Journal 2
Emily D’Archangelis
Journal #5 – The East Side
For our fourth class, we ventured down to the East Side with our starting point being East Harlem or otherwise known as Spanish Harlem. German immigrants were the first to come and settle in East Harlem from overseas, and then the Italians followed after them. But now East Harlem is now mostly occupied by Hispanics, which is why it is known as ‘el barrio’, which translates to ‘the neighborhood’. Gentrification is happening in parts of East Harlem, but there are still a few housing projects (people in this area did not have a lot of money so they would live in these apartment complexes called projects) that show how a good portion of the area still lives while huge apartment complexes are being built. These new buildings are causing new people to move into the area “there is the question of whether “El Barrio” will retain its unique multicultural flavor or simply become an extension of the exclusive Upper East Side.” (ENY, 86)
What stood out to me so much during our time in East Harlem was the amount of culture that was present. Every street we went on had a mural, mosaic, posters, paintings, ect that brought to life the history of this neighbor and the people seemed to be part of one big family. When our tour guide (who was amazing by the way) stopped just a random woman on the street and asked what she loved most about living here, she said, “Everyone is family here. I was born here, I live here and I’m probably going to die here.” Hearing that gave such strong message to how much this community means to them. The bookstore and the spiritual shop were the exact definition of community. The owner of that small bookstore did everything in her power to open up a place where kids and residents could go and find books that pertained to their own culture. In the spiritual shop, the owner talked about how for many years he has served the public with homemade remedies and herbs to cure their illnesses, but that he also serves them with faith and hope.
We also went to the Museum of the City of New York, which has “changing exhibitions focused on the history of New York City” (ENY, 87). Here, we watched a film on the history of New York, the struggles that New York faced and continue to face. During this movie, the most interesting part to me was when they showed the comparison photos of how the rich and poor lived and how big of a gap there was. It’s so sad because that was back in the 20’s/30’s but yet in the past decade, people are still living like that. We also saw an exhibit about the Gilded Age, which showed the wealth and goods that the people of New York had.
After we ate the most amazing lunch, it was time to start exploring Central Park! We started by entering near the Conservative Gardens of Central Park. We walked in the park for almost two hours and I saw and learned more than I had seen in my whole life. We saw the oldest thing in the park, Cleopatra’s Needle and the most interesting to me, Strawberry Fields. Where there was a tribute to John Lennon. Right outside the gates to Strawberry Fields was The Dakota were John Lennon was murdered. It was a little creepy/sad to be there knowing all the history that building had and what had happened right outside of it. It was one of those new events that no matter how old or where you are, you will remember exactly what you were doing when you heard the news.
Exploring the East Side, Spanish Harlem and Central Park brought to light a lot of history of New York that I never knew about. Like I said earlier, my favorite part about exploring Spanish Harlem was seeing the culture and just how close the whole community is. It is a breath of fresh air to see that when so many place and people in New York are just so kept to themselves.
Journal #5 – The East Side
For our fourth class, we ventured down to the East Side with our starting point being East Harlem or otherwise known as Spanish Harlem. German immigrants were the first to come and settle in East Harlem from overseas, and then the Italians followed after them. But now East Harlem is now mostly occupied by Hispanics, which is why it is known as ‘el barrio’, which translates to ‘the neighborhood’. Gentrification is happening in parts of East Harlem, but there are still a few housing projects (people in this area did not have a lot of money so they would live in these apartment complexes called projects) that show how a good portion of the area still lives while huge apartment complexes are being built. These new buildings are causing new people to move into the area “there is the question of whether “El Barrio” will retain its unique multicultural flavor or simply become an extension of the exclusive Upper East Side.” (ENY, 86)
What stood out to me so much during our time in East Harlem was the amount of culture that was present. Every street we went on had a mural, mosaic, posters, paintings, ect that brought to life the history of this neighbor and the people seemed to be part of one big family. When our tour guide (who was amazing by the way) stopped just a random woman on the street and asked what she loved most about living here, she said, “Everyone is family here. I was born here, I live here and I’m probably going to die here.” Hearing that gave such strong message to how much this community means to them. The bookstore and the spiritual shop were the exact definition of community. The owner of that small bookstore did everything in her power to open up a place where kids and residents could go and find books that pertained to their own culture. In the spiritual shop, the owner talked about how for many years he has served the public with homemade remedies and herbs to cure their illnesses, but that he also serves them with faith and hope.
