the oddities of New York." To be honest, New York really is not that "odd." About 78 times a day, double decker busses pass my apartment. I have almost been run over by a double decker bus twice. I always wonder what the tour guide is saying when he passes Whittier Hall. Does he say, "For the past century, super-driven, ready-to-mingle single (but too focused to be involved in anything) women have called this building home?" Or does he say, "To the right is Appletree Market, the well-priced bogota that has served ready-to-mingle single women since it opened?" I am not sure. Maybe he is talking about our FABULOUS Teachers College Student Senate, pictured below.

I am in the back sporting the "pterodactyl"* face, originally created by Jenna Marbles.
*Who knew there was a "silent P" in "pterodactyl?"

Many people have asked me if the city constantly smells like urine. Actually, it does not. Not always. Currently I have a head cold and cannot smell anything through my nose. So no, New York does not "always" smell like pee. 

Usually, I "ask" questions that I believe my mother's friends would ask me. Since I now have learned that my audience includes people outside of the first-through-third-grade teacher community, I am going to make up questions that I am sure you would never ask, but may find interesting. All of the questions I ask will have interesting stories attached. Please consider these questions to be "prompts." I imagine these questions mainly come from my "creepers" (see chart in post below).

I learned from stalking your Facebook that you love giraffes, and that about 20% of your clothing has giraffe and safari animal paraphernalia on it. Why do you dress like a third-grader?

First of all, depending on the day, I even look like a third-grader. Also, I love animals, and brightly-colored animals make me happy. When I am happy, I tend to jump when I talk. For this reason, I recently learned that the security team calls me "Jelly Bean" because I usually dress in bright clothes fit for a third-grader, and I "jump" (like a "jumping jelly bean") up and down when I talk. I am serious. Call the facilities and security teams and ask them if they know who "Jelly Bean" is.

Do you feel comfortable walking alone?

Wow! What a normal question! Since I have lived in New York, I have been mistaken for Kelly from Saved by the Bell multiple times. Due to the fact that many people believe I am an extremely "well-aged" Tiffani Thiessen, the only "cat calls" I hear while walking alone involve references to Mario Lopez. This too, is true. 

Other than that, I constantly remind myself of "S.I.N.G" from Miss Congeniality. 

I've heard you like to dance. Have you been able to dance at all?

Yes! A couple of my friends and I went to a Swing Supper and Dance Club last week, and it was a blast. This club had everything. Fabulous dancing lessons with wonderful friends, Titus Andromedon's Pinot Noir, fifty pairs of left feet, and awkward conversations with older men revolving around their failing lounge-singing careers and tips for re-building their resumes. This story is also true. 

I see that you recently spent the weekend with some fabulous people. Will you please enlighten us about your experience? 

Of course! Last weekend, family friends Lynne, Marion, and Samantha visited the city, and I felt so fortunate to go out to join them for dinner. After dinner, we saw Wicked! I am so grateful for the little bit of "home" that Lynne, Marion, and Sam brought to New York.

In conclusion, I have learned that in graduate school, you learn, a lot. Challenge and support, y'all.

Tonight I yelled "Go Papi" in the middle of a bar while watching the Red Sox vs. Yankees game. To my surprise, one man (who wore a Yankees hat) looked back at me, waved, and yelled, "Props." Although the score tonight was dismal, New Yorkers have been supportive of our love for David Ortiz. 

I decided not to write about the debate in this blog. My heart pressure increases every time an international student asks, "Do Americans REALLY like Trump?" For my personal well-being, I will not delve into this issue tonight. I will say that because of Mr. Trump, I almost threw up from stress-eating a box of Cheez-Its. 

Agh, I wrote about the debate. Whatevs. 

NYC IS ON HOUSE HUNTERS. G2G.

XOXO

Also, my thoughts are constantly with the Charlotte and Tulsa communities, and with the millions of people affected by this tragedy. 

LP

P.S. I am running a lot of the social media for Teachers College. Check out my other blog, here! 

De'Nile ain't just a river...

I offer my thoughts and prayers to the people affected by the explosion on Saturday night. Thankfully, the blast injured no one I know. I appreciate all of the texts, calls, and messages regarding my safety. Thank you for your concern!

During the summer, my parents and I saw a cheeky off-Broadway show titled Newsical. The final song, called "Denial," included a line that stated, "you're in denial... if you ever think you are safe in New York City." When I first heard the news about the explosion in Chelsea, my thoughts ran to my classmates. My second thought was that line from the song "Denial." True, we always have to be on guard. We also have to have faith in our amazing police department and security systems that are in place. From my lips to God's ears, the increased security in the city will result in a safer city.

On a lighter note, I believe that I am starting to discover the demographics of my blog's audience. The pie chart below displays the demographic breakdown of my readers that I have developed based on the comments of my family and friends.

