DAY 8: SHANGHAI PART TWO

July 11, 2017

7/11/17

Hi World,

This was another fabulous day in the city. We started by taking a dim sum cooking class for two hours before eating our final product for lunch. Next, went to the market to get a few of the necessities like handbags and t-shirts lol before heading to a Jewish refugee museum which was previously a temple. Fun fact, during WWII many countries would not accept Jews into their communities for refuge and China was one of the rare countries to oppose this. Shanghai in particular housed many Jews from around the globe affected by the Holocaust and soon the great population of Jews accumulated in the place now known as the Jewish Ghetto. The Jews found a way to establish and thrive in this Chinese society and the locals were very hospitable. After the war many Jews left China for two reasons. The first being that many found out their family survived the Holocaust and wanted to move back to their home country, typically Germany or Austria. The second reason being that Israel officially became a country around the same time and many wanted to be back in a national Jewish society. Finally, we went to a acrobatic show where many talented gymnasts and magicians were featured. What a great day!

Be Brave Day

XOXO

Lyricallivi

The family starts the cooking!

Finished product

The recipe

Entering the theatre for the acrobatic show

Shanghai!

DAY 7: SUZHOU

July 10, 2017

7/10/17

Hi World,

Suzhou is a city on the outside of Shanghai. It went from a rice patty population of about 500,000 to 13 million in the last 15-20 years. We took the bullet train in the morning for a short 30 minute ride to Suzhou. We first met our tour guide named Ming and we went to a garden. The wall that the Ming Dynasty built was in the 516th century BC to protect the city and then some of the parts of the garden was built not long after. There are many modern parts added, but we additionally saw the walls that protected the structure from falling. Next, we went to traditional Asian restaurant, as usual, before heading to a the silk factory where we saw the process from eggs to larva to worms to moths and how silk was made. It is a long process in which the cocoons must be boiled to detach the gelatin inside and make the silk string easier to obtain. Then, patterns are slowly put together string by string to make a pattern or clothing, but to make comforters, you take the extra fluff from the outside of the cocoon which is rougher and easily able to stretch. Next, we went on a boat ride on a man made canal similar to the gondola rides in Italy. Side note* Italy and Suzhou were allies in negotiations and in order to honor their friendship Italy delivered a gondola to Suzhou. Finally, we visited another garden to witness the artifacts from the old Ming Dynasty.

Be Brave Today

XOXO

Lyricallivi

Waiting for the bullet train

Our first destination!

A beautiful garden

Local children

Children on a field trip

Lunch!

eating leaves so they may eventually become a moth.

A lady getting the fluff off the cocoon to create a comforter

This is where the cocoons are boiled to extract gelatin and unravel the silk from the outer cocoon.

Boiling the cocoons

The silk making the pattern that the computer programs to make.

You can tell silk from the polyester because when silk is burned it is a straight hole, but when polyester in burned are plastic remnants.

off on the bullet train back to Shanghai!

DAY 6: FIRST DAY IN SHANGHAI

July 10, 2017

7/9/17

Hi World,

Shanghai is the largest and most cosmopolitan in China with a population of 24 million people. It was originally a fishing destination. “Hai” means see and “shang” means above. The growth started happening in the 19th century. It is also ranked number one in terms of shipping capacity. China is the second largest economy in the world according to GDP’s. Additionally, a street in Shanghai called Nanging Road is equivalent to Fifth Avenue in the United States.

