I've been in NYC for about a month now. And it's been an interesting month to say the least. I have such a weird mindset about this summer. On my days off, I do a little exploring.. but not usually. I just don't have the energy. I work at least 9 hours, 4 days a week... not that I mind being in the office because I love my internship and all... but when I do have a day off, all I want to do is chill. I want to sleep in, catch up with friends online, run some errands.. but mainly just veg out. 

So much of me says Jen! Go explore the city! But the other part of me says "Why go outside in the humid weather and crowded streets when I can sit in my air conditioned apartment?"

I know, I know... it's a horrible way to think. I can't really explain this post-abroad feeling of being worn out and adventure-filled. I love adventures, but I just had a 4 month adventure and I am completely fine with sitting around. Don't get me wrong, I jump at the chance to go somewhere I haven't been. But I'm definitely not waking up at 8 a.m. to get in a full day of activities. 

After 4 months of no responsibilities, I am so thrilled and eager to finally have a huge responsibility: WORK! And especially when it involves something I'm so passionate about and interested in. All I want to do is work, work, work... meet people in the industry.. do journalism related things.. plan out my life after college. I had my fun in Europe, and not that I can't have it here, because believe me, I do, but I am more motivated to work than I am to explore a new area of Manhattan. Does this make sense? 

Let's see... this past week the ASME interns had another event, this time at the CUNY grad school of journalism. It was a reception/reunion of the sorts, so a bunch of former ASME interns were there. It was so funny to watch them all reunite since leaving their ASME summer.. I told a few of our interns "That's going to be us in a few years!" I talked with last year's ASME Sports Illustrated intern, as well as a former ASME intern who now works at Psychology Today aka one of my favorite magazines. I don't know why I like it so much.. maybe it's because it appeals to more than psychology nerds... anyone can read it and understand it. It's so great to see past ASME interns with successful jobs in the city. Very comforting.

The most exciting part of this week was Thursday, when the new issue of Sports Illustrated came out.. the issue with my first ever SI byline!!! It's on page 55 :) I am so so so excited! An unexpected part of my internship, but a great one nonetheless.

Also exciting: I met with the editor of SI on Friday afternoon, just to introduce myself. He was very nice and we had a short, but great conversation about Marquette's magazine (the Journal, for which I will be EIC of next year), as well as what I've been up to at SI.

Saturday was my lazy day off, the awkward day in between work days, in which I just want to sit around and not feel guilty about it. So I did that for awhile, then Rosie and I went over to Chinatown for a little bit and I was able to snap some photos with my new SLR. Nothing too exciting, but it was fun to get out for a little bit. Saturdays are hectic in the city. So many people who don't know how to walk correctly (yes, you must walk like a New Yorker when in New York), so much trash on the streets, dirty-ness, gross smells, hot/humid weather. I do love NYC, really, but I miss less-congested cities, and I miss... green things. Like grass and trees. I think it's about time I visit Central Park...

I need to move to the city once I graduate, and I can see myself living here for a few years... but this is not a forever type of place. At least not for me. In the grand scheme of things, I don't want to raise a family here. For the time being though, my newly 21-year-old self can keep up with this exciting and fast paced lifestyle.