Getting Back To Normal

After an unintentional few weeks hiatus from blog posting, here are some brief updates on life as a student on The Island: 

 (note these are not in chronological order, but in the order my head groups them in)

• Trip to ProPublica and New York Daily News was an amazing success. I heard thoughts on the future of Journalism from Editor-in-Chief of ProPublica, Stephen Engelberg. At NY Daily, I picked up some tips on what it takes to get hired.
• I went on another trip the next weekend, this time I visited CBS and Al Jazeera America. Sat in the 60 minute screening room talking to executive producer, Jeffery Fager, and toured CBS studios and control room. At Al Jazeera America, which is only about a year old, we met with Marcy McGinnis, Senior Vice President of newsgathering and former professor at SBU. A very successful and informative trip, I'll be writing a blog post about the Professional Friday experience.
• After that trip, I stayed in the city WITH a friend. We were going to go to free night at MoMA, however the line went down multiple blocks and around the corner. Proving my economics teacher was right- nothing is ever truly "free". (Again, another post will be all about the hilarious time I had in the city.)
• Halloween came and I partied as Fire Bird at a small get together. Did some salsa. A successful night. 
• Got the Tinder App for fun- after pressure from the roommate. Though I'm not single, it's proved to be a fun experiment, maybe I'll write a news piece on it. 
• Been attempting to go to Toast again for the past two weekends...this weekend we WILL be successful!

As to why I haven't posted in a while: School has been busy, as the semester comes to a close, everything seems to pile up. It's at that time in the semester where everyone needs a break. I'm hoping after this next week is over, I won't feel that way. Next week there are two group project due and a test, so it won't be a stroll in the park. 
Will post soon- thank you to any one who reads this.

Enjoying New York State

I haven't had an opportunity to visit the Big Apple since I arrived at school (but I will soon- and I have all my years here to do it!). I will be going to NYC on Halloween with the School of Journalism to visit ProPublica and New York Daily News- exciting and only 10 dollars!

I have had the opportunity to visit some other places in New York (or at least see them on Rugby trips). One of the places I've visited the most is Port Jefferson and I've definitely fallen in love. It has a charming marina and the old town feeling that is so comforting. So many delicious places to eat: The Wave, Toast (possibly the best brunch), Sweet&Sassy Crepery, and the biggest candy shop that would make any sweet tooth ache, Frigate.  It's worth mentioning that Port Jeff has what could be my favorite store I've found- a store dedicated to board games. It's amazing and has every version of monopoly you could ever want...or not want at all.

 

 Pictured: Tasty Rum Raisin Ice Cream and one part of the shop. Not pictured: THE REST OF IT.

I'm still enjoying Port Jeff every time I visit (it's fairly easy for me; the bus comes here and its free on the weekends for students). I've also visited Island Thrift shop and Kings Point as well as Stony Brook Village and Avalon Park. 

I definitely miss home, but exploring makes my time away enjoyable. Plus, when I go back home I can tell all about the foreign East Coast Eats and Bodegas.

Challenge Accepted

       I recently, as in seconds ago, posted a video to Facebook about how the world has become disconnected with itself due to technology. I wholeheartedly agree with him; it's a sad realization. What even more sad is that we all recognize it, but rarely do I see individuals do something about it. Small things in everyday life. Including myself.
      Now technology is a useful thing. Social media is a revolution that has proven very powerful. For the path I am choosing as a passion and career, I need it as a tool. But I have made a promise to myself to only use it as a tool. To build and not fuss around, to not let it consume me. It's only tool. As is money. But friendship and connectedness isn't a tool, it's a gift. 
          So I've chosen to challenge myself (and anyone else) to at least twice a day talk to someone new or old instead of looking to their phone for entertainment. Look to people for entertainment, be entertaining. We are in these situations everyday where we can meet someone new or help someone or even make conversation but we all turn to our devices and not to others. We hide behind our phones like shields; we can say brilliant words in 140 characters, but why are we scared to say them in real life settings? 

Challenge: Don't Turn to The Phone. Turn to the person sitting next to you in class, waiting in line, waiting for a performance to start. Be social for real.

Directions

Sometimes we need to stop and ask for them.

I've been feeling that I need to take a more structured direction with this blog.

Or, perhaps, start a new blog with a structured direction and keep this one for my personal flippity floppity bibbity boppity crash bang feelings and update blog. 

Either way, I kind of need a direction to go in.

My interests? That's vague, but a few prominent ones could work together. 

Maybe what I need more than direction is purpose. 

When I find them both, hopefully soon, I'll make a new fancy blog, but keep this one for myself and whomever is actually reading it. One to actually promote and use in a professional sense, and this one to just write, like a personal but open journal for myself and my friends and family.

To be thought about until further notice.

Back on track just not the literal track.

