allygong

manhattan: pt 2

October 16, 2017

Walking through the Rockefeller center and financial district, with pink cheeks bitten by the cold. Hair and shoulders wrapped in a scarf- and each step taken with determination and purpose.

This was the New York in my younger mind, the New York I prayed for when I submitted my early decision application to NYU Stern three years ago. When I visited over Manhattan for the second time this summer, this rampant fancy of my past days became something more subtle yet more solid. I walked through the Columbia campus with my best friend from high school who had just transferred to the university; I was in her current reality, seeing myself in the corner of my eye, walking by with notebooks in hand and plaid skirt on hips. Movies at Times Square at midnight. Churches in the rain. Nights in the dorms and waking up to a beautiful view of Upper Manhattan just outside Neta’s window, and thus starting my day with an exuberant smile.

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Tsujita Killer Noodle Opening in Sawtelle

October 15, 2017

I went with Brian the other day to the media opening of Tsujita Killer Noodles in Sawtelle. We tried two types of Dan Dan noodle, one with soup and one without. We got levels two and three which ended up being very spicy- normally I don’t expect Japanese food to be too spicy but at this restaurant they are definitely not kidding about the “killer” spice levels!

The Dan Dan noodles were delicious and immediately threw me back to past summers in Shanghai. Shanghai has the best noodles and I am a huge noodle lover 🙂 Here’s an old post of street food pictures that I took in Shanghai if you want to make yourself hungry.

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Instagram: my favorite kind of table and lazy day

August 10, 2017

in the bay

the weather is amazing. the air is amazing. i have my full closet from high school. my family!! my sister!!! my dog!!

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LA to the Bay for Three Days

August 7, 2017

A round of finals testing ends at UCLA. I find myself on a flight back home to the Bay Area, with the relief that, my best effort has been given, and at least for these next few days I won’t be spending long hours studying.

The airplane ride ends up being shorter than the Uber ride that it took me to get there. Classic LA move.

I’m greeted by my dad outside the arrival terminals, and later greeted by my dog at the door. Home is always familiar. Talks with my younger sister Bridgette fill every empty moment so that there is none. There’s guacamole in the fridge.

Three full days of settling back, I’m slowing my mind and taking it off of schoolwork and pressures. I”m speeding up my schedule, meeting with old friends and rushing to early morning pilates classes in the old downtown. The last day, my family and I eat dimsum in Cupertino and then, to my mothers long-last fulfilled wishes, explore Los Gatos downtown together. How rare that the whole family, including my grandpa from China is all together.

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