LIFE LESSONS LEARNED FROM A BAD HAIRCUT

1. Effective communication is key.

Don't assume the other person, or in my case the hairdresser, will understand what you want just by using hand gestures and inadequate language. Do your homework, practice your language, learn how to ask for exactly what you want, and utilize visual aids. (I should have brought a picture of Rachel from F.R.I.E.N.D.S.)

2. Don't be afraid to speak up.

I saw him going for it - his shiny scissors in one hand, my hair in the other. If I had stopped him and had spoken up after the first chop, instead of sitting in my seat with my eyebrows raised, maybe just maybe, he wouldn't have continued layering my hair as if I was Cyndi!

3. Cry on someone's shoulder. Especially of those who know how to make you laugh.

Sitting in a puddle of tears alone is okay for a while but having a support system is better. I didn't "cry" over my haircut but I was hysterical as I approached my best friend. She held me as she asked, "Who ate your hair?" She then reassured me that she could fix it and reminded me of all her tools at home. She made fun of me, of course, but it made me laugh which made the problem insignificant.

4. Focus on the positive.

It's easy to dramatize a small problem. When something goes wrong, take a step back and look at the big picture. It will remind you all the things that are going right which normally outweigh the wrongs. So, sure my hair is a goner, BUT I recently got an 86 on my Italian quiz! (Which is better than my previous 84) Yay me!

5. Learn to slay with what you got.

We all know the quote, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade," don't we? Instead of being sorry for what you don't have, embrace what you do - maybe I'll start channeling my inner Cyndi with all these uneven layers. And don't forget to be resourceful. (Wigs, weaves and hats are all good options.) With a little sugar and a dose of confidence, the possibilities of what you can do with your lemons are endless.

As for me, this lemony haircut inspired a blog post.

Till next time,

May

CHEEKY STREET SIGNS IN FLORENCE

Move over, Michelangelo & Da Vinci! Just kidding, I love ya'll, BUT here comes Clet and his cheeky street signs! You see many of them here in Florence. Clet uses removable stickers to add a sense of humor to the typically boring street signs. They never fail to make me smile! I have been collecting pictures of them ever since I arrived to the city. Check them out below!

Rest assured I'm still collecting some more! Till next time!

Ciao ciao,

May

VISIONS OF CHINA AT THE MET

Last night, I returned once again to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in a cocktail dress, high-heels and with my camera. It was my second time attending this exclusive College Group at the Met event hosted by the Costume Institute annually to celebrate special exhibitions. This year, they collaborated with the Department of Asian Art to showcase "China: Looking Through The Glass" exhibition which celebrates Chinese art, costumes, aesthetics and history. 

There was a huge crowd last night, and the museum was full of conversations and college students after-hours! Having arrived later on in the evening, I didn't get a chance to see the exhibition itself. Instead, I spent the night eating steamed pork buns, observing the crowd with my friends and snapping photos of the best-dressed attendees. Check them out below, and also, don't forget to check out the exhibition this summer! (May 7th-August 16th 2015)

Till next time!

Love,

May

JUNO? KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

Do you wanna build a snowmannn? 

Okay, bear with me here. This Frozen song was stuck in my head all day as I lounged around the house and watched Netflix. (13 going on 30 for the 15th time and F.R.I.E.N.D.S re-runs to be specific.) My internship and class had been cancelled in case of a blizzard today. But the much anticipated winter storm of 2015 turned out to be a minor, manageable one. The weather people can't always be right. In fact, I'm happy today turned out the way it did. Even though winter isn't my forte, I liked waking up to the sound of shoveling snow on a quite street. I also saw many people building snowmen and taking pictures with their families which brought smiles to my face. New York was full of winter spirit -especially since many of us got a day off from school and work!

Check out a few pictures of New York snowmen that I collected from my friends and from Instagram. I promise they will put you in a winter spirit too!

via @vivianlo_o

via @misz_iris

via Sammy

via @renesanger

via @claudiag1289

via @danielastubbs

via @kenly0_o

via Ruth

via @shez_sobadd

via @sst962

via @tinaplz17

Happy commuting tomorrow guys! 

