Around this time is when summer peaks - the sun gets warmer, cold booze and refreshing drinks spill the bars and tables, and an influx of tourists flood the avenues of Manhattan. Around this time is also the peak of the rental market. Recently, and controversially, New York City has been experiencing the highest rental hikes in the history of the city, with rents raising 3.25% higher in the last decade. People are moving out, people are moving in, and I'm just moving. 

Other than inflation and the U.S's economic crisis following the Russian-Ukraine land war and the impacts of the pandemic, other factors that contributed to this I've also noticed was an influx of graduate and undergraduate students moving in after college or for college. I remember around the time that I started at The New School in the Fall of 2020, many students I knew had decided to take some time off because of the pandemic. Now that COVID-19 protocols have relaxed, businesses are starting to open again, and life begins to feel normal, people are deciding to move back. 

New York City is known for nomadic dwellers who are always on the move, and I've always lived that nomadic lifestyle - I've lived in three different countries in three different continents, lived in many cities and experienced many different environments, exchanged multiple currencies, and lived with various groups of people. This past year alone, I've moved apartments four times: from the East Village, to Broadway Triangle, to further into Bushwick, to now Bedford-Stuyvesant. So despite staying in the city throughout the pandemic, I'm still the wandering dweller on the perpetual move. 

I do hope that I can be settled for once in my new apartment in Bed-Stuy but, as I had experienced throughout my life, things can change - and that's okay. When I lived in Tunbridge Wells in the UK, I had a plan to go study fashion communication or design in Central Saint Martins or University of the Arts London. I had a nice job working for a British haberdashery measuring and cutting fabric and I was close to completing my A-Level certifications in French, Media Studies, and Photography. Alas, I was thrown off with we're moving to Florida. 

When I lived on Broadway Triangle, my roommates and I were content. We had a nice apartment conveniently located by the JMZ train of the Myrtle-Wyckoff station. But alas, we were thrown off-guard by an unexpected roach infestation. And so, we were forced to look for a new home. 

Things like this happen in life all the time, where you think you're settled but shit gets thrown at you. You can sit and complain which is what I did when I first lived in Florida, because I wanted to be anywhere else but the small, suburban Trump town I lived; or, you could make the most of what you've got and make your own decision, which for me was to move to New York City. 

I'm not entirely sure if I'll ever find a home that I can truly settle into, to start a family or to launch my career, but I'm only twenty-two. There's still so much more exploring to do. 

Museums are historically defined as the institution committed to preserving the evidence of humankind and the environment, according to the definition by Britannica. The majority hold the original artifacts that have existed and preserved from a century ago to millions. Although libraries differ in a nuanced way, in which they store and preserve books, they are similar in a way where they both hold the stories, experiences, and knowledge of humanity throughout time. 

Charles Dickens' desk; where he wrote Great Expectations and Hard Times, as well as fifteen-thousand letters.

I've had the pleasure of sauntering around this fascinating exhibition that is being held at Stephen A. Schwarzman building at The New York Public Library between 40th and 42nd on 5th Avenue. Thanks to the generous donation of $12 million from philanthropist, Dr. Leonard Polonsky, you can now see rare artifacts and historical items that will conjure your curiosities. "The exhibition exposes to the world, or the world that is willing or able to attend, the richness of the holdings of the library...which are extraordinary." Polonsky says in an interview conducted for The New York Public Library's website. From ancient religious texts, to the first drafts of some of the most notable novels in literature, here are some of the artifacts that truly intrigued me. 

As a reader and fan of The New Yorker magazine, I was excited to see the original prospectus written by Harold Ross, who founded the publication in 1924 or 1925. Titled "The New Yorker" with their signature font, the drop caps and detailed, illustrative border with crinkles of the paper and coffee-coloured tone to show it's aging that showed that it's been through a lot - yet kept in good shape. 

Through the cleanest glass I've ever seen stands the stuffed toys that inspired a story that was my whole childhood. I grew up watching the show and reading the books about Christopher Robin's adventures with Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends, Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger, and Kanga. As a child, I've always seen the characters as how they were originally illustrated (the original illustrator was Ernest H. Shepard). To see the inspiration behind it all, the very items that began a story that influenced and was embraced by millions of children and adults, was truly an amazing experience. 

I think one of the most decorative and beautiful books I've ever seen in my life is the Evangelie naprestol’noe (or the Altar Gospels). A golden cover with detailed engravings and embellished with gems and jewels, it is the book that highlights and holds the word of God to the highest standard. Bound by the Muscovite craftsmen (who were inspired by the French), it's a work of timeless art that anyone will marvel at. 

Another favourite in the exhibit was Charlotte Brontë's portable desk. Foldable and filled with different compartments to store her inks and pens, it was mesmerizing to look at a piece of Brontë that she used to write letters and drafts of some her greatest novels in English literature. According to the place card, the box was opened in 1973, the first time thirty years after The New York Public Library had acquired it. After unlocking it, they found several keepsakes of Charlotte's, including memorial cards for her siblings, Branwell and Emily. 

I was mesmerized by the illustration that the library displayed for Gaius Julius Hygenus's De astronomia. The book was opened to a page that had glowing illustrations of mythological creatures and a written manuscript that is a poem describing how the alignment of stars and planets governed the affairs between heaven and earth. Throughout the manuscript, he named 42 constellations and the gods and heroes associated with each of them. 

