I am updating too often.

I missed church today and was depressed. Which is an odd feeling.
Usually sleeping through church is always exactly what I want to do.
Sleeping here is impossible, though. I'm going to need to buy a fan soon or else start sleeping outside.
I went to Riverside Park, though (it is definitely Riverside and not Central--I saw a sign. Apparently there is more than one large park in Manhattan.) It was meditative-ish. I spoke to Taylor and sat on a nice bench. I hadn't realized how much I missed grass and trees and plants and dirt until I got there. There was a lovely breeze and people jogging and families picnicking (apparently that is a real word). Very Sunday.
I met a couple of RMs in the dining hall tonight, as well, so I feel as though I've had enough spiritual experience today to practically have gone to church. One of them had gone on his mission to the Ukraine and the other to Hong Kong. They were both very friendly and not in the least creeped out when I asked them if they would show me the best way to get to church next week.
I might want to walk a few times though--from what I could gather from Mapquest, the walking route goes through Central Park.
Sorry this has been dull. I'll try and come up with something a little more entertaining next time.

Some uncommon facts about NYC:

1. There are dudebros a-plenty.
2. Shampoo costs approx. 1/3 more, which is fine when you're buying shampoo which, in Utah, costs 79 cents.
3. People, at least college people, will look you in the eye.
4. Everyone here has an innate sense of which direction to walk when you are about to run into another person. I do not, unfortunately, which makes for some embarrassing run-ins.
5. Most people here have good hair.
6. Everyone here has good clothes.
7. Most Barnard people own horses. Either horses or two houses.
8. Citibank is cute, but when people here want STRENGTH they go to JP Morgan.
9. People here are on first-name basis with JP Morgan Chase bank.
10. Walking barefoot here is never, EVER an option.

College Post numero dos

I become more and more anti-social as the hours go by. Am looking forward to figuring out how to do my laundry and going to my "RA Night Out" which will hopefully include free ice cream or something similar.
I explored the neighborhood a little bit today--checked out the menus posted at nearby restaurants, sampled a few cheeses at the Westside Market, looked through a couple of used books at a nearby bookstore, and just generally embraced New York.
It really is an amazing place--not to sound trite or anything. I'm blown away every day by the variety of people I see. Charline taught me a game that she plays here called "Hip or Scary." That pretty much sums things up pretty well. There are also beautiful people everywhere. I don't know if it's the nice clothes or the moisture in the air, but I am constantly blown away by how attractive everyone is. Of course, no one so far is as beautiful as all of the people I left behind, but the average here is very high.
Anyhow, I am literally shaking right now because I haven't eaten anything except for salad today--there was some sort of Hillel meal going on in the dining hall today, which I didn't realize, and I felt too guilty to eat any of their food besides the salad. (Obviously I've never felt guilty enough to turn down food all together.)
So I'm going to go find something to eat. I have been frequenting the cheapie soft serve place a block down, but I figure the amount of meals that I miss and the amount that I've been walking will balance that out.
I actually have lost a little weight since getting here.
I love you all and miss you.
Keep me posted, and give me links to your blogssss!!!!!!!!!
Eva

Sweat

I am putting off a shower right now. It is very unpleasant, but unfortunately necessary, to take showers here. There are only two on our floor, and they are both very low pressure. There is no shelf on which to place your soap, shampoo, conditioner, etc. and negotiating the temperature of the water is time-consuming and confusing. It is much too hot these days to take a hot shower, but then cold showers are always unpleasant. Our showers don't really do the in-between thing, so... I usually just switch off.
I just had my adviser meeting this morning. Neither of us had much to say--I'm pretty happy with my schedule this semester--but he seems pleasant and advising isn't required, so I assume that he's pretty willing to help out if I ever need it.
It's been challenging to make friends here. I guess we're all just in the 100-words-or-fewer conversation mode right now and moving from that to doing-activities/exchanging-phone-numbers level is nigh-on impossible, for me at least.
I'm really just biding my time until classes start. I feel like having a topic of conversation aside from a/c or lack thereof in our dorm rooms and the hypothetical awesome-ness of working as a "Barnard Bartender" will be helpful in making real friends.
I've seen Rian a few times since I got here--it's been comforting to know someone here, even if they are across the street and much busier/more talented at making friends than I am. I've met a few interesting people, but like I said, it's hard to really gage how interested I am in a person who I've only spoken to about air conditioning.
CC, SEAS, and Barnard first-years are all going to Victoria Gardens tonight, so maybe I'll meet some people there. I'd better getting around to showering about now, though, because I have to go to a health forum (again) in a few hours and I have to stop by the bank before I do.
Wish me luck!