I arrived in New York on August 26th and somehow the few days left in the month felt like I’ve lived a lifetime’s worth of experiences. When I first arrived, our apartment wasn’t quite ready due to renovations, but Avenue Church on the Upper East Side graciously welcomed us into their space. It was a temporary home, but in a city that can feel so big and overwhelming, having such a beautiful place to stay meant everything.
I met my roommate, Juliet, and our site coordinator, Tabatha, and together, we dove into our first week of orientation. We explored the city, wandering through Central Park, visiting the Museum of the City of New York, experiencing the rich culture of Little Yemen in the Bronx, and taking in the beauty of the New York Botanical Gardens. In between these adventures, we had deep conversations about our goals for the year, the work we would be doing, and why the New York YAV site is so important. We talked about the systemic issues in the communities we will be serving and recognized our privilege.
Shortly after I arrived came the start of my work with the Presbyterian Ministry at the UN. I jumped in right as preparations for the UN General Assembly were in full swing, a chaotic and high-pressure time to begin. To say I was overwhelmed would be an understatement. The world of international advocacy is complex, and I often felt completely lost, confused, and in over my head. In the midst of it all, I found comfort in getting to know my boss, Sue, whose kindness and guidance made those first few weeks a little less scary.
New York is fast, exciting, and constantly moving. Every time I visit, I am reminded why I love it so much. There is never a moment of boredom or stillness, so finding the quiet moments has been particularly important. August was so good to me, and made me excited for the months to come.
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