The day had finally come — the first day with a clear purpose.
It wasn’t just about wandering around or sightseeing anymore.
Today, I would start studying English in New York.

I felt a little nervous, but also excited.
There was something special about having a reason to be here.

Breakfast at the hotel felt more precious than usual.
A simple meal, yet full of meaning as fuel for this new chapter.

Getting to the school, however, wasn’t as easy as I thought.
I took the subway in the wrong direction again.
The clock was ticking, and I felt my heart race with panic.

When I finally arrived at Times Sq–42 St, I rushed through the streets,
checking Google Maps, searching desperately for the entrance.
Even when I found the building, there was no sign of the school.
I asked someone at the front desk, and they pointed across the street.

“Ah, I see… I messed up again,” I thought with a half-laugh, half-sigh.
Still, I hurried over and barely made it — 10 minutes late.

But to my surprise, nobody cared.
Others even arrived after me, looking relaxed and carefree.
In that moment, something clicked.

I realized I had been carrying my usual way of thinking —
being precise, being on time, being responsible.
That’s who I am, and I’m proud of it.
But right now, in this country, maybe I could try letting go a little.

“For now, I’ll forget about being too serious. I’ll just enjoy.”

With that thought, I smiled to myself as I joined the class.
My NYC journey — both in the city and within myself — had truly begun.

After finishing my first day at English Class and having lunch with some classmates, I decided to stop by the New York Public Library.
To be honest, I hadn’t brought a single piece of stationery from Japan — not even a pen or notebook.
So, I headed to Kinokuniya to pick up some essentials, and on the way, I thought, “Why not take a quick look inside the library?”

But once I stepped in, I was completely taken aback.
It was nothing like the public libraries I knew back home.
Not even university libraries felt this grand.
The architecture, the atmosphere, the history — everything seemed to whisper about a time when libraries were not just places to borrow books, but true temples of knowledge.

Standing there, I felt deeply moved.
I realized I was experiencing the essence of what libraries originally stood for — a place to collect, preserve, and share the world’s knowledge with generations to come.

The towering, ultra-skinny skyscrapers rising behind the rugged rocks of Central Park caught my eye.
I wasn’t here just to visit the park — I specifically wanted to capture these slender giants with my own eyes and lens.
In Tokyo, where earthquakes are common, buildings like these probably couldn’t exist. That made them even more fascinating to me.

Surrounded by the quiet beauty of nature and the deep blue sky, the sharp lines of these modern towers stood tall — symbols of human ambition and energy.
Looking at them, I felt inspired too. Maybe it’s a little cliché, but seeing those buildings made me want to push myself harder and shine just as bright.

The rocks under my feet, likely Manhattan Schist, have been here long before any skyscraper.
Their strength and stability made it possible for New York’s skyline to reach such incredible heights.
I found that really symbolic — the past quietly supporting the present and the future.

That moment, standing between nature and human achievement, filled me with a quiet but strong energy.
“I want to stay strong and push forward, just like these buildings,” I thought to myself as I took this photo.

On the way back to my hotel from Central Park, I decided to hop off at Times Sq–42 St to see Times Square.
Honestly, it wasn’t a place I had a deep interest in.
But since it’s the iconic New York view that appears so often in movies and on TV, I thought, “Why not?” and made my way there.

What surprised me was just how many digital advertisements filled the space.
It was overwhelming — screens everywhere, flashing and shifting endlessly.
Standing there, I couldn’t help but wonder:
“Why did so many ads end up gathering here?”

Later, I learned that it wasn’t by chance.
Times Square became what it is through history and geography, yes, but also through clever urban planning.
There’s even a regulation that requires buildings to feature bright and large signs, creating a space that merges design with culture — a literal stage for the city’s energy and creativity.

I thought, “Wow… Americans are really good at creating systems and turning them into something bigger than just rules.”
Times Square isn’t just chaotic or flashy — it’s curated chaos, born from a blend of strategy and culture.

Even though I wasn’t especially drawn to this place at first, seeing how deliberately it was shaped gave me a new appreciation for its role in the city.

The last photo from February 18th…
Back at the hotel, quietly working on my homework.
I had my brand new notebook and pencil from Kinokuniya — somehow that made me feel ready and motivated.
But… when I checked my answers the next day in class, turns out I got a lot wrong.
Maybe I shouldn’t have had that extra glass of wine… Oops, typical me.