New York City consists of five districts – Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island and Manhattan. With a population of more than 7, 2 million, there will be no nationality, which you wouldn’t find from there. New York is the USA’s largest and most diverse city and a popular spot for J1ers year after year. Whatever you wish, you will get it in New York. You can eat whatever whenever you want, you can do whatever whenever you want. And when you sleep, the city keeps living its ordinary life, bringing alive the American Dream. The city has lots of wonderful museums, icons like the Statue of Liberty, but also bohemian part of town – Greenwich Village. In New York, there is a mixture of diversities that change your imagination and for some reason keep you wanting to always and always go back there. Long Island is close to New York’s best areas, and provides miles of breezy beaches, perfect for escaping the summer humidity.
Useful information about New York
It is pretty hot in New York during the summer. The average temperature is around 28°C. New York has also high humidity. So if looking for an apartment, consider one with air conditioner. Trips to Long Island beaches will also help to escape the heat. The best way to move around and enjoy the city is just walking. You will not believe what you will see on the street. On one corner you can find some really good break-dance group performing for money, in the park some colored guys who move only, when you put money in their box, and another corner there might be someone selling you Rolex-watches for cheap prices. Streets are full of entertainmentJ.
Having a car is pretty uncommon in New York. Even the locals get around on foot or using the local public transport. Check www.mta.info/nyct/ for routes and fares.
The New York subway system is very big and busy. So it is confusing at first. But after you get used to it, it is one of the quickest ways to get around 24 hours a day. The bus system also runs 24 hours a day, and drivers will let passengers off between stops after 10 p.m. Both the bus and the subway cost $2 per ride no matter how long ride you take. You can also buy longer period tickets for the subway, which are cheaper. Rail Road runs also 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. This is great way to see the outer areas of New York
Some locals use taxi, but in NY’s chaotic traffic it might take more time than just walking. Also, be careful about crook taxi drivers, who might charge unfair fees for the joyride.
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Students usually go for Manhattan, Brooklyn or Long Island areas. Accommodation in New York might be expensive. So look for deals where you can share the apartment with few friends or other J1 students.
Even if the salaries tend to be higher in New York, you should avoid paying too much money for the accommodation. You should go to college housing offices or check out campus websites and university bulletin boards for summer sublets or dorm rentals.
These websites may help you out:
One good place to consider for the summer going is Hoboken area. This New Jersey City, located on the Hudson River has a good location, with 24 hour subway service and regular ferry service to the Lower Manhattan. You can find lots of bars and restaurants on every corner which give good opportunities to work as a waiter – probably the most profitable job for J1 student.
Check out hobokeni.com for more info.
The good thing about NY is that you have thousands of job opportunities. You might not get hired right away, but you will never run out of places to apply for. Look for bars and restaurants; there are plenty of those in all areas of New York! The best jobs for J1ers are usually in waiting and bartending, where tipping makes up a large part of your salary. But if you like more relaxed job, go for big shopping centers as Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Manhattan Mall or Saks Fifth Avenue. You will find hundreds of shops in those big buildings and some of them should have openings.
You can also check The New York Post, the New York Daily News and the New York Times (all of which are available online) will have the city’s best job listings and classifieds.
Or see our list for prearranged jobs.
Where to go & What to seeWhen it comes to sights to see and places to visit, New York has it all: lots of museums, shops, theatres, Central Park, Coney Island, the Empire State Building, and, of course, the Statue of Liberty.
Museums.
The American Museum of Natural History, the Museums of Modern and Contemporary Art, The Guggenheim Museum are all world-famous and have the most interesting famous works of the world starting with Picasso and ending with Dali.
In each of the 5 boroughs there is at least one park, making NYC the greenest city in the USA. Check out Central Park in Manhattan; Wave Hill in the Bronx; Prospect Park in Brooklyn; the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens and, in Staten Island, the Blue Heron Park. There are also a number of smaller city squares throughout Manhattan, many of which host free concerts and other entertainment all summer.
Departing approximately every 30 minutes, the Staten Island ferry is free and one of the best ways to appreciate the skyline of Manhattan. Alternatively, take a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. The Brooklyn side is rapidly becoming a city hot-spot, and there’s a great park as well.
New York is a city of neighborhoods, many of which are well worth exploring. Check out a Broadway show in the Theatre District, brush up on your punk history in the East Village, or hunt for bargains in NYC’s largest Chinatown in Flushing, Queens.
