My 1st Taste of New York

Last summer, I took a weeklong vacation with my family to the great state of New York. I was filled to the brim with excitement; I had heard so many great things about the lively city and I was extremely eager to experience it for myself. After all, Manhattan is famous for its hustle and bustle, its diversity, and its bright lights and as a city girl, it was just what I was craving to encounter. Arriving in New York, I was in awe from the moment we left the JFK airport until we reached our hotel room. We were stuck in some horrendous, bumper-to-bumper traffic, but I did not mind at all- it only gave me more time to gawk and soak in the sights. California, too, has a reputation for commotion and livelihood, but it was somehow different here, in what I considered a ‘new’ world.

That night, after a nice dinner, my family and I took a calm stroll through the streets of Manhattan (or as calm of a stroll as you can get in New York). Somehow, in the midst of all the sightseeing and chaos, I was separated from my parents and sister. My first thoughts were ones of worry. How will they find me? Will they know I’m gone? Is anyone worried about me? I then realized I had a cell phone, and that they were just a phone call away. With the security of that knowledge safely tucked in the back of my mind, I decided to take a bit of an “adventure” and began to walk through the streets of Manhattan myself, with my inner pioneer leading the way. On paper, I admit that it sounds very risky and dangerous and just plain ignorant, but at the time, it felt like something I just had to do to truly see New York City. The weather was warm and inviting, and it was only 7pm, so there was still enough light outside. I was also roaming through a pedestrian dominated area, so I was not too afraid nor was I too concerned for my own welfare.

I found myself ambling in and out of Abercrombie & Fitch, H&M, the Disney Store, an ESPN store, all the while passing by Rockefeller Center, staring up at the Empire State building, and walking by Trump Towers. However, nothing could compare to the feeling I felt standing in the middle of Times Square. It was this odd feeling of realizing how miniscule I was in size in comparison to the big, thunderous city. It was as if I was pressed against the towering buildings to all sides of me. Taxi cabs honked everywhere they went and bodies flooded all the streets, perhaps some of them exploring just like me. I had never felt that way before and it was at that moment that I knew I had captured a glimpse of what it must be like to live in New York.

I later caught up with my family. Of course, they were worried about me and had tried to call me, although the reception wasn’t too reliable and I never received their calls. However, I explained to them my need to see the city myself and they, surprisingly, understood. I felt awful for letting my parents worry the chance and experience of seeing New York on my own, listening to my own thoughts against the soundtrack of the deafening city life, was well worth it. My “adventure” was definitely one of a kind and made for a great tale to tell once the school commenced.