little girl, big cities

"It became a hashtag, a movement, a reckoning, but it began, as great social change nearly always does, with individual acts of courage." A few weeks ago, my dad texted me to ask me about my thoughts on feminism. I immediately asked, "Well how much time do you have?" He laughed. I didn't. I told him about how I can't walk alone at night just because I want to for fear of being followed, or worse, by some strange man, leaving me constantly looking over my shoulder and holding my keys in my fist as a potential weapon. I told him how, when I go out to a bar, if a guy is hitting on me, he won't take "no thanks" as an answer, but he's more likely to back off if I tell him I have a boyfriend. Because guys have a greater respect for another man's stake in a relationship than they do for one woman's personal opinion. And things I didn't tell him include how at bars, I've been grabbed, touched, and had my ass slapped by ...

Well here it is. The most magical time of the year is upon us. It's finally Christmastime! And I am a firm believer that there is absolutely nothing better than Christmastime in NYC. Ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved coming into NYC to see the tree at Rockefeller Plaza and the window displays at Macy's. I would get off the train at Penn Station, eager to cram all the holiday joy I possibly could into my short visit. But living in NYC is a whole different ball game, one which allows me to soak it all in. Enjoying it all, bit by bit. And just 3 days into December, and I can already say that it has been an absolute dream. Even doing homework becomes a magical affair when one has the chance to do it at the New York Public Library, which has been extravagantly decked out all in the name of Christmas spirit. It's funny though, because while I have graduated from college, I'm still a student, and while so much has changed, so much as remained th...

Hurling has been played for the past 3,000 years. What is hurling, you might ask? Well, hurling is a popular outdoor team game which is administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association - and also happens to be the fastest field sport in the world. Which makes it really fun to watch as a spectator while simultaneously being especially difficult to keep up with when you have no ideas what the rules are. This past weekend, Fenway Park in Boston was the place to be for hurling fanatics, or really big fans of Ireland and drinking beer on a Sunday. The hurling tournament comprised of four teams that played three games, and the winner of the third game was the overall winner of the tournament itself. The first game was Galway versus Dublin with Galway emerging victoriously, the second was Tipperary versus Clare with Clare squeaking out an amazingly close victory, and the final game was Galway versus Clare - but sadly my ride home was calling my name so I was unable to stay to see it ...

I was born as a white, upper middle class woman. I grew up in the suburbs of Long Island where you could count on one hand how many people of color lived in our town. And it wasn't until I studied abroad two years ago that I was ever in a position where I felt that I was in the minority. And because of all of this, I have really never had to confront the question of race in the same way that a person of color would have to.  Thankfully, during my time in undergrad, as a Sociology major, I had the opportunity to confront the topic of race in a very real and meaningful way in many of the classes I took. Power of Whiteness was one of my favorite classes because it was a class during which we spent the entire semester learning about white privilege and how it has come to be - and also, what it means to not have it. Race can be an uncomfortable subject to approach, but if you happen to be white, it is so so so important to be made aware of your privilege, because you need t...

For me, there is nothing better than curling up in bed with a good thriller or mystery novel, one so good that it's impossible to put down. Page turners that keep readers engaged, wanting more, more, more. Sadly, the worst part about my love for thrillers and mysteries is that, since I've read so many of them, it's hard to come across one which really, truly surprises me. But Girl in Snow was able to do just that. Thanks to a brilliant combination of beautiful prose and an interesting take on the traditional murder mystery story, Kukafka creates a riveting mystery that is nearly impossible to set down. There is a razor thin tightrope which exists between watching and seeing, love and obsession, truth and memory, and Kukafka spends the entirety of  Girl in Snow  exploring these themes through the eyes of her delightfully complex characters. Rather than taking the more traditional route of having the story told through the eyes of the detective on the case, Kukafka c...

Prepping for midterms last week was rough. Or should I say ruff? Which is why having a visit from my good pal Kath and the Halloween Dog Parade to look forward to made coping just a little bit easier. The one main sucky part about no longer living at home, for me, is how much I miss my dogs. So the Halloween Dog Parade was the perfect excuse to spend some time in the sun, getting burnt and petting dogs dressed up as a whole host of creative things. There was a King Tut pup, several popes, a pilot, some lions, and even an entire mariachi band. People went all out - and for that I am eternally grateful. The Pup of Wallstreet The only spider I've ever met that I'm not absolutely terrified of Pup Francis  Just about as American as it gets  Just a venti pupachino Baxter was a huge fan of my dog shoes Kath visited me from Boston for the weekend, and after working my butt off all week and powering through t...