After neglecting this blog for the last eight months I felt it time to conclude with a final reflective post.

When I first arrived in New York it seemed a little overwhelming – a plethora of noise, an abundance of lights and people everywhere. My immediate concern was of the potential struggle to adapt to this change of pace, this new lifestyle. However, once I adjusted to this urban jungle I came to love it. The thrill of the city got into my blood and I felt connected to the voltage flowing through the life of New York.

The city life certainly changed me and will undoubtedly affect my decisions in the months and years to come. The experience of being on the NY subway late at night and still having to stand due to lack of seats, really struck home. In my hometown the streets are almost silent at night but in the city that never sleeps the streets and subways are still very much alive.

Whilst I do miss the city I’m grateful for the time I had – seeing Al Pacino do Shakespeare in Central Park, experiencing the thrill of Broadway, the uniqueness of Coney Island, the pleasure of living in Brooklyn, the escape of Prospect Park, the tour of the Lower East Side in the insane cold, the experience of testifying and facing cross-examination as a witness in criminal court, the great friendships, the amazing bars, the fantastic restaurants, the vast amount of things to do, the effervescent music scene, the renowned museums and art galleries and the excitement and joy of being part of a church telling the truth of the gospel of Christ crucified for mankind – all in all it was a phenomenal experience.

New York is an extraordinary place and the same can be said of the people. Never before have I seen such a mix of variety and diversity. One of the weirdest moments that will stick in my mind for years to come was the sight of some men pushing a rabbit in a pushchair/stroller through Central Park…

But they were not alone – I also recall the man performing a magic trick on the subway with a live dove in a saucepan, the man on the Q train exploring his own unique style of exceptionally peculiar dance, the extraordinary singer performing at Union Square, the man who managed to drag an upright piano onto the subway platform, the friendly people, the unfriendly people, the arrogant, the un-noticed, the charming, the potentially violent, the caring, the indifferent and the fantastically entertaining – this assortment of people all brought together into the delightful melting pot of New York City. And I am exceptionally appreciative that within this vast melting pot I found so many fantastic friends.

‘Leaving New York never easy’ – a lyric by REM and a lyric that rings true. Leaving behind a city with so many memories, so many great friends and so much vibrancy and excitement was not easy. New York gave me one of the best years of my life and although I’m sad to have left behind a place of such unique calibre I’m grateful for the year I had; a year that will remain with me forever.

Au revoir mon ami.