The Big Move to the Big Apple

One of my biggest dreams when I was little was to be a famous super model. This is still my dream of course, just a little more realistic now. Less famous. More successful.

When I was 19 years old I signed with a modeling agency in New York.

Wow. I had never even been to New York! I was excited to say the least.

It was time...

I packed up as much of my stuff as I could into two suitcases, not really knowing what I would need, and my mom and I began our journey from Tulsa, Oklahoma to New York, New York.

Filled with nerves, butterflies and a little (lot of) stress we stepped out of the airport into the streets of New York City.

*first thoughts*

Stinky. Dirty. Hot.

Ahh the wonderful New York taxis. You can't miss the bright (ugly) yellow things.

We took a taxi to my new "home" on the upper west side of Manhattan near the George Washington Bridge. I was going to be sharing an apartment with two other models, a boy and a girl.

We called up to the 3rd floor, a girl answered and said she would be down to help us.

Oh no. You have got to be kidding me. There was no elevator?!?

The three of us had to carry all of our suitcases and bags up three flights of tiny, creaky, wooden stairs. It was a workout to say the least.

Apartments in New York are like closets in Oklahoma. Or anywhere else really.

After finally getting all moved in it was time to explore. I downloaded a map on my phone (gotta love technology), and my mom and I set out on our adventure.

Ahh the subways. Another wonderful part of the city. There's trash EVERYWHERE, rats, and the smell of b.o. and urine fills the air. Just don't breathe.

We took the train to Times Square where hundreds of people filled the brightly lit streets. Times Square is a combination of giant ads, huge stores, several restaurants and tourists galore.

Talk about a huge culture shock. But I was here. Just a girl from Oklahoma now living in the Big Apple.