New found Hobby

So I've had a road bike back home in Raleigh for the past two years and have always wanted to start biking on a regular basis. Having coached almost every weekend, getting on the bike was a hard thing to do.
This past fall, my suitemate, an avid road biker, was trying to convince me to bring my bike up to the city and ride. He would always say that there is nothing like going through the city on two wheels. I thought that this guy was crazy. I mean riding a bike through the streets of New York seemed like suicide. The amount of cars would scare one enough not to mount a bike and ride.
After constant badgering by Brian, my suitemate, I thought of bringing my bike to the city. He had convinced me that I had to ride up here. So after buying some warm riding clothes and a bike case. I shipped my bike up, got it tuned up and set out on the streets of New York.
What a rush! Brian was right. There is nothing like riding a bike through the city. Having the cars zip by you may scare some, and I thought it would scare me, but in fact, I was filled with adrenaline riding on Broadway. Don't get me wrong, I am petrified when I'm riding, but it is that fear which keeps my senses on alert. I can see sharper, react quicker, and even smell better when riding in the streets. While the streets are fun to ride on, I do try to stay off of them as much as I can, preferring to ride in Central and Riverside parks. Riding in Central Park is great. It's been a great work out as it is filled with rolling hills. If you think the park is flat, guess again.
Just today, I decided to ride along the Hudson river. What a view and a ride. As I rode along the side of the river, I could see the piers, new and old, that once drove the city's economy. Taking a look to my left I could see the skyline of buildings zipping by me. Then just as I am heading towards the south end of the island, Battery Park, I spot Lady Liberty with her arm straight up holding her torch welcoming all into this country. Chills ran through me as it was the first time to catch a glimpse of the statue other than from an airplane.
So if you ever want a hobby to take up, buy a road bike and become one with the road. You will not regret it. (And the picture is not of me!)

Long Winter Break

My fall semester to say the least was one that was filled many things as you all have read in the previous entries. I can honestly say that this past fall was one of the more fulfilling semesters in my educational life. I actually felt that the material I was learning was not seeping in for understanding but it was also information that I hope to be using on a regular basis at school.
Having a month off was almost too much time off, but it was great to have. I had plenty of time to rest and catch up on sleep, enjoying the slower pace of the south. I was able to see many friends and family which refueled my tank for the coming semester. The one thing I didn't enjoy was all the driving. Having accustomed myself to public transportation, getting in a car and driving, although exhilarating, was not much fun after the novelty went away. I think that it was more buying gas and putting up with traffic. It sounds a bit silly since I just finished a fall in a city with the worst traffic. I guess there is some order the madness in the city where it didn't feel that in the south.
Anyway, classes have begun and the grind of studying is back. Oh to have my month back!! Just kidding. This semester seems like that classes will be more practical in nature as to last semester which was more theoretical. Most of the classes are business in scope, learning the ins and outs about running a school.
Enjoy the Super Bowl and those Carolina games. I can't wait for this coming Wednesday when we face the Dookies!

Winter Wonder Land!