We ate our last meal at the Regent in Beijing and headed to the airport for our travels to Shanghai, the most lively city in China (so they say). I was doubting the means of these words previous to coming and my critical senses were on high alert. Our fight got delayed by four hours before waiting on the flight for an hour previous to taking the short two hour flight to Shanghai. Finally we arrived! We met our tour guide Kevin (we became fast friends) and drove back to our local hotel Les Suites Oritental. That night, as expected, we couldn’t just sit on our behinds waiting for the action to come to us, now could we?? Of course not. We had a very eventful evening of dancing, singing, and drinks. Our first destination was to a live music bar and restaurant. They had some live singers who were fantastic, singing a repertoire of Chinese and English music. Well at a good 11:30 the Sabates family decided that it was time to party, so we headed to The Chop Chop Club a dancing destination with salsa music and many eclectic people from all over the world. Finally, we went back to our hotel before waking up seven hours later for our full day tour! But.. let me give you a quick summary of the history of this great city. Shanghai was built upon three colonial sections, the British, French and Chinese. Our hotel and the restaurants and clubs visited the first night were part of the British quarters in Shanghai known for its clubs and live music. The next day, we went to the Museum of Shanghai first, visiting the coin, sculpture, painting, copper, and jade galleries. A new British exhibit had just recently opened, but unfortunately I was not willing to wait five hours in line. Following, we went to the Jade Buddhist Temple in which is the headquarter for the Shanghai Buddhist Association and a school for the new and upcoming monks. Much of the Chinese population is Buddhist worshipping a Buddha of eternal peace. Once you have reached the eternal life, you essentially also reach a Nirvana like higher spiritual being. That is why many Buddha figures are pictured in a serene and content manner. Also, the Buddha structure is typically depicted with diamonds, gold, and jade to show its meaning and worth to the people. Then, we stopped for lunch at a typical Asian cuisine (what’s new) and ordered the noodles, dumplings, fried rice, and some chicken. Side note* You have not been to Shanghai if you haven’t eaten one of their dumplings. First, you slit a little hole in the doughy outer covering before sucking the juice out of the dumpling, dipping it into vinegar sauce and eating every morsel. Delicious! By this time we already had a member of the family stay home sick from the events that occurred the night before, and another two quickly dropped off at the hotel from nausea and exhaustion. Well what do you know, it was of course mom and I left to go to the Flower Garden in the Old Town by ourselves, and of course with my good friend Kevin. This was part of the Chinese colonial quarter and it shows in its architecture and residence. In the Old Town we got many stares and occasional photographs taken because we were the “foreign” visitors. As we were walking we spotted the street food of cooked bird, skinless and headless, as well as raw and slimy tongue out in the open. Bon Apetit… no thank you. We took the street route to the silk factory where we saw the evolution of a worm into pure silk from comforters to robes. 60 layers of a comforter is equivalent to the work of 6,000 cocoons. Next, we walked around the bridge that is supposed to represent longevity within your family, according to the locals. Finally, we went through the garden which was built by the son of a family who wanted to please his parents. Unfortunately, his father died and he went bankrupt before the completion of this garden, but the layout and architecture was beautiful and an extreme tourist attraction. At night, the family went to the French quarters, supposedly the most romantic of the three original colonies. It modeled the typical streets in Europe with its quaint restaurants, cafes, and shops. This section of Shanghai was a favorite for many of the wealthy Asian families and the tourists. We went to an italian restaurant before grabbing some ice cream at Haagen Daz. After a busy day we decided to hit the sack before another busy day.

Be Brave Today

XOXO

Lyricallivi

Ancient Chinese calligraphy

Our lunch of famous Shanghai dumplings!

The entrance to the jade exhibit in the Shanghai Museum

The Old Town- Chinese colonial area

The sacred Buddha at the Jade Temple

Locals worshipping Buddha

The water underneath the bridge of longevity

A local man worshipping Buddha

The Shanghai Museum: Listening to the history of coins

The French Quarters

A Chinese bird served as street food in the Old Town

DAY 5: SECOND DAY IN BEIJING, CHINA

July 7, 2017

7/7/17

Hi World,

This was our second day in Beijing and though the itinerary was not packed the activities could have taken countless hours to examine each extravanganza in detail. First, we woke up as usual to eat our daily meal of noodles before heading to a rickshaw ride to the old town. While we had this unique experience we had the opportunity to visit a local living space which housed four generations of one family. It is common for large families like this to live together. Most of these living spaces include 4 to 6 rooms around a tiny courtyard area. The price of this household would be close to 15 million in US dollars, but the residents of this particular house were offspring to a general of the Qing Dynasty, therefore it was passed down rightfully. We passed several beautiful shops and streets where there was live music in the night and many older men fishing in the river. Next, we made the trek to the Great Wall and up to the cable car where it took us up to the actual edifice. It is 4,136 miles long from the East side to the West side. The Qing Dyansty conquered all of the other warring states and the first emperor Qin Shi Huang, tried to unify these lands by building the Great Wall of China which was constructed over the next 1,000 years. The wall’s purpose was to protect the city of Beijing from invaders on the opposite side by shooting and bombing at the opposing army from the wall. Finally, we went to another authentic restaurant XiaoLongPu in which we got rice, LOTS of noodles, sweet potato cakes, chicken, pork, and beef while we rotated the table to share the food as in traditional times. We then went back to the hotel to grab some quick starbucks in which our orders were obviously not understood lol, before heading back to Silk Market once again for a last round of shopping before flying to Shanghai!

