I'm officially going on week 3 of living life in the big, crazy city! I can't believe it's already been that long -- it seems like I was just moving in, and I know the rest of the summer will fly by just as fast. In my first few weeks here, I've been getting acquainted more and more every day. It took a while to get used to, but it's something that comes with any change.
Life in the city is fast, furious, diverse, and lively. There is always something to do, whether there is a live music festival or downtown summer BBQ, NYC is full of activity and life. One of my first weekends here, I was able to experience a great BBQ in Madison Square Park, where 6 million ribs were cooked, and 1 million participants came. It was a blast, definitely a great start to SUMMER. Central Park (as well as other parks like Washington Park) have been amazing getaways from the crazy, packed, and taxi-filled city. Central Park has definitely been one of my favorite spots in the city -- it's filled with great reading areas, benches, picnic spots, and reservoirs. My intern group was able to take a bus tour across the entire city too, which was a great birds-eye view of how much NYC truly offers. One of the craziest things I've seen (and trust me, there have been countless things) thus far has been the line coming from Abercrombie and Fitch here. The line extended 2 blocks, but not for people waiting to shop; rather, the line was waiting to get pictures with the 2 men in the front of the store, shirtless, who were models that looked like they hopped right out of the website. Across the street was a woman modeling for Macy's outside in a live photo shoot. Yep! I can definitely say that I'm not in Kansas, or West Texas/Eastern NM anymore! Haha. This weekend, I was able to get out of the Times Square area and sneak over to Brooklyn Heights, which was beautiful! Beachy, full of trees, and small, family neighborhoods made for a much needed break from the city.
I've asked God many times why I was the person to be selected for an incredible opportunity like this, and He's been so generous to show me many reasons why. It's been in NYC that I've discovered the root of my passions, drive, and have grown up so much. It's funny how much growing up you have to do when you are by yourself, navigating a huge city that you aren't familiar with, and trying to survive all the day-to-day craziness. And even in the hustle and bustle of the city, the Lord is so good and gracious to provide me with moments of comfort that He knows I need (e.g. providing St. Patrick's Cathedral right next to my work for daily mass and prayer time).
Balancing work and evangelism is much more difficult than I thought here -- and it is certainly different than the approach I can take as a student. New Yorkers are famous for having work-driven lives where it's not surprising to have an 8am-8pm work day. With the pace of life here, it's difficult to evangelize the same way I do at KU. My prayer for this summer continues to be that I spread the joy Christ gives me to others. One of my favorite conversations has been passing a business man getting off the Subway at 7:30am -- I smiled and said hello, as I try to do with everyone here, and he said, "Well, hello! Thanks for recognizing me, and greeting me this morning!" I have also developed a great relationship with women who work in the café at my work. I've found that diversity here is so large that it would be completely silly of me to not take full advantage of it. A few other things I'm still hoping to do while in NYC is to sit in Central Park all day one Saturday to have conversations with random people, and eating a meal or two with some homeless people to learn about them and their lives. Again... embracing the diversity of people here! Why not?!
This day (June 15, 2014) is such a great day to celebrate so many things! This past week, two of my best friends celebrated their 22nd birthdays, today is Fathers Day (that of which I am incredibly grateful for my eternal, Heavenly Father, my loving, earthly father, and the many spiritual priests who were just ordained to celebrate their first Fathers Days!), and today we also celebrate the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. So many blessings to be thankful for this sunny day in June.
If you're heading northeast anytime this summer, please let me know! I've been able to see a few college friends, friends from home, etc. thus far, and I would love to see you if you're near NYC! Much love to you all, and God Bless you on this wonderful Sunday. Go Spurs!
**A special shoutout to all of my friends back in Lawrence enduring their 2nd week of basketball camp!! Sleep is coming soon!!! :)