I never thought that New York in the winter time would be so beautiful. I think that I have found a new time to come up to the city and visit. Yes, fall is a great time to come as the leaves change and a pair of jeans and t-shirt feels great. Not too hot or cold.
Oh but does one miss out when it turns bitter cold! If you can brave the cold, then I suggest making a trip out to New York. Especially during the holiday season. The city feels like it completely changes. The lights go up, and the windows are all dressed up for the shopping season. Last Monday, I witnessed the lighting of the tree at the Lincoln Center and it was spectacular. Not as grand as the Rockefeller tree, but fantastic nonetheless. Short performances of what was playing at the Lincoln were performed on the terraces of the Lincoln Center buildings. I can say that I saw the Nutcracker at the Met. Okay, not the whole thing, but at least two dances from it. It was cool. After the lighting of the tree, the party moved to the Upper West Side where vendors were and music was playing until 9 that evening.
On the grander scale as I mentioned earlier, was the lighting of the Rockefeller tree at the Rockefeller Center. I'm sure that you all tuned in and watched it on the tube as I wish I had for the hoards of people that filled the center and the surrounding streets was almost impossible to deal with, but we managed to squeeze into a spot across from the center right in front of Saks 5th Ave. The locations was great. It was prime for watching the tree get lit, but that was about it. The show that you all saw on tv, I missed. I wouldn't have traded it in for anything. It was awesome to have said that I saw the lighting of the Rockefeller tree. In person, the tree was gigantic. I think it reached a height of 100 feet. So if those aren't reasons enough to come up and enjoy the city during this time, how about this one, Snow.
We had our first snow of the season this past Sunday. I woke up to streets and buildings covered in the white fluffy stuff that oh so much better than rain. After church, I decided to walk through Central Park and see the park in white. This was a winter wonderland. No cars passed through, all the streets were covered in snow. I couldn't believe that there were die-hard runners and bikers out exercising in the snow, but there were. All I can say is that it was beautiful. I posted one of my favorite pictures I've taken thus far while here, I hope you all like it. Once you see it, you'll know why it's one of my favorites.
So I have a little more than two weeks left in my semester. I can't believe how fast it has gone by. I have learned so much here. Not only about education, but about myself. I can't wait to share some amazing stories of what the Lord has allowed me to do here.
Anyway, so I remember this time as a teacher telling my students that it is time to finish strong as exams are right around the corner. Oh, how the tables have turned as I am on the receiving end of those comments that I am so used to saying to my student. Finish Strong Joey. Well, I intend to. I'll finish strong up until I get on the plane to come back home on the 20th.
May each one of you have a blessed and Merry Christmas this year. Thanks for staying up to date with my adventures here in the city.

A November to Remember (Parts of it at least!)

