THE END IS NEAR

This is my final blog posting. I've enjoyed my time here in NYC so much and I can't believe it is almost over! I come home Sunday Dec 18th and go back to work on Monday at Calvin Klein. I'm sad this amazing experience is over but looking forward to moving back here after I graduate in May 2013. My parents come to get me on Saturday-the saddest day I've had in 4 months! I'll try and post some more photos on tumblr! For now, I must study more I hope everyone has a great holiday season! Thank you so much for following me these last 4 months! I hope to see all of you soon! :) GOD BLESS

nothing like lying to your parents on thanksgiving......

so as most of you know by now, I lied to my parents for over a month. But no worries, it was well worth the deception for sure. I was originally planning on taking a bus to my Aunt Jackie's house 2 hours away for Thanksgiving, but my friend told me about this really cheap bus to ohio. I jumped on the chance to go home for the holiday. I was so excited, I called my dad and told him I was planning on coming home on that bus and to not tell my mom; I wanted to surprise her! But, my dad thought this was a really bad idea: he didn't know what bus I was talking about, where I would get it, how I would get from Columbus (where the bus drops off) to home and all these other annoying questions, so I knew what I had to do: drop the dad. I knew he would have to be left out of my plan and I could then surprise both of them! I booked my Chinatown bus ticket $30 one way to Columbus, Ohio.
Everytime my mom called I told her I was just staying in the city for Thanksgiving because all my friends were going to be here and we would have fun going to the parade and enjoying the city. This was a lie. She would be so sad on the phone saying this was the first time she would be without her children on Thanksgiving...I tried to keep my secret by dismissing her comment and remind her I'll see her in December.
It was the night my bus left and my roommates Jenna and Shantelle escorted me to chinatown in the pouring rain. We got lost of course and I just made it with like one minute to spare. I literally ran 2 blocks in the rain with my luggage in one arm and my umbrella in the other! It was quite a dramatic entrance for me getting on that bus with all those foreign people. Out of the 50 people on the bus there were maybe 8 white people the rest were either Chinese, Black, or Hispanic. The bus left at 10pm on Tuesday night and arrived in Columbus at 730am! I barely slept partly because I was so excited to see the look on my parents' faces and also because I didn't want anyone to steal my stuff. I sat in my seat clutching my coat and purse and I slept with one eye open. Thankfully I sat in the front seat both ways and everything was fine.
I arrived in Columbus and my friend Vicki drove me back to Stow. I called my mom on the way home to make sure she was home and to tell her I was just finishing up work for the week and I was excited about the parade. This was also a lie. I got home and rang the doorbell....she thought someone was robbing the house because she left the front door open. haha She opened the door and I jumped out and she looked completely terrified. I knew I had definitely surprised her! My dad was next. He was at work so my mom and I went to his office and I surprised him there. My mom opened the door to his office and then I walked in behind her and his face was priceless! I had successfully kept a secret from them and succeeded in making their Thanksgiving better!
It was so nice to see my family and all my friends, but after a weekend in Ohio, I was missing New York City again. I'm glad to be back, but sad that this experience is going to end in 3 weeks. :( I come home December 18th, the saddest day of the year. I plan on returning to this city after I graduate so everyone book their trips to NYC in 2013! :)

just another update

so here is the latest from new york as i see it:
the leaves have finally changed their colors and are slowly falling to the ground. the weather here has been so unpredictable; windy, rainy and cold one day, and 60 and sunny the next. i prefer the latter and hope the snow holds off until i leave for ohio. the christmas tree in rockefeller center was just delivered over this past weekend and will be lit the wednesday after thanksgiving. this tree is massive and supposedly it is brought from somewhere in colorado or somewhere over there. ice skating rinks are in full swing all over the city in bryant park, rockefeller, and central park. i hope to do some skating before i leave also. the rockettes have started their annual christmas shows and my aunts and i went to see them on opening day. they were AMAZING! each and every girl was always on the beat, not one leg was out of line. highly recommend this show to anyone and everyone. 

