2022 - Here we go!

 Another year and the pandemic is still ongoing.

On the bright side, NYC got some kind of normalcy based on vaccination status. Certain events and indoor dining became available. Since Thanksgiving weekend of 2021 and the new variant was announced and suddenly cases spiked again. 

Let's focus on the positives...

I was able to complete my LPN-RN (ADN) program during the pandemic. The experience was rewarding but I feel that it will take me a while to recover from it. Working full time, weekly clinicals on the last term, and commuting to Harlem and then back to Brooklyn was a clusterfuck of its own. I managed. Graduation happened which I forced myself to attend. 

A lot of things in my life was on pause especially losing touch on things I love doing - read books, watching movies, and trying new cuisines to name a few. 

I also recently turned 31 and this is my 3rd birthday here and I still enjoy walking around NYC. I seriously love taking photos of buildings and sceneries around the city. Nothing to crazy on my birthday other than good company and dinner. 

I finally have a car and I'm almost getting the hang out driving around NYC. I've never tried driving during rush hour in the middle of Manhattan and I am not quite sure if I really want to try. This is one of my favorite scenes in NYC and to be able to drive by it is a dream come true. I need to get better at parallel parking. A few years ago, I would have been opposed to owning a car in NYC but here we are. 

I am grateful about friendships that I've made during the pandemic. To name a few, the photo above are two ladies I met during my nursing program and became the regular people that I'm able to meet and dine with once in awhile. It's nice to have regular lady friends. 

My darling stuffed animal piggies! 

For 2022, some goals include finding a new employment, visiting a new city, doing a road trip, read novels, and watch tons of movies. Maybe even a fresh start in doing "touristy" things while finding hidden gems in NYC. Plenty of cuisines that I have yet to try. 

Realistically, I should spend more time at home watching movies as I get a new career together and make my car payments.. hahaha! May this year be the year that I stick to a budget.

Until next time!

Fallin' for New York City

A few years ago, the decision to move to New York City was between Texas and New York. It was probably the recent legislation in Texas that made me not regret the decision to move or maybe I found a personal peace and quiet after two year of surviving in this chaotic city.

 To be real, the main reason is because of love. That will always be a beautiful fact for me. 

A constant thing in my life is my perception of some things, my personal goals, and my self love. I always believed that having a strong foundations of these things will help in most challenges. The past year has been quite hard as I juggled school and work. The commute time from home - work- and school has been brutal. The time devoted to studying has caused me lack of sleep and losing a few muscle mass (haha). It was such a clusterfuck but everyday I remind myself that despite of it all, my personal perseverance is what got me out of bed every morning. 

For the past year, I was deprived of things I normally love doing. These things are super generic! I like to watch shows/movies and read books. I have to devote my time to work and my school work, haha. It was a sacrifice to make because I want to further my career (and hopefully get into academia!).

The pandemic continued to affect me mentally and I wasn't spared from the racial slurs and hostility of some clients that I've encountered at my job to the point of being afraid of being asian in New York City. I didn't think I will be exactly what the news described. I feel for others who experienced this on the daily. After three occasions, I felt that I need to accept defeat and seek help. 

 I am doing my best to come out stronger. I am doing my best to remain inspired. I am doing my best to not be hateful - at this moment, I don't think I will ever get to that point, because the good is so much more better than the bad. 

The positive sides about New York City for me is the diversity of culture and food. Despite of it all, I know that this is where I thrive. I love learning about people and eating food. I really love my open-mindedness about these things. I also did not realize that I will have appreciation for upstate New York way more than I realized. I finally got a waterfall moment. 

I like to think that living in New York City made me hold on to my resilience tighter than ever. It made me hold on to practicing gratitude and embracing the good things however small they can feel sometimes. I will think about a compliment from a patient, the deep talks with a classmate/colleague on the train, and having someone to embrace. For other things, I embrace the independence to do whatever the hell I want in my current situation that I am realistically capable of doing. 

