Kids in New York: CSPA 2012

The Columbia Scholastic Press Association conference happened in New York over college spring break this year.  ILS took 21 kiddos (four boys this year!) and headed there in mid-March.  The weather this year was much warmer than last year--I barely got to wear the fingerless gloves with a mitten top that I knitted for myself.  It was tragic.  I did, however, get to wear my FAB coat that I had made in Vietnam.  And boots.

We flew out on Tuesday, and the conferences happened on the campus of Columbia University Wednesday through Friday, and then we few out on Saturday.  This year's trip was very different from last--almost twice as many kids, for one thing, and boys, for another.  Overall, it was good, though, and I think everyone had a good time.

Columbia's campus is really quite beautiful, even on overcast days.  Check it out.

We got in on Tuesday and settled in, with a little time for the kiddos to explore Times Square and see the lights.

Wednesday and Thursday were conferences during the day, and fun in the City at night.  We saw our show on Thursday.  This year we saw How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying again, due to the Nick Jonas factor.  A trip to NYC+17 teenage girls=seeing the show starting Nick Jonas, even if you saw it last year.  Nick Jonas is on Team D (read: he's diabetic) so that means he's awesome by default.  Anywho, he was good in the show, better than I thought, really, and it was kind of fun to see it again.

I'm pretty sure the picture that follows is illegal but... I didn't take it.  :)

The other important event in the itinerary was a little event that I liked to call "Operation Silver Fox."  I got us tickets to see a taping of Anderson (Anderson Cooper's daytime show), and we headed there for some real-world journalism experience instead of the conferences.  And let me just say that Anderson Cooper is very handsome in person.  He's sort of white like a ghost, but still very handsome.  Trust me.  The best part of the show was that "The Big Chicken" from Boston Market was there, which doesn't seem amazing, but when you know that Anderson eats Boston  Market every day (literally), for him it was like, I imagine, the moment I met Tori Amos.  Transcendent.

The process of the show was really cool to see--the intricacy and spectacle of it all.  I decided that I could be the person who warms up the audience.  I could TOTALLY be AWESOME at that, I'm just sayin'.  Anyway, the kiddos commented that it was awesome for them to see all of that, especially the ones from LTV, our film editing/announcements kids.  Maybe some of them will be there some day.

The topic of the show as also apropos for teenage girls, I felt.  It was about trusting your intuition and warning signs in a relationship that the guy could be a crazy.  It was moving and informative, and I learned how to "steeple" my way out of any situation.  :)

The show ended up airing during spring break, but I watched it and we were all on camera.  It was pretty phenomenal.

Before we left the show, I had a kid snap this picture of me and my new boyfriend.  I like to call him "Andy."

I also managed to meet up with a friend who moved to NYC recently for a quick minute in Times Square.  We enjoyed some falafel from a food truck (doing this is my purpose in life) and caught up at this cute red table.  I felt so New York it was amazing.

We also got to see a former student, my little miracle, who now lives in the city.  She also enjoyed some falafel (because it's amazing) and hung with us for a little bit too.  It was great to see both of them.

Now, while I am certainly not complaining about a few days in New York, the trip can get tedious.  This is only my second time going, but we did basically the same things this year as last.  As an adult, I get it--it's for the kids, not me.  But as ME, a traveler and selfish, child-less adult, I want to do new things.  This year, we went to the 9/11 Memorial, which I really wanted (and at the same time didn't want) to see.

The Memorial, while not completely finished, is beautiful.  I didn't know what to expect--both from the Memorial and from myself.  I didn't know what I would see or how I would feel, but it was amazing.  The site is, for the middle of New York City, quiet, and peaceful.  There are now two infinity pools where the towers stood, and these pools have the names of those who died that day.  Walking around, you see little tributes--flags, flowers, folded paper cranes, placed near the names of people who are gone but certainly not forgotten.  Some of the kids were pretty moved too, and one of the privileged in working for Jesus is that the kids didn't mind taking time to pray there, and they weren't embarrassed, and neither was I.

All in all, it was a great trip.  Last year's tiny group was amazing, but we had some good times this year, too.  It was nice to get away and feel a little cool air, at least, and I think the kids learned quite a bit and had a good experience, so that's all that matters.

Can't wait to see what awaits us in NYC next year!

Much love.