             Everything seems to be coming together on the Island and in the Brook; I see an opportunity for travels to India (soon) and Ireland (not so soon, still a dream), as well as some other places on the globe. I'm confident that I chose the (or a?) right school. If I use my own abilities and their opportunities and help, I'm sure I can go where I want to in my life.
              It definitely helps that I am lucky enough to be supported by some of the most wonderful people. My parents, my sister and brothers, my aunts and uncle, my boyfriend, his parents, so many family-friends, and my close friends, as well as the new ones I'm making. It's so very easy to feel alone here; it's new, it's hard to get around (mostly because I have no sense of orientation), and it's easy to disconnect from life and people here because I'm not too invested yet. But when this feeling comes on you just have to push it back with all your strength and with confidence remind yourself that you aren't alone and you have to remain happy even when those you love can't be there. People's presence can make you happy, but you can't rely on them for your happiness.
             Keeping busy helps. Rugby keeps me plenty busy and gives me a new and fun social group, with some very awesome people. My roommate is busy and sometimes we are busy together, which is nice. When I'm not busy, I search for things to fill the void. First, homework, then comes organization. Organization is a great help to me; Not only to I kind of have to organize my room every week (as I'm still adjusting on how best to organize to much stuff efficiently), but it also allows me time to organize my thoughts, which keeps me on track with school and goals. Then, depending on the day and my mood, adventuring or a movie, maybe with friends or maybe solo.
            Slowly, I'm getting back to the actual track for Rugby. I went to the doctor and he said I had tendonitis, so I took a week off. No running, no sprinting, no playing. Yesterday, I did some of practice, but perhaps a little more than I should have. Tendonitis is a tricky thing, but it improves with care.
         I'm also getting back on track with this blog. I've been neglecting it a while, time to give it some TLC.

Get Inspired, Be Inspiring.

        Time to get real. I'm saying this to myself. I'm over the period of initial transfer, wherein people ask about you, where you are from, what you do, why the hell you moved from Alaska to a 'random' place like Stony Brook. I feel in myself that I've become boring. I know it's not that I am boring, but simply one cannot talk about themselves forever without anything else for input. It's tiring.
       The first few times I got the "Alaska Reaction" it was okay, I'm excited to tell people about Alaska. But after a while when asked where are you from, I'd mumble slowly "...Alaska.." I'm a little done with it. Not done with telling people about Alaska, it will always be awesome and beautiful and wonderful, but just done with the big reaction towards myself. I want to feel that awe about someone else.
      So, I've made the executive decision to make my life more interesting and I truly believe to do this you must be inspired by other people. You must learn about and talk about others accomplishments and weird attributes. A person who listens and encourages others is a crucial part in being a person who inspires others. An interesting story creates but a spark of inspiration and I want a flame.
      Overall, I feel like the boring parts are coming from a rut that I'm stuck in and the only way out is indulging in others stories, moving away from my own. Then to create a balance and mutual giving and sharing. This is where the fun starts; when you can bounce off one another, whether it's funny, sad, or serious, is where you stop feeling boring and start being interesting. I guess what I'm really missing is friendship. But don't worry I have some friendships budding and blooming with my roommate and with my new team.

Frozen lands and Hazelnut Coffee

         It's funny how many things remind me of home or people I miss. Sometimes it's the random things and things I knew I enjoyed but didn't realize I loved. Hazelnut Coffee- always has been one of my favorite flavors of coffee, was definitely the coffee that put me in the best mood and cheered me up. Today, I jumped at the chance when I saw hazelnut was being brewed in the Union Cafe. When I started drinking it, it reminded me of my dorm at UAF, driving to work in the summer after getting coffee and a bagel at Bruegger's, and just gave me a general happy feeling.
              One that surprised me more was warm socks. After weeks of not really wearing socks (because, honestly, why- it's too hot), I put on a pair of cozy socks so I could put ice over my ankles. As soon as I had them on, I was so comfortable and happy. I had missed them, but not really recognized that I missed them. Another that blindsided me: the cold. I miss the cold so much. Maybe not 20 below, but at least below freezing. Never really thought of myself as a cold weather person, but if I'm not, I'm at least a temperate weather person. The heat is nice- for a little bit...and if I'm on vacation...on the beach. But the cold for me is just as wonderful as the heat is for others. It's cozy, homey, and all around beautiful.
            This isn't a sad commentary about how much I miss home (although, it's true I miss it in all it's beauty, but I know I'll go back now and then). This is me embracing this new experience of how being away from home and normalcy makes you get to know yourself more.
              By being out of our comfort zone we are pushed to recognize what we feel strongly towards and what we have little care for. I like to think that one reason for this is because you now are the only thing truly from your home, now it's up to you to create the homey feeling which we all crave no matter where we go. It creates honesty with yourself and, for me, a lot of fun finding out what things I really love and then wanting to truly embrace them. It's the kind of experience that is perfect for instilling passion in yourself and connecting with others. There is much I now realize I didn't actually do back home that will now be items to check off my list when I return. This is probably the best thing about being so far away.