Be Brave Today

XOXO

Lyricallivi

Visiting a traditional household holding 4 generations of one family

The Great Wall of China

Rickshaw ride in the Old Town

The Spinning Table

The restaurant we went to, XiaoLongPu

DAY 4: FIRST DAY IN BEIJING, CHINA

July 6, 2017

Hi World,

Today was our first day in Beijing. We arrived late last night considering the time difference from Dubai to China is about four hours ahead, so you can imagine we were a little jet lagged. Anyway, we met our tour guide, Xuiu, or his American name Jack, at the airport on the way back to the Regent Hotel. The next morning we woke up early to attend a traditional breakfast of noodles, Chinese bread, dim sum, and several other options of our choosing. Next, we took a short bus ride to Qianmen or the English translation, Tian’anmen Square. This is a famous location for the student revolt of 1989, in which they protested for increased rights reduced by the government. Tiananmen Square was actually the location for many protests and rallies for injustices throughout the last century. This square lies over 100 acres, making it the largest public square and it is the political heart of China, a quintessential part of your Beijing experience. The Gate of Heavenly Peace is also located in Tiananmen Square, where Mao Zedong founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Following, we went through each gate before entering the Forbidden City. This city has been a residence to many emperors, the first being Yongle in 1420. This is the largest palace in the world leaving several spaces for the Emperors’ concubines or mistresses along with a room for his Empress. The Forbidden City prohibited commoners from entering until the last of the emperors faded and visitation proceeded. It is well kept and visited by many locals as well. Next, we went to a traditional Chinese restaurant called Da Wan Ju, where they served kidney, intestine, tongue…you name it, they served it. Well, us Americans could not handle the eccentrics the restaurant had to offer so we ordered the noodles, chicken, beef, pork, and rice. Probably one of the most authentic Asian meals I have had. Following, we drove to the Temple of Heaven of the 15th century, a structure that truly exemplified the religious architecture of China. Within the gates of the community we took Tai Chi lessons in the rain, which is a form of Martial Arts and common amongst the elderly in order to maintain their strength. This complex contains three structures in which the Emperor, or the “Son of Heaven,” prays. This is a wonderful location to experience the beauty of nature while watching locals play a game of chess or cards. Finally, we went to Xiushui Street or the Silk Market where they sell authentic silk, garments, and tourist souvenirs. This is a great experience to practice your bargaining and make a new friend as well! It was all fun and games until the vendor from a store chased Nelson down and caught him in the act of faking a phone call to escape his store lol. Another great experience was the amusement the locals got from seeing the faces of five Americans; the children especially were interested in getting many photos! So Cute. All in all, Beijing is another monumental location to explore. I will keep you posted for more on this eccentric city.

Be Brave Today
xoxo

Lyricallivi

beef, pork, noodles, rice, chicken

Tai Chi during the rain in The Temple of Heaven

A group of gentlemen playing chess in the courtyard of the Temple of Heaven

A vendor at The Silk Market name Ellie: She is looking for a husband if anyone is interested

The restaurant we went for lunch

Tiananmen Square

A cute little girl that I met today

Tai Chi in the rain

DAY 3: ABU DHABI

July 5, 2017

Hi World,

Abu Dhabi used to be named Budhabi until Sheikh Zayed exemplified the catch and release method toward a deer inspiring its present name. Sheikh Zayed was named “father of the deer.” The king of Abu Dhabi from 1971 to 2004 was Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan who currently has 88 children, 37 which are male, and one which has currently taken over the kingship of the royal lineage. Sheikh Khalifa is as rich as Bill Gates and has helped many poor countries such as Nigeria, The Philippines, and Ghana. Originally, Abu Dhabi gained its wealth from Milh or salt and it holds the culture of the United Arab Emirates through the current Bedouin people still living in Abu Dhabi and displaying the original customs of Arabs. Abu Dhabi is also the capital of the UAE and the king of Abu Dhabi is also the president of the entirety of the United Arab Emirates. Fun fact: While many kingdoms using the hierarchy method of rule declare the first boy child as the rightful ruler, in Abu Dhabi, it is the brother of the king who rules directly after, and the ruler of the kingdom must be examined for the proper qualities for lead figure by a parliamentary system.