We also went to the Museum of the City of New York, which has “changing exhibitions focused on the history of New York City” (ENY, 87). Here, we watched a film on the history of New York, the struggles that New York faced and continue to face. During this movie, the most interesting part to me was when they showed the comparison photos of how the rich and poor lived and how big of a gap there was. It’s so sad because that was back in the 20’s/30’s but yet in the past decade, people are still living like that. We also saw an exhibit about the Gilded Age, which showed the wealth and goods that the people of New York had.
After we ate the most amazing lunch, it was time to start exploring Central Park! We started by entering near the Conservative Gardens of Central Park. We walked in the park for almost two hours and I saw and learned more than I had seen in my whole life. We saw the oldest thing in the park, Cleopatra’s Needle and the most interesting to me, Strawberry Fields. Where there was a tribute to John Lennon. Right outside the gates to Strawberry Fields was The Dakota were John Lennon was murdered. It was a little creepy/sad to be there knowing all the history that building had and what had happened right outside of it. It was one of those new events that no matter how old or where you are, you will remember exactly what you were doing when you heard the news.
Exploring the East Side, Spanish Harlem and Central Park brought to light a lot of history of New York that I never knew about. Like I said earlier, my favorite part about exploring Spanish Harlem was seeing the culture and just how close the whole community is. It is a breath of fresh air to see that when so many place and people in New York are just so kept to themselves.
Emily D'Archangelis
Journal #6 - The West Side
Today we wasted no time and started our class by walking right to Time Square, which is one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions. Time Square was originally known as “Long Acre Square and was known as the center of New York’s horse and carriage industry.” (ENY, 33) Times Square is also the center of the city’s Theatre District, Broadway flourished in the 1940s and 1950s but in the 1970s Times Square became a dangerous area that was infested with crime, drugs, and pornography because the city went bankrupt. But thanks to Mayor Giuliani, he cleaned up Time Square in the 1990s and began to make it more “tourist friendly.” We also passed Radio City Music Hall, which everyone in the world knows is one of the most famous performance places in the world.
We then made it to my favorite stop so far during our class time, The GE Building. Something that I never knew was that the GE Building was the same building known as 30 Rock (Rockefeller Center) After learning this, I did feel pretty stupid but as soon as we entered I quickly forgot about all of that and went right into “fangirl” mode. Jimmy Fallon and SNL are two of my favorite shows on TV and to be in the building were both of these shows are being filmed was amazing! Beside the famous shows there are filmed there, the building also has amazing murals throughout the hallways. John D. Rockefeller the owner of the building, ordered to have these murals created. “The theme of these murals is man’s search for eternal truth through Christ’s teachings.” (ENY, 36) In other words, these murals can represent capitalism and religion that is part of the propaganda.
From 30 Rock, we went right to the Museum of Modern Art. This was not my first time to this museum and I thought maybe the second time I went, I would better understand but sadly, I do not. The MOMA is a place where contemporary and modern art thrive and it was Abby Aldrich Rockefeller who was the brains behind starting this museum. The original location was the Heckscher Building; “Eventually John D. Rockefeller agreed to donate land to the museum at 53rsst Street, where the museum now stands.” (ENY, 39) In the museum I would have to say my favorite exhibits was the one with Andy Warhol, I think mainly because I understood it the most. Don showed and talked about a lot of art by Jackson Pollock. I didn’t really understand the art so much but after Don explained it, I saw it a little differently.
After a long morning, we went to get Thai food in Hell’s Kitchen and it was amazing. I am a huge fan of Thai food already so being able to enjoy some authentic food was a great experience. Hell’s Kitchen was a place where crime was really high and had a high gang population, but by the 90s when gentrification started happening and of course changed the whole dynamic, “with large upscale apartment buildings attracting young professionals to the area.” (ENY, 40) After lunch we spent the rest of the afternoon exploring some of the most amazing parts of Morningside Heights and Hamilton Heights. In these places we saw the Cathedral of St. John the Devine, which was breathtaking. This Cathedral is the largest Gothic-Style cathedral in the world. As we were exploring it, it seemed like my eyes found something more beautiful each time I looked somewhere. This cathedral was built in a very interesting way, “A competition for the best design for the Cathedral was held in 1887 and the winners were the firm of Heins and LaFarge.” (ENY, 71) We then went to Columbia University, and just stepping on the campus made me feel smarter. It was so cool being on the campus of one of the top schools in the world, which had some of the greatest people to graduate. Our tour guide told us that this school has the most Pulitzer Price winners than any other school.
