Picture update

So...it's been a long time since I've posted any pictures. I really did take some during my last little while in NY. I'm just horrible at posting them and blogging about them. So here you are: pictures of my last few months in NY (that's right - I said MONTHS...all the way back to Halloween). Sorry there isn't a lot of writing about them. But it's easier and shorter this way. Teehee. Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

AHHHHH New Blog Name!

Yep that's right. Since on Monday I'll no longer be a NY resident I can no longer have the blog title of "Kristy Takes Manhattan." It's kind of the period to my journey here in NY. It's a weird feeling. I thought I'd be more sad about this than I am. But I think it's all just the anticipation of getting everything out of my apartment, cleaning, and hoping this snow storm doesn't make me miss Christmas that's keeping the emotions in check. I'm sure once I get on the airplane and reality hits I'll have a hard time holding back the tears, but for now I'm doing surprisingly well.

I also figured I'd be spending the last day in NY doing fun exciting things that I hadn't had the chance to do. But NOPE! My day has consisted of packing, cleaning, selling all my belongings not coming with me, taking a trip to Goodwill, canceling internet/cable & utilities, more packing, and more cleaning. Sounds like a great send off, right? At this point I just wish I was home. Plus, it has started to snow, so I don't actually want to be outside doing fun things. Anyway...I better get back to the packing and cleaning. Wish me luck!

A Song for Mormons

This was on Conan O'Brian's show this week and I thought it was great so I wanted to share. Merry Christmas to all you Mormons out there!

I walked in to work this morning and immediately declared:

That's right. I put in my two week notice TODAY! So it's official. Last day at PwC will be Dec. 15. Now I just have to explain my reasoning to all the partners in my group. Oh joys - here comes one now...

Did you see that?

Do you ever have those moments when you think to yourself "did I really just see that?" Well, I've been having them more frequently lately. Maybe it's because I'm noticing more things around me - trying to take in all of NY before I leave. Or maybe there are just more crazy people in the world than there used to be. Whatever the reason may be, each time I have one of those "what the heck" moments I tell myself I should write it down. So here I am. Writing down some of my "that did not just happen" moments in NYC:

Man jogging down the street in shiny
leopard cami and booty shorts
(i think he had shorts on)

Chinese man wearing a light blue sailor
dress (super short) complete with
white tights

Bearded woman on the corner of
42nd and Madison

Homeless man standing on the corner
with his pants unzipped and bearing
his . . . never mind

Man jogging in a black mesh unitard
and black thong (yes - it was the same
man who wore the leopard cami)

Old man on the subway asking a
pregnant woman if she would like a
seat, then gesturing to the floor
saying "well then sit"

Seeing into neighbors' apartments
(and our Friends all thought the fat
ugly naked guy was bad - I'VE
SEEN WORSE!)

There have been plenty more of these precious moments that I've experienced while living in this city. These just happen to be the most memorable ones. Just a few more reasons why there is no other place like NYC!

A Major Break Down

Wow I was busy this weekend! I had so much going on! First and foremost: Speed Dating. You may be thinking that this sounds familiar. Apparently the last activity was such a big hit that we were asked to host another one. Hopefully this will be my last one I have to do. Although this go around went a lot smoother and things weren't QUITE as hectic as the last time, it was still a lot of work and I'm SO glad to have it behind me. But that's not the reason for this post. It's the post-speed dating that I would like to talk about.

No - there was no magic flying in my direction that night which altered my plans to leave the city. But, after spending 3 hours having this conversation:

Friend: "Why are you not participating in speed dating?"
Me: "I'm leaving in a month so there isn't a point"
Friend: "Why are you leaving? I think you should stay! I'm going to miss you. What are you going to do?"
Me: "I'm going to Costa Rica in January, but after that I have no idea."
Friend: "Go to Costa Rica and come back to NYC. I don't think you should move."

