AN INTERN IN NEW YORK - 6

This is my last week in New York so, it’s about time to look back and evaluate this intense experience sadly coming to an end.
 

Samuel Johnson once said: “…when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” I think this is true for New York too. I lived in London for a while, but New York makes you feel way more the fact that you are in a place where anything could happen. People from all over the world meet here because they feel they can realize their dreams in a city that has so many things to offer. This was true for me too… Having loved ballet since I was I child, I fulfilled one of my dreams last week when I attended the New York City Ballet Fall Gala at Lincoln Center. I was in heaven...
 

 

Unluckily during the night I heard some noises in my room and the following morning I found out a mouse nibbled my roommate’s bread. This is an example of what it is like living in New York: one moment you are as happy as you have hardly ever been and all of a sudden something bad or disgusting happens (anyway, I have a new room now!!). In the Big Apple you have to get used to living with mice, cockroaches and mad people in the streets that every now and then shock you. In the morning you read the newspaper and much as you find a bunch of adverts of exciting things going on, you discover that horrible things happened near the place where you live or work or like spending time. But Samuel Johnson was right, that’s life and we all have to accept it and prevent bad news to let us down. New York isn’t for sure an easy city to live in, but it helps you test and improve your ability to adapt to and accept different situations life brings on.

There are so many things I will miss when I will be back in Italy… first of all the food!! Although New Yorkers try to eat healthy, junk food is everywhere for the joy of visitors like me who can eat pancakes, French toasts, hamburgers, fries, doughnuts... If you stay here for a short time you really should try everything at least once as I am still trying to do… it’s difficult though because there are too many restaurants offering food from all over the world. As I wrote in one of my previous posts, I will miss the freedom of being who you really are since nobody judges you. The thing I will miss the most is for sure the possibility of choosing a different activity or a place to visit every day, and while doing that having the electrifying awareness I am finally part of the world so far I only had the chance to observe from my couch, far away at home.

In conclusion, I can’t forget giving you my feedback about NYLC: this is a great school with great teachers and a staff that really cares about students. I am not writing that because I have to, but because I have observed several courses during my internship and I find they all are really interesting. Teachers constantly involve students and the communicative approach they use is effective. New York language Center doesn’t focus only on grammar, writing, listening and speaking skills, they also offer courses that give you keys to understand the American slang, help you learn phrasal verbs (such a difficult part of the English language) or give you the chance to discuss current issues. For those who like writing there is also a course called Explore New York: each week you visit a neighborhood and you write about your experience in class. And do not forget the activities you can take part to every week!! New York Language Center is the best choice to learn English and experience the most fascinating and contradictory city in the world.

Elisa

 

AN INTERN IN NEW YORK – 5

After 6 weeks in New York I felt the need to take a break from the chaos, that’s why I decided to visit Philadelphia last Sunday… New York Language Center helps its students organize trips to Washington DC, Philadelphia, Boston and Niagara Falls so, even though I still have plenty of things to do in New York, I was tempted to see how the US look like outside the Big Apple.

I recommend you to plan a trip in one of those cities. You usually go by bus, so you have the chance to have a quick look at real America… without skyscrapers and a lot of fast foods and malls. The thing that hit me the most in Philadelphia was the quiet, the fact that you could walk on empty pavements and the absence of a constant traffic noise. I almost forgot how relaxing it is to walk without fighting to clear your own space in the crowd and without rushing because there are thousands of things going on at the same time.

Philly (this is the nickname inhabitants have given to their city) is the perfect place to go if you like history – or Rocky Balboa J. The main places to visit are: the Liberty Bell - a symbol of American Independence, the Independence Hall - the location where both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were adopted. Do not forget The Philadelphia Museum of Art, known mostly because of the role it played in the Rocky films. I am sure everybody remembers Rocky’s character running up the front stairs… If you don’t feel like visiting the Museum you could also enjoy a walk in a lovely park right behind the museum or along the river.

Once I was back in New York I was ready again to take up the delirious and yet lush rhythm the city imposes on you, at least for the last two weeks I will be here...

Elisa

AN INTERN IN NEW YORK - 4

One of the best things of living in a city like New York is that most of the times a simple walk turns out to be an exciting experience… 2 weeks ago for example I happened to be in Columbus Circle after dinner and I saw President Obama’s car surrounded by hundreds of policemen on motorbikes and trucks! So far I had seen those kind of things just on TV!! Again, a few days ago I went out because I craved pizza and I found myself by chance in front of the café where one of my favourite films – “You’ve got mail” - was shot!! I ended up eating a sandwich and a waffle at Café Lalo (201 West 83rd St.) but it was even better than the pizza I craved, as it was completely unforeseen.

I never get bored while walking in New York, not only because there are planes writing sentences in the sky, stunning sunsets, people dancing in parks or on piers, fashion shows (last week in fact began the fashion week) etc. Looking at people in the streets turns out to be an interesting pastime here... Sometimes I am shocked, sometimes amused or fascinated by the people who crowd New York City streets and by their activities. They are creative (maybe some of them are just crazy?!), they seem to follow their instinct, and for sure they are not afraid of what people might think about them. This is the reason why, in my opinion, the Big Apple is the place where everyone wants to be, the place where new trends are launched, where artists feel free to express and feed their genius and normal people feel free to just express themselves. There are no limitations here, at times this is positive, at times there are obviously downsides. To understand better what I am trying to say check out http://humansofnewyork.tumblr.com/.

Eventually my advice is: if you don’t feel like planning your day or your week, just go out for a walk and wait… something extraordinary, weird or unexpected will happen!!!

Elisa

AN INTERN IN NEW YORK - 3

In New York the more you do, the more you would do and the excitement of doing and seeing spots you have always heard about becomes “addicting”. As the time goes by you also begin feeling like visiting places that are a bit less famous but still worth a visit.

For example, last week I had dinner on the Highline, an old railroad turned into a fascinating park. I bought food at the Chelsea Market, which is right under the beginning of the High Line (14^th street – in the Meatpacking District) and then I had a relaxing walk among buildings and on New York City streets. On the Highline you get a really interesting perspective since you don’t see the skyline from the Hudson or on top of buildings, as new comers usually do (in fact as you may have read I did that 2 weeks ago), but you are right in the middle of the city. You can enjoy beautiful views in tranquility; you feel the city without being in the middle of the traffic and of the crowd, which was exactly what I needed. I recommend a visit (the NYLC organized one a couple of weeks ago) especially to those who are interested in architecture.

 

Thanks to the NYLC I found out that last Friday night there were fireworks in Coney Island, so I decided to go since I am mad about fireworks! It was a great activity because I had the chance to see a place which is not close to Manhattan (it takes an hour to get there by subway) and above all I saw the ocean for the very first time!! The atmosphere was enchanting: there was a full moon reflecting its white light on the ocean competing with the kaleidoscopic lights of the amusement park, that’s why the show actually began while waiting for the fireworks. I also had a hot dog at Nathan’s famous – I am not the hot dog kind of person but I have to admit that this one is really good and deserves its reputation. Amusement parks always put me in a good mood as they awaken the child in you. The Coney Island amusement park also gave me a sense of how Coney Island used to be at the beginning of the 20^th century, because of old attractions such as the Cyclone and the Wonder Wheel.  It had been a great way to spend my Friday night!

Elisa