Journal #6 - The West Side
Today we wasted no time and started our class by walking right to Time Square, which is one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions. Time Square was originally known as “Long Acre Square and was known as the center of New York’s horse and carriage industry.” (ENY, 33) Times Square is also the center of the city’s Theatre District, Broadway flourished in the 1940s and 1950s but in the 1970s Times Square became a dangerous area that was infested with crime, drugs, and pornography because the city went bankrupt. But thanks to Mayor Giuliani, he cleaned up Time Square in the 1990s and began to make it more “tourist friendly.” We also passed Radio City Music Hall, which everyone in the world knows is one of the most famous performance places in the world.
We then made it to my favorite stop so far during our class time, The GE Building. Something that I never knew was that the GE Building was the same building known as 30 Rock (Rockefeller Center) After learning this, I did feel pretty stupid but as soon as we entered I quickly forgot about all of that and went right into “fangirl” mode. Jimmy Fallon and SNL are two of my favorite shows on TV and to be in the building were both of these shows are being filmed was amazing! Beside the famous shows there are filmed there, the building also has amazing murals throughout the hallways. John D. Rockefeller the owner of the building, ordered to have these murals created. “The theme of these murals is man’s search for eternal truth through Christ’s teachings.” (ENY, 36) In other words, these murals can represent capitalism and religion that is part of the propaganda.
From 30 Rock, we went right to the Museum of Modern Art. This was not my first time to this museum and I thought maybe the second time I went, I would better understand but sadly, I do not. The MOMA is a place where contemporary and modern art thrive and it was Abby Aldrich Rockefeller who was the brains behind starting this museum. The original location was the Heckscher Building; “Eventually John D. Rockefeller agreed to donate land to the museum at 53rsst Street, where the museum now stands.” (ENY, 39) In the museum I would have to say my favorite exhibits was the one with Andy Warhol, I think mainly because I understood it the most. Don showed and talked about a lot of art by Jackson Pollock. I didn’t really understand the art so much but after Don explained it, I saw it a little differently.
After a long morning, we went to get Thai food in Hell’s Kitchen and it was amazing. I am a huge fan of Thai food already so being able to enjoy some authentic food was a great experience. Hell’s Kitchen was a place where crime was really high and had a high gang population, but by the 90s when gentrification started happening and of course changed the whole dynamic, “with large upscale apartment buildings attracting young professionals to the area.” (ENY, 40) After lunch we spent the rest of the afternoon exploring some of the most amazing parts of Morningside Heights and Hamilton Heights. In these places we saw the Cathedral of St. John the Devine, which was breathtaking. This Cathedral is the largest Gothic-Style cathedral in the world. As we were exploring it, it seemed like my eyes found something more beautiful each time I looked somewhere. This cathedral was built in a very interesting way, “A competition for the best design for the Cathedral was held in 1887 and the winners were the firm of Heins and LaFarge.” (ENY, 71) We then went to Columbia University, and just stepping on the campus made me feel smarter. It was so cool being on the campus of one of the top schools in the world, which had some of the greatest people to graduate. Our tour guide told us that this school has the most Pulitzer Price winners than any other school.
Emily D'Archangelis
Journal #7 - Lower Manhattan
Today. Was. Awesome. I feel like I say that for most of our days in the city but today I really felt like I experienced so much! To jump right into it we took the train downtown and visited all the areas including the 9/11 memorial. Our first stop was St. Pauls Chapel. To hear the history behind this church gave me chills and to add to that history, what that chapel did to help those in need during 9/11 is so amazing. When we entered the chapel, we could already tell that the mood was very somber and sad by a lot of the memorials that were located within it. After the World Trade Center disaster, the chapel was a place where workers and police could stay between shifts, there were beds set up for them to sleep. I really find it amazing how that one tree saved that church, it really shows that something’s are really meant to be. And although I have been to the 9/11 memorial numerous times, I still get that same gut wrenching feeling. Seeing all the names around the pools and remembering those who we lost is something that will never be easy.
Easing away from the memorial, we made our way to City Hall, which we were so lucky to have the opportunity to have a tour of this building, since very few people do. As soon as you walk in there are so many things that catch your eye, one being the huge staircase and the other the huge oval domes overhead. “The long flight of stairs leading to City Hall’s entrance has been the site of numerous civic events and political demonstrations throughout the centuries. The dome on top of the building dates from 1917 and is the third to have been
built, the first two having been destroyed in fires.” (ENY). The first room we went to, the governor’s room, is where we got to see the portraits of past presidents and even the original desk that George Washington used! We were also lucky enough to see the assembly room right before a hearing was about to take place. We learned what happens in there and the job of everyone. It was really cool to see how our states laws get passed first hand.
