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DEPARTMENT FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CONFERENCE MANAGEMENT

GUIDE for TRANSLATION INTERNS at UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS

NEW YORK • 2014

English Translation Service

1.Welcome to the English Translation Service .................................................................... 5

Where we are ........................................................................................................................................................................... 5

Location ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Contacting us ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
On your first day .................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Who we are .............................................................................................................................................................................. 5
What we do .............................................................................................................................................................................. 7
How we do it ............................................................................................................................................................................ 8
Why we do it ............................................................................................................................................................................ 9

2. Your internship in the English Translation Service ..................................................... 10

Where to go on the first day .................................................................................................................................................. 10

What to expect ....................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Work assignments ............................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Training activities ................................................................................................................................................................................. 10
Interaction with other interns and services ......................................................................................................................................... 10
Your workstation ................................................................................................................................................................................. 11
Where the internship might lead ......................................................................................................................................................... 11
Working hours ........................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Lunch and coffee breaks ...................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Who to contact for what ........................................................................................................................................................ 11
What to wear ......................................................................................................................................................................... 12
What to bring to work ............................................................................................................................................................ 12
How to prepare for your internship ........................................................................................................................................ 12
At the end of your internship.................................................................................................................................................. 13
Tips for making the most of your internship .......................................................................................................................... 13

3.Practical information .................................................................................................... 14

United Nations buildings in Manhattan ................................................................................................................................. 14

Arriving in the United States .................................................................................................................................................. 14
Visas .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
The New York area airports ................................................................................................................................................................. 14
Public transport routes and fares ........................................................................................................................................... 16

PAGE 2 of 29 UNHQ TRANSLATION SERVICES TRAINING OFFICERS GROUP

Addresses ............................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Taxis and car services ............................................................................................................................................................. 17
Housing .................................................................................................................................................................................. 17
Money matters ....................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Identification documents........................................................................................................................................................ 19
Mobile/cell phones ................................................................................................................................................................. 19
Post Office .............................................................................................................................................................................. 19
Eating ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 20
United Nations cafeterias and restaurants .......................................................................................................................................... 20
Eating and drinking locally ................................................................................................................................................................... 20
Weather ................................................................................................................................................................................. 22
What to bring (and what not to bring) ................................................................................................................................... 22
Health care ............................................................................................................................................................................. 23
Emergency treatment .......................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Walk-in centres.................................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Doctors and dentists ............................................................................................................................................................................ 24
Medicines ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 24
Glasses and contact lenses .................................................................................................................................................................. 24
Safety ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Shopping ................................................................................................................................................................................ 24
Opening hours ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Department stores, chain stores and discounters ............................................................................................................................... 24
Outlet malls and villages ...................................................................................................................................................................... 25
NYC sales tax........................................................................................................................................................................................ 25
Laundry and dry cleaning..................................................................................................................................................................... 25
Things to do in New York City ................................................................................................................................................. 25

Annex 1. Map of United Nations buildings ....................................................................... 27

Annex 2. UN-related fiction and non-fiction ..................................................................... 28

GUIDE FOR TRANSLATION INTERNS AT UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS PAGE 3 of 29

 Welcome to United Nations Headquarters in New York. For over 60 years, the
translation services of the United Nations Secretariat have been helping the now
193 Member States of the United Nations communicate. By producing
documentation in the six official languages of the United Nations, plus German,
we are also at the forefront of multilingualism in the Organization and the world
in general.
We are distributed across four duty stations (Headquarters in New York and the
United Nations Offices at Geneva, Nairobi and Vienna) and four regional
commissions (in Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Beirut and Santiago). The subjects
handled vary at each location, as does the type of documents translated, but the
aim is the same: to produce timely and high-quality translations, and in some
cases summary records of meetings.
We are proud to place our skills at the service of the principles of the Charter of
the United Nations. Our work is challenging: it requires political sensitivity,
interest in current affairs, analytical skills and, of course, superior language skills.
Not only do our translations inform decision- and policy-making at the highest
level, they enable agreements to be reached, resolutions to be passed and
projects and programmes to be approved. By serving as a historical record, they
also become a key part of the lasting legacy of the Organization’s work.
We are always looking for talented translators with the right language
combination and skills and we look forward to showing you what our job
involves during your internship. We trust that you will find it as exciting and
rewarding as we do. This guide contains information specific to the translation
service to which you have been assigned, as well as practical information on
living in New York and working at United Nations Headquarters. We hope that
you will find it useful and will help us to improve it during your time with us.