XO,

May

TRAVEL DIARY: YANGON, MYANMAR

If New York City is a place for the night owls, Yangon is a city for the early birds. All the exciting things happen in the morning!

In Yangon, right before the crack of dawn, you'll hear temple bells donging in the distance mixed with the cockadoodledoos. Many Buddhist families in the city wake up at this time to prepare rice and food for the monks who are already walking in the streets and passing by homes. It is also a great time to visit Pagodas within the city like Shwe Dagon Pagoda and Sule Pagoda since early morning is the coolest time of the day in a hot weather city like Yangon. By the time the sun rises, many locals are already at the fresh market; shopping groceries and exchanging conversations. 

Let me give you some background information about the city before I go any further!

Image from Countries.bridgat.com

Yangon, or Rangoon in old English spelling, was once the capital of Myanmar, a country which was once called and is still known as Burma. In 2005, the capital of Myanmar was officially moved to Pyinmana which is now known as Nay Pyi Daw. However, Yangon currently remains the commercial hub of the country and is the largest city with over 5 million in population. It is also the city where I was born and raised. That's right! Over the winter break, I returned to Myanmar and spent two weeks reacquainting myself with Yangon and its culture. And here's my photo diary. I hope you enjoy!

Note: Text over the pictures will not show on mobile devices.

A charming old house in Yangon. Traditional two-story houses like this one usually showcase a great use of wood, high ceilings, large windows and a balcony. There are a good amount of traditional houses like this left throughout the city despite the constant renovation and construction within Yangon over the past two decades. 

Crows relaxing on electrical power lines throughout the city. If not crows, you will find an army of pigeons on these. There are high chances that they will poop on your car (and you) if you park right underneath their rent-free resting spots. I don't know who is to blame- the crows or the pigeons. 

A Hindu temple in Yangon.

Although the majority of the people follow Buddhism, Yangon is a highly diverse city that celebrates many different religions. 

This is an example of newer buildings which were constructed in the late 90s and early 2000s. Apartment buildings like this have several floors in effort to adapt to the growth in population within the city. As you can see, people of Yangon are not afraid of colors! Pink, green, yellow and blue - you'll see them all. This color palette could also have been an influence by the Hindu temples. 

A typical morning near Thein Phyu market. Early morning between 7am-9am is a common time for the locals do their groceries shopping at a market like this.

Street-side vendors selling produce and flowers.

Inside Thein Phyu Marketplace. 

Buddhist nuns dressed in pale pink walking through the crowd in the market. 

A stray cat.

Stray cats and dogs are commonly seen on the streets of Yangon. When it comes to the dogs, it's best if you stay out of their way and walk by them with confidence. Unless you are an animal lover and are not afraid of their health conditions, do not pet them or play with them. Yikes - I sound so cold-hearted. . 

Women from the market wearing Tha-Net-Khar on their faces. 

Tha-Net-Khar paste is produced by grinding a bark of Tha-Net-Khar tree on a stone slab. Many women, children and very few men wear this on their faces and sometimes on their arms. The creamy paste gives off cool sensation and is said to protect one from sunburn by wearing it. Tha-Net-Khar is a traditional cosmetic essential in Myanmar culture. I loved wearing it as a kid!

My favorite breakfast to have in Yangon! 

Lightly fried dough a.k.a Ei-Kya-Kway with Burmese sweet tea a.k.a La-Pat-Yea. (Unlike American sweet tea, Burmese La-Pat-Yea is thick, and it uses condensed milk as a sweetener.) Many food places offer this combo in Yangon especially in the mornings. 

Students in white and green having lunch at a street vendor place.

A local book/DVD rental store. As a child I rented cartoons and movies at places like this everyday!

Locals on a cycle richshaw, known as Site-Kar in Burmese. It is one of the cheapest forms of transportation in Yangon and is commonly used for short-distance travels. (Example: From the market to your house.) 

Children playing street games on Myanmar Independence Day - January 4th. The day is commonly celebrated by sports activities in most neighborhoods. Adults usually conduct the games and watch and cheer on the sidelines as the children participate. In this picture- the children are preparing to walk to the finish line with a candle in their hands as the referee explains the rules of the game. 

