NYC, It’s Been a Minute
It all started extremely randomly — I had no idea my boyfriend had asked one of my besties if I could visit her. To give you some context, I lived in Brooklyn for five years. When COVID happened, all the words I had ever uttered about leaving this place suddenly came true, and I had to move back home to my mom’s.
I think every ex-New Yorker will always either love New York or hate it. During my days here,
I would always ask God to give me signs — through signage, ads, or random words I would come across.
It’s funny that after a two-year hiatus — my last time visiting was Thanksgiving 2022 — I’d be going back during spring. Spring, the manifestation of winter ending, of blooming, of using the rain to nourish the flowers, the green, the freshness of things ready to grow and come alive.
love this image it looks like two images in one !
In the heart of the city, I came across a public garden and saw koi fish — a beautiful, unexpected moment.
Spiritually, koi fish symbolize perseverance, transformation, and strength in the face of adversity. They’re also seen as symbols of good luck, prosperity, and the ability to flow gracefully through life’s challenges.
“Often, the buildings can feel overwhelming since they’re everywhere — it’s crazy how massive they are. It’s all about perspective: seeing how small I am and how big they are, yet somehow we coexist in this world, both trying to take up space.”
Fresh eyes and time give you the ability to slow down and notice what you missed the last time. Solitude was what I needed to reconnect to why I moved to New York in the first place. I moved to discover a part of myself. I moved there, I survived there, I thrived there, I failed there. I found friends who became like family. I built a community of students. Hell, I even found my man there.
I owe so much to New York — for finding me, for taking me in, for beating me up just enough to make me stronger, hungrier, and more passionate than ever.
Now let’s talk food — OMG, I have missed Asian food. Thank you, God, for Chinatown. Thank you to the immigrants for making the best food in America.
MY FRIENDS IN CHINATOWN!!! thank u for realness of womentime!!!
nothing better then people watching!
NO ACTUALLY INSOMNIA COOKIES post a joint !! heaven on earth !
Thank you, God, friends, and New York for keeping me safe all those years. I believe in the higher powers that are New York City!
For this trip, I shot on film — using Kodak Gold and Kodak Portra 400
