Over spring break, I got the chance to travel to New York City for the first time. There was a newspaper convention taking place at the Roosevelt Hotel, and The Polytechnic sent six staff members to attend various seminars during the day and enjoy ourselves at night for two and a half days.
I grew up on a farm in the middle of nowhere. I have no neighbors—just 32 acres of grass and cornfields. The nearest mall is about a 25-minute drive, and the only places that are in walkable distances are the post office and the small local hardware store. Needless to say, I’ve never really been exposed to city life and the constant hustle and bustle of the streets.
We took the Amtrak from Albany to Penn Station—a very appropriate introduction to NYC. I could have stood there and watched all the people for a long time, but we were on a time frame and running late so we had to walk—more like dash—to the hotel that was about five blocks away. I almost got run over twice and lost once, and I just barely kept from getting knocked over by various people on the street. I guess I need more practice walking in crowds.
After the seminars, we went out to dinner, and I finally got to look around while walking. I’m sure I looked like the traditional tourist, with my neck bent back so I could see the tops of all the buildings. The other five staff members that were with me had to help keep me from wandering out into the streets in front of moving cars and running into various poles because I wasn’t paying attention to where I was walking. When we got to Times Square, it became even harder to watch where I was going. There was so much to see and no place to just stop and take it all in. One gets swept by the crowd and has to keep with the flow, or risk getting trampled.
No one ever stops moving. You get exhausted just watching people. It’s very different from the quiet tranquility of my home. RPI has more going on than my farm, but it is nowhere near as busy as NYC.
I feel like the two-and-a-half days flew by in a blur. They were full of seminars, subways, walking to hot dog stands at four in the morning, flashing lights on advertisements, a Broadway play, and so much more. It seemed like a sin to waste time on sleeping.
I am accustomed to the serenity of farmland, and I feel most comfortable there, but I had an amazing time in NYC. Everyone should try to experience something that’s new to them. It really gives you a new perspective on life and gives you a chance to walk in someone else’s shoes. Plus, you might even end up having a 50-year-old try to pick you up at a pub, which is quite an experience in itself.