PAGE 4 of 29 UNHQ TRANSLATION SERVICES TRAINING OFFICERS GROUP

1. Welcome to the English Translation Service

Where we are
Location
We are a short distance away from the United Nations Secretariat Building, on the tenth floor
of the Albano Building at 305 East 46th Street (full address is 305 E46th St., New York,
NY10017). The nearest subway stations are Grand Central (at 42nd St and Lexington Avenue;
4,5, 6, 7 and S subway trains) and Lexington Avenue-53rd St (E and 6 subway trains). The
closest bus stops are at 46th St and 2nd Ave (M15 local bus southbound) and 46th St and 1st
Ave (M15 local bus northbound). The M15 Select (i.e. express) bus stops at 50th St and 2nd
Ave and 42nd St and 2nd Ave southbound and 49th St and 1st Ave and 43rd St and 2nd Ave
northbound More information, including maps, commuting times and itinerary planners, can
be found on the website of the MTA.
Contacting us
The main point of contact for the English Translation Service is its front office, which is staffed
by three clerical officers and a “programming officer” who distributes the work of the Service
and handles day-to-day operations. The first person to ring is the programming officer, at +1
212 963 6712 (e-mail: [email protected]). If s/he is not available, the line will be
answered by one of the front office staff.
You can also ring the English Translation Service training officer, Kieran Burns, at +1 212 963
8591 (e-mail: [email protected]).
On your first day
Unless you hear otherwise from the training officer or internship coordinator, please go to
the United Nations pass office, located on the corner of 1st avenue and 45th Street (full
address is UNITAR Building, 801 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY10017) at 9.30 a.m. You
will be met there by one or more members of the English Translation Service, who will give
you the form you need to get a “United Nations grounds pass”, the plastic photocard that
activates the entry gates in the Albano Building. Please note that, as an intern, you do not
have automatic access to other United Nations buildings, where your pass will not activate
the gates.
Please make sure you have with you all the documents requested from you earlier – you may
not need every single one, but have them accessible (signed Offer Letter and Internship
Agreement, Proof of Enrolment, Medical Certificate and Proof of Health Insurance). You will
also need your passport (or, for US citizens, a valid photo ID).

Who we are
The English Translation Service, part of the Department for General Assembly and
Conference Management of the United Nations Secretariat, has 23 permanent staff. This
makes it the smallest of the translation services – a result of the fact that most United
Nations documents start their lives in English.

GUIDE FOR TRANSLATION INTERNS AT UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS PAGE 5 of 29

The Chief of Service, who is the head of the team, is accountable to the senior managers of
the Department for all aspects of the work of the Service. Day-to-day operation of the Service
is in the hands of a “programming officer”, who determines on the basis of deadlines and
language needs who receives what work. The other members of the Service are clerical staff,
translators/précis-writers and revisers, whose efforts combine to complete the Service’s part
of what can be a long production chain, spanning many locations around the world.

Mary Ellen Lavin Kieran Burns Daphne Cohen Khine Kyaw Carlisle Noel
Chief of Service Training Officer Front Office Front Office Front Office
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PAGE 6 of 29 UNHQ TRANSLATION SERVICES TRAINING OFFICERS GROUP

