NYC Visit - The Met

Waking on an early Saturday morning, the Humanities House Learning Community gathered together and boarded a coach bus to take us to the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art. With outlets included, we partook and endured the long journey from Storrs and arrived outside the MET, behind a beautiful fountain, in the center of Manhattan. Upon arrival, the Humanities House separated into groups with their friends and floormates and began to peruse what the museum had to offer. The Metropolitan had an immense collection of art, originating from places all over the world such as Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The museum had multiple floors and endless hallways brimming with both precious ancient and modern art. This included sculptures, paintings, artifacts, and other mind-bending exhibits. One amazing work present was a glass deer sculpture, which was in close proximity to the museum’s Moon Garden. There was also an entire section dedicated to music, displaying a wide variety of musical instruments, from the historical to the experimental. The museum was so expansive that it would be extremely difficult to explore all of it even in a few hours. Another great feature of the MET was its elaborate descriptions of each item. This makes the MET not only about observing beautiful art but understanding how it conveys the Humanities within each culture. The MET had other features as well, including a gift shop and a gelato bar in the lobby area.

After the Metropolitan, we had from around 1:30 to 4:30 to explore New York City or stay at the museum before returning to UConn. This was around lunchtime, where both bought food at street vendors in the area as well as some local restaurant establishments. Under fair weather, the city’s full potential was available to us, which led to many possibilities for us to investigate. Many members went to Central Park, right next to the museum, enjoying the fresh air and the various sites, locals, and performances therein. Some members also traveled to Queens, using the metro, for a Bernie Sanders rally with guest Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. However, they were unable to see much of them before having to return to the bus due to the length of the metro ride. Other members also walked around the city to see what the city had to offer, letting the experience come as it came. Some, even still, aimed for locations of interest, and though they were not able to be reached, the journey itself was enjoyed and appreciated. This alone describes little of all the experiences present in our time in the city, both as a community as well as for each and every one of us. By the time we had to leave, everyone was at the bus on time and accounted for. After a long day, many took the time to rest on the bus as well as tell of their day’s adventures, bringing not only some mementos, but also memories and experiences that will not fade with ease.