Yesterday was another eventful day. My family and I woke up in the morning to eat a quick breakfast and start the trek to Abu Dhabi. It was an hour and half away from our hotel in Dubai to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque we visited, named after Sheikh Khalifa, one of the kings of Abu Dhabi. This mosque can accommodate more than 50,000 people especially during Ramadan when it is needed for prayer time. Elizabeth II was the first visitor at this mosque and since them it has been a wonder that cannot be missed when visiting Abu Dhabi. Within the mosque there are 7 chandeliers made from real gold and crystals, and this mosque and all mosques are all white to exemplify the origins of Islam, peace. Next, we visited a museum exemplifying the existence of Abu Dhabi before during the 20th century, made up of Bedouin tribes and little innovation. Finally, we drove back to Dubai where Spencer and I experienced the indoor skiing complex in the Dubai Mall where I met a new friend named Jash from Tanzania. IT WAS AMAZING. Who knew that there could actually be a skiing complex in the middle of a desert. I didn’t.

Be Brave Today

XOXO

lyricallivi

Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Schoolboys-not allowed to touch women

Ferrari World

SkiDubai

DAY 2: DUBAI

Note: one US dollar is equivalent to 3.65 derms (currency)

Hi World,

To start off the day, our tour guide Chiten met us bright and early in the lobby of the Hilton after an exquisite breakfast of everything imaginable. We hopped into the car on our way to our first destination, but in the meantime we got the rundown on the basic statistics and wonders Dubai attains, which I will share with you. There are around 2.8 million inhabitants in Dubai, 80 percent which are foreigners. There are 7 total states that make of the United Arab Emirates, but Dubai is the financial capital. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum (yes I know it’s long), is the leader of the Kingdom of Dubai and essentially leads the country responsibly in the fact that he owns several sources of transportation within the state and he is a visionary who has built Dubai to be the mecca that it is. He is considered a benevolent leader, providing everyone with essentially free healthcare and guaranteeing a low crime and poverty rate. Dubai is less rich than Abu Dhabi but still quite wealthy, and the main revenue for Dubai is from traffic fines and real estate, like tourism, as opposed to what many believe is oil. Dubai evolved from Bedouin Tribes that came together in 1970 and now maintain wealthy lifestyles of Millionaires present day. The Bedouins were quite traditional muslims, therefore they dressed (and still dress) conservatively with the men in long white outfits with headpieces and the women covering their entire body, including their face. The most modern part of Dubai is Palm Island, man made and built in 1996 and finished in 2008. This is equivalent to Beverly Hills in the United States costing 10 million per condo. 80 percent of the apartments are sold to residents including David Beckham and Brad Pitt. Most everyone in Dubai live in high rises considering the length of the city is fairly small. Fun fact, water is more expensive than gasoline because it only rains about three times a year in Dubai, and the average salary for a labor occupations is 600 dollars a month with free food and accommodations. Following, retail occupations receive 1,500 dollars or 3.65 derms with no room or board. Lastly, skilled workers such as professors receive 5,000 US dollars a month with no taxes. No one has been taxed in Dubai since 1894. There are about 225 nationalities in Dubai and in the entity of the UAE there are around 9.5 million inhabitants. Finally, Dubai is home to one of the tallest buildings called Burj Khalifa, containing 162 stories.

Ohhhh, side note: The police ride Mazzeraties around town. That pretty much sums up Dubai.