What we do
The English Translation Service is primarily responsible for translating into English documents
received in other languages. It is unusual in that it handles originals not just in the other
official languages of the United Nations (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish), but
also in languages with no official status at the United Nations but in which its staff are
proficient (currently including Bulgarian, Dutch, German, Italian, Persian and Portuguese).
The documents that we receive for translation vary from half a page to about 70 pages, with
long translations always being divided among several translators. We translate a lot of
reports that Member States are obliged to submit to the United Nations, as part of
compliance with General Assembly or Security Council resolutions, or with the commitments
made in human rights conventions. As an example, when a Latin American country reports in
Spanish to the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,
which is composed of independent legal experts, our translation of the report will be used by
the members of the Committee who do not understand the original language of submission.
A delegation from that Member State will then have to appear before the Committee and
answer its experts’ questions on the report. Other reports may focus on commercial
transactions involving military equipment or weapons, counter-terrorism, money-laundering,
organized crime, international law, human rights, aspects of development, economic
sanctions or peacekeeping/ peacebuilding.
We also translate a wide range of short letters written to the Secretary-General of the United
Nations. These can be personal appeals for assistance, routine notifications of the
appointment of a country’s official representative to the United Nations or to a major
conference, or much more politically charged requests for a particular document to be
circulated in all the official languages to the General Assembly or the Security Council. Our
translations from Arabic are particularly urgent and political in content, and they serve as a
relay translation for translators operating into the other official languages. We do not often
translate resolutions of the General Assembly or the Security Council, simply because they
are usually drafted in English. Some documents are requested for translation into English only,
but others may be requested for translation into all the official languages. In the latter case,
English sometimes serves as the relay language, for example because few if any Chinese or
Arabic translators will have sufficient command of, say, Spanish.
The other main function of the Service is to draft (in English) summary records of the
proceedings of meetings held at the United Nations. This activity is known as “précis-writing”
in United Nations jargon. To accomplish this task, we send teams of two to five people into
meetings, including those of the General Assembly, where they gather written statements or
take notes on off-the-cuff remarks. Back at the office, they then write up the record from
their notes, the written statements gathered and if, necessary, the sound recordings. The
completed summary record is later translated into the other official languages, and becomes
the official summary record of the meeting. This is published on the Official Document
System of the United Nations, and is usually accessible to the public.
The production chain for United Nations documents is complex. It is managed by the
Documents Control Unit, which distributes work to the editors, translators, précis-writers and
text-processing staff in the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management.
The process may begin in the capital of a United Nations Member State, with officials drafting
a submission. On arrival in the Department for General Assembly and Conference
Management, it may be edited to bring it into line with United Nations style conventions
established in the United Nations Editorial Manual (which governs style for all documents in

GUIDE FOR TRANSLATION INTERNS AT UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS PAGE 7 of 29

English and French – the working languages of the United Nations) and to resolve any
potential ambiguities, so that problems with the original language are not multiplied or
reflected in the translations of that original. The edited text is then sent to the Translation
Service, where the programming officer will assign it to a translator or reviser for translation
by the established deadline. Once the incoming document is translated, it will usually be
revised (a more experienced member of the English Translation Service will look at the style
and content of the finished product), sent to the English Text Processing Unit (staffed by
desktop publishing assistants who resolve formatting issues and prepare the document for
publication), and dispatched.
We can tell our own work pretty much at a glance, as our translations and summary records
adhere to a particular style and practice. What we do not translate, produce, or have any
hand in, is website content, press releases (produced in the United Nations working
languages – English and French), brochures and captioning of broadcasts/webcasts and other
advertising or publicity material.
N.B.: not all documents are translated by permanent staff. Some translations are dispatched
via the Contractual Translation Unit to self-employed translators. At periods of peak demand,
the staffing level of the English Translation Service itself may double, as we bring in freelance
staff to work on site or off site.

How we do it
All staff have a workstation consisting of a desktop computer (running Windows 7, with the
Office 2010 suite) and two monitors, and have access to a printer. We also have a stock of
laptop computers that can be used for work, but not taken home. These are usually used in
conference rooms by members of the précis-writing teams and returned to the office after
use.
There is less and less paper involved in our work, which we retrieve from a database/tracking
system called gDoc, once it has been assigned by the programming officer. Translations and
summary records are uploaded in draft form to a shared storage drive, from where a reviser
will retrieve them for revision, which is also usually performed electronically, yielding a
document with tracked changes. The changes may be made to improve consistency
(particularly if the translation or summary record has been produced by several people),
clarify meaning or improve the style.
Little that happens at the United Nations is wholly new, as it reflects the ongoing concerns of
the Member States, the three core areas of United Nations business (peace, security, human
rights and development) and past practice. This is reflected in our work: where a precedent
exists, we tend to use it. This is not out of laziness, but because we are aware that meaning
may be distorted by translating a long-established concept in a way that breaks with existing
wording. In other instances, not reproducing previous wording might misleadingly suggest a
change in the political position of a United Nations Member State or group of Member States.
The creativity in our work lies in recognizing and deftly handling political undertones and
possibly intended ambiguities.
To find these precedents, we rely on databases of terminology, legislative documents and our
own past translations. By tradition, as we are typing, we justify our choices of phrasing or
translation carefully by inserting marginal comments specifying the sources used. This helps
at the revision stage – the reviser may suggest a better source of information or a more
accurate choice of wording. Overall guidance comes from our Instructions for Translators and

PAGE 8 of 29 UNHQ TRANSLATION SERVICES TRAINING OFFICERS GROUP

Instructions for Précis-Writers, which are practical reference guides based on many years of
standardization of method and practice.
After a number of years of using commercially available machine translation and computer-
assisted translation software, the United Nations has introduced, and is testing in real-life
conditions, its own versions of these applications (known as TAPTA4UN and eLuna). They
have the advantage of lower overheads (no licensing or hosting fees) and of being more easily
tailored to the specific needs of translation at the United Nations (more closely regulated
input).
You will receive more complete information when you are introduced to the work of the
Service.