January 4th 2014. Bread Eating Contest - without using hands!

A glimpse of Shwe Dagon Pagoda.

People from all over the country donated money to cover every inch of this pagoda with gold plates. Shwe Dagon Pagoda is not only a great tourist attraction but it is also a very sacred and well-maintained place by the locals and the Buddhists in Myanmar. As soon as you step on the floor of this Pagoda, you feel at peace. 

Note: You cannot wear your shoes inside any pagodas. 

A sight of Shwe Dagon pagoda in the evening. 

Kandawgyi Lake.

In the distance is the Karaweik - an iconic royal barge that currently houses a restaurant. 

Kandawgyi Lake is a must-see place of Yangon. It offers a calm atmosphere and serves as an escape from the hustles and the bustles of Yangon streets. 

There's nothing better than walking on the wooden bridge across the lake on an early morning. 

People of Yangon doing yoga in the Kandawgyi Park.  Any one can join! This happens every morning between 5-7am - the only time that is free for anyone to enter Kandawgyi Park. 

Lily pads on the lake. 

I'd like to end this photo gallery with my favorite picture.

I'd love to hear about your experiences in Yangon if you live in or have visited the city. If you haven't, I encourage you to do so! 

Until next time,

May

BLUE COLLARS ON WALL STREET

Allow me to mention that I took all five of these pictures UNDER a minute while I made my way to my favorite halal cart on Wall Street. 

I have concluded that blue is men's top choice of color for office-wear. Can you guess the second most popular color? 

Xx,

May

WHAT WAS NEW AT NYFW

There were beautiful clothes, fabulous celebs, wonderful inspirations and continuation of past seasons' trends at NYFW this season.  What caught my eyes were the shows that put NEW in New York Fashion Week. Have a look. 

Sneakers became dresses at Alexander Wang S/S 2015

Taking the atheleisure trend to the next level indeed. Click here to see the whole collection on Style.com. 

Miley Cyrus's "Dirty Hippie" Art Debuted at Jeremy Scott S/S 2015

Jewelry Designer is added to this wrecking ball star's resume. Click here to see the whole collection on Style.com.

Anna Wintour, and the rest of the attendees, wore Beats By Dr. Dre at Marc Jacobs S/S 2015

The show felt like an 3D art installation. Three things I'm digging from Marc's show: the wigs, the pink house and this picture of Anna Wintour. Click here to read more about it on complex!

Betsey. Johnson.

Enough said. She delivers a breath of fresh air every season. In this collection, she celebrated "brides, marriages and freedom." Minus the make-up, can I just go to Vegas and get married in this outfit please? 

(just kidding, mom)

POLO Ralph Lauren's 4D Fashion Show

Click here to see the official video of the holographic show. The collection, shown at Central Park, was more focused on the lifestyle and the projection of the brand, rather than the clothes. Even though the clothes were blurry, the message was loud and clear; American. 

All hail Mr. Lauren.

Xx,

May

8 TRENDS FROM NYFW S/S 2015 RUNWAYS

1. Thigh-Slit Dresses

2. Crisp Whites

3. Knee-Grazing Hemlines

4. Matching Separates

5. Exaggerated Short-Sleeves

6. 3D Appliqués

7. Sheer Skirt Extensions

8. Gingham Styles

Images collected from Style.com, Compiled by May Hein

Which trend is your favorite? And, let me know if you spotted any others this season. London's next!

Xx,

May

CAMPUS TREND: Shirt-Around-The-Waist

Plaid, gingham or solid, these long-sleeved button down shirts are making their way onto the waists of FIT students on 27th Street.

Not only are they great for layering as we transition into Fall, they also evidently make an effortless statement. As you can see above, the shirt-around-the-waist look is usually paired with other comfy pieces like denim, chucks, combat boots and flip-flops. I don't mind the come-back of this trend. We ARE 90s kids after all. 

This is May reporting from the heart of New York City. What's trending on your campus? 

Xx,

May