So, I've officially been a New Yorker for a week now, and I gotta say, it feels good! Orientation week is over, and classes officially start at 9am tomorrow! I'm excited to really start and get going. If orientation was a taste of what this program is going to be like, I am going to be a very happy hardworking girl.
The nice thing about having a week of orientation was that we had a weekend "off", not much homework, just time to explore the city. I've been applying for jobs and am still looking, but did work a load-in today as an electrician! It was definitely a challenge to switch gears and get back into that world, but a good challenge. Hopefully I'll get to do more work like that now that I'm here. At least I've got that paycheck to look forward to while I hunt for something more regular. I went and got my New York Public Library card, and with all the libraries in all the boroughs, I'm very excited for all the resources now available!!
One of the perks of student housing is the gym we get to join, so I took advantage of that today. It is a beautiful facility, and its about 30 feet from my front door, so its incredibly convenient. Pace has a gym in its main building available to students, but that's a subway ride away(oh, the horror, an extra 10 minutes!) I know, I'm becoming incredibly spoiled living in Brooklyn Heights. Anyway, the gym. I love it, cannot wait to go back. Although, I gotta say, for a long run, I do not like the treadmill. Its fine for a shorter run, but I much prefer being outside for a distance run, much more stimulating/enjoyable. I desperately need new sneakers, mine are completely worn out, so that's something I'm going to have to take care of this coming week!
I got to see an Off-Broadway show at the Westside Theatre, VocaPeople. It was about 80-90 minutes long, and such a good time from start to finish. Anyone in/around the city should see this show. The performers were some of the most vocally talented people I've seen, and in such unusual/unexpected ways. I went with Janis(remember her, you're probably going to hear about her a lot in this blog, she's quickly becoming one of my new favorite people), one of my classmates, and we did not stop dancing in out seats for even one minute. It was a perfect ending to our first week here!
Cheers from the Smoothie!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
The Roundup
So, I've finished orientation week at the Actors Studio Drama School!! What a great week it was! I've met so many of my classmates, and so far there's just so much enthusiasm and positivity that I can't help but giggle everytime I think of spending the next three years with all of them. I haven't really had a chance to get to know everybody, as we are a large class (the largest ASDS has ever had in fact). All tolled, we are 39 actors, 4 directors, and 4 playwrights. Mostly it was orientation for each class, but two of our classes did meet as classes. The first of those being West African Dance at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. I have never taken a class like it, and I'm so in love. Its so different and so energizing and so much fun!! Although, I did not stretch after class and my thighs are STILL feeling it!! I think its going to be excellent cross-training for the marathon! 90 minutes of west african dance twice a week??? wee!!
I sorted out the snafu with registration, which is excellent!! I keep having to pinch myself and remind myself this is all really real, and I get to keep doing all this every day for three years. Pretty much one of the best things to remind myself :). Janis and I wandered the city quite a bit while applying for jobs, constantly pausing to do "touristy" things and made it a fun afternoon for ourselves! We may or may not have played Fur Elise on the large piano at FAO Shwartz when we stopped in to pick up job applications... Speaking of which, I've applied to four so far, and am open to any suggestions to make some good part-time money!!
I'm working as an electrician on Sunday, and I'm really excited about that. Choosing between lighting and acting was not easy, and I'm very very happy to be here and focusing on my acting, but its great to have the opportunity to dust off my wrench! (Now that I mention it, I should find where I packed it)
Went out last night with a few of my ASDSers, and we celebrated the birthday of our classmate, G! (He's G because he is from Turkey and his name is not easy to pronounce! Id like to be able to say it at some point tho) First we went to a pub near school for some karaoke, and had a blast. Theatre kids and karaoke? Match made in bar heaven. Then, we headed over to ave A for a hookah bar. It was my first, and I didnt go too hard because of my asthma, but it was a lot of fun!!! Much bonding transpired...