vogue internship updates: the december issue is out and everyone should buy it! i still havent looked through it yet, ill have to run to the art department and get me a copy! :) i thought i would just tell you guys about some of the places i get to go to in my everyday work day. i have of course been sent to starbucks, but also ive been to corporate headquarters of valentino, derek lam, calvin klein, phillip lim, oscar de la renta, bottega venetta, hermes, chanel, christian dior, prada, and tom ford to name a few. even though running errands are not my favorite thing to do, it allows me to see awesome fashion offices i otherwise would never be allowed to see ever. my internship is almost over at vogue magazine, december 9 is my last day of work and it will definitely be bittersweet.

next week is thanksgiving and i will be staying in the city watching the parade live while all of you are watching on the tv. to be honest ive never seen the parade ever not even at home on the tv screen! so this will be an experience to remember. i dont quite know what i am doing for thanksgiving dinner but im sure me and the girls here will figure something fun to do! well i hope everyone has a nice weekend and thanksgiving with their families! christmas is right around the corner and i hear there is nothing like new york at christmas time! pictures are sure to follow! :)

What's an Ohio?

I know this may sound really crazy, but I feel like a native New Yorker already; after only 3 months, I feel like I've lived here my whole life. The other day me and my roommate Jenna were talking about how we are leaving this city in a little over a month and we started to tear up. I never want to leave. I know I will be back after graduation of May 2013 and I am counting down the days until I can return here once again! The hard thing about loving the city is that I will be so far away from my family and friends that I love back in Ohio. But sometimes in order to move on in life and be successful, you have to leave behind everything familiar and comfortable. My dad once told me I was tough, now I believe him. I've proved to myself that after all those years of living at home and never being away from my parents for more than a couple of days at a time that I am capable of being independent and living somewhere by myself. Mom and Dad I love you for everything you've ever done for me and all the prayers you say for me everyday. I wish I could have my city and my family too, but I know my family will always be with me no matter where I end up.

Let me tell you how I left my phone in a taxi.....

If you haven't heard, it snowed here in NYC yesterday. I woke up saturday morning, looked out my window and gasped so hard it woke up my roommate. It was snowing!! Big fluffy snowflakes! I thought, it couldn't be snowing, the leaves haven't even changed colors yet! Weather is so unpredictable. But let me back up here first. This week started off terribly; I guess I was bound to have an off week sooner or later. I found out on Monday someone got a hold of my debit card number and was charging things to my card and overdrafted my account. I had to close my card. Then on Tuesday and Wednesday I was starting to get under the weather, I had to call off work on Wednesday and I basically slept all day and my one class was cancelled because my professor was sick also. So Wednesday was a day spent in bed. Friday, I went to work and the day was very busy I went on many errands and the first errand I ran I got my own car and driver again! It was pretty nice riding around the city in the car. But the next errand I had to run, I had the company credit card so I could take a taxi to the Prada store on 5th Ave so I could get gift wrapping boxes for the accessories editor. I was in a hurry and as I got out of the cab, I paid with the card, and ran back to the office. I realized once I was settled again that I had left my phone in the back seat of the cab! oops! Turns out the guy who got into the cab after me was here in NYC for business from Milwaukee. He called my mom and told her she would leave it at the security desk of his hotel. So thankfully I was able to get it right after work! Had the guy been from New York, I doubt I would have my phone right now! Thank goodness he was a Midwestern guy! :) God was looking out for me then! 

So after this whole ordeal of a week, me and my friends went out on Friday and Saturday for Halloween partying. I put pictures on my tumblr enjoy! I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend and Happy Halloween (even though I hate the holiday)

Photo Story

Instead of writing to you, I will show you via my Tumblr account:

http://thefashionstudent21.tumblr.com/

TOO BUSY!

