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New York Population Profile
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For such a small geographic area, New York has a long
and fascinating history that extends back to when the
local Indian tribes first inhabited the area. Today,
virtually every culture is represented on the streets
and in the cafes, allowing any international student to
feel at home in 'the city that never sleeps'.
Located on the East Atlantic coast of the United States,
New York stands at the mouth of the Hudson River, made
up of five boroughs separated by waterways and connected
by bridges or tunnels. Brooklyn and Queens occupy the
western portion of Long Island, Staten Island and
Manhattan are completely on their own land mass, while
the Bronx, to the north, remains attached to New York
State mainland.
However, New York is far more than just the sum of its
parts. Whether you are looking for a place to stay, a
place to study or a place to shop, New York has
everything you could wish for - and more.
When out and about in the city, there is much to see.
The neighborhoods of Lower Manhattan are huddled so
closely together that you can walk through them in an
hour, but you won't want to; a shoppers paradise, it
also offers great entertainment, with its jazz cellars,
coffee houses and boutiques. For international culinary
delights, visit Little Italy or Chinatown; for cultural
heritage, one of the many museums, such as the National
Museum of the American Indian or the Guggenheim.
Alternatively, if you are determined to part with your
hard-earned dollars, visit Fifth Avenue in the heart of
Manhattan, or Macy's, the world's largest department
store, with its own Thanksgiving Day Parade. An urban
centre for world-renowned entertainment, you can hear
music from any tradition, from the latest chart-topper
at Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall or the
Palladium, to jazz, beat, rock and folk in the clubs of
Greenwich Village.
Of course, there are also the universally famous sites:
take an elevator to the top of the Empire State
Building, overlooking the city; marvel at the pulsating
neon of bustling Times Square, take a carriage ride
around Central Park - and of course, see the majestic
Statue of Liberty, symbol of hope to generations of
Americans. There are many tours which encompass all of
these major sights, travelling by either bus, subway or
even helicopter!
The history of New York has been the focus of much
study, and it has perhaps the largest concentration of
educational opportunities of any city in the world, with
numerous colleges and universities offering
undergraduate and graduate programs in every conceivable
field. It is certainly best to be sure of exactly what
you wish to study before embarking on a journey to the
'Big Apple'.
However, it must be said that living in New York can be
tough. Because of the amount of people, it can seem like
a country in itself, and that means culture shock to
those coming to the city for the first time. New Yorkers
can be both fast-talking and sarcastic, and it would
perhaps be best to speak with friends or relatives in
the area first, with even a preparatory visit to the
city, in order to check what you are getting in to
before moving there! No matter where you go, though, you
will be certain to find others who have something in
common with yourself - language, country, even home town
- who can help you to fit in and become a New Yorker
yourself. |
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