new wheels, old pillow, future wings and some spacewalks

Last Saturday night I bought a bicycle!!!! It's a diamondback luster 1 hybrid bicycle. Riding around here is terrifying though. The NY drivers are psycho and there are no bike lanes and the sidewalks are super uneven and tiny. However it is nice biking to and from school, though I have to carry my bicycle up and down from the 3rd floor. Let's just say I'm going to be super uber fit by the end of the month.

Saturday afternoon we also had our internet hooked up in the apartment which is FANTASTIC! I get to utilize netflix again.  While the man was hooking it up I started on my newest baking project.

Every weekend I plan to bake a batch of something to take to school everyday for my mid morning break.

Last week I made sweet potato scones, this weekend I made a version of Black Horse's savory scone (my favorite) cheddar, leek and tomato scones. I have to admit though... they may not make it through the week. I just had one and I kind of want to eat them all right now.

Next week... either peanut butter muffins filled with strawberry jam in the middle or lemon yogurt cupcakes... haven't decided yet

buckling down, settling in and a search for a cure

Well, I have completed my first week of school, and it was completely overwhelming, terrifying, and fantastic. Week 2 has now begun.

my schedule is a lot crazy to say the least... I basically dance from 9am-8pm every day with maybe an hour for lunch or so. I'm not quite sure how I'm going to handle all of this physicality and I am concerned for the stress on my body. Every night I elevate my legs and feet for 10mins, I use my back roller and tennis balls for minimum 30 mins, I drink 1-2 liters of water a day, taking a daily vitamin, and eating as healthy as possible. So far so good, but this air mattress is taking a toll on my body for sure.

Before I go into that story I'll just give you an overview of my first week and give you a peek into the life of a graduate student dancer here at Sarah Lawrence (SLC).

I have class every day day starting at 9am, Most days I start with contemporary class with Gwen Welliver, who is beyond amazing! The class is so relaxing and invigorating, I learn so much from her and the other students. Gwen was a Doug Verone dancer for 10 years and also was the rehearsal director for Trisha Brown for many years. She is possibly one of the kindest, most supportive people I have ever met. She is very different from any technique I have encountered before, but she allows us to utilize other techniques while giving us new suggestions as well. I love that there is no right or wrong in her class (as long as you're not hurting yourself) just a sense of exploration on how to solve the problem presented to us and self learning from how each of us approach it with our own solution. 

I have 3 graduate seminars, which are the only classes with only grad students in them. Graduate Seminar 1 is our research/writing course where this semester we are discussing world dance. Graduate Seminar 2 is our choreography seminar where we can try out ideas and concepts on each other. Graduate Seminar 3 is a mix of anatomy and dance together.

As a first year student I also have to take Lighting design, Dance History, and Anatomy on top of dance making (choreography showcase), music seminar, composition, improv (I chose contact improv). Then I also decided to take teaching conference (might have been a stupid idea, possibly should have taken next year... oh well)

On top of all of my classes I also have 4 hours of personal studio time to work for myself, 4 hours of rehearsal for my own dance piece, 4 hours for Dawn's piece, and 3 hrs for Heather's piece. As well as a bi weekly meeting with the program director, bi weekly meeting with my music advisor, monthly dance  department meeting, and weekly classroom time for teaching conference (starting in Oct), and reading assignments and homework.

Basically my entire life for the next year is completely booked...

So my classes went well and I love all of my teachers, the grad students are so different and amazing.

Over the weekend I finally broke down and bought a bike so I don't have to rely on getting a ride or walking everyday. Which to me was a great relief. I even realized while riding the bike home that I kind of enjoyed it (yes that's right I will eat my words, bikes are not stupid but they are uncomfortable).


Next post will be on my bike day mattress debacle and a surprise...

one of those restless days

I don't know if it's just me or if everyone has them... those restless days where you can't figure out what to do, where to go, what music to listen to, etc. Today is one of those days...

I was maybe going to go to the city on a tour, but it is supposed to be stormy this afternoon/evening and for some reason I don't want to go on their tour... I want to go on my own kind of tour. That, and it's expensive and I am a crazy penny pincher right now.

I feel like I need an artistic outlet, or organizing frenzy, or cooking day, BAH I can't figure it out...

It's really weird being here some days, I feel so isolated even though I'm gaining friends and a knowledge of the area. I still feel alone and out of place here.

This last week was orientation and classes start Monday which is really scary and exciting. Orientation was awesome and I took full advantage of it. Turns out I am 1 of 4 incoming grad students instead of 6 which is how many there have been the last few years. 3 of us are from the first audition and 1 from the second audition (which was twice as large). All the ladies seem really cool and we've kind of stuck together this first week to figure everything out.

