Daily Life New York

Marie, hold on tight!

It’s April! I’ve been wearing dresses and cardigans all week, soaking up the sunshine and watching the city change with the seasons. I am still swamped with work, but I can finally see the light at the end.

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March was an odd month because I was wallowing in deep winter hibernation mode. It was just one of those days when I received a phone call from Jannese about having dinner with a visitor from Japan. Over a hearty Meatball Shop meal, I met the talented and adorable Ros of Polkaros who came to the city from Tokyo on a short trip. Walking around familiar streets with a new set of eyes and good friends, I was reminded of just how much I do love where I am and how much this place has become a home.

It’s been over a year since I moved to New York. I remember the city was disorienting, far from the quiet mountains of Yunnan and Kunming, where it is always spring. It had snowed a foot when I woke up in Brooklyn, walking miles along almost deserted Bushwick lofts, hoping to walk into a warm place to call home. We walked into a restaurant, which turned out to be Roberta’s. And so it all worked out, as it always does.

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“APRIL is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers.
Summer surprised us, coming over the Starnbergersee
With a shower of rain; we stopped in the colonnade,
And went on in sunlight, into the Hofgarten,
And drank coffee, and talked for an hour.
Bin gar keine Russin, stamm’ aus Litauen, echt deutsch.
And when we were children, staying at the archduke’s,
My cousin’s, he took me out on a sled,
And I was frightened. He said, Marie,
Marie, hold on tight. And down we went.
In the mountains, there you feel free.
I read, much of the night, and go south in the winter.”

–From “The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot

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20 Comments

  • Reply
    Winnie
    April 12, 2013 at 5:41 pm

    I love that NY is very much home now – these photos are lovely and that sketch is pretty amazing. I wish Spring would hurry up – it’s yet to make a proper appearance here in the uk!

    • Reply
      Sewon
      April 12, 2013 at 6:17 pm

      The sketch is by my friend, an amazing artist named Debra Ziss! 🙂 Spring was totally here all week, but today’s been rather chilly and rainy. Where are the cherry blossoms? 😛

  • Reply
    Rina
    April 12, 2013 at 6:12 pm

    I know what you mean about those winter blues!
    With the exception of the last two days, the weather has been simply fantastic.
    I’m so happy I can comfortable stay outside for a long period of time, without worrying about freezing!
    I’m glad to hear that the weather has been kind to you as well. That art exhibition looks so cool! Is everything crocheted? such skills!

    • Reply
      Sewon
      April 14, 2013 at 12:32 pm

      Everything was crocheted at the exhibit. Pretty amazing! Ah, glad to hear you’ve had good weather, too, Rina. 🙂

  • Reply
    jannese
    April 12, 2013 at 6:18 pm

    awww..this is awesome thanks for all the cool pics 🙂

    • Reply
      Sewon
      April 14, 2013 at 12:32 pm

      Thank YOU, Jannese! 🙂

  • Reply
    Matthew Pike
    April 13, 2013 at 12:12 pm

    i’m missing out on a world of fun over in ny, i can just live in ny through posts like this. great post and images

    • Reply
      Sewon
      April 14, 2013 at 12:33 pm

      You should take a trip here! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Matthew.

  • Reply
    Amelia
    April 14, 2013 at 5:05 am

    I want spring weather to wear dresses to (although I don’t own any dresses).

    • Reply
      Sewon
      April 14, 2013 at 12:34 pm

      Dress weather = t-shirt weather. 😛

  • Reply
    Sophie
    April 14, 2013 at 1:25 pm

    I love your photographs because I always feel like I’m transported to a different era. 😉

    • Reply
      Sewon
      April 17, 2013 at 8:35 am

      Thanks, Sophie! 😛

  • Reply
    Angélica
    April 14, 2013 at 5:05 pm

    Lovely pictures, I really hope to go to New York someday! It looks so wonderful 🙂

    • Reply
      Sewon
      April 17, 2013 at 8:55 am

      Thank you, Angelica. I hope the day’s soon! 🙂

  • Reply
    Sara
    April 16, 2013 at 6:25 am

    New York by your eyes is very inviting 🙂

  • Reply
    ros
    April 18, 2013 at 12:18 pm

    Wow! Such lovely pictures! Thanks for capturing those good memories! I really enjoyed the day we met at your nearby cafe and you gave me a tour of your neighborhood. You sure seemed at home there! Thank you once again for everything! You are guys are amazing!
    x ros

  • Reply
    Crystal
    April 30, 2013 at 12:01 am

    I always love your pictures! You always find the perfect moments and things to photograph. I first read this post when you posted it, but didn’t comment right away and I was pretty jealous of your spring weather as we were still getting snow. But now all the snow is melted and we have nice, spring weather now too. 🙂

  • Reply
    pau
    April 30, 2013 at 2:29 pm

    Hey Sewon, what is this? http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8546/8642714673_8df947c174_z.jpg
    Is it real people or just mannequins?

    • Reply
      Sewon
      May 30, 2013 at 2:04 pm

      Real people!

  • Reply
    Ceri
    May 13, 2013 at 1:39 pm

    Oh god, I miss NYC. <3 Didn't I tell you I was there for a while last month, hun? Living in Brooklyn. I'm planning to be back at the end of the year so hope to catch up with you then! 🙂 We could go for tea or something.

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