On 1 September 2011, I arrived in New York City for an exchange semester. It was my first time living alone and my first time living alone overseas by myself. It also didn’t help that my previous experience of NYC was a terrible one.

Over the next four months, I went from hating to loving New York. I loved the diversity of the activities that I could do and the amazing people that I met. While I believe that Sydney is a better place to live and I enjoy London more, there is no doubt that New York is the greatest city in the world.

So when I returned this weekend for the first time in 7 years, I couldn’t help but reflect on my NYC, then and now.

NYC seemed smaller…

Over the course of two days, I walked the entirety of Broadway from 72nd St. in Upper West Side to Canal St. in Lower East. Throughout these walks, Manhattan seemed smaller and less imposing than my memories and perceptions. Buildings felt smaller (including the Empire State Building) and the distances felt much closer. 

My only explanation of this difference between reality and perception is the personal growth that I have gone through since I was last in NYC. Int eh 7 years since then, I have travelled around the world, mostly by myself. I have lived overseas, first in Dubai/Saudi Arabia and now Chicago. More than that, I have matured from a naïve 19 year old to a more mature, 26 year old with a strong sense of who I am as a person.

It’s not that the city has grown smaller, it’s just that I have grown.

…but just as familiar...

Through my walks, I visited many of the sites of my old life in NYC. From my hotel window, I had a view of the Empire State Building, which I saw every day when I left my dorm. I visited my old dorm and walked my daily route along Broadway from Union Square to the NYC campus at Washington Square Park. I visited Midtown and re-explored Central Park (the first place I visited in NYC after dropping off my luggage in my dorm in 2011). I even grabbed ice-cream at Sundaes and Cones (Although they were unfortunately no longer selling the Wasabi flavour).

What struck me was that the smells, sounds and vibe of NYC felt as comforting and cozy as when I had left on Christmas Day 2011.

...and just as culturally amazing

New York still remains the cultural centre of the world. At the Frieze Art Fair (the reason I went to NYC), I saw works by some of the greatest current and emerging talent in Contemporary Art. Many of these artists worked in NYC, even if the galleries representing them were distributed around the world. The food I ate was incredible with the chefs featuring in TV shows such as Chef’s Table. Even the greatest current influence on global culture, President Trump, is a New Yorker through and through (although it doesn’t seem that way).

People who have wanted to make a mark on the world have flocked to NYC for centuries. It doesn't look like that is ending anytime soon.

I can’t wait to spend my summer in NYC

At least a few week of my summer holidays will be spent in NYC. I can’t wait!