If you are not included on this pie chart, please let me know! I would like to say that I am constantly working towards social inclusion, and would love to know if you get a kick out of this blog.

The following questions are inquiries that I suspect that you (the reader, who ever you may be), may have about my third week in New York City.*

*I feel that the fact that I am "assuming" that you are interested in my life sounds very conceited. However, I may ask the question, "why did you click on the link?"

Okay, we know you do not actually eat the pigeons that fly into your window. Where do you eat?

Any weight that I have lost due to walking around the city is gained back immediately by the gigantic quantity of bagels I eat on a weekly basis. Every morning I get a bagel with cream cheese from the deli across the street. Noticing that everyone in the deli spoke Spanish, I decided to greet my deli friends with the phrase, "?hola, como estas?" I am no longer allowed to speak English in the deli, because my deli friends insist that we work on my accent every time I order.

How is your job?

I currently work as an Administrative Fellow for the Office of Admission at Teachers College, and I am in love with my job and my coworkers. Everyone is so friendly and funny. As the Administrative Fellow, I complete regular office tasks, work with student ambassadors, meet with prospective students, and manage various social media accounts.

You can read my other blog, here!

I am usually an extremely outgoing and appropriately confident person. However, it has been very intimidating being the youngest in my program and in the office I work in. Recently, one of the student ambassadors with whom I work told me he was confused about my age. Apparently I "don't have enough wrinkles to be older than 30," unless I "do an excellent job at make-up." I asked what age range he thought I fell in, and he said "25 to 30."

The lesson here is that if you want to be taken seriously, dress and act professionally. Little do they know that I had my first cocktail about a year ago, and that I was five years old the year that Leonardo DiCaprio became a sex symbol.

Have you made any new friends? Do you ever get to see (insert name here of a friend from the Miss America Organization, high school or college)?

Why yes, I do! To answer your first question, I love my new friends! Last weekend, my neighbors and I went to a rooftop bar downtown. That night, we danced like we were 22. I also really enjoy talking with my roommates and collaborating with classmates.

To answer your second question, I have seen (Lauren, Caitlen, and Eileen)! I am beyond fortunate to have so many good friends in the city, who truly make New York feel like home.

Is there anything else that you think is worth sharing on your blog that does not really fit into a "question category?"

Why yes! I am so glad you asked. We throw out our trash by tossing it down a trash chute that runs down the entire height of our building (ten floors.) Recently, I attended an incredible presentation on efforts to support refugees who identify as LGBT. You can learn more about that organization, here!

Also, three strangers within the past two weeks have asked me about their child's FAFSA forms and/or work study assignments. The following dialogue represents the conversation that usually sparks these conversations.

Random Man: Hey, (insert clear non-New Yorker reference here like Red Sox shirt, failing to cross the street correctly, sitting in someone else's seat at Starbucks)! You're not from here (laughing)! What are you doing in New York?
Skip: Hello! No, I'm not from New York. I am in graduate school!
Random Man: Awesome! What for?
Skip: Higher and Postsecondary Education. I want to support students who want to go to college, but may not be able to afford higher education.
Random Man: Perfect! My (insert son, daughter, cat, niece, gold fish, anything) is confused because... FAFSA... Financial Aid... SUNY... Their RA... Worried my child will end up living on my couch...

You get the point. Maybe the last example was an exaggeration, but I am not exaggerating when I say that this has happened to me AT LEAST three times since I have lived here.

I am beyond excited to say that this Saturday, I will be seeing some of my dear friends from New Hampshire. I am thankful to spend the evening with members of the Miss New Hampshire family!

I also want to thank you for taking the time to read my blogspot.

Whoever you are, thank you for being you.

Sending love and good juju,

LP

~First Day of Seventeenth Grade~

Before I get into the "fun stuff," I just wanted to say that my heart currently is with a family that has shown the Bow community love and friendship. Please pray for this family during an extremely difficult time.

Yesterday was my first day of Seventeenth Grade! Although I only have been to two of my classes so far, I already can tell that I will like what I am studying. After studying history for the past four years, I felt a little nervous about expanding my field of knowledge past the year 1819. However, I will be able to apply what I am learning to research educational policy and enact change in how universities recruit and fund their students and programs.

I will follow the format of last week's "Skippy in the City," and answer questions that I am guessing many of you have. I continue to assume that my audience is 90% third and fourth grade teachers.

How was your first day of school?

My first day of school started at the same time as any normal school would, 7:20. However, the sun had begun to disappear over Broadway before I walked to class. All of my classes begin at 7:20 PM, and end at 9:00 PM. Tonight I learned that if discussions are riveting, one might not leave class until 9:30 PM. I have to admit that I did not mind the late dismissal. The video below exhibits my excitement for the first day of school.

What classes are you taking?

I am taking classes titled "College Student Development Theories," "Diversity in Higher Education," and "Curriculum and Teaching."