Today to begin our escapades, we first drove around Palm Island before going to a local temple called the Jamirh Mosque, built in 1979, displaying Egyptian-style architecture. Then we briefly went to the Dubai mall and a local market where we bought some traditional fragrances. Following, that afternoon we took an hour drive to Al Madam Dubai where we took dune buggy’s out for a spin in the desert. Following, we drove through the Al Madam desert through giant sand dunes (thought we were gonna go down several times), and landed at a camp in the middle of the desert where we rode camels, watched the sunset, and experienced traditional entertainment such as a belly dancer, while in the company of others from around the world. Besides the brutal heat, the bus driver walking in on me while changing into dry pants, and the accidentally posted snapchats, I would say this was another successful day in Dubai!

Be Brave Today

Xoxo

Lyricallivi

Marketplace

Burj Khalifa-Used to be the largest building in the world

Pretty self explanatory, I mean… Duh

Tour guide Chiten!!! What a chiller

Dune Buggy in desert…Heck yea

Camel ride in Al Madam Desert

Sunset in Al Madam desert

Dinner in Al Madam… and some Hookah as well.

Belly Dancer

INTRODUCTION TO DUBAI

July 3, 2017

The Sabates Crew had a rough start to the trip. To sum it up, our flight to Dallas was cancelled therefore we missed our international flight to Dubai; that same day we got rejected from two of the following flights to Dallas and eventually had to spend the night in the airport hotel. Furthermore, we had a nutritious family dinner at In and Out Burger, exhausted and hungry. Consequently, we walked a couple miles to a ice cream store that was closed and decided then to grab some ice cream from a quick outlet and enjoyed finally being in our hotel room. The following day we hitched a ride on the Emirates Airlines, where I got acquainted with the kind flight attendants, sipped on some cold drinks, ate some great food, and watched some spectacular movies. So I guess it worked out.

The following day, we finally arrived in the country 9 hours ahead of what our usual time schedule would be. Jetlagged and already drained from the 110 degree weather, the fam decided to take a dip in the pool and beach, also the temperature of a sauna, at the Hilton in Marsa, Dubai. Nonetheless, we met some men vacationing in Dubai from Saudi Arabia. After a good chat we learned about how much freedom there really was in Dubai compared to its other muslim countries especially its neighbors. There are people dressed in sundresses to women in Hijabs to others in full Niqabs, covering every inch of her body, except on occasion, their eyes. The dress code is flexible, although it is always looked upon to dress appropriately for certain events. Which leads me to our next exhibition. The Sabates gang then went to an exquisite cruise ride with dinner down the Dubai creek, exposing how beautiful and bright the Architecture truly is. That concluded our adventurous night, and the true fun was just about to begin.

Be Brave Today

xoxo

Lyricallivi

Checking into airline of United Arab Emirates Airline

Our flight attendant from Malta

Poolside at Hilton Hotel

Food on Plane

These men are vacationing from Saudi Arabia

THROWBACK THURSDAY!-INDIA

June 29, 2017

6/29/17

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Hi World,

I am here in my humble abode reminiscing of my fabulous trip to India. I am nostalgic of those happy times as I am currently preparing for our family trip to Dubai tomorrow. Since we did venture to several different parts of India including New Delhi, Old Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, and Mumbai I will pinpoint and extract my favorite event from each city and elaborate on their glory and wonder.

New Delhi: Beginning, we stayed at the Imperial Hotel, an exquisite home away from home with ornate construction and a delicious feast for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our first exhibition was to the India Gate Arch and the Palace where the president of India lives. This was one of the largest Palaces in the world when India became a democracy in 1947 after previously being a colony. Additionally, we also visited the home of a wealthy family where Gandhi resided and also got assassinated at age 79 in the courtyard while praying. He was killed by a radical Hindu fanatic after 149 days of residence at that home. Next, we visited Humayun’s Tomb, who was from the Mughal Dynasty which was very prosperous in India at one point in time. Following, the Sabates clan went to the Sikh Temple in New Delhi. While we visited, we had the opportunity to see many of the 25,000 children, men, and women whom the temple was feeding solely from volunteers. Finally, we went to Khan Chacha in the Khan market which is located in a chic, upscale market in New Delhi where I enjoyed a nice cup of frozen coffee.

