Another Exciting Week

Things have slowed down a bit here at my internship in the past week. Everyone is preparing for a very important board meeting this weekend. That just means that I've picked up a lot of mini projects from many different departments.

For example, I helped Public Affairs with finding quotes and stuff for a new website launch we are doing. Plus, I helped marketing print out 1000 membership recruitment brochures. I actually spent most of the day just standing by the copier machine, making sure everything came out right and shoved everything in the box.

I've spent a lot of time helping with the next consumer contest that will launch this fall. I've been doing a lot of research on what advertising tools we will be using to get exposure for the contest. I also helped evaluate the last contest that we just wrapped up. For example, we are comparing this year's contest with last year and trying to decide what worked and didn't work.

I've also been helping with membership recruitment, especially because we have a trade show coming up. The trade show is going to be a great way to talk to people about the benefits of becoming a member. I actually get to attend the trade show next Tuesday so I am really excited about that!

Highline Park

 Last Thursday was a super fun day. Sarette and Sam came to hang out in NYC so we got to meet up after I got out of work.

The best part about the day was when we went to High Line Park. It was so awesome. It's located in the Meatpacking District which is such a cool area of the city. I can't believe I've never been there before. So it's pretty much this super long walkway that was built over railroad tracks. It's actually really peaceful and there are amazing views of the city.

After we walked the High Line, we went to the Lot and ate delicious food out of The Taco Truck. The Lot is so cool because there's a bunch of different food trucks that come every week and there's places to sit, plus Rainbow City! It's like magic.

 

After that we walked down to the old section of the High Line and then headed back to Grand Central. I had such a fun time and I am glad I am able to enjoy the city since I am working here!

Not So Lonely Kitty in the City

Yesterday was a fabulous day here in the city. Because Brendan (my fiance) came to the city with me! It was so exciting and it was SO awesome to have him here.

First we took the usual 8:04 train to the city. We even got one of the new trains! We both read and talked a lot (specifically about Rob Bell's new book) and the commute went by so much faster! Then he walked me to my building and went off on his own adventures. Apparently he went to SoHo, tried to find the Men in Black 3 film location, and went to thrift stores.

Around 1 he came back to my building to meet me for lunch. I actually got caught up in a project and he was waiting for me in the lobby for like 30 minutes! I felt so bad! But then we went to eat at my favorite lunch spot, Food World. He was so hot and sweaty from walking around in the city and the AC was so nice there.

Then he came up to my office to meet my boss and some of my other co-workers! Since I sit at the front desk, he was able to sit in a comfy chair and rest for awhile. Around 3 he went back out for more adventures. It didn't seem so bad that I only had 2 more hours left of work!

I finished my projects for the day and he came back around 5. We headed down 5th Ave to Central Park. What a mistake! It's so full of tourists, even more so now that school is out. We went a different way and found the amusement park and the carousel. We almost got a horse & buggy ride but it was like $50! I just didn't want to walk anymore! There was also a protest with giant inflatable rats? Weird!

After enjoying a romantic walk through the park we hopped on the Q train to Times Square. I really wanted to take him to the M&M store. Another mistake! Times Square was SO crowded. It took forever to walk like 2 blocks. We didn't even stop in any of the fun stores. Then there was a huge crowd and Tyrese (?) from Transformers 3 was there talking on a stage. It was kind of cool to see all these giant screens with the previews and clips from the movie on there.

I got my first social coupon from LivingSocial so we had reservations for dinner at this amazing Italian restaurant called L'Allegria. We walked back there from Times Square on 9th Street so we completely avoided the crowd. We got delicious bread and big portions of food. It was very romantic too! Geeze this was like the best day ever.

Afterwards we headed to Port Authority because our day was coming to a close. We went in search for a Jamba Juice (Brendan's obsessed). I got a delicious pineapple one! YUM! Then we walked up to my bus gate and the 194 was just leaving. So we waited another half hour for the next one so we can have more time together.

I was really sad to see him go because I won't see him until Sunday. Even though I am coming back on Thursday. It's depressing really. But I am glad we got to spend some time in the city because I pretty much come into work and go straight home!

Another Week in the City

Not gonna lie, this commuting thing is very hard! At least this weekend kind of went slower than usual. The best part about my weekend was that I got my wedding dress! I finally feel like I am getting married! Also Brendan and I got to spend the WHOLE day together on Saturday doing wedding stuff. We hardly ever get that much quality time!

Now it's back to the grind. Even though I left at 7:30 this morning, there was so much traffic. I had to run to my train at 8:04. If I missed it, the next one wouldn't come until 8:30 and I wouldn't be in the city until 10:30. The train  I take is the express so it's only 92 minutes or something.

I am glad I got over my motion sickness bout. I can actually read on the train now! This morning I finished reading Love & Respect and it was really good. I also listened to audiobook of the last book in the Hunger Games series.

As I was walking to work I could feel a frown on my face. I miss my apartment, my fiance, my kitty, and my friends already. But I thought about how God has blessed me with an amazing paid internship in the city! It gets hard but I can draw from His strength!

Well, today I will be working on more image database stuff. I also get to do image sourcing for the new website. I also have to go a meeting at 11 about the new intranet we are getting. I have a packed day with lots of projects. I can't wait!

Just a side note: I've been working in the city for 7 weeks now and I still haven't gotten a decent cup of coffee! Does it exist?

Half way point

So I am about halfway done with my internship here in the city. I've definitely been feeling the exhaustion from the commute and not being home all the time. It's pretty hard to plan a wedding since I am gone all the time too! But I've learned so much since I've been here! I am definitely glad I came here to do an internship.

I've been focusing a lot on the image database lately. We are going over to a new image database system so there are a lot of kinks to work out. Plus, I wasn't exactly sure what photos to resize so I ended up doing a ton, only to find out that we only resize and upload member photos to the website! Oops!

Yesterday I tried out the new step-by-step guide for image upload. I also updated the list of editors and contacts we have as we get ready for another major event this summer.

Today I sat in on a wrap up meeting for the trade show everyone went to in Las Vegas. I also found out during my last week here I will be attending a trade show in the city! And tomorrow one of my friends from Quinnipiac invited me to a PR networking event at the Public House on East 41st Street! Should be fun!