Without the rain, there would be no rainbow...

"Without the rain there would be no rainbow". This is one of my favorites quotes. I often find that I enjoy rainy days more than sunny ones. Half of this might be because I just really love wearing my rain boots, but I also find that it makes me find the beauty in things I normally would not. I seem to enjoy rainy days in NYC even more than anywhere else. There is something enchanting about the darkness of the buildings and the clouds in the sky. Walking around for our FYM project it was interesting to find the beauty in the things you never notice. The shape of the windows in the building, the way colors pop against the gray of the buildings and the reflection in the puddles.

The fountain in Central Park was especially beautiful to me. The way that the rain created ripples in the pool was relaxing and made this little girl in the big city feel more at home. Not to say that I don't love this city but sometimes you can feel a little bit lost. Its nice to go to a place like Central Park and see the tree swaying in the wind after constantly walking through a sea of concrete buildings. It is comforting to know that when everything seems to overwhelm me I will always have a place to escape to, a home away from the dorm home away from my actual home. I'm Dorothy and Central Park is my Oz!

On our little trip in the city we also explored the areas of Harlem. Its strange to see how different a place can be uptown 60 or so streets. 5th Avenue certainly does not look like the same avenue on 125th as it does on 55th. Yet there is still something special about it. 125th may not have the designer clothing store but it still has a certain charm. The stained glass windows and the church bells help you find the sacred place within yourself in this big city.

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with this city, I would not want to be anywhere else. Every day when I walk outside I still can't believe that at 18 years old I am living out my five year old dreams of being a dancer in New York City. Every day I find something new to explore or to love about being here. Just walking down the street on a Saturday you're greeted by a street festival full of hundreds of different jewelry, crafts, photos and many other things you can buy. Or just take a trip to the upper west side where you can be dazzled by an astounding array of fresh fruits and vegetables while looking up at the magical Lincoln Center. There is no other place in the world I would rather be. Who else can be at college and have everything else in the world right at their fingertips! I feel so privileged that I am able to have this experience and look out my window and see the skyline of the Big Apple. Back again to this Dorothy theme, when I step outside my door the path to school is my yellow brick road. And when it rains, I put on my rainboots and look for the rainbow in everything I see!