My last days in New York

Selin hanging on to the U.S. flag in Brooklyn with her friend, Zeynep.

by Selin Tekin

Last Monday was my first whole day at home. Normally, I have really good reasons to go out, but since that day, I couldn’t find any reason to head into the city, so I decided to study for the TOEFL. First, I woke up and decided to prepare breakfast. After that, I listened to music, then I watched a sitcom. Before I knew it,  it was already 5 pm, and I decided to run in a park near our house. When I got back home, I went shopping with my cousin. As you can see, I did everything except study and the next days continued like this.

Actually, I want to talk about the one day that was different--last Saturday. First I decided to see my old classmates, and we had dinner together. Then we went to a bar to have a drink and talk about my last days here. After the bar, we wanted to go to one of our friends' birthday party in Hudson Terrace. Actually, I definitely hate nightclubs and I always say no to parties, but this time was one of my good friends' birthday and I felt obligated to go.

Problems with directions & prepositions

Selin (center) with some friends experiencing their first Holi festival in Queens. 

by Selin Tekin
TOEFL Preparation Class

These are text messages that led up to my first Holi experience.

The day before the event:
     Chris:  I can’t come tonight. There is a concert in Bushwick that I really want to see later tonight.
     Me: Ok. See you later.

Four hours later:
     Chris: Tomorrow is “Holi” in Queens.
     Me:  What is Holi?
     Chris: Indian festival where people throw colored powder at each other in a park
     (As usual, I didn’t pay attention to the details in the text.)
     Me: Seems nice. Ok I will ask my friend if she wants to see Brooklyn. We are gonna go to Brooklyn. But if she wants to see Holi we’ll go there.
     Chris: Don’t wear nice clothes!!!
     (Again I didn’t pay much attention to the text.)

The next day:
     Chris: Hey!!  You coming to Holi?
     Me:  Yes we’ll be at Port Authority at 1 pm. Seems as if we’ll be late.
     Chris: Ok take your time. We can meet at Singh’s Roti Shop. On Liberty Avenue. Last stop on the A train. A train to Lefferts Boulevard.

Feeling comfortable with the energy & the spirit of ambition in NYC

by Vanessa Rueda

Vanessa (third from left) at Bryant Park in Midtown with friends from NYLC 

Today is a special day. I arrived in New York 3 years ago today. It's been a while since I move here from Colombia, and I could write a book about it, but I definitely want to mention one thing that I really love about all my experiences in this city.

On so many occasions, days, parties, business meetings, I've witnessed the rhythm of the city, from personal experiences, professional ones, tourists, friends, everything. Everyone seems obsessed with the energy of New York and of course with the opportunities found here. What I really liked about being an outsider first was being able to see this city as a big chance for success and a powerful force. Later, when you really belong here and become a real New Yorker, you understand why everybody proudly mentions all about what they do or have done in the past or even what they will do to achieve prestige or success.

I've noticed every minute of this crazy, funny and tough city as it talks about this sense of achievement. It's like a mirror or like a fragrance; you always feel it. Even in the most fragile and tough minutes, you can smell an avid aroma.

In the beginning, I didn't like this at all. I remember being in a huge party, maybe it was my first big party. I was anxious because so many people asked me the same questions: so you came to study? What do you do for a living? So you are an artist? What kind of art do you do? What are your plans?

I still remember this and felt the pressure then, but the difference is I'm different now, and I get it. These questions (even if sometimes the people who ask are too focused on themselves to listen) push you to find your own answers, to find a way in this city, to actually find yourself and to finally be able to answer these questions.

So now I'm the one who asks. I understand the aim of asking and answering. It takes so long to feel comfortable answering the same questions, but at the same time, without them, I wouldn't have felt the motivation to achieve so many skills and goals not just professionally but also personally, making tons of things, learning from all these brilliant, kind, fearful people who work hard and stay humble.

I believe that curiosity and being a fulfilled human being are both key to being a good artist.


Vanessa is a fine artist and custom jewelry designer. She has her own line of jewelry. She is also the Arts Projects Coordinator at Sunday Morning NY. She's preparing to take the TOEFL in order to apply to a Master of Fine Arts program. She wrote this on September 25, 2012, the third anniversary of her first day in New York.