Why we do it
We pride ourselves on – and are directly responsible for – the quality of our work. We feel
privileged to be placing our skills at the service of the Member States in the pursuit of peace,
security, human rights and development. We thrive on being at the forefront of current
affairs, constantly learning new things, building our expertise and witnessing history in the
making. We hope you will enjoy being one of us during your internship. You will be involved
directly in what we do.

GUIDE FOR TRANSLATION INTERNS AT UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS PAGE 9 of 29

2. Your internship in the English Translation
Service

Where to go on the first day

See the “Where we are” section on page 1.

What to expect
Work assignments
We try to duplicate the experience of working as a United Nations translator and précis-
writer as closely as possible for you. We make every effort to give you a taste of the range of
document-types we work with and the meetings we cover, but the assignments you are given
will depend on the work and the workload during the time you are with us. Your direct
supervisor will be the English Translation Service training officer, and other members of the
Service will be involved in assigning you work and providing feedback, and you will be
encouraged to consult them as well. Some of the work you will do, particularly at the
beginning of your internship, will not be “live”, but rather done as a parallel assignment with
one of the Service’s staff translators. This will allow you to compare your work with that of an
experienced staff member who can highlight the tricks of the trade, as it were. The number
and type of assignments you are given will depend on the nature of the source texts received
by the Service for translation and their turnaround times. It may also depend on your
language combination. At times you might be assigned a whole document to translate, at
others you will translate part of a long text and will have to work in a team to ensure
terminological consistency. All work done by interns is revised (as is the work of all
translators new to the service, normally for many years), and we hope you will take
advantage of the revision process to learn about how we translate at the United Nations.
Your revised translations will give you an indication of how close you are to being recruitment
ready and should be analysed carefully, preferably in a feedback session with the reviser. We
try to make sure that you receive feedback promptly for all of your assignments, but this may
not always be possible.
Training activities
During your first few days you will be introduced to the tools and procedures that we use in
the Service. Joint training activities with interns from other services will also be arranged.
There are two mandatory online training courses that you must complete – "integrity
awareness" and "prevention of workplace harassment". We will give you further details
when you arrive.
Interaction with other interns and services
The English Translation Service, like most of the other translation services, usually hosts three
interns at a time. You are encouraged to interact with other language interns as much as
possible, and we will arrange joint training activities to make this easier. We will also arrange
for you to be introduced to the work of other language services which operate into English –
the English Interpretation Section and the Editorial Control Service.

PAGE 10 of 29 UNHQ TRANSLATION SERVICES TRAINING OFFICERS GROUP

Your workstation
You will have your own workstation with a landline (for local calls only) and your own e-mail
account. Most of the staff of the Service work in enclosed offices, but temporary staff,
including interns, and the front office staff, work in cubicles in an open-plan area at the front
of the building. Please bear in mind that loud conversation will disturb those working in the
offices nearby, as well as the programming officer and front office staff, who are constantly
answering phones, and need to hear and be heard. There is a conference room which you can
use for talking with others (and having lunch). The Albano Building has password-protected
wireless internet access.
Where the internship might lead
While we cannot employ you immediately after your internship for administrative reasons,
we hope that you will take the opportunity to take a recruitment test at a later date. Every
few years, official exams (known as “language competitive exams”) are held to recruit staff
for the various language professions and for employment in various United Nations locations
around the world. However, even between these exams, the language services at United
Nations Headquarters in New York and in other locations, including Geneva and Vienna, hold
tests to recruit freelance staff for temporary contracts lasting from a few weeks to a few
months.

Working hours
Our working hours are very much governed by the demand for our services (and particularly
by the scheduling of meetings). We are expected to work a minimum of 8 hours per day, and
to be available between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the very least (“core hours”). Most staff arrive
by 9.30 a.m., and you can expect to see fewer around starting at about 5.30 p.m. However,
there are staff on United Nations premises around the clock, and our own staff are on call at
lunchtimes, during the evening and at weekends/on public holidays. As an intern, you are not
expected to be present outside normal working hours, but bear in mind that unexplained
lengthy absences make a bad impression. Interns are entitled to take sick leave, but not
annual leave (vacation days). We use a card-swipe system to register attendance. We will
explain to you how to register your grounds pass for use with the system, and how to use it
during your internship.
Lunch and coffee breaks
Lunch breaks are usually taken some time between 12 noon and 2 p.m. and are expected to
last no more than an hour. There is no on-site cafeteria, but we have a pantry area with two
fridges, two microwaves, an electric kettle, a filter coffee machine and an espresso machine.
There is an inexhaustible stock of tea, a common stock of milk and sugar, and an arrangement
for ordering Nespresso capsules for the espresso machine, so you can make yourself tea or
coffee at any time during the day. Food of all kinds is locally available 24 hours per day, 7 days
per week (See suggestions in the Eating section in part 3).

