Thoroughly under-rated newbie discoveries made in NYC during UNGA

Because you need a lesson on hailing a cab

Ban-ki Moon’s humor provides comic relief in three and a half hour long morning sessions. And here I thought I was in for another 15 minutes of a skilful paraphrasing of whatever the last person said.
The traffic is shocking, but two and a half degrees less shocking if you’ve ever lived through peak hour traffic on Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road.
Cody Simpson has a fear of public speaking and you now have a fear of Cody Simpson speaking in public.
The most eclectic and fascinating bunch of people are here with you from every corner of the world. Literally. You’ll meet people off-stage who are equally or far more interesting that people on panels. You’ll meet a six foot two model who has adopted a refugee family, and a 19 year old who knows exactly what her path is. Your conversation with them will leave you dumb-founded. How have they done so much so early on in their lives? How are they making you feel old at 23?
Freedom of assembly is no joke. You learn a lot just as a pedestrian walking through rallies of men and women in matching T-shirts holding up signs, passing out informational flyers. Decision makers and leaders from all over the world are here — people are not wasting this opportunity.
The secret service is not so secret.
You’re not allowed to carry an umbrella in the same space as Joe Biden.
New Yorkers don’t slow down. If your mom says, “I’m sorry — I’m walking too slow” to someone walking behind her, they overtake her and say, “I know.” Crude as it may be, you kind of admire it, even when they check themselves in at the registration desk you’ve volunteered at, telling you, “I can do it faster myself.” They leave you with the resolve to be just as fast. Just as bold. Although, you do plan to hold on your pleases and thank-yous.
There are herds of people gathered outside hotels saying goodbye to their leaders’ on the last few days. It’s cute. You stop and wave as well.
You might spend 7 days at the UNGA and its side-events without seeing the President but your ami might catch him with his windows down, his motorcade driving along, waving at people and stuff on Lexington Avenue.
Because you’re from a different culture, you don’t quite know what to do when you are approached boldly. Especially when your boss is three feet away.
You feel a sense of pride wearing your delegation’s pin on your chest. You are here for a reason.
Something horrible might happen in the city one night, but the city will take action. You wake up in the morning and see squad cars and police officers on every corner. You’re OK.
You realize you enjoyed the side-events. You are a side-event lover. If you can get in, that is.
The Social Good Summit is not a summit to miss. You love how new-age, energetic and relevant it is. It has given you a better idea of the SDG’s than anything else this September, and you are committed to that 2030 picture.

You’re gloomy by the time it’s all coming to a close. You’re exhausted, but you’ve learnt a lot. You want to absorb more and become more. You want more stories to tell when you’re back home.