On our walk down through Wall Street, I couldn’t help but feel as if I was entering the movie The Wolf of Wall Street. Some of these massive buildings have so much financial history for our country. “In the 19th century, this area, with its proximity to the City’s most active port, was where most of the nation’s largest banks and corporations had their headquarters.” (ENY). With New York City being one of the biggest finical capitals of the world, Wall Street and the financial distract is the core of that.
Our next stop was Gonovers Island where we got to spend the afternoon exploring and having lunch. This was one of the most fun times of the whole month. This is a place were people have been flocking to. Bike rentals, parks, hammocks, a mini beach, food carts, these are just some of the things that this island has to offer and I think it will only keep growing. It is so easy to get to, only coasting two dollars round trip on the ferry! This is defiantly a place I want to go back and visit again. On our way back we walked through Battery Park which also has so much history! “This 23 acre park was named after the battery of canons that the British kept here from 1683 1687 to protect the harbor. In the 19th century, the location of the park by the harbor made it an ideal spot to become the nation’s first immigrant receiving station.” (ENY). This had to be one of the more lively parks we’ve seen, with street performers with a huge crowd surrounding them, little vendors where you could paintings done, Battery Park is one of the busiest parks in New York.
After this Professor Russo was nice enough to let a few of us go early so we could visit the 9/11 museum. It’s difficult to put into words exactly how this experience made me feel but that museum was one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. It seemed a little eery in there for more than one reason but the main being that it was very silent. People were so consumed with what they were seeing and hearing throughout all the exibits that emotions took over many, including myself. I think I found it so hard to be in the museum because its not like any other, this is not something that was part of history hundreds or thousands of years ago, this is not something that people are guessing what it was like to live through, this is something that I lived through. My classmates, my friends, m family, we all lived through this. The whole time I was there I was just getting flashbacks of what happened that day and how it changed our lives forever. We are part of that history.
Journal #7 - Lower Manhattan
Today. Was. Awesome. I feel like I say that for most of our days in the city but today I really felt like I experienced so much! To jump right into it we took the train downtown and visited all the areas including the 9/11 memorial. Our first stop was St. Pauls Chapel. To hear the history behind this church gave me chills and to add to that history, what that chapel did to help those in need during 9/11 is so amazing. When we entered the chapel, we could already tell that the mood was very somber and sad by a lot of the memorials that were located within it. After the World Trade Center disaster, the chapel was a place where workers and police could stay between shifts, there were beds set up for them to sleep. I really find it amazing how that one tree saved that church, it really shows that something’s are really meant to be. And although I have been to the 9/11 memorial numerous times, I still get that same gut wrenching feeling. Seeing all the names around the pools and remembering those who we lost is something that will never be easy.
Easing away from the memorial, we made our way to City Hall, which we were so lucky to have the opportunity to have a tour of this building, since very few people do. As soon as you walk in there are so many things that catch your eye, one being the huge staircase and the other the huge oval domes overhead. “The long flight of stairs leading to City Hall’s entrance has been the site of numerous civic events and political demonstrations throughout the centuries. The dome on top of the building dates from 1917 and is the third to have been
built, the first two having been destroyed in fires.” (ENY). The first room we went to, the governor’s room, is where we got to see the portraits of past presidents and even the original desk that George Washington used! We were also lucky enough to see the assembly room right before a hearing was about to take place. We learned what happens in there and the job of everyone. It was really cool to see how our states laws get passed first hand.
On our walk down through Wall Street, I couldn’t help but feel as if I was entering the movie The Wolf of Wall Street. Some of these massive buildings have so much financial history for our country. “In the 19th century, this area, with its proximity to the City’s most active port, was where most of the nation’s largest banks and corporations had their headquarters.” (ENY). With New York City being one of the biggest finical capitals of the world, Wall Street and the financial distract is the core of that.
