New York City — Fearlesslee

So! For the entire month of June I will be in NYC. I love this city and the magic it has. I think it all started when I was little. My mom is OBSESSED with the movie Home Alone and she used to make me watch it over and over again with her. Networks usually play it during the holidays, but I swear at our house the movie was on all year round. While watching the movie, I soon became fascinated with the buildings, the lights, the noise, and all of the people. I wanted to be lost in the city like Kevin in the movie, minus all the scary stuff he encountered. I never got the chance to visit the city with my family, so after college I started working and saved up the money to take a trip in 2014. Once I stepped off the plane, I knew it was the best decision I could have ever made. I decided to make it an annual thing since then.

Around October of 2016 I began planning my trip for the next year. There was so much to do, so much I wanted to see. I didn't want to just visit New York. I wanted to be a New Yorker, if only for a month. I wanted to take time to learn the city, learn the metro system, explore the boroughs. I wanted to take dance classes! I wanted to meet people! It was at that time, I made the decision to book an AirBnB for a month long. After I booked it, I instantly became scared. I was scared I had made a terrible decision. Who do you think you are, Leesa? You're not one of those privileged millennials who take trips to wherever for the sake of "exploration" or needing to "find themselves". You need a summer job! You need to save that money, you know your 15 year old Honda is in the driveway ready to give out at any minute! You have loans! You have rent! All these thoughts were running through my head. Most were true, my car DOES desperately need a timing belt and new tires. My rent still IS due. But what could I do? I had already made a non-refundable deposit. It was happening, June of 2017 I will be in New York City. I started saving any extra money I could, and started trying to dodge any impending panic attacks as well.

*Fast forward to now*

Over the weekend I went to the New York Salsa & Bachata Festival with some of my friends from Tulsa. It was an incredible experience. Getting to spend the weekend with people who all share the same love for Latin dance is something I'll never forget. However, now that the festival is over, they have all gone back home; and now it's just me. Me, alone in this huge city, with no real plan. First thing on my list, snag a job! I want some extra money. Keeping my fingers crossed for a coffee shop job. I have no barista experience whatsoever; just a love for coffee and a smiling face! :)

One of the cutest AirBnB's I've stayed in. The host is from France. Guess where his girlfriend is from? OKLAHOMA! #OkiesInNYC #Harlem