Sorry! I have been super busy lately! But here I am writing to you few loyal followers! Hope this finds you at a nice time in your day because I may have a lot to report. Let us start with my 21st birthday I just celebrated in the city. My birthday was one I will never forget for reasons I can spill to you in person. Not to say that I was crazy on that night, but let's just say for now that I went out with my roommates and some girlfriends I met here to a nice Chinese restaurant for dinner and dancing. (Check out my tumblr account for pictures of everything: http://thefashionstudent21.tumblr.com/) That same weekend my friends from high school came to visit me and it was a busy weekend full of sightseeing and touristy adventures. The best part of that weekend by far was stumbling upon Bethesda fountain and the mall in central park. To describe these 2 iconic places with mere words would not even begin to explain their beauty. The fountain is one of the largest fountains in the city and one of the most well known fountains in the world. The 26 foot tall bronze statue features the Angel of Waters who is thought to heal the water. It is linked to the powers of the biblical pool of healing waters from John 5:2-4  "Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool which is called...Bethesda...whoever then first after the troubling of the waters stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had." Tourists and natives flock to this peaceful place for pictures, a place to relax or just something breathtaking to look at- the fountain is a nice relief from the surrounding hustle and bustle of the city. The other site I mentioned in the park is the Mall - no it is not an indoor smorgasbord of various retailers selling overpriced merchandise, it is the most beautiful stretch of land in the entire city, in my opinion. Originally built to accommodate horse drawn carriages for the wealthy sightseers, it is now a walkway draped by tall elm trees. The entire Mall is encompassed by these beautiful trees that shade the walkway, but when the sun shines in you look up through the leaves that are soon to be turning beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows, and thank God for such beauty in the middle of a skyscraper wasteland. I hope to visit the mall more often once the leaves decide to change their colors from green to autumn! The best walk through Central Park could never be without a stroll through the Mall. 

Now, this past weekend was my first real weekend I was able to go out with my friends to their favorite bars in the city! I've never been a party girl, obviously, but there's something about NYC that just puts everyone in a good mood. Friday night and Saturday night we went out and Saturday morning and Sunday morning (the mornings after) took me until 1pm to recover and wake up! Nothing too crazy happened, just a good time out with my friends! :) I don't think I'll ever be a real party girl, but I guess we'll see once I come home from the city. (I still think staying inside with pizza and a good movie sounds better than staying out late and stumbling home.) 

This weekend will be different! I am going to see my parents this weekend!! They are going to my grandparents house in Pennsylvania for the weekend and I am taking the train from Penn Station here in NYC, which is right across the street, to Elizabethtown, PA where they are picking me up! I've never been on a train before and am looking forward to a window seat to stare out at the beautiful trees that are all ready for fall. I can't wait to see my parents and I hope they are excited to see me- wait of course they are, duh! Also, excited to see my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins! I'll be sure to give a full report sooner than it took me to post this! Make sure to check out pictures! :) God Bless xoxo

it only took 21 years....

I wish everyone could have celebrated my birthday with me! I had a lot of fun with the friends I met out here in the city! :) Thank you to everyone who sent me something! esp. my parents, I love the care package you sent me! I felt very loved on my birthday thank you! I will be posting pictures on tumblr soon from my birthday! I will try and write more tuesday, but for now I am exhausted from a long weekend! God Bless!

broadway, cathedrals, and vintage oh my!

take 2: I decided to try and re-type everything i already wrote but got deleted.

On Friday I was able to leave work early- I was out by 6pm! yay! Went to bed early to get up for a busy and fun filled Saturday. I woke up Saturday morning and got ready then my moms sisters came to the city! We went to a concierge recommended Jewish deli for lunch. The food was delicious! The sandwiches were stacked with a huge fistful of deli meat! yum! After the meal we walked around Times Square and into a few shops then made our way to the theater for the Lion King on broadway. The show was absolutely amazing! I highly recommend seeing it! Great for any age especially young ones, but I loved it too! The costumes were phenomenal- the animals were all operated by people- my favorite were the 2 giraffes- they looked so graceful and effortless moving across the stage! After the show we went to Da Rosina's for dinner on restaurant row. Another delicious meal of authentic Italian food! I look forward to their next visit in November when we are going to see the Rockettes! :)

Sunday was another fun day! Me and my roommate got up and went to St. Patrick's Cathedral for 10:15 am mass. I know I'm not Catholic, but the Cathedral was on my list of sites to see while I am here. Inside the Cathedral is just breath taking! The arches and the stainglass and the huge columns; it was very well attended by locals and tourists. Following the service, me and my roomie went to do something Holly Golightly did every morning. Don't recognize the reference? Think Audrey Hepburn: Breakfast at Tiffany's. Yes, we went to get our morning coffee and muffin and stood outside Tiffany's to have some breakfast. There were also many other tourists doing the same! Later, we went meet up with a fellow intern I work with at Vogue and she took us all around greenwich village/soho area and showed us the best thrift and vintage shops. I bought a wool light grey peacoat- it has no label but it says it was made in Italy which counts for something right? While we were walking around we stumbled upon Little Italy and there was the Italian fest going on and so we walked through there for awhile. There were so many Italians! haha After all that walking, our feet were killing us and so we headed back home to soak our feet in the tub! Felt so good!