If you ever have spare time and happen to be around 42nd and 5th Ave., I highly recommend going! When I discovered the exhibition online, they have timed free admission!! And since the Christmas market has opened in Bryant Park, it also makes a nice date or general day out with friends where you can walk around after a look around the library and get hot cocoa and eat delicious food, shop for Christmas gifts, or go ice skating. 

The Polonsky Exhibition is the perfect place to marvel, learn, and delve into your curiosities. Get your free tickets, bring a friend, or even go by yourself as I did. 

The past several months have been a rollercoaster of emotions and stress as I prepared myself to make one of my biggest life changes so far: I moved to New York City! I've been meaning to write and publish this post, but I've been busy trying to adapt and settle into the city – plus, I've had the opportunity and pleasure to write for my school paper, in which I've been doing since the beginning of this semester!

It's such an exciting time to be somewhere new, and in a place where I was always drawn to since I first discovered my calling to write. As my goal is to pursue that career and the ambition to become a journalist in the Big Apple, I quit my job, broke up with my ex-partner, I packed my bags and, with my mask on, I headed to the city that never sleeps.

It was definitely a shock, not just going from a tropical climate to a winter storm (the day after I arrived in New Jersey, where I was picked up by my family, another huge storm had hit the East Coast!), but also the shock of being where I always dreamed of living in. To have so much control over my life now that I'm solo and wanting to build my life up. Since I felt like I was swimming in old water from experiencing mental breakdowns, feelings of existentialism, and going through relationship problems, I feel that doing this was the right decision, one that would guide me to a better and more clearer pathway towards a happy and successful life I'm always striving for. 

One of the difficult aspects of this journey that I'm still learning the ropes of is being constantly out of my comfort zone. I was so used to being with my parents and relying on their support – now I have to do everything on my own. Usually I'd come with my mother to the grocery store to get food and other things; I'd drive to Target or Walmart and help pick out what foods to get, help them in the car, and help bring them inside the house. It's easy to get what you need or want because my parents will pay it for it – I have to learn to budget, walk to a bodega, Target, or Trader Joe's, and bring the groceries up myself. Sometimes I feel like I'm struggling to budget and ultimately end up indulging myself (especially living in New York when there's so many cool businesses and thrift stores, etc.), but I'm slowly getting there. 

A closed coffee shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY.

Another thing that was difficult in going through this new journey of moving out and, essentially, "leaving the nest", was navigating my move during the pandemic. It's definitely an interesting topic to converse in, with the debate and discussions of whether or not it will be a worthwhile experience due to the COVID-19 restrictions in place – especially moving in the February, the peak of the winter season. 

During one of my first dinners with a new friend from college, she told me that I was very brave for moving the city at around this time of the year. "Not many would be willing to do what you did!" she said to me over some matcha latte, hot chocolate, and beef chili. It was in the negatives that evening, winds were like icy knives slicing my skin, and the snow that came from the recent storm earlier then just began to melt as the pavements busied themselves with more people after Gov. Cuomo opened indoor dining around Valentine's day. Even though I despise the cold, it felt refreshing to breathe in the air after a downfall of fresh snow – for me, it symbolized a new beginning. 

So far into my new life, I've made connections with people, discovered more of the city, learned how to take the subway, and slowly settling into the New York living. I have yet to discover more, but so far I've tried and tasted cool coffee shops, restaurants, bought books from quirky bookshops, 

It's definitely an interesting experience, especially in the middle of a pandemic and one that I'm still learning to navigate. But, as the weather begins to warm up with the remains of winter trailing off and spring about to bloom, as well as more people that I'm seeing getting vaccinated, hopefully things will start to look up and get back to normal. 

I will try to keep up with posting all my adventures and experiences, as there's so many things to do, discover, and explore in New York City! 

With all the stress and anxieties of starting classes in a completely new and different environment, and the overwhelm of working a retail job and finishing up my associates, I'm all burnt out. This past couple months have hit me hard and have dragged me down into a fairly low point of this year; but determined to set my mind up for the right direction and get myself prepared for a whole new semester, I needed some space to getaway and reset myself. 

The Imagine Museum

I saw a video of this one incredible installation that was mind-bending to watch, and when I found out that this was at The Imagine Museum in St. Petersburg, I just already knew this was at the top of the list of galleries and museums to visit. 

It is a museum filled with cool and amazing glass sculptures and a few paintings. There were a few sculptures who really played around with the textures of the glass: made it soft, created illusions, or made their art and sculptures with different mediums. It was an extraordinary experience and I wish I could share the entire exhibition, but these were some of the works that really captured me.  

Sunken Gardens

Another place we visited was this beautiful garden that was as lush as a tropical paradise! It was filled with gorgeous greenery, tall trees, and colorful flowers - it was like walking through the Garden of Eden! It was full of life and mother nature, and it was probably one of my favorite attractions. It was another incredible experience - minus the extreme heat and humidity of Florida that dampened my cardigan and jeans with sweat! 

I was definitely excited for a trip to the famous beaches like Clearwater, Treasure Island, Madeira, and St. Petersburg beach as well as see the Sky Bridge! Unfortunately, not all sightings were able to be fitted into this weekend trip. Hopefully, the next time we will visit we'll be able to go to those places!

Of course, we are still under a pandemic - but we made sure we brought our masks and hand sanitizers! 

Have you been anywhere interesting this past summer? Or do you have an exciting trips in the future?