As I sit here on the plane heading to my Thanksgiving destination, Knox-vegas (Knoxville for those who don’t know about Knox-vegas), I realized that I haven’t updated you all on my happenings in New York.
It’s been well over a month since my last entry and for that I apologize. Lets just say that the middle of a semester of graduate school is when all the “fun” happens. In a span of four weeks, I had four major papers due and a research project that is still looming. Couple the papers with all of the assigned reading and a 6-hour a internship and one finds little time to sleep, eat, and pray (I did find time for all those though).
So here’s a brief synthesis of my last month in New York (synthesis, a research term that I have grown to love and hate at the same time!!).
Halloween in the City.
Halloween is indeed a spectacle in the Big Apple. It’s celebrated almost the entire day. People are seen dressed up in costumes riding the subway in the morning. All the orange and black you can dream of comes out of the woodwork.
Starting in the late afternoon though is when the ghosts and goblins started appearing. People dressed up making their way down to the Village for the Halloween Parade. This parade puts the Franklin Street Halloween spectacle in Chapel Hill to shame. Hundreds of thousands of people gather in the streets as early as 5pm to check out each other’s costumes and ready themselves for a walk down the street parading their unique and at times outlandish costumes. I didn’t get the opportunity to witness it myself, but the pictures on the news that evening told it all. I was kind of glad I wasn’t there.
You might be asking yourself, “Joey, what do the kiddos do for trick or treating since there are no houses in the city, only store fronts?” Well funny you should ask. I ended walking down Broadway in the Upper West Side and noticed a bunch of kids dressed up going in and out of the stores with their trick or treat bags. I had to investigate this type of loitering for myself and so I walked into a Circuit City and sure enough, the stores give out candy to the trick or treaters!! That’s what I call using your surroundings for a little sugar. The stores seemed much obliged to hand out candy as if it were their civic duty to do so. So if you’re in town on a Halloween, make your way down to the Village and catch the Parade, or better yet, stroll along Broadway and gaze at the kids trick or treating in the stores.
ING New York Marathon
A true inspiration. 38,000 runners embark on a 26.2 mile run through the five-boroughs of New York the first weekend in November. The race started at 9:15 with the wheelchair division, followed by the elite runners who wins over $100K and a new Toyota Prius, and then the standard Joes begin their trek. Luckily for me and my friends, church ended just as the wheel chair division began their final sprint to the finish in Central Park. I was able to witness the extraordinary event walking along the course encouraging the runners as they ran by. I saw Lance Armstrong with his LiveStrong Posse surrounding him running which pretty neat, but the coolest thing was being able to find my friend Claire Whitehill in a mob thousands running and encouraging her as she was entering mile 24. The sea of runners was amazing. It seemed like it was never ending. One after the another would run by us with shear determination to finish this grueling race on the face. When people would start walking, we would scream and yell encouraging them not to give up. Those runners were amazing. My hat goes off to anyone who has run a marathon. It is a definite testament of mind over body. After watching the race, I told myself that one day I’d like to give this marathon thing a try. That’s if my knees are wiling to let me run that long. Maybe I’ll try a half-marathon first. 13.1 miles seems a lot more feasible than 26.2!
Phantom of the Opera
Amidst my crazy time studying and writing papers, I managed to squeeze out some time to take a break and see the longest running Broadway musical, Phanton of the Opera. It was a fantastic show. The music was incredible and the voices on the actors one dreams of having.
Two days after seeing the show, the stagehands strike began. I was lucky in that I had the opportunity to watch a show before Thanksgiving as this was my goal. I missed an opportunity to see a play on Broadway this past Monday due to the strike. I only hope that the strike will end soon as there are some cool holiday shows I’d like to see before I head home for Christmas. I have been able to see other show since I’ve been here, most notably Wicked. If you have the chance, see Wicked. It’s well worth the ticket price. The benefits of being a student are great in that I didn’t have to pay the hefty price tag! Student discounts are great!
Happy Thanksgiving
As I get ready to embark on a couple of days of being with family and eating a lot of turkey, I can’t help but to look back on the year and reflect on the things that I am thankful for. There are many to be sure, but the most important thing that I have been thankful for is the blessing having friends and family care so much for me. This has been a year of great ups and downs, yet it has been one of the years in my life that I am most thankful for. The Lord has taught me many things over the course of 2007 and one of those realizing that being thankful isn’t a once a year thing we do on the fourth Thursday of every November. It’s a great time to reflect on the things you’re thankful for, but we should be thankful every day we live on this earth for the blessings we receive which we see and don’t see. I’ve learned to thank the Lord for everything he’s put in my life as it’s because of Him that I am a stronger person.
Thank you for everything you have given me. I only hope that it will be returned to you ten-fold. May the Lord bless you and your families this Thanksgiving!!

My first mid-term out of the way!

Well, I got my first mid-term paper of my graduate school career out of the way tonight. The paper was for my Law class which looks at the First Amendment and its implications on Education.
It was a 2000 word maximum paper and you may be thinking, well Joey, that's not so bad. True 2000 words is not bad at all. The problem was that the paper couldn't exceed 2000 words!! After my first draft, I was over by 200 words and hadn't written my last two sections. This paper was a little harder than I thought given that our professor literally gave us what to say and how to organize our paper. I thought, this is going to be cake. I mean, who holds a review and goes over each section of the exam and tells you what legal issues you need to raise? Well, now I know that the real test of the mid-term was whether you can be concise and to the point in your writing. There was no room for BS in this paper! It was state your claim, analyze it and move on to the next claim.
I'm glad that's out of the way (other than a final edit). The only problem is that I have two more mid-term papers looming for next week.
I have a feeling that from now until the end of the semester I will be living in the library.

On a different note, those of you in the education world, I recommend you picking up and reading a book by Jonathan Kozol named The Shame of a Nation. It is about the restoration of apartheid schooling in America. The first half will make you cringe at what is going on in schools across America, especially in predominantly minority schools. I haven't read the second half, as I was assigned the first five chapters for class. I hope to finish the book in whatever little spare time I have this week. My ethics professor, Thomas Sobol, is quoted in the book a few times. It's not often that you are taught by someone who is highly regarded and respected in the education field. This is where I am truly blessed to be in this program. The people I am learning from are amazingly renowned for their work in education.