My 21st birthday is in 2 days! I can't wait! 4 of my friends are coming this weekend to help me celebrate! Wish you all were here with me too! Next time I write a new post I will be able to buy my own cocktail legally! :)

next week

i apologize for this post: I just spent 40 minutes writing a new blog post for you guys but blogger deleted it and i am too tired to re-write 40 minutes worth of writing! im sorry but i will write something next weekend

PICTURES

For those of you who do not have access to my facebook page, here is a link to my tumblr page to view some snap shots of the city! please shoot me an email if it does not work at emilykdix1@gmail.com

http://thefashionstudent21.tumblr.com/

Best Day So Far:::

The best day so far at my internship was yesterday, Friday, September 16th. It started with me coming into the office and my boss telling me that Anna's assistants needed me for an errand to run for them. (Anna in case you don't know who she is: She is the editor in chief of Vogue magazine- so from the movie The Devil Wears Prada, she is the devil of the magazine- Anna Wintour) So, of course when I hear I have to do an errand for one of her assistants I get really nervous- butterflies in my stomach and everything. I walk into where her assistants are which is just like the movie: two desks facing each other outside double doors to Anna's office, and all 3 of her assistants are sitting there doing their work in silence, (Anna is not in the office on this particular day) She explains she needs me to go to some bakery and pick up a bday cake for one of the assistants birthdays, but quickly retracts that statement and tells me to come back at 1:50pm.  Again, I'm nervous until 1:50pm. So, I continue with everyday accessories closet duties: returning things to designers, checking in new things, and of course laying huge bins of shoes and bags out on the table for the editors to come in and tell us that everything is not usable and we re-closet everything: this is known as a huge waste of time.  But anyway, on this day we had 2 major fittings to do in the closet so for the most part all 4 of the interns are cramped in the office trying to get our work done. The first fitting is for a famous model, Karlie Kloss! For those of you scratching your head, the next fitting is for two people you'll recognize: Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen! I was in the closet after Karlie moving shoes from the table to the floor and as I am finishing up, the twins walk in, I walk out and brush shoulders with them! Of course everyone in the office is all nonchalant about it and me, being the dork that I am freak out because I just walked past the Olsen twins! Later we found their guest passes on the floor and I grabbed up Ashley Olsen's pass as a keepsake to remember them by!

So now the best part of the day: it is now 1:50pm and Anna's assistant needs me to pick up Anna's Balenciaga dress and trench coat at the dry cleaners in the Bronx and pick up her Manolo Blahnik boots that were being repaired at the Leather Spa on 55th. I'm just starting to become used to the streets here, but going to the Bronx by myself to get something as important as her dry cleaning! I don't think so! But she arranged for me to have my own car and my own driver to be at my command. So I went to run those errands for her and the whole time I felt so cool driving around the city with my own personal chauffeur! And once I returned, she had me go to Anna Wintour's townhouse to drop them off for them to be packed up in her suitcases. So, I had another car and another driver for this errand. I wish I could write where she lives, but I cannot, if you would really want to know ask me! But, I got there and her maid answered and there on the floor was her Louis Vuitton luggage all lined up. I was only there for 30 seconds, not enough time to even look around and give full details! Just being there, I felt so cool!

I returned to the office and her assistant was so nice and appreciative that I was able to help her out! I even got to go home early on a Friday: 8pm instead of 8:30 or 9pm! :) Not much of a difference, but it helps I guess.

I miss everyone a lot! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying this new fall weather! :) I know I am!

TUMBLR

For Pictures of my NYC experience (since they do not work on blogger) go to:

http://thefashionstudent21.tumblr.com/      (This is the blog for one of my classes here in kent so please no comments!)

ENJOY

Remembering...

