If you had said to me, when I joined Chichester College in September 2017, that I would take my first trip away from home without my parents to visit NYC, yes, the New York metropolis, in the following May, I would not have believed you and I might have even laughed out loud. In Freshers Week I noticed the Students’ Union advertised a range of trips for all students and NYC looked very exciting. Would this even be possible I wondered? Thinking here about the complex special needs and some mobility and sensory issues I have to contend with.
Chichester College ALS opens up new horizons and new possibilities, not just in study, for fun and for life too...
I asked the question --- (nervously) ‘Would this really be open to me?’ ‘Of course’ was the answer and without a pause the Additional Learning Support Team swung into action to help make it happen. One of the additional support assistants met me in my own home to talk through a typical day and what I did, my routines and what I needed to keep me safe and also to manage my medication and other needs. They assured me they would be there for me during the trip, they would support me, but not crowd me. The team went a whole ‘extra mile’ to make it so. They were going to accompany the group and help me if needed, I could not believe it, I was really going to New York!
International Travellers R Us
Let me tell you about the fantastic time we had and give you a flavour of our exhilarating itinerary.
I don’t suspect any of us slept well the night before departure, we had to get up at 3am to meet the coach at the College Heathrow bound. Passport – check; suitcase—check; dollars---check: ‘Bye bye’ parents, ‘bye bye’ pet dog, see you in five days! I was so excited but a little bit nervous about the flight and I wondered would my dog miss me. (She did).
I and my lovely LSA sailed through LHR departures and security with special assistance, we even had time for a shop and a drink and before we knew we were boarding the plane. I sat with my friends and for nine hours we had drinks, snacks, films, snooze, music and thoroughly enjoyed our flight with Virgin Atlantic. I say that even though I am nervous at take-off, but really, it was all so easy and the cabin crew really looked after us. Just before landing we prepared for immigration, filled out our landing cards and got ready to disembark at JFK! None of us could quite believe it.
Bright lights and bright nights in the Big Apple
A coach transferred us to the YMCA at Central Park and we went immediately out to eat and explore. No jet lag there, we were too excited. After our visit to the Hard Rock Café, and our first experience of hailing iconic Yellow taxi cabs, New York tipping culture, Sky scrapers, wide sidewalks and the melting pot of huge crowds we all called it a night and rested for our next day.
It did not disappoint: Empire State Building, Times Square, a trip to Broadway to take in a show. The lift up to the top of the Empire State Building is 102 floors, so fast and high your ears pop and I felt a hint of nausea, but the view across Manhatten and the Hudson River is captivating. When back at street level, what I learnt is you look up, the skyline is everything you imagine from films and dramas seen on TV, it is so impressive and glitzy. I also learnt you had to move with the crowds on the sidewalk….I came to the kerb and the momentum of vast numbers of people moving meant I fell forwards (a common thing for me) and the crowd shouted ‘woah’. Immediately my supportive LSA and the person who looked after risk assessment caught me, scooped me onto both feet and we were on our way through 5th Avenue again, all safe and well and laughing ‘nothing to see here’ New Yorkers.
Are you British?
Lots of times we were asked “Are you from England?” when we said “yes” often the response was “London”? “No, England does not equal London we are from Chi”! One time, I had some tea, it was not good, the barista at the counter said, “From your face I guess you are British?” In response, I said “Yes, and that is not English Breakfast Tea, it tastes like dishwater.” We all laughed. It would be a NYC coffee or orange juice next time... Who said when in Rome do what Romans do?
The next day we took in Wall Street, the Stock Exchange, Staten Island, the area where ‘Friends’ was filmed , Macey’s department Store, catching naps on the coach in between to combat jet lag. Breakfast in Central Park was memorable, fluffy pancakes dripping with maple syrup. Getting to sleep at night was easy, we were tired each evening and I enjoyed the noise of the big City outside the window at hostel lights out time.
The hostel was basic but had everything we needed. I had all the support I needed for personal care, I felt secure and able to manage knowing learning support staff were there for me and I even set my alarm to take medications at 2am. NYC is five hours behind UK time so 2am is 7am, this is the time I have to take medications every day, and even that bit worked out fine, my support thought about every little detail to help me.
Tipping Culture – a bit of a culture shock
In the UK, we tend to only tip waiting staff in restaurants after a meal, in America, however, the culture is completely different. In America, tipping is required for everything, including special assistance service in an airport! Let me tell you, I was completely baffled as to why this guy wanted money from me for helping me to get to the departures gate in JFK for my flight home back to England.
It happened like this, after the special assistance person rolled me up to the gate in the special assistance wheelchair, I started getting my suitcase sorted with my LSA’s help, I looked behind me to see that he was still standing there. “What?” I asked, and he replied simply with “Tip”. I looked at my LSA in confusion, then I realised that he was asking for a tip for doing his job. Sighing, I dug two dollars from my purse and gave it to him, sending him on his way. Of course, now I know what to do in regard to tipping the next time I travel to the States by myself.
Reflections on the NYC Trip
I was so jet lagged when I got home, I slept a day and a night! My dog was so pleased to see me she ran all around the house when I returned, and my parents say she checked in on me as I slept, waiting for me to get up. The whole experience looking back on it gave me a great sense of freedom, that anything is possible with some planning and that new unfamiliar things and situations, even if they make you anxious can be so memorable and so much fun. Even a 747 jet taking off. I loved every minute of the trip. The experience also gave me some more confidence, in coping with life, college and also thinking about future global travel. Travel is something I want to do more of, I want to see many countries in the world and have got more confidence and belief that this is possible. I was far from home, but felt safe, and also independent, it was a real adventure. I used social media to update my parents and was so busy enjoying the city and the sights I didn’t think about home very much at all! I love travel, I love NYC!