Let's just say I started to have a little anxiety about my decision. I mean...who wouldn't right? Even my bishop got involved. "You should be out there speed dating - who knows, you might meet someone who will change your mind and you will decide to stay with us. You really shouldn't move in Dec." (What was he thinking...3 minutes talking with a guy would change my life plan? I don't think so Bishop.)

Add it all together (complete exhaustion, harassment about staying, Bishop's counsel) and what do you get: a major breakdown at 1:30 am full of crying, whining, begging, pleading, praying, researching, and compromising.

Result: I'm moving back to Utah Dec. 20. That's right. Life plan not changed. Thanks to a kind, wise, loving Heavenly Father who patiently listened to my crying, whining, begging, pleading, praying, researching, and compromising, I've never felt more sure that this is what I'm supposed to do. Why am I supposed to move back to Utah - the very place I vowed never to move back to as long as I was single? No idea. But I do know that the Lord has a plan for me and knows a whole lot more of what's in store than I do (or any of my friends for that matter).

Yes, I'm going to miss NYC (more than I will probably even know until I'm gone). Yes I'm going to miss my friends (a special few in particular). Yes I'm dreading the old maid single life I'm heading towards (going from "you're so young" to "dang you're old" isn't going to be easy). Yes I'm dreading that I'm going to have to say "I live in Utah" instead of "I live in NYC" (it just doesn't have quite the same ring to it). Yes I'm still panicked about what little time I have left in NY (with each weekend full of events I have little time to do those things I haven't done yet). But Yes! I'm excited for a new chapter in my life, to be with family again, and have time to figure out what I want to do next.

A Real Update

So now that I've made this blog private - I can say what I've been dying to write about for over a week now: the REAL update on my life.

I know I've been hinting at the fact that I'm not super excited about my job anymore - truth is I've decided to end my career at PwC in NY and move back home to Utah. When? you might ask...Dec. 20ish (still figuring out the exact details). This has actually been in the works for a while now and I decided moths ago that it was time to find a new job. The hard part is that I don't really want to leave NY (PwC: yes...NY: not so much). Granted there are things that I'm going to NOT miss about this city. But there is a long list of things that I will miss. But I'll save that for another post.

Now to the exciting part. What I'll be doing with my life once I leave my current one behind. Starting January 18th, I will be working at an orphanage in Costa Rica for 6 weeks! I've never been to Costa Rica, but I hear it's a wonderful place and I can't wait to immerse myself in that country's culture. There is a lot of poverty in that country, so I hope that I'll be able to make a difference - even if it's just a small one.

Here is some basic info on the program (all the things that I frequently get asked by friends and family when they hear what I'm doing):

- What group are you volunteering through: International Volunteer HQ - one of the best and cheapest ones I found during my research
- How much does it cost: NOYB! Hahaha! Just kidding. All inclusive, I'm looking at around $3,500.
- What will the work be: not 100% sure yet. I won't get my actual assignment until I am in Costa Rica. But I know that I will be working with children in some way (orphanage, kindergarten, soup kitchen, teaching)
- Where will you live: I'll live with a Costa Rican family near my assignment (most are about 30 minutes outside of San Jose). Other volunteers will be living in the house with me as well. The host family provides 3 meals a day and transportation to and from the assignments.
- Will you be able to see the sites: YES! I will be working Mon - Fri 8:30 - 3:30(ish) so I get nights and weekends to do what I want.
- Do you speak Spanish: not really. But I will be taking Spanish lessons while I'm there - 2 hours/day
- Why did you decide to do this: I feel like I've been really caught up in "me" lately and need to focus on others. I also need a break from working and I know my dad wouldn't be cool with me using that break to sit on the couch at home watching TV or reading all day. Plus, who doesn't want to spend 6 weeks in 85 degree weather while it's snowy and cold back home?

I can't wait for Jan 18th to be here! It seems like forever away, but when I look at all the things that are going to happen between now and then (Thanksgiving, Christmas, moving, New Years, etc.) I know it's going to go by fast.