Its certainly an interesting time to be in New York, with the 10th anniversary of 9/11 this weekend. You can tell the city is on high alert with more police/various security all over the city. The freedom tower looks beautiful lit up at night, you can see it from school. The Empire State Building is lit up yellow for the troops, and we saw it from the vantage point of Washington Square Park on our way home last night, also gorgeous. While beautiful, its also a dramatic reminder of how drastically the city/world changed 10 years ago. I still remember sitting in french class hearing the WTC was "on fire", because our teachers weren't allowed to tell us more than that with so many kids parents that were city commuters. At that point, it was early enough in the day that neither tower had fallen, and the who/why was still unclear. School ended early that day, but a lot of kids parents came and got them even before that, and many stayed home the next day, either because their parents simply wanted to stay close to home, or someone in their family hadn't come home from work.
Yowza, I was not intending to end the blog on a low note at all. So, for the ultimate topic change: here's this. My brother Dan's girlfriend Carolyn gave me as a graduation present a book called My First New York. Its a collection of moving-to-new-york stories from writers, actors, artists, musicians, athletes, etc. I read it cover to cover the next day, I love this book and all the stories it contains. I keep it on my dresser so everyday when I get dressed, I am reminded that I am here starting my first New York, and I get so excited. Carolyn, if you're reading this, its a fantastic little piece of inspiration you've given me, thank you thank you thank you!
Cheers from Brooklyn!
I sorted out the snafu with registration, which is excellent!! I keep having to pinch myself and remind myself this is all really real, and I get to keep doing all this every day for three years. Pretty much one of the best things to remind myself :). Janis and I wandered the city quite a bit while applying for jobs, constantly pausing to do "touristy" things and made it a fun afternoon for ourselves! We may or may not have played Fur Elise on the large piano at FAO Shwartz when we stopped in to pick up job applications... Speaking of which, I've applied to four so far, and am open to any suggestions to make some good part-time money!!
I'm working as an electrician on Sunday, and I'm really excited about that. Choosing between lighting and acting was not easy, and I'm very very happy to be here and focusing on my acting, but its great to have the opportunity to dust off my wrench! (Now that I mention it, I should find where I packed it)
Went out last night with a few of my ASDSers, and we celebrated the birthday of our classmate, G! (He's G because he is from Turkey and his name is not easy to pronounce! Id like to be able to say it at some point tho) First we went to a pub near school for some karaoke, and had a blast. Theatre kids and karaoke? Match made in bar heaven. Then, we headed over to ave A for a hookah bar. It was my first, and I didnt go too hard because of my asthma, but it was a lot of fun!!! Much bonding transpired...
Its certainly an interesting time to be in New York, with the 10th anniversary of 9/11 this weekend. You can tell the city is on high alert with more police/various security all over the city. The freedom tower looks beautiful lit up at night, you can see it from school. The Empire State Building is lit up yellow for the troops, and we saw it from the vantage point of Washington Square Park on our way home last night, also gorgeous. While beautiful, its also a dramatic reminder of how drastically the city/world changed 10 years ago. I still remember sitting in french class hearing the WTC was "on fire", because our teachers weren't allowed to tell us more than that with so many kids parents that were city commuters. At that point, it was early enough in the day that neither tower had fallen, and the who/why was still unclear. School ended early that day, but a lot of kids parents came and got them even before that, and many stayed home the next day, either because their parents simply wanted to stay close to home, or someone in their family hadn't come home from work.
Yowza, I was not intending to end the blog on a low note at all. So, for the ultimate topic change: here's this. My brother Dan's girlfriend Carolyn gave me as a graduation present a book called My First New York. Its a collection of moving-to-new-york stories from writers, actors, artists, musicians, athletes, etc. I read it cover to cover the next day, I love this book and all the stories it contains. I keep it on my dresser so everyday when I get dressed, I am reminded that I am here starting my first New York, and I get so excited. Carolyn, if you're reading this, its a fantastic little piece of inspiration you've given me, thank you thank you thank you!
Cheers from Brooklyn!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
And so it begins...
Today was the first day of our Actors Studio Drama School orientation!!! Yay!! Today, actors had to do a one minute monologue to see if we needed the neutral american speech class--I got put in it! I did not think I had an accent, but the professor said that he puts most of us in it because its easier to drop than add. We also had to register for classes, and I ran into a slight snafu with that. Apparently when my doctor filled out my immunization form, she forgot to sign it at the end. So, I have to wait for her to fax that back to me so I can register for classes. The good news is that should only take a day and I can still participate in orientation while I wait!