Old Delhi: Consequently, the Sabates gang relocated to Old Delhi to get a more authentic and quaint flavor of the city. We began our journey at the Jama Masjid Mosque built in the 1600’s by the Mughal Dynasty. My favorite part of Old Delhi would have to be the rickshaw ride and street food experience because I truly felt like a local while exploring every aspect Old Delhi had to offer. One of the markets we went to was the Chandni Chowk Market and another sight we saw was the Qutab Minar Mosque.

Agra: Then, we drove to Agra with a population of around a hundred million (we could see the Taj Mahal in the distance!!).We finally reached our hotel, the Oberoi, after a long journey. The Taj Mahal was built in the 17th century by Shah Jahan for his wife whom he built in order to express their eternal love. Next, we went to the Red Fort which was built in the 16th Century by the Mughal Empire as administrative and military headquarters. We also visited he sub-capital previous to Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, to protect the Emperor of the Mughal Dynasty, Akbar.

Jaipur: We again traveled five hours to the next Oberoi Hotel in Jaipur in the province of Rajasthan. Additionally, we visited the Amber Fort in Jaipur with its beautiful architecture that you can spot from a mile away. This was constructed by Raja Man Singh in 1592 and its construction took 125 years to complete. It was originally the capital but in the early 18th century the capital shifted to Jaipur.

Udaipur: Next we took a thirty minute plane ride to Udaipur on Spice Airlines until we landed and took a two hour plane ride to the Jan temple two hours outside of Udaipur. Quick note about the Jainists; they must broom the floor before they step because it is forbidden in their religion to kill a living thing including an ant. We visited one of the largest Jain temples in India, built in the 14th century by the White Clan Jainists, and taking 50 years to complete. The Jan religion pursues a life filled with non-violence. Finally, we went back to the Oberoi, Udaipur addition, to swim in the relaxing pool area and eat traditional Indian cuisines. The following day, we visited The Lake Palace in Udaipur by boat through Lake Pichola which was also featured in the movie Octopussy, for all the movie fans out there. Next we visited the residence of the Royal Family, and the Udaipur City Palace, along with a local Hindu Temple and the occasional camel ride!

Mumbai: This is one of the most fascinating cities. Even though the city is supposed to be the most innovative in India, 55% of their population lives in the slums, including those with stable occupations. Another interesting fact is that the Mcdonalds’ in Mumbai are all vegetarian because the Hindu population are forbidden from eating meat. Also, the second most expensive house in the world consisting of 27 floors and 600 servants for a family of five, is located in Mumbai. Consequently, there is an effective food delivery system in Mumbai called Dabbawala where people essentially order lunch bags that the local women cook and put into containers that are then returned that night. After reaching the Gateway to India and Victoria Station, we finally reached our last destination in India, the original home of Ghandi where pictures hung up actuated the selfless life he led. Final side not about Mumbai; it is the 3rd most expensive city in the world, consisting of 20 million people.

I met some very impactful people on that trip including our loyal tour guide Nuru whom I truly appreciate. So I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and…

Be Brave Today

Lyricallivi

Taj Mahal-Agra

Oberoi in Udaipur

Oberoi-Udaipur

Mosque in New Delhi

Old Delhi-Man showering next to me

Jaipur

Slums in Mumbai

Rickshaw ride in Old Delhi

NEXT STOP: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK

June 26, 2017

I am currently in Harlem, New York at Columbia University for a writing journalism workshop focusing on redesigning magazines and newspapers for The Voice, Pembroke Hill’s magazine. Columbia University is an Ivy league, Northeastern school with several different campuses depending on one’s specific major. I had the opportunity to encounter several students involved in their school paper exploring their interests of writing and redesigning just as I am. I was in class with Jenny Creech, a sports columnist, investigative journalist, reporter, and editor. She writes for the Houston Chronicle, the fourth largest market in the country. She has won awards for her expertise and she is frequently featured on the Texas Sports Nation as well as covering material regarding the NBA, MLB, NFL, and PGA events.

