We did much, much more than these few photos show and had so much fun! I was reminded that I love being a tourist in the city and not a resident. Boy, I'm going to love coming back here to visit!
I met her in the very beginning of the program at orientation. Same story with Jae, too. 
They are two of the few friends I made in school, yet, we never had classes together.
My mom has a few better pictures of this day, but I don't have access to them. It was a long, but great day and I'm so happy my parents were there to share it with me!!
She just graduated, too! We met up several times and ate and shopped and it was fun!
This was Friday, or better known as "the day of freedom," and I celebrated well, as you can see below. 
One of only a small handful of 7-Elevens in the New York City area, and I'm glad I came across it that day. Hits the spot! On Saturday I took a spontaneous trip down to Coney Island with another friend I needed to catch up with (though I failed to get her picture). I doubt I would've made my way there before I move away, so I'm glad I went. The pictures speak for themselves:
I took my time getting out of there on the way home, and it was so peaceful.
I saw ducks and turtles and flowers and lakes and bridges...I even saw a Red Cardinal! It was wonderful.
My mother is my best friend. She is my support, my constant. She is patient with me when I call her and do nothing but complain. She never gets angry at me when I cut her off in conversation so that I can speak what's on my mind, rather than listen to what's on hers. My mother is so giving, she is willing, and always has been, to send me anything and everything I've needed while living far away and on my own, from California to Costa Rica, from Utah to New York, at whatever cost. She is realistic, not idealistic, in her thinking when I come to her with a concern or problem, which I appreciate. She is honest and gives all her time to her children and their children (just ask my dad). She spends lots of time with him, too, and demonstrates patience, even when he can be cranky and frustrating. She taught me to always say my prayers by kneeling beside me throughout my childhood, every night.
I am grateful every single day, and every hour, for being blessed with a wonderful, kind, and loving mother. When I hear others complain about their mothers or say they aren't that close with theirs, or that they don't talk to theirs that often, I cannot relate. I don't understand.
I love you, mama.
Happy Mother's Day.
Adorable! The weather was absolutely perfection and the blossoms were a-bloomin'!
It was so fun. Again, glad I went instead of writing papers. Duh.
I knew I'd feel right at home with the casinos and hotels.
It was strange, though, to walk out of those casinos and see the ocean. It was like Coney Island meets Las Vegas. We rode the ferris wheel and were the only five people on the entire thing. I don't know if that's awesome or sad. Probably sad.
This is the view from the top!
Delicious!
It's like a pedicab, but instead of pulling us along on a bike, the guy walked behind us and pushed! It felt a little strange, but was fun! The whole trip was fairly inexpensive and it was cool to see another part of the east coast. I hope to make a couple more little trips like this before I head west.