All 4 of us are VERY different, which is important and cool: Heather is from South Carolina, Sabrina from Miami, and Marisa from Brooklyn. I am the only west coaster in the graduate dance program, I believe. So I will definitely be different.

My roommate Emily is also super awesome and is an incoming grad student in Poetry which is perfect.

All in all I am really happy about school so far and my class schedule is finalized and a lot crazy. Well finalized is also relative since we still have to figure out our own studio time, 2 personal rehearsals, and a meeting once a week with the program director on top of that

Basically I am taking a full load of 4 lecture courses, then 9 dance classes on top of that, then studio time, rehearsals and meetings as well.

I guess today I will start on my readings for the grad seminar 1 and maybe work on my memory book or read or work on an art project... who knows. But if you have suggestions please let me know.

update... apparently it was a case of the "mean reds" and Breakfast at Tiffany's was the cure needed

Miss Lonely New York pt. 2

Saturday 8-20-11

Power outage from around 5am-7pm... so I simply lounged at home until I was starving and walked to the store for food

Sunday 8-21-11

Stormy all day... So I read my friend Mara Truslow's book Fifteen Fragments. If you want to read an AMAZING, honest, and heart breaking-ly beautiful book look no further. It took me essentially 1 day to read (2 afternoons).

Now I am not much of a cryer in general... but to be perfectly honest it has been a rough first week here in Yonkers. I don't know if it was Hello Dolly that got my hopes up or something else, but it hasn't been all carriages and singing store clerks. I miss my home in San Luis, I miss my boyfriend and my friends. I miss knowing where I'm walking, and what to expect when I get there. I miss the small town vibe where you basically know everyone (and their dog) I MISS COFFEE SHOPS!!!! I miss bookstores and politeness.

I can't explain how stupid I feel somedays for leaving everything I love and know for a place that is cold (in their behavior) and unknown. I'm lonely... I'll be the first to say it! But luckily I have an amazing boyfriend and amazing friends and family that have supported me this week. Especially to "that one guy" in particular who has reminded me that this is where I'm supposed to be and that slo doesn't hold much for me anymore... at least not right now. Who makes me laugh and calms me with the intricacies of the mundane parts of life... and sends cheer up flowers

So starting Monday I made an effort not to cry, and to appreciate what I have coming my way the next 2 years.

Monday 8-21-11

I met my new roommate!!!!! Her name is Emily and she is an incoming grad student in poetry at Sarah Lawrence. She seems really cool and I'm excited for her to totally move in on Friday and to get to know her over the next 2 years.

I also explored the mall about 10 mins from my house (which has an H&M!!!). The mall actually reminds me of the outlets in Paris in many ways. (I miss Paris)

Tusday 8-22-11

more mall exploration, a purchase of a new pillow, the announcement of a new Tom Waits album... all in all a satisfying day

Wednesday 8-23-11

Today: I walked to sarah lawrence and bought 2 books: David Sedaris "When you are engulfed in flames" and "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. Then I walked to Starbucks where I am now currently drinking the first coffee I've had since I left Boise a week ago. Where I am currently typing these blog posts, and also enjoying some free passion fruit nonsense.

The next few days are going to be super stormy so I can't wait to settle down with these books and some tea. Keep calm until the storm of school takes over next week. To be honest, I'm a little scared of that storm and if I can keep afloat through it.

Miss Lonely New York...

Well it's official... I now live in New York; Yonkers, New York to be precise. I have been here about a week and officially explored pretty much everything there is within walking distance of my house.

Events so Far:

Thursday 8-18-11

I move in! yay... Slight panic when I arrive to find out the number my roommate gave me for the landlord is wrong... and my phone is dead. Luckily I am very smart (some days) and I knew my laptop had full charge and my phone charger is a usb so I got that plugged in and got to texting my roommate.

When I got to the house I was let in and hauled my beasts called baggage up to the third floor of the house, which is our apartment. The place itself is very open and light and pretty. I really like the apartment, and when all of my stuff finally arrives my room will be quite charming and nice.

That afternoon I left to walk to the school, all I knew was that it was on Kimball street about a mile away. Unfortunately, I accidentally walked the wrong way down Kimball and got very angry at the HUGE Hills I had to go over. On the way back I stopped by a CVS and grabbed some food to last me a couple days (IE ramen).

When I returned it was starting to get stormy and there was a large thunderstorm, which of course made me happy.

Friday 8-19-11

I found a neighbor that has an open internet wifi, but it doesn't always work but has allowed me some internet access so I don't go crazy.

Today I decided to actually walk to school and see the grounds (not covered in snow, like when I visited in February). It was really pretty! I'm excited to start school and get going with becoming a real dancer/choreographer.

That evening I was luckily taken to the store by my roommate who has a car so I could get some real food.

For more.... see next post!