Day 1: Jacqueline Kincaid and I arrived together into the big city alone and trying to find our way to the nearest restaurant before making the journey to Harlem. Thank goodness we got lost because we found the most quaint and authentic restaurant called Victor’s Cafe right on 52nd street New York. We enjoyed our classic Cuban Sandwiches while amidst the entertaining rhythms of Spanish music. The employees were very hospitable and the atmosphere was lively and a reassuring refuge from the crowded New York streets. So, if you are ever planning on getting lost in New York City, feel free to ironical stumbleupon Victor’s Cafe. Next, we took in all the scenery the eclectic city had to offer during the taxi ride to John Jay Hall dormitory of Columbia University. AHH WE WERE FINALLY HERE. We were greeted by the by third of our three musketeers, Lily Jiang, as we started our journey in the big city together. Rooms 1001, 1002, and 1003, could not have been more filled with laughter, music, and movies.

Day 2: We woke up to explore new breakfast restaurants with our new friends Derek and Palmer bright and early and staggered upon our first hangout, Nussbaum and Wu, which I have been going to for four days straight for Chai teas and bagels. We went to our second in design class after that and learned about different techniques of photoshop and graphics until we broke for lunch where the three musketeers decided to roam blocks away from campus in hopes of finding an authentic restaurant. After impatience settled in, so did we. We found the first hole in the wall sushi restaurant we could find and took a load off. You know what….it was sooo tasty. Not only did I get to eat amazing sushi but I also learned a lot about Lily and Jaqueline that I would have never known. Well this magical place of stories and sushi was called Suma Japanese Cuisine, and a place unforgettable. Next we took a detour to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine to witness firsthand detailed architecture of each column and stained glass windows. Unfortunately, it rained that night and so our plans of going to SOHO were squashed but we ended up having a better time playing “Cards of Humanity” in our dorm rooms until 1AM.

Day 3:We began our day at our typical breakfast hangout, went to class, and then broke for lunch in which we grabbed some food at a local deli, Milano’s, before eating on top of the steps of the Columbia Library. We Couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful and sunny day! Finally, that night we went to a broadway show called Come from away with all the residents from the dormitory who were also attending this writing camp. For all who are not familiar with this show…it is spectacular. It is essentially commemorating the residents of Newfoundland (Newfoundlanders), a small island off of Canada, for their hospitality and bravery of hosting 38 planes full of frantic passengers into their community during 9/11. It was a wonderful opportunity to witness the realistic acting of the generosity humans naturally posses. After, we had the opportunity to meet the actors and actresses, discuss their preparation for the show, and the impact of 9/11 on their own lives.

Day 4: By far the most hectic day! Breakfast, class, and then tired of the boundaries of Harlem, Jacqueline, Lily, and I decided to take a taxi to 5th avenue in order to expand our knowledge of the city. We briefly explored the Metropolitan Art Museum with its exquisite architecture and famously known for its presence in the Gossip Girl Series (for all the Gossip Girl fans out there). From there we traveled down the street to the Guggenheim Museum, also exquisite with its spiral architecture and high ceilings. The Guggenheim also makes a presence in the movie When in Rome, for all the romcom fans. Finally, forgetting that the purpose of our travel was for a lUNCH BREAK, we shopped for some grab and go food at Eli’s Bread, and ate in the taxi on the way back to Colombia where we traveled around Harlem with an assigned partner for an interactive project. Finally, that night we decided to take a detour to the most touristy place in this great nation, Times Square, in order to watch the sun set on the top of the Empire State Building (highly recommend), watch the masses of diverse people from the window of Shake Shack, and almost miss curfew by taking the wrong subway train, getting off at an unfamiliar and ominous location far from our dormitory,meeting an Uber driver Mohammed, who took us part of the way and sprinting to and from every location to get back safely (we got back lol).

Day 5: Finally, we reached the last day in the grand city of Harlem. Our day was filled with the same spontaneity as those previous days, but in addition we went to Soho, only the most fabulous outside shopping extravaganza evaaa; followed by a last quick trip to Times Square once again.

We say goodbye to NYC: Finally, we had our last class in the morning, packed up and checked out to head to the Laguardia airport. Furthermore, not only did I enjoy the city of dreams, but I truly got to know and enjoy the company of the other two parts of the “three musketeers” whom I vaguely knew previous to this occasion even though we were all in the same class. Sooo.. always keep an open mind, and make a new friend because you never know how they will impact you!

Be brave today and take a risk!

XOXO

Lyricallivi