Ah, the Big Apple; a city that never sleeps. So cool. So hip.
Without a doubt, interning in New York City has made me feel cool. And I hate to admit that, as I'm not one of New York's biggest fans, but I can't help feeling this way. There is just something about New York.
New York City is unlike any place I've ever been to. Even when you're walking at a steady pace, you'll still feel like you're not moving quickly enough. To make your time in New York a little bit smoother, here are some tips:
1. If you have a smartphone, download the app HopStop.
Meet HopStop -- your new best friend. This app will tell you which subway or train to take, it will give you walking directions, anything really. If you have somewhere to be, HopStop has five ways to get you there. If you're as directionally challenged as I am, I would HIGHLY recommend getting this app. Hopstop gives you times of when the next subway's coming and is seriously a very helpful tool. *Please note, however, that most subways do not have cell phone service, so I advise you to take screen shots of the directions before you get into the subway area.
2. Always bring an umbrella.
You should always be prepared for a weather change. You may not think it's going to rain, but the weather can be unpredictable. I'm currently on the train and it's a beautiful 70 degrees outside. The sky is blue and it's incredibly sunny. But by 2 p.m., there's a 70 percent chance it's going to thunder storm. Yeah, you can check the weather before you make the trip, but bringing an umbrella will definitely save you hours of being soaking wet. It's just always nice to be prepared.
3. If you can walk there, walk.
The subway system is super convenient, I agree. In some cases, however, the subway can take as long as walking would. I intern about 10 blocks away from Penn Station. If I take the subway underneath Penn Station, by the time I get to the subway station and the train finally arrives, I could've walked five blocks. Additionally, the subway may appear cheap ($2.75), but the money definitely adds up if you use it frequently.
4. If you're going to ride the subway frequently, invest in a MetroCard.
MetroCards are paper cards that'll cost you $1. You can fill it up with money for the subway, so you don't have to buy an individual ticket every time you take it. You may be wondering, "Why buy this card? I can just buy a ticket each time I take the subway?" That's true. However, if you take the subway every day, two, three, four times a day, you'll get pretty annoyed when you have to wait in line behind a full crowd of people just to buy one ticket. Additionally, if you put, let's say $10 on your card at a time, you will receive an extra $1 on your card. The extra money increases by the amount of money you decide to put on your card at a time.
5. If someone is asking you for money, don't give it to them.
I had a guy ask me for a couple dollars at Penn Station. Not having any cash on me, I decided to give him all the change in my change purse. Granted, I had a lot of pennies in there, but beggars can't be choosers. After I gave him the coins, he thanked me, walked away, and when I turned around, I saw him throw my change in the trash. So yeah, just don't bother.
6. If you're in a rush, follow the most official looking person you can find.
Are you trying to walk around people, but the crowd's going too slow? Follow the guy with the suit and the briefcase. If he's walking in the bikers' lane, follow his lead. These people deal with this stuff all the time. I have to walk through Times Square every time I walk to work, so I learned pretty quickly that if you need to be somewhere in a timely manner, you should probably follow the crowd of business people instead of lagging behind the crowd of tourists.
7. Bring your own lunch.
New York is expensive. If you're trying to save your money, just pack a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I promise you that the $8 soup isn't worth it.
8. Make sure your phone's charged.
I don't care how you manage to keep it charged, but keep it charged. No one wants to be lost, without a phone in a big city.
9. If you get lost/something goes wrong/you're panicking, calm down.
Calm down. Relax. The city can be unpredictable and you may not be prepared when something doesn't go your way. I've gotten lost on multiple occasions, missed my train, missed my subway, taken the wrong subway, and have gotten rained on, and for some reason, I keep coming back. Just breathe and remember that things will always happen that are out of your control. Just try to enjoy your time in the melting pot.