I met a LOT more people from my program, and they all seem really great! Most of us are actors, and there's four playwrights and three directors! I got to talk to a lot of my classmates, and all of us were really upbeat and eager to get started. One person (Lane, she lives in my building--commuting buddy!) did say I look like Anne Hathaway. I'm starting to think it must be true because I've now gotten it in VT, CT, and NY--everywhere I go people notice it. Cannot complain to have her as my look-alike!
I was hoping to explore the neighborhood more this afternoon, but the weather turned nasty. Can't really complain though, because we had beautiful weather for moving in, and I guess that's more important. Tomorrow we can sign up for our gym membership (one of the benefits I've discovered about student housing--free gym membership!!), I'm excited about that because it will make working out/training for the marathon a whole lot easier now that I have a beautiful gym right next door.
Applied for a job today, nothing fancy, just Staples, but hey, I gotta get something going so I can start having some income again.
Cheers from the Smoothie!
I met a LOT more people from my program, and they all seem really great! Most of us are actors, and there's four playwrights and three directors! I got to talk to a lot of my classmates, and all of us were really upbeat and eager to get started. One person (Lane, she lives in my building--commuting buddy!) did say I look like Anne Hathaway. I'm starting to think it must be true because I've now gotten it in VT, CT, and NY--everywhere I go people notice it. Cannot complain to have her as my look-alike!
I was hoping to explore the neighborhood more this afternoon, but the weather turned nasty. Can't really complain though, because we had beautiful weather for moving in, and I guess that's more important. Tomorrow we can sign up for our gym membership (one of the benefits I've discovered about student housing--free gym membership!!), I'm excited about that because it will make working out/training for the marathon a whole lot easier now that I have a beautiful gym right next door.
Applied for a job today, nothing fancy, just Staples, but hey, I gotta get something going so I can start having some income again.
Cheers from the Smoothie!
Monday, September 5, 2011
First Day In a Smoothie!
All moved in to the new digs in Brooklyn Heights! I chose to live in Pace's student housing for my first year at the Actors Studio so I could get used to the city, figure out a job situation, and get used to the demands of my program without stressing over rent!
I could not love my neighborhood more. So beautiful. The streets around me are all fruit names, like pineapple, orange, and cranberry. Hence the name "life in a smoothie". There are little shops, places to eat, grocery stores, everything you could want! Everyone is always walking dogs, and it makes me miss Zorro and Smokey a whole lot! But, pets are not allowed in my building, so hopefully I will bring at least Zorro with me when I get a big girl place of my own :-)
Great subway access too! So helpful to live right over the 2/3 and near the A/C.
I've met a couple of the girls in my program, and they are both super nice! So excited. One of them lives right in my building, so I have someone to go to class with in the mornings :-). The other girl went to college in New England, so we both went to the same ACTF conferences! Small world!
Orientation starts tomorrow, so I'll be sure to post about that--very nervous!! But hey, I got in, so that gives me some confidence!!
Cheers from Brooklyn!!
I could not love my neighborhood more. So beautiful. The streets around me are all fruit names, like pineapple, orange, and cranberry. Hence the name "life in a smoothie". There are little shops, places to eat, grocery stores, everything you could want! Everyone is always walking dogs, and it makes me miss Zorro and Smokey a whole lot! But, pets are not allowed in my building, so hopefully I will bring at least Zorro with me when I get a big girl place of my own :-)
Great subway access too! So helpful to live right over the 2/3 and near the A/C.
I've met a couple of the girls in my program, and they are both super nice! So excited. One of them lives right in my building, so I have someone to go to class with in the mornings :-). The other girl went to college in New England, so we both went to the same ACTF conferences! Small world!
Orientation starts tomorrow, so I'll be sure to post about that--very nervous!! But hey, I got in, so that gives me some confidence!!
Cheers from Brooklyn!!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)