A Day in NYC: A Quick Trip & Some Thoughts

My school CISS offered international students a $60 NYC shuttle—yes, please! Took an early bus (a bit dizzying 🚌). Entering the city, the dense, neat rows of skyscraper windows caught my eye—like a model city. But so many windows… light pollution? Or just lots of sunlight inside? ☀️ Tried the NYC subway—smoother than expected! My Chinese credit card worked fine. The system felt old and a bit worn, with occasional street performers in cars. No security checks made the narrow platforms feel less safe—stampede risk? 🚇 Some tunnels had graffiti art. Statue of Liberty 🗽 Took the ferry—windy, seagulls following. Watching her outline grow clearer was surreal. The gift shop was full of Made in China souvenirs. 🤔 The museum shared her construction history… not much deep history here though. Note: If you have a pedestal ticket, empty your water bottle before security—lockers are available. Nearby park had eagles 🦅 and a Navy memorial. Wall Street’s Charging Bull 🐂 A short walk from the ferry. Lots of people touching it for luck—I did too. Give me strength, bull! Times Square 🏙️ A pedestrian zone flooded with ads—so much electricity! Found a cute Strawberry Bear in a store—took a photo: “Your easy days are numbered… you’re coming to work with me.” 😄 Grand Central Terminal Loved the starry ceiling—artsy vibe ✨. Observations: Lots of Made in China goods here too—some obviously from Chinese factories. Prices felt high (tariffs maybe?). Some items were oddly tacky (who buys these?!). The I ❤️ NY stripes felt very “American non-core”… maybe an export-import cultural loop? 🇺🇸🔄 Walked all day, came back exhausted. Back to work now—turns out PhD students and adults don’t get real breaks. 🥲 Next time, exploring somewhere new! #NYC #NYCDayTrip #TravelDiary #NYCSubway #StatueOfLiberty #TimesSquare