Joe's New York Article in house style.

This is a 1500 word article in our house style. The style is based loosly on the house style of Arena magazine.

THE ARTICLE....

Let’s face it, we have all had that urge to just get up and go. Sometimes due to problems we’ve had and sometimes purely for the fact that were bored of life. Most of us are at the age, or near enough, where were looking to take a gap year before university. Some of us just have the urge to explore new places and look into different walks of life. A few weeks ago I did just that. About one year ago, I sat down and after a bad relationship decided I wanted to go and see more of the world. So I looked in loads of brochures on cheap package deals to Spain, possibly to join the rest of Essex in their drunken ventures. I decided after seeing an advert on the T.V. for America, it might be an idea to check out some deals or if not see what I could come up with myself.
After looking in more brochures, I decided I might have more luck trying to plan a holiday for myself. Looking at hotels was depressing. A student like me could barely afford a hotel anywhere so I decided that I might have to stay in a hostel. What caught my eye at that particular moment was the YMCA West Side hostel. Didn’t look too bad but again this was America, it’s not the cheapest place to decide to go on holiday, especially if you’re a student fresh out of Sixth form or college. Nonetheless, after an argument with my mum over whose going to lay the table for dinner I decided to book it. Stupid? definitely not.
Booking a British Airways flight wasn’t as bad as I thought it was either. £280 for a confirmed seat, return, was the most expensive thing about the trip. Overall I worked out the trip to about £1200 which for New York, including activities, isn’t half bad. Thinking about it, not many people would experience the high life of the big apple, even for a day and doing it for six days, for that price was a budget I could live with. That said, it was probably still more than double what it would have been to go to Ibiza and get drunk for 6 days but personally id rather save a little longer, pay a little more and have a better experience.
My Time in New York would start when I touch down at John F. Kennedy International Airport. As I Arrived at 11 o’clock I decided that after dumping my stuff, I would go and check out the famous Empire State Building. The view from the top really isn’t something you would ever want to miss. The feeling of being on top of the world is a feeling that far replaces any experience you have experienced before. Talking to an expert in travelling and local prestigious tour guide Lee Gelber I found out about some of the best places to eat, drink and see during my time in New York. “A Broadway musical is a must” was one of the first things that he said, even before I asked about the main hotspots in town. So taking Lee’s advice I got into a shirt that night and went to the Nederland theatre on 41st to see a popular yet a tad confusing musical, RENT. Personally as a man who’s more commonly seen at Upton Park than the local theatre. I didn’t find this to be what id say is my cup of tea. Nonetheless, it was certainly a worthwhile experience and one id probably do again if I ever visited New York again, as its just unlike anything I’ve ever done before. After the Musical I decided id get back to the Hostel, which upon returning I had found, was cleaned and had cable T.V. I was impressed.
For my A-levels I had studied Politics and enjoyed it enough to want to pursue my own experience of it. I had spoken to Lee and being the Intellectual he was he said if I wanted to experience Politics I had to take a tour of Harlem. Wondering why, yet trusting the PhD behind his name I decided to give it a go. My experience changed after this tour. Seeing Harlem was like walking into a third world country with “mass consumerism”. It was probably at this point that I began to feel thanks for the welfare system that we have in the U.K. I would say that if you believe America is skyscrapers and sunglasses then your mistaken.
Speaking to Lee was defiantly no mistake as I really felt that I was getting a taste of what life was like in America, and certainly taking a different view of what the famous “American dream” is. Feeling somewhat disappointed that my view of America had been ruined, I decided to rush back to Manhattan on the subway. I thought after this somewhat, life changing experience to take a look at one of the more famous things to come out of Harlem, The Harlem Globetrotters. Seeing them play at the Madison Square Garden arena was truly incredible. Thousands of people came to see the exhibition team perform their tricks and shoot hoops. This was one of the more tourist-type activities I did during my time here, but sometimes they turn out to be the most enjoyable activities anyway, so taking in the arena’s fantastic atmosphere and electric passion for the game. Lee’s suggestions prior to the trip have so far been a success. I recalled, before coming out here Lee spoke of visiting places like Little Italy and China town to “get a feel for the local life and experience what is the melting pot of New York City is really like”. I was a bit weary of this after my pervious experience of a rather intimidating Harlem tour but once again I though it is an excellent way of really getting a feel for just how many different cultures there are in New York. Visiting Little Italy, on Lee’s instructions was interesting to see so much culture and life in one area. Italian New Yorkers are notoriously rude and to be honest, after visiting I can see why. China Town looks pretty much like it does in London so at the end of the day the novelty of being in China Town wore off pretty quickly. The object of my trip was to obviously to have fun, but also to experience the various different walks of life. On my journey across New York I encountered a tenement museum. The Museum contained many different records of people who had lived in this tenement and I got into a discussion with one of the museum curators. She believed that New York was the most diverse and ethnically entwined places in the world. Has she ever been to London?. At least in London, people don’t live in separate areas like in Harlem being predominantly black or Little Italy speaking for itself. Sure there are set communities, London’s East End is one that springs to mind, but we mix more than them, FACT. Trying to convince the curator was hard as she was very set about in her ways, as most Italian Americans are.
Once again I decided to get down to the Madison Square arena and watch the New York Rangers take on the San Jose Sharks at Ice Hockey. This was once again a fantastic experience and one that ill probably remember for ever. In America, there is no separation of fans so where I was sitting we had Rangers and Sharks fans sitting next to each other. This is a completely new concept to me as if that was the case at Upton Park or Stamford Bridge most people would end up with claret shirts by the end of the match. When speaking to Lee, the tour guide he comment on the beauty of central park. “Central park and the Wollman rink are a must for anyone”. I decided to try my feet at skating around the rink and although not being much good, absorbing the atmosphere was amazing. Generally New York has been an amazing experience both culturally and for entertainment. My Dad always claims that “travel broadens the mind” and you know what? He’s not wrong. Of course before I went I had to see the landmarks made famous by the films such as King Kong like the Statue of Liberty. One thing I made sure that I saw was ground zero, however there isn’t much to see as there is going to be a new tower built on the sight of the old twin towers. Finally the trip wouldn’t have been complete without a shopping trip to Macy’s and Bloomingdales amongst just a few places for shopping. Upon speaking to the tour operator I was informed that if you show your passport at any checkout, you receive very kindly 11% off of anything, just for being British. God save the Queen.


Leave some comments let me know what you think? Joe Carbonaro