Today is the first day I feel alone in this huge city. Today is also the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001. On this day we remember all the innocent men and women who lost their lives; we also remember all the brave service people who saved lives. This marks a milestone for our country - our process of rebuilding begins with remembering all of those close to us. It's hard to be in this city alone - with all of these people, I don't recognize any of them. Everyone is a stranger here; it hit me today - I'm such a baby I want my mommy and daddy, but I know this is good for me to have a clean break from them and learn how to find my own strength in this huge metropolis.
Not to go on and on, but here is a list of things I miss about home in Ohio, things I thought I would never miss because I was so excited about NYC:
**Obviously my family (my mom and dad making me laugh all time whenever I need a laugh)
**My friends - being able to call anyone and see them within 5 minutes if needed
**Driving! I haven't driven in almost 2 weeks, not that I want to drive in the city, but I miss driving my BUICK around Stow, here I walk everywhere or take a subway - (little bit about the subway: its so hot down there! its literally like a sauna! and it moves so fast so if you don't get a seat on it, hold on for your life! I try and avoid the subway as much as possible!)
**Laundry: I have not done my laundry yet since being here I plan on doing it later tonight, but it costs $2 for a wash and $2 for drying - the washers here hold next to nothing and its all the way in the basement of the building! I miss being able to do my laundry for free at my house!
**My own room! I share my room here with 2 other girls and its the size of my room back at home - 3 people are not meant to be in that tight of a space for more than a week! Sometimes I find myself just leaving to walk around to get away from feeling cramped up.
**Most of all I miss my family. I wish I could be here with them...

I'm not complaining, but if you want to know how I really feel that's it. I love this city to pieces so far, but nothing replaces your home - my place where I feel grounded the most. I pray every night that I can have the strength to get through the day - mostly on the days when I have to go into my internship. Every day HE proves to me I can make it here! Time heals everything? No, GOD does - HE moves mountains for ME!

Always with a SMILE :)

Disclaimer: I can't be too critical on my blog because as of right now for everyone to see it, I have no privacy or restrictions on who can read this so in case someone from VOGUE could see it, I can't say anything against the magazine so I will try and convey the truth without passing judgement on anything.
The truth about my internship: sounds like a lot a fun and super glamorous! but really it's long hours, silence, and hard work. Since we are dealing with accessories that cost hundreds even thousands of dollars, anything wrong done by us, could cost the magazine unneccessary money, and  a lot of angry designers calling about a messed up order - and that blame is on the interns! So that's a lot of pressure on us interns! I can't do anything wrong other wise I don't even want to know my punishment! One of these difficult tasks and may I mention glamorous would be me going to get a coffee order from starbucks for one of the girls in the office. I of course did it with a smile! :) My time restraints can't allow me to go on so sorry for a short and abrupt end to this post promise to write more detail over the weekend!

VOGUE

Fashion internships in New York - always a position available but someone else always gets the offer.  Here's my experience: I stumbled upon an internship at VOGUE in the accessories closet on a website that posts other fashion magazine internships. I of course sent my resume right away to the listed contact and was prepared to wait for a response for up to two weeks. After two weeks was up I sent a follow up email to her, but immediately got back an email explaining she would be out of the office for the next month or so, but to send emails to another girl in the office. I sent the email to the new contact and we set up an interview for Monday August 29 - little did I know at the time that there would be a hurricane scare that would delay my arrival until Tuesday. I had little time to notify Vogue of my change in plans and sent out 2 emails trying to reschedule with her, but heard nothing back for days. I finally decided to just call her at her office but it went straight to voice mail and I left a timid and shaky message for her to call me back. She emailed me back and we interviewed this afternoon! The Vogue offices are so nice and intimidating. If you have ever seen the movie "The Devil Wears Prada", I was Andy today, but wearing a better outfit. The interviewers were very nice, but pretty tough ladies. We chatted about my experience and other interview questions and long story short.......just received an email from her I start on Tuesday for orientation! I got the internship at Vogue! I hope I can survive there! Pray for me!