Huh. Who knew you could study that at Columbia? Or anywhere at all?

Yep. That's what they're gonna pay me the big bucks for.

Have you made any new friends?

OF COURSE! I have already learned more about other cultures, people, and perspectives in the past week than I have in MY ENTIRE LIFE!

What have you been up to?

Here is a list of everything that I have done in the past week.

Friday: I saw Phantom of the Opera. It was incredible.
Saturday: I met a new friend for coffee.
Sunday: I spent the day with one of my best friends from high school! We went shopping and out to lunch. It was fabulous.
Monday: I celebrated expecting mothers everywhere. Also, I went on a fabulous walk with a new friend, who gave me the "low-down" on Hinduism. Very insightful!
Tuesday: ORIENTATION DAY!
Wednesday: First day of classes. I also began my homework.
Thursday: I did homework during the day. Thursday night, I went to a comedy night with some new friends!
Friday: I had class in the morning, and I have been doing homework up until now. Later, I am going out with some friends! I kind of texted everyone that I met, and most of them are coming. I have no idea how it will work out, but it will be fun to get together with a bunch of new people! Most of my friends have also been wanting to meet new people, so we have just all been inviting each other and seeing what happens!

I have also been forcing myself to be social by signing up for different student activities. Recently, we had a "student activities fair" after our orientation. The main difference between our event and regular student activities informational fairs is that at TC, they provide wine. Ooh la la. I felt super fancy carrying around a glass of chardonnay and asking student leaders how to get involved on campus. I also felt smarter than 50% of the people there, who ended up slurring their words as they talked to me about their organizations. Talk about a confidence booster!
              *Please note that I do not endorse drinking alcohol at school functions.

Have you met any boys?!

Since 1887, Teachers College has been a beautiful place where ambitious and focused women (and yes, some men) venture to with hopes and dreams of changing the world. Driven, single women have lived on the corner of West 120 and Amsterdam for 129 years. To answer your question, no, I am not planning on getting my Ph.D. in M.R.S.

I do hope that you are satisfied with the material that I have presented you with.

Yesterday I witnessed someone on the subway "booing" a man with a Brady jersey. I ran into an animal activist passing out fliers on "street rat rights" while standing in front of a giant inflatable rat. I learned that curry and mango CAN actually go together. I also learned that the name "Lauren" is the most common name for women in my college. Gonna learn a lot more, too.

Thank you, and I really am thinking of my fav peeps back home.

Sincerely,

LP

~Skippy in the City~

I have had many requests (mostly from my mother's friends) to write a blog with my experiences living in New York City. Well, here ya go! I will write about my experiences as new adventures unfold. In the world of education, we stress the importance of validating our feelings. I will also be conveying my thoughts and feelings regarding my quest to make higher education possible for all students, life in the cultural epicenter of the world, new friendships, and Kimmy Schmidt moments.

The following questions are inquiries that I suspect my mother's friends would ask me.

So what are you doing?

I am a candidate for a Masters degree in Higher and Postsecondary Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.

What are you going to do with that?

I want to work as a college or career counselor for students in under-resourced households in order to help all students reach their educational and professional goals.

Where are you living?

In the oldest residence hall in the country, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I live in a suite with five other women enrolled in Teachers College. We share a bathroom and a kitchen.

SIX WOMEN?! Holy cow!

If you are studying to make the world a better place, chances are you are a good person. If six women who are going to change the world all live together, that apartment is literally a power house. It's fabulous, and we are mighty.

Do you feel safe?

Before I leave the room, I do the Wonder Woman pose for three minutes. I transform from a five-foot-tall-twenty-two-year-old-who-looks-fourteen into a confidant New Yorker who is aware of her surroundings (even though I have lived here for less than 48 hours).

What do you eat?

We have stabby things outside our windows that keep the pigeons from flying in. Sometimes, when the pigeons fly into the spears, the birds perish by way of bayonet. I cook them in the oven with olive oil and parsley.

No, there is a grocery store across the street with surprisingly reasonable prices, and Stonyfield Yogurt.

What are you going to do before classes start?

I am forcing myself to be social (it is hard and scary when you are in graduate school) and a good person by volunteering with Teachers College at a soup kitchen in Harlem. On Saturday, I am meeting up with a new friend (yay, new friends!) for coffee, and then going to the Ancient Greek wing of the Met. On Sunday, I am meeting up with an old friend (yay, old friends!) to explore SoHo (which I don't think is an abbreviation for anything, but I probably could just look it up anyways). On Monday (Labor Day), I cannot wear white anymore, and will hopefully be meeting up with another friend (yay, friends!). On Tuesday, we have our orientation. On Wednesday, I begin classes.

I hope that this post has tickled your fancy.

Until next time,

SOX '04 4 EVA

Not really, I don't really care that much.

-LP