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May 28, 2010

A Stroll Through Columbia University

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On a cloudy Thursday morning I had the rare opportunity to be alone with my 3 year old for more than 2 hours.  My 4 yr old was out on a field trip till later that afternoon, and with the 12 year old in school and hubby at work, it was just him and I.

What to do? What to do?

Farmer’s Market of course!  What else on a lazy, hazy morning with only 1 kid in tow? We headed over to the farmer’s market by Columbia University which is open every Thursday and Sunday. It’s a small market. I like them best for jams and baked goods…and maybe even some flowers. But the biggest reason for our train ride down to 116th St on a day like this is the campus itself.

I don’t have much of a connection with the University, other than my brother went to law school there…and I worked for their medical center for many years. Mostly, it’s just an awesome campus to walk through. On days like these it can be peaceful, and it’s always welcoming.  I have never had anyone say anything to my kids as they run around and the students and professors always smile and are really friendly.

As we walked through I saw they were setting up for graduation ceremonies. Families taking pictures of their graduating student full of pride. I remembered that feeling of graduating from college myself…albeit a city college, but nonetheless an awesome moment in my life. And I looked at my little boy as he tracked ants, and ran around bushes, and up and down stairs, wondering to myself what the future held for my baby.

Will we one day find ourselves standing on these very steps, my eyes teary with pride, taking pictures of my baby on graduation day?

Who knows. Maybe. Maybe not. I can’t say it is my deepest desire that they attend an ivy league college.  I truly just want them to be happy and successful in whatever they do, however they choose to do it. But it was very emotional just to think of. I felt happy for the students and families who got to experience this amazing school, and this wonderful campus.

If you are ever visiting NYC, come to 116th St and stroll across the campus. It is rich in history , a peaceful place to rest your feet, and located in an awesome neighborhood with tons to do. And if you’re wondering where to find some awesome Greenmarkets in the city, check out GrowNYC.org for a complete listing with dates.

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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4 Comments
  • Isabel @AlphaMom
    May 28, 2010

    I first walked through that campus when I was about 6 years old and then and there (as irrational as it may be) that I wanted to attend. And I did, as an undergraduate. So, seeing your little boy wander and you being all wishful for your son's future happiness no matter where he goes to school is making me all sentimental now.

    Columbia trivia: When you visit the "Alma Mater" statue on the Low Library steps, look in the folds of her skirt. There's a hidden surprise.

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      Isabel @AlphaMom
      May 28, 2010

      Aw! How cool Isabel! Thanks for sharing : )) And for the trivia! Am going to have to check it out next time!

      Reply
  • jonesie
    May 29, 2010

    This was the sweetest post ever. He looks like a Columbia man already! I wanted to go but it didn't quite work that way. When he graduates from there you need to take a pic just like the second to last one and frame them side by side (How cool would that be!)

    Reply
  • Christine
    June 6, 2010

    What a wonderful post! My daughter goes to Columbia and I know what are in Alma Mater's folds but won't spoil the surprise for everyone. Loved the pictures of your little guy there – it is a beautiful campus and well worth the expense of sending my daughter there. The experiences she has had in the past two years have been unbelieveable and she is now doing her summer internship at the medical center in the lab. What a place! She has her own apartment for the summer 🙂

    Reply

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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A message about yesterday’s event: Happy Monday A message about yesterday’s event:

Happy Monday, y’all. Woke up in time to enjoy the soft glow of sunlight that shines its way around our house in the morning, and sipped on a cafecito without being rushed for anything. So already today is a win. 

Yesterday we worked our longest day yet for our little coffee cart that could (7 hours!!!) at the Heritage Fiesta in Ithaca, NY. 

Though we were ready for a crowd, the reception was also unexpected because there was a popular coffee shop just steps away. 

But we had Cómodo Fam stop by, family (who also fed us 🙏🏾), and soooo many members of the Latinx and BIPOC community who were just excited to see a small business like ours representing. 

I want to share that we were ALL worried about potential harassment and assault by 🧊and fliers were handed out to prepare us. And you would think that it would’ve intimidated the community enough to not come out…BUT WE DID. In numbers. 

And for hours that little parking lot next to Press Bay Alley was packed with all sorts of Latinx and non-Latinx community members, eating, laughing, dancing, singing, and drinking all the cafecitos and refreshers we had to offer. Literally. We went home cleaned out!

All this to say that we are all aware of the threats but we also understand the power and importance of coming together as a community and a people. By no means are we all the same, and Lord knows a lot of Latinos have a lot of self-reflecting to do based on the choices they made, but yesterday was a testament to the best of us, and I thank @yenospina and @lcatompkins for putting together such a wonderful event, for inviting @cafecomodony to be a part of it, and to all the friends, old and new, who came out to support us and la cultura. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #cafecomodo #coffeelover
Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite lazy day pastimes of the season: market shopping for fall goodies - which in the Finger Lakes is especially bountiful. 

📍Joseph’s Wayside Markey, Naples, NY

#fingerlakes #newyork #octobermood #fallday
Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The proce Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The process is busy and noisy but also exciting and fun to watch. 

This cloudy morning seems to have calmed things down a bit, but not for long I am sure. These families work hard!

Bonus: they set up roadside stands so we can purchase and taste them 🍇 I highly recommend picking some up if you see some in your drive. 

#fingerlakes #lifeinthecountry #newyork
The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️ The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️
I want to take moment to send out love to my fello I want to take moment to send out love to my fellow Latinx and immigrant community. 

To send strength to my community of glorious misfits who are out in the world making good trouble and emboldening us to not give up hope on our dreams, our livelihoods, our future, our country, our people. 

The country our parents worked so hard to get to so that we could fly. A country they helped build and bring to prosper. A country our communities help to feed and house and care for. 

I am my immigrant parents dream come true, and my children are a continuation of that dream. 

I just want to remind all of us who represent the targeted, of our worth. Of the value of our contributions. In our languages, our culture, our insights, our work ethic and skills and knowledge. Of the things we bring to the table.

I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, or to us. But, as someone whose family lived through a dictatorship, I have an idea of how this story will end. And all I can advise is that we remain on the right side of it, our convictions unaltered, our core values untethered. Our spirits unbroken. In these stories, the monsters might scare us, and even harm some of us, but they never, ever win in the end. 

I am living proof of that. ❤️ And every time you succeed and feel joy, you are too. Pa’lante, mi gente.
Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes. Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes.

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