Our next stop was Gonovers Island where we got to spend the afternoon exploring and having lunch. This was one of the most fun times of the whole month. This is a place were people have been flocking to. Bike rentals, parks, hammocks, a mini beach, food carts, these are just some of the things that this island has to offer and I think it will only keep growing. It is so easy to get to, only coasting two dollars round trip on the ferry! This is defiantly a place I want to go back and visit again. On our way back we walked through Battery Park which also has so much history! “This 23 acre park was named after the battery of canons that the British kept here from 1683 1687 to protect the harbor. In the 19th century, the location of the park by the harbor made it an ideal spot to become the nation’s first immigrant receiving station.” (ENY). This had to be one of the more lively parks we’ve seen, with street performers with a huge crowd surrounding them, little vendors where you could paintings done, Battery Park is one of the busiest parks in New York.
After this Professor Russo was nice enough to let a few of us go early so we could visit the 9/11 museum. It’s difficult to put into words exactly how this experience made me feel but that museum was one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. It seemed a little eery in there for more than one reason but the main being that it was very silent. People were so consumed with what they were seeing and hearing throughout all the exibits that emotions took over many, including myself. I think I found it so hard to be in the museum because its not like any other, this is not something that was part of history hundreds or thousands of years ago, this is not something that people are guessing what it was like to live through, this is something that I lived through. My classmates, my friends, m family, we all lived through this. The whole time I was there I was just getting flashbacks of what happened that day and how it changed our lives forever. We are part of that history.
Emily D'Archangelis
Journal #8 - Immagrant New York
I can’t believe how quickly the time has gone, 8 classes and one month later and our last class is over. For our last class we got to explore what is known as Immigrant New York, this includes China Town, Little Italy, and the lower eastside. We started our day out at the Tenement Museum. I won’t lie; this is something I was not looking forward to. I had head that it is a million degrees and everyone is on top of each other. Why would I want to spend part of my day in those conditions? But as I was thinking that to myself, I realized how ridiculous I sounded. I am complaining about those conditions yet families had to live in these conditions for their whole lives. Our tour guide was amazing so that made things better and she taught us so much! The apartments had no running water, electricity or stoves and for the earlier years didn’t even have bathrooms. Each floor would have up to five families living on it, which is crazy. I think the most interesting part is what these families did to stay a float. Something really cool that our guide showed us was the pictures of the family all the way up to today’s generation and also she showed us a recording of an interview that she did was someone who grew up there!
Next we started on a scavenger hunt of Chinatown. It really felt as if we left New York. All the signs, food, clothing’s, everything was Chinese. It was really cool to be submerged into a culture like that and still be in New York. Our group ventured off a little and we found ourselves in Little Italy, where of course we had to stop and get Gelato from Ferrars! It was amazing. We then made it to lunch, finally! I thought the food was really good. There were a lot of things that I had never tried before and that I didn’t love too much like the tofu but I thought everything else was really good!
As the class came to an end we had the opportunity to stay a little while longer and go to Williamsburg! So me and a few other classmates decided to stay and walk the bridge with Don and Mike and I am so happy we did! The Williamsburg Bridge was so cool! All the graffiti on it really gave it a New York feel. “The success of the Bridge led to steel towers becoming the standard for suspension bridges in the United States.” (ENY, 119). Another cool thing about the bridge was that you could see the Manhattan Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, and the Queensburough Bridge all from that one spot! So it was pretty cool to be able to see all the bridges we have learned about over the past month. When we crossed over and made it into Williamsburg, I almost left like I left any part of New York Completely. The area just seemed to be so laid back and fun. I would love to live there but of course because of gentrification, the price of living spaces is sky high. But Williamsburg wasn’t always a place were people desired to live, “By the 1970s, Williamsburg for all practical purposes had become a slum area and was affiliated with high poverty and crime.” (ENY, 119) We ended the day in a beer garden with Don and Mike and it was so much fun! The perfect way to end the most perfect class!
Journal #8 - Immagrant New York
I can’t believe how quickly the time has gone, 8 classes and one month later and our last class is over. For our last class we got to explore what is known as Immigrant New York, this includes China Town, Little Italy, and the lower eastside. We started our day out at the Tenement Museum. I won’t lie; this is something I was not looking forward to. I had head that it is a million degrees and everyone is on top of each other. Why would I want to spend part of my day in those conditions? But as I was thinking that to myself, I realized how ridiculous I sounded. I am complaining about those conditions yet families had to live in these conditions for their whole lives. Our tour guide was amazing so that made things better and she taught us so much! The apartments had no running water, electricity or stoves and for the earlier years didn’t even have bathrooms. Each floor would have up to five families living on it, which is crazy. I think the most interesting part is what these families did to stay a float. Something really cool that our guide showed us was the pictures of the family all the way up to today’s generation and also she showed us a recording of an interview that she did was someone who grew up there!
