Concrete Jungle
We traveled from Millbrook to New York City via train and taxi. We arrived at a family’s apartment, which had previously visited us in Cambodia. After settling in, we set out to explore the city. We took a hop-on, hop-off bus, navigating from the Upper East Side through Central Park to Times Square.
"A city is not measured by its length and width, but by the breadth of its vision and the height of its dreams."
— Herb Caen
After our wonderful time at Millbrook came to a close, we eagerly anticipated New York City. To reach our destination, we took a train and a yellow cab—just like in the movies—to stay with a family who had visited us in Cambodia. Their daughter, S., volunteered at Kulen Outreach for a week, excellently connecting with our students, especially considering her brief time there!
Upon our arrival at the building, the guards stopped us to verify our identities and confirm that we were invited. The maid guided us through the apartment and led us to our room. After dropping off our bags, we enjoyed a delicious homemade chili before exploring NYC. Our hosts weren't home yet, either at work or school, so we had dinner planned with them for later.
First stop: the hop-on, hop-off bus. We strolled from the Upper East Side through Central Park to Times Square to begin the tour. The grid is easy to navigate and convenient for walking.
New York City is vast, but it's pleasant to explore leisurely. We passed the New York City Public Library, a stunning building designed in a Roman style, guarded by colossal lion statues and a fountain—a true spectacle. A market further down offered magnets, T-shirts, and art.
Continuing, we entered Central Park. The trees hinted at autumn, their leaves blending late-summer green with the first touches of golden amber. Soft sunlight filtered through the branches, casting dappled shadows on the winding paths and inviting visitors to sit on benches by the lake's tranquil waters.
Joggers, picnickers, and street performers created a symphony of energy. Meanwhile, the crisp air carried the faint scent of changing seasons—a perfect blend of nature and city life, home to countless enormous squirrels compared to their European counterparts. We recognized a few spots from Stuart Little to Spider-Man.
Shortly after leaving the park, we reached our destination, Times Square, where we boarded the bus. We enjoyed the views and explored Little Italy and Chinatown. Since we were short on time and needed to return for dinner, we decided to return another day. Our bus-tickets were valid for a couple of days.
Once we returned, we met J. and A., who hadn’t joined the ladies of their family on the trip to Cambodia. It was the first time we saw them. We all shared dinner, discussing various topics, particularly geopolitics and education, which were hot subjects.
The children returned to their rooms to study while the parents returned to their offices to continue working. Kiki and I retreated to our room to plan for the next day and watch a series together. This marked the end of our first day in New York City with our new hosts. We were grateful for their hospitality and happy to reconnect with them.