To Chinatown and beyond!

New York City Weekend:

1. Discover a delightful park two train stops away from your dorm. Madison Square Park, the sight of the former Madison Square Garden (Did you know there was an old one? Me neither.). The old arena has now been torn down and replaced with a shady, eclectic park with well-managed gardens and fountains, frequent free concerts, and artsy booths set up along the sides. That's not even mentioning the Shake Shack, a famous little burger and ice cream hut that has lines streaking all the way across the park at lunchtime. A lovely park is nice enough, but may I just say that around 23rd street is a wonderful neighborhood altogether. Unfortunately my roommate says housing is expensive there. Ah well, you can't have everything.

2. Spend a fantastic night out in Chinatown and beyond with my Section from school. Not an assignment; we just happen to have the best Section in the whole dang school. Chinatown is an experience if there ever was one; eventually the signs stop using English and completely switch over to Mandarin and Cantanese (There are at least 9 different variations of Chinese, according to my friend Vivian from Hong Kong), and your waitress only speaks enough English to make an educated guess at what you're trying to order. There is an intersection where Chinatown and Little Italy literally meet, and that, my friend, is one of the most interesting intersections in the city. Take time to examine it- Just hold onto your wallets. Time literally flies by in this city- it's not long until it's 2 in the morning and you're still out having a blast!

3. Church on Sunday morning, naturally (A habit my Section-mates find 'So cute!'), getting dressed in the dark because my roommates are still passed out from the previous night's adventures. Walking to church in the crisp, morning air you can feel fall beginning to engulf the city all around you.

4. And, as is tradition with all college students, you spend Sunday afternoon catching up on all the reading and schoolwork you've been supposed to do for the past week. That's the way it's done, isn't it? Of course,  most college students don't have assignments like, 'Lay on the floor for thirty minutes breathing as deeply as you can and trying to align your body. Then speak your vowel sounds aloud using proper technique.' Oh, AADA. I'll just read the assigned plays.

And that's the weekend folks! Of course, there's still Sunday night. :)