Study Overseas

"To Europe she was America, to America she was the gateway of the earth. But to tell the story of New York would be to write a social history of the world."HG Wells

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 16st 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 16st 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.

Author
Clare Coles