First Impressions of the City

Driving into New York through the Lincoln Tunnel was stressful because of the traffic, but exhilarating knowing I'm going to be on this island for the next 3 months. My place I will be calling home is in the New Yorker Hotel located on 34th St. and 8th Ave. (Midtown / Garment District). I live on the 16th floor and share a tiny room with 2 other girls; one bathroom and one closet! Thankfully all my belongings I over packed fit perfectly in my new space. Walking through the city I instantly fell in love - love with the buildings, the colorful characters, the hustle and bustle and of course the FASHION! The streets of New York are like a constant fashion show where you always have front row seats. The girls on the street are tall, rail thin, and beautiful - I don't fit in very well so far unless I suddenly grow 6 inches overnight or drop some lbs. asap (with the price of food and my current status as a poor college student, dropping some weight may be in my future after all!) The official language of New York City is anything but English- every other person is speaking a different language from all over the world. Thankfully no one has assumed I speak Chinese yet...I'll just laugh when it happens or as my dad would tell me to do - make up some jibberish that sounds like an asian language. (xhoji kwaon shlaitjwk sleuignskf) HAHA Classes started today and my first class begins in one hour. I had orientation this morning and everyone seems really nice and super helpful! The studio where I have class is only 5 blocks away from my place, just a short walk thankfully. I'm still trying to find an internship and if I don't have one of those soon, I will hopefully be getting a job at a retail store for some extra cash.
There's so much to do in this city I don't even know where to begin! Stay tuned for more news from The Fashion Student! Love you all! :)

What Hurricane?

So, why bother even making plans when they crumble before you in a blink of an eye; eye of a hurricane that is?  Instead of leaving for the city with my parents and taking our time together over a nice weekend, Irene rears her ugly head and says "I don't think so" to my plans. 3 days later than scheduled I am finally leaving for the city! I am due to arrive on Tuesday morning with just my lovely father. Classes were due to start on Monday with orientation on Sunday, however orientation was postponed and classes were canceled until Tuesday. Damages resulting from Irene are not nearly what was predicted by the dramatic weather forecasters. I don't know about you, but crying hurricane and evacuation are not to be taken lightly. Irene was downgraded to just a tropical storm- no 100mph winds in sight. Irene made me a very unhappy camper this past weekend because my waiting was increased along with my frustrations. I was all packed and ready to go- bags were in the car and all my clothing was in space saver vacuum sealed bags so I couldn't unpack anything and I basically wore the same clothes ALL weekend! At least I'll always remember why I didn't make it to NYC on time....what hurricane?

The Traverls Psalm

"I lift my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from?
my help comes from the LORD, the Maker of Heaven and Earth
He will not let your foot slip - He who watches over you will not slumber
indeed He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you - the LORD is your shade at your right hand
the Sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night
the LORD will keep you from all harm - He will watch over your life
the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

The Daunting Task Ahead...

The task that is my closet.... How does one college fashion student fit 3 seasons worth of clothes into a tiny dormroom shared with two other roommates?..... (This question has been floating around all summer - UGH!)

July 16, 2011

The excitement is building. Resumes have been sent out. Soon the follow up phone calls will begin. This summer is serving as a long good bye to everything comfortable and secure in my life. Once I arrive in the city, I become an alien in a foreign territory- or at least that’s how I’ll feel for the first couple acclimating weeks. Every summer party or get together so far there has been the question posed to me as to whether I am “excited”. Although I feel the anticipation building and I’m bursting with excitement, I cannot bring myself to admit to others the level of enthusiasm I am feeling inside. I feel a mix of emotions going through my mind; obvious excitement, nervousness, fear, sadness, and joy. I already covered excitement, but I’m nervous about the city itself; there are over 8 million people living on the island and being one life in the midst of everything seems daunting. I am scared my voice will not be heard, but I have always thought my voice was worth listening to. Sadness will hit me like a ton of bricks the moment my parents drop me off, every time they call, every time I talk to my friends and family, and then again once I am home missing the city. Of course, there is joy to be found in this new venture; a new city to conquer and make my own, a place to make new friends and memories and let’s not forget the thing that brings me the most joy: FASHION! Step 3: how to pack for an entire semester, spanning 3 seasons, in one car…I’ll let you know how it goes!

The Beginning of the Journey

April 25, 2011

The first of many entries: After securing the last spot in the Educational Housing Services at the New Yorker Hotel, I successfully dropped over $2500; and that’s only half of it!  Not to mention not a penny of that money was mine- my dad reluctantly paid for my selfish trip.  Housing is taken care of now! On to the next thing on my checklist: classes.  A full course load of fashion classes, career building classes, and one class devoted to New York City. I hope to have fun and learn the city as if I am getting to know a guy on a first date.  I am beginning to get butterflies in my stomach.  Less than 4 months.