New York City, I always knew you would be chaotic and that I will be stressed. I know that my heart broke, at times, but here I am to stay. You had opened so many doors for me career wise and inspired me to do more. Please continue to show me love, as this is what got me here in the first place. At this point, you are my home. Thank you for having me. 

May the next year give me more blessings and stability. 

Until next time. 

Live life on the Edge

 I am way behind on my updates. I will try and sum it up. Clearly, I made this blog to track my life here in NYC (but it became a clusterf*ck, thanks to the pandemic!). I did not expect to live through the pandemic here. Regardless, I am extremely thankful to have made it this far since March of 2020. I am grateful for being vaccinated. Life is slowly getting back to normal. I am grateful to be able to go out and support small businesses. 

I was able to reach my first year anniversary living in New York City on September 26, 2020. At the time, The Edge in NYC was offering healthcare workers free entrance to be able to take the elevator high up and see the view. In my opinion, that's the best way to see NYC. 

It was breathtaking. I can't believe I decided to live in NYC. 

At the end of November, I made a decision to chop my hair. I also got some highlights a few months after. While a lot of people got into plants during the pandemic, I am just patiently waiting for my hair to grow. It is interesting witnessing the pixie grow and the upkeep that is suggested. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision as I was walking to the train station after work in Lower East Side. Shout out to Bubu NYC. 

Hair definitely grew a bit since November of last year (as these are semi-recent photos). The pandemic made me do it. Partially (haha). Also, I turned 30 years old last December and having a pixie was something I always wanted to do. Cheers to a new decade. 

Moving forward to the present time, I am still trying to get back into some normalcy like most people. I am thankful that there are some things that I have control over such as having books to read and shows to watch. I am grateful for being employed and have an opportunity to further my career through my education. My personal takeaway while living and working through this pandemic is definitely gratitude. Along with mindfulness, gratitude should be practiced every day. 

Other things that happened. May the photos say it all. 

.. and a random photo in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:

In the midst of it all, the school has been kicking my ass. I have to push through because I have a dream. I currently get a break and then it would be my last 10 weeks. 

Stay well, stay safe. 

More Walks

Life in NYC has been the same with the pandemic. There was an  improvement and then a rise in cases again in the present time. Some of us are doing our best to still enjoy some leisure time despite of it all. We do what we can.  

Let me share another notable walk that happened in early September. 

A friend of mine joined for the walk and she knows how much I embrace diversity. With her company, I was able to embrace Brooklyn so much more with the walk we had. Almost every block, or an avenue, is a whole different atmosphere. Seriously, how did I get so lucky to be able to experience this? The diversity opens options for food (my personal favorite about cultures) and I am grateful to be able to experience this in the city. 

For those who don't know me, I thrive in diversity while embracing differences. It is awesome. 

The walk started in Green-Wood Cemetery. Personally, I did not expect to adore a cemetery since it is commonly known for its ominous aura or a place meant for grieving (for some people). In this cemetery, it is well-kept and has plenty of greenery and a body of water. It was gorgeous. I might actually just want to sit at a bench, stare out in the water instead of hanging out at Prospect Park.

I also teared up a bit taking this photo. Relationship goals, anyone?

The exit of the cemetery brought us a few blocks away from Industry City.  The food hall was worth checking out (of course) and I claimed an AllSet promo for some thai chicken wings. I paired it with Singha beer. 

The outdoor setup of this food hall was so gorgeous. I would like to go back and try the other food options there. 

We walked more avenues and blocks to get to 70-ish street. Back to what I mentioned earlier, the diversity was amazing. I still regret not stopping by this lady's elote cart because I've missed a good corn on the cob. The way the neighborhoods just magically transforms is something I can definitely appreciate. 

Then we got to an interesting Arab neighborhood. We met an Algerian (also wearing the football jersey of his country) who was feeding the birds and worked at a nearby grocery store. I would have loved to buy snacks but was unable to buy any. There are lots of bakeries and so I got a delicious backlava and another sweet delicacy. 

