Well, I'm finally back in the city after a loooooong winter's nap during which I was able to regain my sanity in preparation for beginning my sophomore year of grad school. (Since my program is only two years long, each semester is like a whole year of undergrad. 1 year down, eee!) Today was the long-anticipated first day of classes, and I could think of nothing better to start out the semester than The Killers concert last night at Madison Square Garden. I actually scored a ticket mere minutes before the show and sang my lungs out along with 40,000 other Brandon Flowers obsessors. Are we human? Or are we dancers?
My monday morning started bright and early with "Fundamentals of Textiles" at 9AM. The professor (who insists that we refer to him not as Mr. Barker or Professor Barker, but just BARKER) was extremely energized, given the hour, and his advanced age. I blame his excitement about rayon and acetate to the giant thermos of black coffee he intermittently chugged throughout the lecture, but I'm looking forward to the class nonetheless. Although it is technically about Fabric Science, I can't think of anything I'd rather learn on Monday mornings than the difference between velvet and velveteen. For next week, we were ordered to identify a stack of 100 different fabric swatches, and I've already been digging through my wardrobe, reading every label in search of the fabric content. Who knew I actually liked science all along?
After Textiles, I reported to my next class, Consumer Motivation in Fashion with Professor Firchner. I was delighted to find the professor (in his mid-seventies) with a glorious tuft of white hair, green horn-rimmed glasses, and a matching green blazer over all black with a black silk pocket peeker. "Great oufit," I thought to myself. I happen to understand the dire importance of first day outfits (I spent quite some time perfecting my own, as a matter of fact). I nearly purrrrred when the white-haired wonder himself complimented my own outfit, and even used it as an example to the class! I suppose the fact that we were both wearing green and black solidified us as kindred spirits, and luckily I have enough green clothing to last until senior year. Not only did he compliment my outfit, but Professor Firchner also completed my existence when he said, "If you want to make it in this business, you have to go shopping constantly. Never stop." THANK YOU, PROFESSOR FIRCHNER, FOR GIVING ME A LICENSE TO SHOP. Not that I ever needed one before, but from now on, shopping is research for class and for my career, hence it is productive beyond measure. Finally, someone understands.
This evening, I had Technology class with Enrique Paz. That class is going to be essential in the formation and implementation of my business plan for a little venture I've been working on and am planning to launch within the next few months. More about that in blogs to come, but rest assured: it will be cutthroat.
Anyway, it's been a long day, but I'm overjoyed to be getting back into the swing of things. I'll post more this week about the rest of my classes, and hopefully I'll have lots of news. Ciao for now!
P.S. In the photos, the red New Yorker sign is actually from the New Yorker magazine offices, and the building with the bright red point at the top is the Empire State Building, taken outside of my new dwelling place. And that's me in all the pictures, in my Firchner-approved First Day of Class outfit.
