New York: The First Month

I've officially been in New York for four weeks, which is four times as long as I've ever spent at once in the city before — and they've absolutely flown by. I'm paid up with the apartment until March 11, so I still have some time to check things off my to-do list and figure out that whole "what I'm doing with my life" thing, but I feel like I've learned so much in just four weeks.

I've always been pretty good navigating the subway system, but I'm pretty much a pro now. I haven't once taken the wrong train or missed my stop, and I've even helped a few people safely (and efficiently) reach their destinations. I still check my iTrans app a lot, but mostly just for the arrival time of the next train, or for service announcements. I always have my MetroCard ready to swipe and I've yet to be sliced to pieces by the revolving turnstiles that used to be my worst nightmare but are now just a minor annoyance.

My worst nightmare  |  My spirit animal

I've figured out how to do laundry, buy stamps and take out the trash. After about a week, I stumbled upon a grocery store a block away from the apartment that basically has everything I could ever need and is surprisingly cheap. When I'm feeling fancy, I can take the train to Trader Joe's on 72nd Street, which is not only super cheap, but every single thing I've ever eaten from there has been the best — string cheese, white cheddar popcorn, cookie butter — I've ever eaten. There's a deli two blocks away that will make me a delicious sausage, egg and cheese bagel 24-hours a day for only $2.50, and I've figured out the schedule of the school across the street so I no longer run into hoards of obnoxious middle schoolers on my lunch break.

I've been to Riverside Park, Central Park, Morningside Park, Tompkins Square Park, Flushing Meadows/Corona Park, Madison Square Park and Washington Square Park, and taken hours-long walks in the snow, rain and wind.

I've eaten the best cupcakes, bagels, cheesecake, banana pudding, pizza, hot chocolate, fried chimichanga and short rib that I've ever tasted and eaten more feta-and-mushroom omelets than I can possibly count.

I've been to the NY Historical Society, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, Grant's Tomb, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Riverside Church and the Queens Museum of Art.

I've walked the Brooklyn Bridge, wandered Greenwood Cemetery, perused the Brooklyn Flea, celebrated Grand Central Terminal's centennial, read four Sunday papers, frolicked in my first New York snowfall, bought a hat, watched "the Beatles" play at Carnegie Hall, taken photo booth photos at the Ace Hotel, and hung out in a room full of butterflies.

It's also worth noting that I haven't once been pushed in front of an approaching train, mugged or robbed in any way, or kidnapped and sold into white slavery (yet!), much to my family's surprise. I haven't gotten lost, or given up, or even been frustrated with the city in any big way. There are a lot of terrible things about living in New York, and it's definitely not for everyone, but by this point I think I can say that it's most definitely for me.

Me and new bff Hat the day we met  |  Hat and me walking the Brooklyn Bridge  |  Me and Hat on a windy day

Every single day I've walked out of the apartment and gone some place amazing, or interesting, or ridiculous and I think how incredibly lucky I am to be in the greatest city on earth. I get to walk in Central Park on my lunch break, and walk by places every day that some people can only dream of visiting once in their lifetime. I was bored on a Wednesday night so I walked over the Brooklyn Bridge. I'm so grateful and humbled and thankful to everyone and everything in my life that has led me here, and I'm trying my hardest not to take it for granted.

I am also really trying to be positive, to live in the moment and enjoy every single second. It's so easy to get annoyed by the weather, or by my lack of money, or to feel lonely in a city of 8 million people when I only know five of them, but I'm determined to live a wonderful, happy life and I believe that is something I can definitely create for myself.

People have commented that I'm lucky or that my life is so wonderful, and they're absolutely right. But I'm also trying very hard to make the best of my time, here in New York, and here on this planet.

And it is true. I'm having a wonderful time.