We stumbled upon a Yemeni restaurant within the neighborhood and got some lamb. Amazing cuisine. I need to go back to try some more food and actually remember the names of the food that I eat. 

Until the next walk! 

Random Walks

Here is a random example of a typical weekend whenever I choose to take a walk in Manhattan. I need to explore Brooklyn more for sure (especially since Prospect Park is within walking distance, for example). 

In the midst of the pandemic, I continued to make an effort in establishing a social life (outside of my relationship, of course) here in NYC. I am comfortable exploring on my own but it is nice to see a friend (or two) in the midst of it. It helps with my mental state. Compared to my last entry, NYC made it to phase 4 even if it is still filled with other restrictions.  Fair enough though. I am grateful that other places had opened like the High Line where controlling the crowd is possible by having visitors book a time slot online. A few weekends ago, I finally went with a lady friend and despite the heat at the time, we had a lovely stroll. 

In San Diego, I did engage in some hikes, a few walks by various boardwalks but it wasn't until I moved here without a car that I appreciated the 'longer' walks. Strangely, even my patience grew. I like observing people by nature so I often feel that with all the life that NYC has, I fit in just fine. It is hard to believe that next month would already be my first year here in  NYC but a huge chunk of my explorations (as someone with fresh eyes..) was put to hold due to the pandemic. COVID-19 made it all feel different, perhaps even slowed down time in some situations, but I am grateful that I've managed to safely explore (and try restaurants even by means of food delivery) when I can. 

While taking a stroll at the High Line, I thought this was a beautiful view. 

From the High Line, my lady friend and I grabbed a latte and walked toward Chelsea Piers to sit on the benches. It was a nice sea view. Eventually, I parted with my lady friend and it was about (but not really..) a half an hour walk to Madison Square Park. I went to meet my better half's cousin who was in the area at the time. To be honest, I've been to NYC a good amount of times before deciding to settle here but never took the time to explore this area. It did not disappoint. 

Not featured: A jazz quartet on the left side of this image playing wonderful music. It wasn't crowded during this beautiful Saturday afternoon. 

I think that the surrounding buildings and shops around Madison Square Park was simply nice to look at. I like looking at buildings, obviously. 

Not a lot of people in an area where crowds would usually go. 

I parted with my better half's cousin from here. I am not one who is easily bored so maybe my opinion will not matter much but NYC is not boring at all.. Not at all..

If you're like me who likes a bit of exploration, just remember to wear a mask and try to remain being in a safe distance around other pedestrians. Some situations in the subway will make this impossible but do wear a mask and cough on your sleeve if necessary. Taking a nice walk outside is possible if done safely. Lets be mindful of one another so we can all enjoy a good walk every not and then. 

Phase 3 of Reopening in NYC

If there is one thing that I am grateful for about phase 3 of reopening, it would be services such as the salon and eyebrow threading place. At the moment, I don't need a haircut but my eyebrows are happy with the treatment that they received. Unfortunately, the place I liked going in lower east side that is supposedly closer to my work had closed down so I have to commute half an hour to get to another place that does eyebrow threading. I am grateful. I made sure to tip properly in support of local business. 

Also.. just the fact that I made it this far during the pandemic without any illness is something to be grateful for. It truly sucks being in the healthcare field during these trying times. It's so crazy that the shelter in place started four months ago and yet here we are. It is sad reading about other states that are now going through an increase in cases. 

Indoor dining is still now allowed so I find it interesting that restaurants found ways to be creative about their outdoor dining setup. Along with a shade, the current weather makes it such a great experience. As customers, we just need to keep in mind to to wear a mask especially when talking to a server and bring a hand sanitizer. Of course you can remove your mask to eat haha. Be kind. 

The whole set up about outdoor dining works and brings some kind of normalcy for some of us who likes to eat out. I haven't seen a lot of what outdoor dining entails in the other parts of the city, but while I was in lower east side for my sisig and turon fix, I was able to pass by a lot of food places and their outdoor dining. I wish I took a photo but I was in amazement most of the time. 

