It was Tuesday, August 5th 2014 approximately 2:30 pm when the airplane touched down on the runway of JFK airport in New York City. We finally made it to the USA!
The hours before were filled with many emotions but mostly excitement. I had a sad but also very warm goodbye at the airport from my parents. After waving for the very last time, we found our way through security and finally took off with a delay of around 1.5 hours.
The flight was all smooth and we had a great time catching up with each other and meeting the other 50 participants we haven’t met yet. 8 hours went by surprisingly fast but it took us a long time to get through the immigration and customs procedure. It was hot, we were exhausted, tired and in anticipation of finally getting to see New York City.
To me there is no such feeling than seeing New York’s skyline for the first time (or at least for the first time after quiet a while)!!! Beautiful!
We stayed at the YMCA Vanderbilt Hotel close to Times Square – in the heart of Manhattan. We each shared a room with one other participant and I was lucky enough to have my friend Anna as my roommate. The rooms were as tiny as the organization already told us in advance but besides that it was a good place to stay for 3 nights.
After checking in, we met with everyone to have our first American dinner. We ate at Chipotle and enjoyed hot Burritos and Tacos. With stuffed tummies we left to get our first impression of New York. We walked through Grand Central Station, crossed many avenues and streets until we finally saw the bright lights of Times Square. Many, many pictures were taken and I think there it first hit me: ‘Anneke, you are again in New York!!!’
Times Square
The girls and I on Times Square
Some people from our group continued the tour to the Rockefeller Center but we (which are my very lovely friends Anna, Lena and Charlotte) were quiet tired and strolled through downtown to find our way back to the hotel. Jet lag definitely hit us by then and we fell into a deep sleep.
Of course I woke up quiet early the next morning which gave me plenty of time to get ready and eat breakfast. This was organized at a nearby café called ‘Hestia’. They prepared bagels and sweet pastry for us – the American way to start the day. By then it was time to begin the official part and actual reason of our journey to NYC. At the New York State Department our American organization ‘Cultural Vistas’ held another seminar and presentations about what will expect us next year and gave us furthermore a lot of information and advices. Besides a lunch break where my friends and I found an excellent place to eat with many busy New Yorkers, we continued staying at the State Department for the whole day. At the end of the day we got individual information about our placements. I for example received the note that they did find a host family for me but it still needs to be confirmed which basically means: I have to wait – again.
Anna, myself, Lena and Charlotte in front of the State Department
Presentations at the State Department
For dinner it was our choice where to eat and we found a very delicious place. It’s called ‘Cosí’ and offered delicious salads, sandwiches and all kinds of flat bread. At 8 o’clock we met the group again to go on a two-hour double-decker bus tour through New York. We were lucky to have a hilarious elderly German lady as our tour guide. We saw the main sights of Manhattan and while crossing Manhattan Bridge to Brooklyn we had a breathtaking view over Manhattan at sunset. It was rather difficult to capture this moment with my camera but here is what I got.
New York’s Skyline during sunset
Bus Tour
That’s New York!!!
We wanted to do something easy for the night and were looking for a nice place to get a drink. I have to say Manhattan is too big and difficult to figure out for tourists if it comes to good places for going out. We ended up at a restaurant / bar called – shame on us – ‘Hofbräuhaus München’ which is obviously a German styled place. We felt really embarrassed going there BUT it was the only place where no private party or anything else was going on that we could find. Even though we were quiet shocked by prices in New York, we still enjoyed the evening with good company.
Day 3 in New York started as usual with breakfast and more presentations by our organization in the State Department. This time we were already done by noon and the seminar ended with the actually most exciting part:
We finally got to know how and where we will travel to our final placement. So in my case: How will I get from New York to Portland?
Everyone received a big red envelop with tickets, travel plans and further information.
My journey will take 23 days and I will visit places in central USA: Rock Falls, IL – Indianapolis, IN – Cincinnati, OH – Lexington, KY – Atlanta, GA – Portland, OR
This is one of the longest journeys and even though it might not sound super exciting, I am still very excited to travel the country, see places I have never been before and meet local people at all these places since we will stay with host families.
But back to New York. With the envelop in our hands we had a whole afternoon of free time! We started off with getting the subway down to Battery Park to catch the Staten Island Ferry from there. Main goal here was to see the good old Statue of Liberty which was once again a great moment. We were very lucky with the weather. It was warm but not too hot and always a little windy. Perfect for sightseeing. We visited a 9/11 memorial on Staten Island which honors the firefighters who died on that day.
Skyline during daytime
Statue of Liberty
On the Staten Island Ferry with Yannick and Anna
There we are: the skyline and us
9/11 memorial on Staten Island
We continued our tour to Ground Zero and Freedom Tower. I haven’t seen the final memorial on Ground Zero yet and therefore this was a very touching moment for me. In my opinion they did a very good job. I liked the memorial because it is a good combination of remembering the victims in honor but at the same time the waterfalls and also the trees they plant around the area, symbolize for me the future and that life goes on even after such a tragedy.
Freedom Tower
Ground Zero Memorial
With all these impressions we went up more north again to Rockefeller Center where we eventually decided not to go on top.
Rockefeller Center
After dinner and some coffee we felt all alive again and ready to see what is going on in New York by night. We asked a girl from our organization and she recommended a certain area of the city where we could find many bars and restaurants to spend the evening. That’s what we did and we ended up dancing in a quiet small bar. It was fun and we enjoyed our first and unfortunately last night out in NYC. Lena and I left earlier and caught the subway back which was an experience. Down in the subway station some guys played some amazing weird loud electronic music… Things that only happen in NYC!
The next morning was already our last one in New York City. We had to pack our suitcases and bags and at 9:30 am 35 of us were brought to Penn Station. Our train didn’t leave until 3:50 pm which gave us plenty of time to eat, enjoy the sun at a square nearby where a very talented guy played some amazing music on his guitar. This was one of these beautiful moments in life where you just feel that everything is perfect.
Last moments in New York City
I am looking back to some incredible days in New York with lovely and fun people. I enjoyed the time a lot and it is always great returning to this city. With all these wonderful memories I feel ready to leave the east coast and continue my journey to the west!
Anneke
