CHOO onthis

• February 7-17: Brenda*
• March 5-6: Han*
• March 13-16: Sarah*
• March 18-19: Phil and Will*
• April 1-3: Jen and Jason*
• April 7-11: Maggie*
• April 14: Janet*
• April 27-28: Barbara
• April 29-May 3: Kat and Randy*
• May 7-11: Vivian*

*Guests that stayed with me at my apartment - all were the perfect guests of course - I have the best friends

The list above is the marathon of consecutive guests I’ve had since I moved to New York. Having guests from home is really one of the best things that could happen if you move away. You know, to help during the times where you feel these new people just don’t understand you. To help erase the memory of laughing about an inside joke - telling the story to help your new friends understand the inside joke only to be left laughing by yourself. After all my experiences, I’ve developed a bit a “wish list” - a compilation of all the things that my past guests did RIGHT because although having people from home is so amazing and comforting - being a hostess is not an easy task.

Wish List:

Be a weekend visitor Its so great that you have a vacation but unfortunately I have a job that I need to get to by 7:30 am every day, and classes during the week. If possible, please come during a weekend so I can give you my undivided attention. OR

Come with a friend If you’re going to come during the week - totally fine - but maybe you should consider bringing a friend. Since I’ll be at work or have my weekly planned events, you won’t be bored out of your mind exploring alone (unless you like it).

Plan ahead If you’re coming to NY for a vacation, there are probably restaurants, tourist spots you want to see…come ready with them! As a hostess, I will bring you to the places that I’ve grown to love but I feel terrible if we don’t go to the spots that have been on your bucket list for life.

Bring your running shoes There is a ridiculous amount of good food in NY and you won’t be eating just 3 meals a day. If you’re coming for a vacation, expect to gain a good 5-7 pounds… and you’re on vacation so that’s acceptable.  I live here though, and gaining 5-7 pounds is not acceptable. When you leave - I need to live with that. Bring your running shoes because you’ll be joining me for my 5-mile weekend run at Central Park.

Have an opinion When guests come - I throw a bunch of ideas and suggestions out there, but if you don’t like it - feel free to throw it right back! I won’t be offended if you think an idea I have is stupid (most are good though, because c’mon, really). If you’re dying to do something else, by all means, let me know.

Call up your other friends Okay this sounds weird because maybe you came to visit me - but if you’re traveling alone, and in the RAREEEEE case that you get sick of me, it might be nice for you to catch up with some other friends to mix it up. Steph and I have built out a calendar on Google to tag-team showing our guests around but sometimes its nice to expand a group or change a group up for different events.