Food has kept me sane, clearly, and pursuing cravings is something that I take quite seriously (haha). Ube cheese pandesal has been such a quarantine Filipino food favorite that even people are learning to make it and are making businesses out of it. I doubted for a moment about NYC having it (haha) but of course, they have it! The "hype" is definitely real about these delicious ube cheese pandesal. 

Ube cheese pandesal from Kape't Torta in Queens! Lovely bakery.

In addition to the ube cheese pandesal, I got my mango shake fix and it reminds me so much of the homeland. I feel that the best mangoes for me are the "Manila mangoes."

I also crave for some pastel de nata. My first pastel de nata experience was from a bakery called Frankie's Portugal and it was a delightful experience. Unfortunately, the place is closed (at least according to Google) and I've yet to verify if this is true. I found a place just as good, maybe even better, called Joey Bats Cafe. 

Some would compare them to Chinese egg tarts but there is definitely a big difference. I have no preference but some days would make me crave for one over the other. 

I made a list of cuisines that I want to try and Uzbek cuisine is at the top of the list. Brooklyn has amazing options for Uzbek cuisine and that is another thing that I will be grateful about NYC and moving here -- the food options are endless. There are 11 cuisines on the list and NYC has them all! This will be fun. 

Another work week will start and I can only hope for some improvement about this pandemic. Stay safe, all. 

June Thoughts

My life is still an ongoing spiral of work, home, eat, binge a show, and going outside in limited occasions. Trying to take a stroll. I've made a conscious effort to improve my social life in the city by trying to converse with like-minded women on an app but unfortunately it is a matter of "when" if I can actually grab coffee with anyone. Although given my (bad) luck with females, I've lowered my expectations and do find comfort in solitude. I realized that lately I've been struggling to talk about things that I like because of how irritated I get when being shut down. I do not mind differences, but it is that quick, snobby dismissal of someone else that irks me. I simply have an affinity toward open-minded individuals but I wonder if that makes me a picky person. I still look forward to getting to know people in the city despite of that. There has to be a platonic term related to being a "hopeless romantic" because I am like that in friendships (hahaha!). I will really try for a friend until I am given reasons not to. I am quite hopeful for lasting relationships.

If there is one thing I am consistent with, it is definitely my skincare routine. Having a 7-step routine may seem too much for some but it really isn't bad. Some people think that women who obsess about skincare and cosmetics are ridiculous. Well, I am proudly ridiculous. The older I get the harder it is to control the facial imperfections that I dislike about myself such as noticeable pores and blemishes (unfortunately, I care about crap like that). I feel that whatever it is I am doing to my skin is working for maintenance. Also, I am an oily skin type so keeping the sebum at bay without totally drying my skin out has been the top of my skincare goals. Also, it is so fun and relaxing to do after a long day. I come home filled with the city's impurities. 

Food has been my source of comfort. I do not consider myself a "foodie" in a way that I want to find facts and details or look for only the "authentic" cuisine. I can't even stand food snobs. I just simply like to eat whatever my palette considers good and fortunately that is a wide variety. I like being introduced to new dishes and appreciating the version of whoever makes them. I feel that I've given some people the impression that I am some sort of food encyclopedia. I love learning about cultures but I am not knowledgeable like that (willing to learn though). 

It is a good thing that I commute to work because I know I should weigh more than I currently am. Wednesdays are for fried pork. 

I finished reading a novel recently and started a new one. At least I have that to look forward to. I've been switching from a classic, contemporary fiction, sometimes historical fiction, and nonfiction. There are four books that I am juggling the same way as I would juggle TV shows. 

I think I've found the right therapist for me. I think it is funny that in my chief complaint I put worry. It's not even about the state of the world but the state of my life, rather. 

Hang in there NYC. Sooner or later, it will be phase 3. Outdoor dining is looking good. Do not lose sight of your goals, if any. Unfortunately, I am officially over with COVID-19. Don't wear a mask in an open area but please value physical distance, carry a mask and wear them when close in proximity around people, and be mindful of stores that require it and abide!