Biggest news this week, fellowship-wise is that I got my flight tickies!!! I'm finally going to Detroit! lol but everything is starting to feel really real. Today, I went to the Korean consulate for my visa appointment and hopefully will be getting my visa sometime next week. I'm just waiting on one more piece of paperwork, but that is out of my hands at this point the people just have to confirm that they are mailing it and then I will be officially cleared to go I think! Really crazy, about to start packing...eek I'm nervous.
Also for curious people, Kyra and my Game of Thrones binge has come to a brief halt after watching Season 3, Ep. 9 (iykyk), but we're starting up again this week.
Anyway, this past week was actually quite eventful! Last Saturday, I went into NYC for probably the last time this year to see some buddies -- Rachel and Emma (not sure if you guys know these cats) and of course Clara M! I didn't realize it was Santa Con that day, which is this event where a bunch of twenty-somethings dress up in holiday outfits and get really drunk in Manhattan and general cause a ruckus, but I was in for a rude Xmas awakening on my Metro North train from New Haven. The train was literally packed with Santas, like people were crowded all in the aisles. Normally everyone is able to get a seat on the Metro North, so I was shocked. I guess the Connecticuties love Santa Con.
Thankfully, I was able to escape the Santas at Grand Central, where I met Clara. We walked on over to Shakespeare and Company bookstore and met up with Emma. It was fun to just hang out with them and catch up a little. Miss Clara has been traveling a bit and I hear Emma is making a trans-Atlantic (or, uh, Pacific?) journey to Singapore next year, and it's also just always nice to get to meet up with people who really know you and can commiserate about what it feels like being 23 (i.e. weird and kind of adrift, but I guess 22 kinda felt like that too. Who knows what 24 might have in store!)
Later, we went to the Met (we got to go in for free/suggested donation because my friends are New Yorkers) and saw some weapons and the famous Temple of Durden from Egypt. We mostly just chatted some more tho, and then we met up with the one and only New York Rachel and went to a Mexican restaurant nearby, where tacos, guacamole bowls, churros, KPOP on Broadway tales, and raucous good times were shared by all. Lol I kind of feel like I forget how to write blog posts but yeah it was really nice and I'm so glad that I have been able to make time to see so many friends this year (and that they have made time for me)!!! Feeling very loved.
On Sunday, Kyra and I went to Old Sturbridge Village for their holiday festival, Christmas by Candlelight. We got free tickies because Kyra's mom has a hookup. If you've never heard of Old Sturbridge, it's a living history museum based on New England in the 1800s, so everyone is dressed in period dress. I thought they were supposed to pretend to be from that time period because that's what it was like at this other place, Plymouth Plantation, that I used to go when I was a kid, but most people were not in character. But it was still really fun and cute. A lot of the exhibits were people showcasing old-fashioned techniques for making things out of tin and metal, and we even got to dip candles. We were also very lucky, because it happened to be the first real snow of the year that day, so it felt very Christmassy watching carolers sing and having hot chocolate as the snow was falling. It was kind of a scary drive back ngl but the snow was not too too bad (only a couple inches), and a really beautiful fun time.
Blacksmith hard at work here making ice skates. I though this was pretty cool.
That's all I can think of to say at the moment. I'll post a quick post on Monday for anything I missed. Oh! And I got a haircut :^) ttfn
there were two smithies noticeably missing but yes it was a fun time thx buddies :')
The little old town place sounds fun, even if the peeps aren’t in character ;). I am so excited for you to start your journey in Korea and I’m glad it’s starting to feel real! You got your tickie! I never heard of Santa Con but it highkey sounds fun :00 I wanna join in the festivities one year I’m glad y’all got to hang out! It sounds like a good ole day with the original smithies ;)
Also congrats on the plane tickets, cant wait to visit you out in korea :)) and me likes the wolf cut makes you look cool
Ahhhh so many smithies in one space!!! Also that one pic the street and the snow looks like something straight outta a movie/postcard. It looks so perfect