Not even in my wildest dreams when I was younger did I picture myself leaving my office IN MANHATTAN and walking back to my home IN MANHATTAN—not to mention encountering such stupefying things as the Empire State Building during my daily walk.

This is the last day of my first week as a summer intern at New Alternatives for Children, Inc. (NAC), located in New York City. I arrived on Sunday accompanied by my father, who refused to let his little girl get lost in the crazy streets and skyscrapers of Spiderman. That night, he dropped me off at a very nice residence in the upper east side of Manhattan, where all 11 nonprofit interns from Harvard College would be staying. I’m fortunate to have found an internship program that provided free housing. For most students, the pay for any job or internship, especially in New York, does not include housing, and they are forced to use most of their earnings to meet lodging expenses. That can be quite high in the city. When I set foot in the apartment building for the first time, I was glad I’d spent extra time doing summer-internship research until I found the right one. I live on the seventh floor, and it all feels like a college dorm again. There are hallways with rooms on both sides and shared bathrooms, kitchens, gyms and other facilities. The best feature of the place, however, is its close proximity to the subway station.

I had heard horror stories about the New York public transportation system. My father was so apprehensive that he refused to let me walk alone to my office on the first day of work. But everything turned out to be more relaxed than we thought. Although the subway here is definitely crazier than the inoffensive Boston “T,” it’s still very clean and smooth. I haven’t encountered any problems with any passengers, and I’ve always arrived at my destinations on time.

But there’s a little bit of walking to do from the train station to my office. Now I understand why, compared to the people in Miami, people in New York look so much skinnier. Everyone walks everywhere here. New Yorkers pack the streets and sidewalks at all times in the city that indeed never sleeps. On my way to work every morning, I’m amazed at how many different faces I meet every second, and at how many different accents I notice from random cell-phone conversations, often interrupted by the horn-honking of impatient Yellow Cab drivers.

At NAC, I leave the urban noise behind and at last find a quiet environment that is nonetheless fascinating. This nonprofit organization has been serving children with disabilities and chronic illnesses for decades. Through a variety of programs that include preventive services and foster care, the staff at NAC has built a reputation as protector of disabled youth and their families in the New York area.

The job setting is much different from the college classroom, and definitely different from high school. I was able to notice even on the first day. When my supervisor saw that I was turning my cell phone off, she smiled saying that it was not necessary. In a professional environment, workers are trusted to be diligent and responsible, and not to engage in unexcused personal phone conversations. But if a personal emergency arises, then the worker can very well pick up the call. The greater trust, of course, comes with greater responsibility.

I work eight hours each day, starting at 9 a.m., from Monday to Friday. My main duty is to advance efforts toward the creation of after-school recreation programs for disabled children in New York City. So far, I’ve been engaged in the research required for the position paper that I’ll have to write eventually. But I’ve also had time to meet the staff of about 100 people and to tour the facilities. Everyone has been extremely warm and welcoming. I’ve enjoyed sitting with older co-workers to chat about their college experiences and about their professional experience so far. Because I’ve shown interest, my supervisor has even invited me to a lunch with JP Morgan attorneys, and another co-worker has offered to put me in touch with professionals in the international development field.

I’ve learned that even the subtlest things matter at work. Personal appearance, for example, is crucial. Things such as eloquence and visible enthusiasm can also take you a long way. Having the initiative to introduce yourself to strangers and initiate an intelligent conversation speaks of determination and interest and expands your social circle. I have tried to have lunch with other employees most days and to offer my help whenever I felt it was needed. At the same time, addressing others by their first name and avoiding generic interactions demonstrates consideration and attention. Because I’ve been careful not to forget these guidelines, I’ve had a very fruitful experience so far.

But I can’t wait for the weekend. There are so many interesting things going on in New York that I am determined to participate in as many as I can. This morning, for example, Enrique Iglesias gave a FREE concert at the Rockefeller Center. Unfortunately, it was at 7 a.m., and I was unable to attend. However, there are many other opportunities to have fun and get to know the city. There will be free concerts and plays at Central Park weekly. At Bryant Park, there is a series of free movie showings as well. I’m excited to visit Spanish Harlem also, where there will be many salsa artists.

As you can tell, I have a busy summer ahead of me, but somehow I can’t wait to return to Cambridge in the fall. New York is a fascinating city, but I can’t see myself living here in the future. It is indeed surprising that a young Cuban woman feels more attached to cold New England than to the charismatic and legendary Big Apple.