If you had said to me, when I joined Chichester College in September 2017, that I would take my first trip away from home without my parents to visit NYC, yes, the New York metropolis, in the following May, I would not have believed you and I might have even laughed out loud. In Freshers Week I noticed the Students’ Union advertised a range of trips for all students and NYC looked very exciting. Would this even be possible I wondered? Thinking here about the complex special needs and some mobility and sensory issues I have to contend with.
Chichester College ALS opens up new horizons and new possibilities, not just in study, for fun and for life too...
I asked the question --- (nervously) ‘Would this really be open to me?’ ‘Of course’ was the answer and without a pause the Additional Learning Support Team swung into action to help make it happen. One of the additional support assistants met me in my own home to talk through a typical day and what I did, my routines and what I needed to keep me safe and also to manage my medication and other needs. They assured me they would be there for me during the trip, they would support me, but not crowd me. The team went a whole ‘extra mile’ to make it so. They were going to accompany the group and help me if needed, I could not believe it, I was really going to New York!
International Travellers R Us
Let me tell you about the fantastic time we had and give you a flavour of our exhilarating itinerary.
I don’t suspect any of us slept well the night before departure, we had to get up at 3am to meet the coach at the College Heathrow bound. Passport – check; suitcase—check; dollars---check: ‘Bye bye’ parents, ‘bye bye’ pet dog, see you in five days! I was so excited but a little bit nervous about the flight and I wondered would my dog miss me. (She did).
I and my lovely LSA sailed through LHR departures and security with special assistance, we even had time for a shop and a drink and before we knew we were boarding the plane. I sat with my friends and for nine hours we had drinks, snacks, films, snooze, music and thoroughly enjoyed our flight with Virgin Atlantic. I say that even though I am nervous at take-off, but really, it was all so easy and the cabin crew really looked after us. Just before landing we prepared for immigration, filled out our landing cards and got ready to disembark at JFK! None of us could quite believe it.
Bright lights and bright nights in the Big Apple
A coach transferred us to the YMCA at Central Park and we went immediately out to eat and explore. No jet lag there, we were too excited. After our visit to the Hard Rock Café, and our first experience of hailing iconic Yellow taxi cabs, New York tipping culture, Sky scrapers, wide sidewalks and the melting pot of huge crowds we all called it a night and rested for our next day.
It did not disappoint: Empire State Building, Times Square, a trip to Broadway to take in a show. The lift up to the top of the Empire State Building is 102 floors, so fast and high your ears pop and I felt a hint of nausea, but the view across Manhatten and the Hudson River is captivating. When back at street level, what I learnt is you look up, the skyline is everything you imagine from films and dramas seen on TV, it is so impressive and glitzy. I also learnt you had to move with the crowds on the sidewalk….I came to the kerb and the momentum of vast numbers of people moving meant I fell forwards (a common thing for me) and the crowd shouted ‘woah’. Immediately my supportive LSA and the person who looked after risk assessment caught me, scooped me onto both feet and we were on our way through 5th Avenue again, all safe and well and laughing ‘nothing to see here’ New Yorkers.
Are you British?
Lots of times we were asked “Are you from England?” when we said “yes” often the response was “London”? “No, England does not equal London we are from Chi”! One time, I had some tea, it was not good, the barista at the counter said, “From your face I guess you are British?” In response, I said “Yes, and that is not English Breakfast Tea, it tastes like dishwater.” We all laughed. It would be a NYC coffee or orange juice next time... Who said when in Rome do what Romans do?
The next day we took in Wall Street, the Stock Exchange, Staten Island, the area where ‘Friends’ was filmed , Macey’s department Store, catching naps on the coach in between to combat jet lag. Breakfast in Central Park was memorable, fluffy pancakes dripping with maple syrup. Getting to sleep at night was easy, we were tired each evening and I enjoyed the noise of the big City outside the window at hostel lights out time.
The hostel was basic but had everything we needed. I had all the support I needed for personal care, I felt secure and able to manage knowing learning support staff were there for me and I even set my alarm to take medications at 2am. NYC is five hours behind UK time so 2am is 7am, this is the time I have to take medications every day, and even that bit worked out fine, my support thought about every little detail to help me.
Tipping Culture – a bit of a culture shock
In the UK, we tend to only tip waiting staff in restaurants after a meal, in America, however, the culture is completely different. In America, tipping is required for everything, including special assistance service in an airport! Let me tell you, I was completely baffled as to why this guy wanted money from me for helping me to get to the departures gate in JFK for my flight home back to England.
It happened like this, after the special assistance person rolled me up to the gate in the special assistance wheelchair, I started getting my suitcase sorted with my LSA’s help, I looked behind me to see that he was still standing there. “What?” I asked, and he replied simply with “Tip”. I looked at my LSA in confusion, then I realised that he was asking for a tip for doing his job. Sighing, I dug two dollars from my purse and gave it to him, sending him on his way. Of course, now I know what to do in regard to tipping the next time I travel to the States by myself.
Reflections on the NYC Trip
I was so jet lagged when I got home, I slept a day and a night! My dog was so pleased to see me she ran all around the house when I returned, and my parents say she checked in on me as I slept, waiting for me to get up. The whole experience looking back on it gave me a great sense of freedom, that anything is possible with some planning and that new unfamiliar things and situations, even if they make you anxious can be so memorable and so much fun. Even a 747 jet taking off. I loved every minute of the trip. The experience also gave me some more confidence, in coping with life, college and also thinking about future global travel. Travel is something I want to do more of, I want to see many countries in the world and have got more confidence and belief that this is possible. I was far from home, but felt safe, and also independent, it was a real adventure. I used social media to update my parents and was so busy enjoying the city and the sights I didn’t think about home very much at all! I love travel, I love NYC!