Next we started on a scavenger hunt of Chinatown. It really felt as if we left New York. All the signs, food, clothing’s, everything was Chinese. It was really cool to be submerged into a culture like that and still be in New York. Our group ventured off a little and we found ourselves in Little Italy, where of course we had to stop and get Gelato from Ferrars! It was amazing. We then made it to lunch, finally! I thought the food was really good. There were a lot of things that I had never tried before and that I didn’t love too much like the tofu but I thought everything else was really good!
As the class came to an end we had the opportunity to stay a little while longer and go to Williamsburg! So me and a few other classmates decided to stay and walk the bridge with Don and Mike and I am so happy we did! The Williamsburg Bridge was so cool! All the graffiti on it really gave it a New York feel. “The success of the Bridge led to steel towers becoming the standard for suspension bridges in the United States.” (ENY, 119). Another cool thing about the bridge was that you could see the Manhattan Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, and the Queensburough Bridge all from that one spot! So it was pretty cool to be able to see all the bridges we have learned about over the past month. When we crossed over and made it into Williamsburg, I almost left like I left any part of New York Completely. The area just seemed to be so laid back and fun. I would love to live there but of course because of gentrification, the price of living spaces is sky high. But Williamsburg wasn’t always a place were people desired to live, “By the 1970s, Williamsburg for all practical purposes had become a slum area and was affiliated with high poverty and crime.” (ENY, 119) We ended the day in a beer garden with Don and Mike and it was so much fun! The perfect way to end the most perfect class!
Emily D'Archangelis
Journal #9 - Final Thoughts
Wow. What an experience. I truly never thought that I would enjoy and get so much out of this class. In my first journal I said that I wanted to learn more about New York City because I felt as if I new nothing about the city that I have been to a hundred times. I felt like a tourist in my own city. And this class did more than I could have ever imagined. This class has opened up my eyes to many more secrets of the city, and one of them being that it is definitely somewhere I would want to live in the near future. Not only did we learn about the locations of great places but we learned the history behind them, why these things places and buildings are here, what they did, how they got there name. New York has some of the greatest history in the world and it took me till now to figure it all out.
For this past month I have been boring my friends with new things I have learned and telling them about all the new places we need to go and see. I even convinced my sister to bring her High School social studies class to the transit museum. When I would go into the city before this class, I went to the touristy places right outside of Penn Station and never explored the places I’ve never been; now it’s the opposite. I have a list of places that I want to bring all my friends so they can experience what I did! I have already started by bringing my friends downtown and across the Brooklyn Bridge!
I cant stress enough how happy I am that I took this class. Sure, some of the days were long and my feet felt like they were going to fall off, but I finally feel like I know my own city know and I am so proud of that. And to top it off, I now know how to ride the subways, which will save me so much time and money from me usually getting lost! I also want to thank Mike and Don, they made this experience so amazing and fun. The knowledge they both have of New York is something that you cant just read in a book, its something that you experience and that’s what they brought us. I am going to miss this class!
Journal #9 - Final Thoughts
Wow. What an experience. I truly never thought that I would enjoy and get so much out of this class. In my first journal I said that I wanted to learn more about New York City because I felt as if I new nothing about the city that I have been to a hundred times. I felt like a tourist in my own city. And this class did more than I could have ever imagined. This class has opened up my eyes to many more secrets of the city, and one of them being that it is definitely somewhere I would want to live in the near future. Not only did we learn about the locations of great places but we learned the history behind them, why these things places and buildings are here, what they did, how they got there name. New York has some of the greatest history in the world and it took me till now to figure it all out.
For this past month I have been boring my friends with new things I have learned and telling them about all the new places we need to go and see. I even convinced my sister to bring her High School social studies class to the transit museum. When I would go into the city before this class, I went to the touristy places right outside of Penn Station and never explored the places I’ve never been; now it’s the opposite. I have a list of places that I want to bring all my friends so they can experience what I did! I have already started by bringing my friends downtown and across the Brooklyn Bridge!
I cant stress enough how happy I am that I took this class. Sure, some of the days were long and my feet felt like they were going to fall off, but I finally feel like I know my own city know and I am so proud of that. And to top it off, I now know how to ride the subways, which will save me so much time and money from me usually getting lost! I also want to thank Mike and Don, they made this experience so amazing and fun. The knowledge they both have of New York is something that you cant just read in a book, its something that you experience and that’s what they brought us. I am going to miss this class!