5 Rapid Reactions from My Journey to NYC

Image from Alexis Teichmiller

NYC! As I type this sentence for the 100th time trying to come up with a phrase or word to describe my time, I am just in awe. There it is, AWE. That’s probably the word I’d use to recap my trip to New York City.
 
New York was an interesting place for me. This was the first time I really had a chance to explore NYC and experience everything it has to offer.
 
Continue reading to see my top 5 rapid reactions from NYC.

1. Subways are disgusting but awesome.

Public transportation is fantastic and I don’t know why LA doesn’t have a better system. It’s gotten better over the years and I love taking the Metro from Santa Monica to USC games, but other than that it could use some work.
 
Anyways, subways in New York are awesome because you never have to worry about sitting in traffic. There are exits, I mean stops, everywhere and they make it as simple as possible to transfer and get where you need to go. Don’t get me wrong, I was still confused by all the different subway lines when I left but if I was there longer I’m sure I’d get the hang of it.
 
On the flip side, subways are absolutely disgusting. The amount of people that take the subway and touch the railing is gross enough. Now, factor in the guy I saw sneeze into his hand and touch the railing before wiping his gross snot off. Take the person who hasn’t showered in weeks and is coughing all over the subway.

2. Drivers are crazy but incredible.

Most of the time I took the subway but when it got late or if I needed an easier way to transport my bags and didn’t want to walk, I took an Uber, Lyft, or Via. I’ve never heard so many horns in my life and for good reason too. These drivers are nuts. They are constantly cutting people off and slamming on their breaks. Between the stop and go, I’m surprised I never puked from being carsick.
 
At the same time, these drivers are incredible. To navigate the traffic and avoid people is incredible. I don’t know how there aren’t more accidents but I am thankful there aren’t.

3. I felt like I was in a maze of skyscrapers and for every meeting, I had to find my way out.

Maybe it’s because I’ve never toured the streets of New York before. Maybe it’s because I have a bad sense of direction. Either way, it was a unique experience getting from one meeting to the next. The toughest part was when I had the directions queued up on my phone on the subway but then the minute I get out of the subway my directions are off.
 
We also have to take into account the amount of people that roam the streets of New York. It’s insane. There’s hundreds of people on every corner hustling and bustling.
 
4. The Google office might have been the coolest office I’ve ever visited.

Visiting the Google office with Brock and Steph was dope! I’ve been to LinkedIn in San Francisco (thanks Carter) but going to Google was something else.
 
This building was so big that they had scooter stations so you could make it to your meeting on time. They had everything imaginable in the office from multiple buffets to a kitchen on every corner to one of the best views in NYC to a gym to a doctor’s office. Just WOW!
 
I love what I’m doing but if they offered me a job, the perks would be tough to turn down. Now if I could speak there on a regular basis that would be alright too.

5. Central Park is a top 5 best walking spot in the world.

This was by far my favorite experience in NYC. Central Park was half a mile from where I was staying so on my first full Saturday in New York, I spent almost 3 hours just walking around and enjoying its beauty.
 
Seeing everyone run and bike while others were on walks with their family was just a beautiful experience. It was the perfect place to clear my head, listen to a podcast, and appreciate the moment. ​

NYC was a pretty amazing place and outside of these reactions, I was able to accomplish a ton on my trip to The Big Apple.

Jake Kelfer is a bestselling author, high energy inspirational speaker and founder of the Professional Basketball Combine. He aims to inspire millions of people on their journey to achieving their own definition of success. His first book, Elevate Beyond, provides a framework for gaining an advantage in school, work and life. You can connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn or by emailing him at [email protected]. ​
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