Reflecting and looking back on the New Trip, I honestly can’t believe all the stuff we managed to do in such a short time. It was a trip where you learnt so much without realising it at first, and now, having the chance to look back, it was truly an unforgettable experience. My initial thought on New York was that it would be identical to London, bigger, more overwhelming, and more touristy. However, it proved me wrong. There truly was a uniqueness to New York: the energy, the fast-paced life, the ambience and the loud vibe all had such depth, making me feel like a comfortable stranger.
The main highlight, if I had to pick one, was the visit to the United Nations; I thought the trip would be complex and distant to me as I didn’t have as much in common with law and politics as my peers. However, being there completely changed that; seeing this huge organisation felt surreal. We also got to see a live conference, which felt unreal to me- seeing something you would only see on the news in person was cool. I found the interior of the building; there were so many rooms, each with its own authenticity, vibe and artwork, but one that really stuck out to me was the general assembly. The artwork there and the gold leaf engravings were truly amazing. I wasn’t expecting to learn so much about the UN and actually remember the information, and it made me realise it is not as complicated as I thought it would be; the UN is built on the foundation of bringing people together, which I found pretty inspiring.
Another part of the trip I can truly reflect on is the walking tour with Scott Lacky; what I truly enjoyed about the walk was learning about how New York came to be, the design of the buildings, learning about how the population came to be, and the stories of different areas within the city. How the immigrant communities all shaped different neighbourhoods stuck with me, as every corner had a story to tell if you were willing to listen. However, I am lucky to experience New York from a local perspective; just walking around and taking everything in at such a comfortable pace was nice. Doing this, I got to see a side of my peers I thought I wouldn’t see; spending that time exploring, walking, and learning together changed that dynamic. It’s nice to see how close we became when comparing the before and after.
But to summarise the trip, I thoroughly enjoyed it; the streets were never empty no matter the time and the constant feel and sound of the subways; I enjoyed it all. I plan to return someday to get a better experience of the city, but with more time and a better plan, I want to see and take in what the city offers. This trip made me want to keep exploring and learning, even after the trip had ended.
Grace Villagomez-Akre