This article comes from the Global Desk, a collaboration between The Gazelle, WSN and On Century Avenue. Read more by searching ‘global.’ NYU Shanghai’s sophomore class just recently submitted their applications for studying away for the year of 2015-2016. It is estimated that between the 3 semesters one is allowed to study away, summer and J-Terms and the Reality Show casts’ training, more than half of the class will at one point or the other of their college career visit, live and study in New York University’s biggest campus in New York. OCA had the opportunity to sit in with Anjana Sreedhar, current NYU Shanghai RA and NYU New York International Relations’ major about what it is like to live , breathe and (eat) New York. Anjana starts right off the bat by pointing out that New York has a combination of factors that make it one of the most unique places in the world to study. “In New York, it seems, anything is possible and anyone can become a New Yorker. The city is a microcosm of the world, representing hundreds of countries, languages, and cultures. Additionally, it provides a wealth of opportunities to get involved in the community from both professional and volunteer perspectives. New York is the United States’s economic and cultural center, and I knew that for the above reasons, I had to be a part of it, [and NYU].” Kernel on A Cob However, just as it’s easy to fit right in, it is also very likely to blend in so well that you are but no different from many a New Yorker moving through Washington Square in a hurry. Anjana recalls her initial weeks of loneliness and isolation when she hardly had knew anyone outside of high school friends and Welcome Week acquaintances. “I closed myself off from the world, going directly from class to home to the library and repeating that cycle. It wasn’t until halfway through the semester `when I started attending more events that I started getting to know people and forming a great network of friends.” As a study away student, it’s very easy, even expected, that you’ll stick to your circle of fellow NYU Shanghai students, roommates and perhaps the people you met and kept in touch with during the Admitted Students’ weekends. However, Anjana recommends otherwise: “New York can be intimidating because although there are 8 million people living there and there are times when you have never felt more alone. While that is a tangible fear, putting yourself out there to meet people and gain new experiences helps transform you as a person. In New York, community doesn’t create itself; you have to work to achieve one. “ Learning to Chew In Big [Apple] Chunks Anjana attests to her academic experience being quite excellent! “Although New York is seemingly more bureaucratic than Shanghai, there are support systems in place to help you discover your academic interests and achieve your goals. I have had thought-stimulating discussions in and out of class; with professors over coffee, and with classmates over lunch or tea. I have learned to make connections between seemingly unrelated classes, and have been encouraged by my teachers to pursue those connections further.” A Flavor For Everyone The most important thing about the New York campus is that it is not a gated campus in the traditional sense. NYU prides itself on being “in and of the city.” This might appear to be strange to some, and can often lead to the feeling of lack of community at times. However, it gives students the unique opportunity to directly engage with the larger New York City community. The moment you step outside your residence hall, you are not in NYU; you are in New York! As a study away student, you are encouraged to make use of New York’s bounty of facilities, such as the Coles Sports Center, Bobst Library, and Kimmel Center for Student Life (which contains departments such as the Center for Multicultural Education and Programming, is the space where most clubs and publications hold meetings, and offers several study spaces). And of course, Washington Square Park! On a warm spring day, you can see families lounging by the fountain, the hot dog street vendor, and the occasional TV program shooting. It is in Washington Square Park where you feel the essence of New York come to life. In addition, there is a catalogue of never-ending activities, listservs, discounts and events that are accessible to the NYU community. You have your pick between Flurry (free ice skating at Bryant Park) and a Spring Formal (for each respective school), and everything in between. Not forgetting the multitude of Clubs available for every interest imaginable. From comic books to Asian culture to social justice, there is a club for everyone at NYU. À l’Albert Carte Anjana highly recommends taking any class with economics professor, Marc Lieberman. He is funny, smart, engaging, and makes economics very interesting. He is very approachable and helpful during office hours. Gizem Acikgoz is an amazing statistics teacher and any one who hasn’t done their calculus class should strongly consider Selin Kalaycioglu at Courant Institute of Mathematics who teaches a challenging but fun class. However your classes will determine which academic facilities you will use. For the College of Arts and Science, most of your classes might be in the Silver Center, which is one of NYU’s oldest buildings. Stern boasts the beautiful Kaufman Management Center, while Steinhardt has a beautiful theater for student performances across the street. Certain majors have their own buildings. For example, Anjana frequents 19 West 4th Street, which houses the politics, international