Okay, so I need to get some sleep, so I can make my final edit of my mid-term before I turn it in tomorrow.

Now You be a Good Boy!

"Now you be a good boy Joey!" Those were the final words I heard my Mamaw say the Saturday before she left this earth to be with the Father Monday, October 15th. Looking back on my life and my interactions with Mamaw over the past week, this phrase keeps playing back in my head. Reason being is that those were the words she always said to me since I met her over 20 years ago every time we would part ways from visiting each other. Our goodbyes always ended with I love you and now you be a good boy. Even now at 29, she couldn't resist telling me to be a good boy, especially since I am living in New York. It was a serendipitous goodbye. No better way for her to tell me goodbye, than for telling me that phrase.
Well, I can honestly say, that I have lived those words to the best of my ability and continue to do so. I'm not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, that is why trying to live out Mamaw's phrase is so difficult for me from time to time.
The funeral on Wednesday evening was one of celebration. It was so comforting to know that when her pastor asked her how things were between her and the Lord and she said things are good, it brought joy to my heart knowing that I would see her again when the Lord calls me up to be with Him. The next day at the internment, I witnessed something I never witnessed before at a funeral. The pastor read from Psalm 55:6 which says "And I say, 'Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest...'" Then my step-brother, Chris, goes to a small white box and is given a white dove to hold on to representing the spirit of Mamaw. While Chris was holding the dove, three other doves were set free from the box and flew away. The three doves represented the trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Chris then let go of the dove he was holding. Now here is where the most amazing thing happened.
The three doves flew in one direction and the lone dove, Mamaw's "spirit," went in another direction. The doves right before flying off into the distance all reunited and flew away together. You may be asking what is so amazing about that.
Well, to me it was a perfect representation of the relationship Christ wants to have with us. The birds flying in different directions represented that we are so separated from the love of God, yet the Lord calls us to be Him through Christ, and if we listen and obey and offer our lives to Him, we will be united with Him. Seeing the four fly away together was just that; the Lord calling Mamaw to be with Him. What a visualisation of the Love God has for us. I hope that I've explained it well enough for you to understand what I saw.
I will miss my grandmother tremendously. She was full of life. I can only hope to live a life half as full as hers. I don't think that I will ever hear those words again, but I know they will forever be ingrained in my heart. I can only hope to make her proud by trying to be the best "Good boy" I can be.

Noose at TC

You might be thinking, does it ever stop at Columbia? First there was the Ahmadinejad controversy, and now there is racism.
Yesterday, October 9, a noose was found hanging from the office door of distinguished African American Psychology professor Madonna Constantine. I couldn't believe that this type of thing was happening here, at Teachers College, a place that prides itself in having diversity and equity in education. At the same time, no place is free of racism as long as it is prevalent in our country. TC is no different. AS diverse as our community is here, it doesn't escape the evils of racism.
Today we had a protest of solidarity where the entire college, students, faculty, and administration, stood outside of TC's main entrance to let people know that this college and university wasn't going to stand for actions as cowardice and awful as this. After Professor Madonna Constantine gave her statement saying that she wasn't going to be silenced from the actions of a coward on Tuesday, we walked around the Teachers College campus and then around Columbia's campus before returning for a town hall meeting.
Personally, I loved it. It was the first real protest that I stood behind and believed in.
Racism is horrendous. In the eyes of God, we are all equal. If I am to live a life representative of Christ and help in ending racism, I must love and be accepting of everyone, no matter where they come from.
The fact that racism still exists tells me that our society still has a long way to go in order to have this hate eradicated. One would've thought that we have progressed as a society from these horrible acts, but just as in Jena, La and now in the nation's best graduate school of education, it is evident that we haven't.
This event did cause a great deal of dialogue which is the first step to improving race relations, especially diversity on campus. In the town hall meeting that we had after the protest this afternoon allowed for everyone to not only voice their concerns, but also to hear suggestions about how to better our school as a safe place where diversity is not only embraced but racism is not tolerated.