Ever since I was little and watched ‘Eloise at the Plaza’, my biggest dream was to go to New York City. I thought that it would be more magical than Disneyworld, and while I eventually grew up and realized the magic of Disneyworld was really just overpriced food and sweltering Floridian heat, I still thought that New York City would be different. Even on social media I saw an array of diversity with race, class, fashion, hobbies, and life in general. When my dad surprised my family with tickets to New York at the beginning of the school year, the little girl inside of me was jumping for joy. I was finally going to experience the “Big Apple”, the coolest place in the world. However as soon as my plane touched down at LaGuardia Airport, I was met with this feeling of unease. While it might sound silly, I expected to be met with a sense of comfort when I got to New York. I’ve always felt like I don’t fit in very well with my small hometown, and part of me always believed that I would finally feel at home in a bigger city. But instead of that, I actually gained a new-found sense of appreciation for Elkhorn and the people who live here. One of the main issues I found with New York, was the amount of natives trying to take advantage of tourists. Especially in areas around common tourist attractions like the Statue of Liberty and 9/11 memorial, I found it disheartening how many scams were being run by the people of New York. Most travelers just want to visit the well-known places to learn more about the history of the city, but their good intentions are being overlooked by those looking to get a quick buck. Another problem that I find with New York is the amount of crime I saw. There were many instances of pickpocketing, public indecency, and more that I saw during my short stay there. It made me feel extremely uncomfortable and like I needed to look over my shoulder the entire time. Not only is crime a huge issue, but so is the unhygienic state of the city as a whole. Trash lining the streets, urine and spit covering the subways, and mass pollutants engulfing the city were the main factors that influenced my distaste for New York. The last problem that I took note of, was how crowded everything was. Streets are jammed packed with apartment buildings, restaurants, coffee shops, clothing stores, and everything in between. It feels like there’s barely any space to breathe in the city. While I appreciate the beauty and authenticity of arguably the most well known city in the world, I’ve discovered that it just isn’t for me, and that’s ok!