relations, and economics majors. On the other side of the street are buildings that house linguistics and anthropology. The Polytechnic School of Engineering is about 3 subway stops away in Brooklyn. Full Course for the Vegetarians As a vegetarian, living in New York was the perfect choice according to Anjana. There are food options for people with any kind of dietary restrictions or food preferences that are readily and easily accessible. Last year, there was a halal street food cart across the street from where Anjana lived. She could get to the famous Joe’s Pizza after walking a few minutes; Chipotle, Bravo’s Pizza, and Dunkin Donuts were also close by. The dining halls also offer a stellar variety of choices. If you desire a Panini and some fresh cookies, the Hayden Dining Hall is the place to go; if the mood for flatbread pizza strikes, head over to Palladium. Many dining halls offer halal, kosher, vegetarian, and vegan options. Hayden was voted as being one of the most vegan and vegetarian friendly dining halls; while Weinstein has a separate kosher section. For eating out, Anjana enthusiastically recommends Artichoke Pizza. Located on Bleecker Street, expect to enjoy mouth-watering, melted-cheese pizza. Serendipity in midtown is also famous for its frozen hot chocolate and other dishes. One can also not forget about Max Brenner’s, strategically located on Broadway near many NYU residence halls, famed for its variety of desserts. Right on 3rd Avenue is a Ukrainian restaurant called Veselka that is also amazing. There are also some amazing snack places near by, such as Big Gay Ice Cream for yum frozen yogurt. A Large Serving of Festivities Halloween, Christmas, and New Year’s are phenomena to be experienced in New York. The parade for Halloween is a lot of fun, and you get to see people in a variety of costumes. Christmas cheer knows no bounds, as many head to the Rockefeller Center to see the tree being lit up or to go ice skating at Bryant Park. Certain cultural holidays are also celebrated widely if you know where to go. For example, Queens has a dense Indian population, so celebrating Holi and Diwali there is always a great idea. No matter where you come from, there will be a space to celebrate holidays that are and aren’t culturally relevant to you. A Taste of The New Yorker Lifestyle It’s a very fast-paced life, much faster than Shanghai for sure. People will not stop and say good morning to you and it seems that everyone is in a rush all the time. It can get tiresome, but it is compensated for by the diversity of the city. You can wear anything you want and you not get stares. Everyone is free to do whatever they want within the bounds of the law, and New York celebrates each person’s individuality in that manner. If you’re into nightlife, there’s places, parties and events abundant for you to explore but you’ll have to take into consideration the 21-years drinking limit as per law of the USA. That said, there is a place near campus called Josie’s that never cards. Besides doing the token, but compulsory, tourist visits to the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Bryant Park and the Rockefeller Centre, Anjana recommends taking time off to explore outside of Manhattan and other indoorsy places. Taking a trip to the Brooklyn Bridge, the Bronx Zoo, and the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx is also a good idea and culturally enriching experience. Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. Watch the Broadway shows and plays that are special and specific to New York. The weather in New York is pretty erratic; it can be really warm one day and really cold the next. The winter is particularly severe because Manhattan is located in a wind corridor, which means that the cold is amplified by blustering winds. The spring is pleasant but a little cold in the beginning. The summer is particularly warm and humid while the fall is comfortable weather, the most exciting part of which is the leaves changing color. New York is best accessed by foot and by subway. Unlike Shanghai, there is a flat $2.50 fee every time you use the subway, no matter what distance. The subway system is much older, so don’t expect air conditioning or bright lights. New York is easy to navigate—for the most part—because of its grid system. Buses can also help you get places, but as college students in Greenwich Village, they are not as readily accessible as you might think. Taxis are more expensive and there is a higher chance of being ripped off, so I would not recommend them . Sides Of Other Cities in America Many usually travel within the United States for holidays and breaks. A big favorite is Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, upstate New York and, if you’re willing to travel across the country, various parts of California and Chicago. Final Chef’s Recommendations The halal cart, as well as the dosa (Indian crepe) cart located at the corner of Washington Square Park, are uniquely New York City experiences. Also in WSP you will find a variety of street performers (singers, dancers, acrobats, etc.) that you cannot find anywhere else in the world. There is also Shakespeare in the Park, in which NYU students act out Shakespeare plays for free in the park. On Century Avenue would like to thank Anjana Sreedhar for taking time to answer our questions and providing an insightful insider perspective on life in NYU New York. We wish her all the best for the her future endeavors. This article was written by Mercy-Angela Nantongo. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: 015 (paerd.tumblr.com)