If I’ve been in New York City for an entire four weeks, does that make me a New Yorker? How about if I’ve joined the 8 a.m. commuters and 9-5p.m. working class? Or learned how to navigate the subways and find the coolest places to grab a milkshake? I’ve only been here for one month, but Manhattan is starting to feel like home.
City life has kept me so busy. From the moment my plane touched down I knew it was going to be one hell of a ride trying to keep up with this new pace of life. New Yorkers are hard-wired individuals that are constantly go, go, go. I’ve been in awe as I’ve interacted with different individuals out here because these people work relentlessly to accomplish their goals and hopes. It’s inspiring. It’s a dream. I can’t believe I get to learn from them, even if it is only for a short period of time. To read more about my internship at the New York Post, click here.
I’m so blessed to be one of 15 students accepted into The King’s College Journalism semester program. I call it “studying abroad” even though I’m only states away from my home university. Every person in this program is so incredibly talented– it’s truly a privilege to work alongside them and to study under these professors. My first few weeks here have been surreal. I have completely fallen in love with the city, the views, the people, the endless opportunities, the culture and the East Coast. There’s always something going on here and the city continuously fills every part of my adventurous soul.
I’m a small town girl from Minnesota. I come from lakes and highways, not cityscapes and subways. They say New York changes you, and I believe it changes you for the better. Dorothy Parker said: “London is satisfied. Paris is resigned. But New York is always hopeful. Always it believes that something good is about to come off, and it must hurry to meet it.” I’ve never read a quote more true. There is a whimsical energy to New York City that consumes individuals and keeps the city buzzing. It makes you excited to be alive—to just merely get up in the morning to see what the day might hold.
Every neighborhood here has its own culture and groups of people, which makes exploring so exciting and interesting. I love getting to sightsee in a city that is full of endless opportunities and authenticity. There’s so much to discover.
Since moving here I have been on so many different adventures, here are some of my favorites:
My first concert at Madison Square Garden. Not going to lie: the concert enthusiast in me mostly came to NYC for nights like this. Finally getting to see Sam Hunt was a dream come true and MSG is such a beautiful iconic venue.
Attending Hillsong Church NYC. Making Hillsong home has been beyond amazing. I can’t even begin to express how much I look forward to Sunday’s. I live for the worship, time with friends and teachings from Pastor Carl Lentz. I have admired Hillsong for years and getting to attend their NYC campus has been unreal.
Visiting the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art). I absolutely loved getting to see Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night painting in person. It was breathtakingly stunning.
Reflecting and learning more about 9/11 from New Yorkers. There is so much history to this city I now call home. It has been so interesting to visit the 9/11 museum and also spend the 16 year anniversary in the Financial District. You can read more about what that was like here.
Marveling at Grand Central Station’s beauty. Felt like something out of a movie– or more specifically, Gossip Girl.
Exploring Central Park and the Upper West and East sides of Manhattan. The lake girl in me found the places that fill my soul immensely. Central Park is the perfect place to escape the city chaos and to study. I can’t wait for leaves to change as the season welcomes Autumn.
New York Fashion Week. Got stopped by the paparazzi during NYFW for a few photos and people asked if I was a blogger. They guessed right. This is definitely the city to be in. My roomies and I also worked alongside FTL Moda to bring unique style to the streets of Manhattan and Times Square. Each of us got a white jumpsuit to customize to share our own #fashionstatement and it was so fun to see the diverse creativity (in doing so we got tickets to attend next season’s fashion shows).
And most of all, getting to know these beautiful roomies! Wouldn’t want to rule Hanover, attend The King’s College or explore NYC with anyone else. These girls are the best.
Honestly, I could go on for days about how much I love this city. Make sure to keep up with my Instagram for more photos and content from my NYC adventures. If you want to learn more about the program I am doing or my internship – leave a comment or send me a message, I’d love to chat!
Until next time,
Ash
xx
ashley j. chiappetta 