Day 2 – Exploring New York
Oct 18, 2024
The second day began with a few of us picking up bagels for everyone. After we ate, Adrian came to pick us up. The first thing we did was take the subway, where we got MetroCards. Adrian then chose someone to guide us through the subway system, giving us the chance to practice navigating independently.
Our next stop was a T-Mobile shop, where we picked up SIM cards with unlimited data. In SoHo, we had lunch at a typical American diner. With our bellies full, Adrian took us on a tour of various landmarks, including Ground Zero and Wall Street. At Wall Street, Adrian shared an interesting story about how New York used to be a Dutch colony called New Amsterdam. He told us about a group of Dutch settlers who were initially allowed to stay after the English took control of the colony, the Dutch were eventually driven out or killed. It was a fascinating glimpse into the early history of the city.
As the evening approached, we boarded a ferry to New Jersey, where we were treated to an incredible view of New York City at sunset. For dinner, Adrian invited us to a Mexican restaurant, where we enjoyed freshly prepared guacamole, made right at our table. The food was delicious, and we had a wonderful time, enjoying the meal and the stunning view. To finish the day, we visited Times Square. The bright lights of the advertisements left us all in awe. It was there that we said goodbye to our group leaders before making our way home on our own.