Who to contact for what

If you are going to be late in to work, or if you are sick and cannot come to work, the first
thing to do is notify the English Translation Programming officer at 212-963 6712, or e-mail
[email protected]). If you need help with anything (from advice on medical or dental

GUIDE FOR TRANSLATION INTERNS AT UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS PAGE 11 of 29

treatment to advice on shopping, eating or sightseeing) don’t hesitate to ask any member of
the Service.

What to wear
The United Nations embraces diversity, and United Nations offices, by definition, are
multicultural workplaces. The wearing of national dress is therefore encouraged, and there is
no official dress code. Staff members express their respect for other cultures through a
generally conservative approach to dress, while delegates tend to favour “business formal”
(e.g. suit and tie for men, and the equivalent for women).
While many staff in the Albano building dress more casually, especially in summer when New
York can be a very hot and humid place, use your judgment and avoid styles that could be
inappropriate to the workplace, disrespectful to other cultures or simply better suited for a
day at the beach (bare midriffs, flip-flops, shorts, see-through tops, etc.). The air conditioning
in the building can sometimes make it much chillier than outside, so having a light sweater on
hand is a good idea.
Also, you may be invited to attend a meeting of a General Assembly committee or other body
on short notice. If you are dressed in a way that would stand out or look inappropriate in a
room full of diplomats in suits, you won’t be able to go. Keep on hand articles that could
quickly dress up an outfit, such as a jacket and tie, a smart blouse, and business- appropriate
shoes.

What to bring to work

You do not need to bring reference material like dictionaries (we have a stock of them, and
you will have full access to databases). All stationery supplies are provided too. You can bring
food into work, as we have fridges and microwaves, and shared supplies of dishes and cutlery.

How to prepare for your internship

One of the most useful things that you can do, and we hope that this is already one of your
habits, is to keep a close eye on current events, as these have an immediate impact on what
we do, and explain a lot of what you will see in United Nations documents and hear in United
Nations meetings. A useful resource is the United Nations News Centre.
Do familiarize yourself with the United Nations portal, www.un.org, as it provides a lot of
information about the Organization’s structure, principles and policies. It will tell you the
exact number of Member States, the alphabetical order in which they are listed and the
geographical groups into which they are divided. It also provides descriptions of United
Nations action in particular subject areas. If you are particularly interested in human rights,
also look at the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,
www.ohchr.org.
Most United Nations documents are identified by an alphanumeric code known as a
“document symbol”, and are organized into numbered sections and paragraphs. This is a
great asset, as it means that there is a direct alignment between different language versions
of a single document. We will explain more about how knowledge of document symbols can
be exploited to your advantage after you arrive, but bear in mind that once you have found a
document in one language, it is easy to find its equivalents in the others.

PAGE 12 of 29 UNHQ TRANSLATION SERVICES TRAINING OFFICERS GROUP

Most of our summary record production is for the main committees of the United Nations
General Assembly. There are six of them, each focusing on a particular series of subjects. The
pages devoted to each one on the United Nations web portal contain links to meeting
documents, and in some cases you can locate summary records for those meetings using
direct hyperlinks. From looking at the summary records, you will notice some hallmarks of our
writing style – chiefly the custom of writing in reported speech in English (the present tense is
used in the translations into other languages).

At the end of your internship

At the end of your internship, your supervisor will meet with you to discuss your experience.
You will be asked to complete a feedback form and to write a report, which should be shared
with the academic staff and students at your place of study so that the insights you gain
about working as a translator for the United Nations are passed on. If you complete the two
months, you will receive a certificate.

Tips for making the most of your internship

 Be prepared for the nature of the work to be quite different from what you are used to
 Ask for help when you need it
 Work hard: if you don’t produce much work, you won’t get much feedback
 Don’t get upset if revisers rewrite your work, just make sure you understand why
 Listen and learn: the insights of a seasoned professional can help you in your career
 Keep a diary of things you learn
 Talk to as many people as possible, find out their stories
 Meet up with the interns in other services
 Make a good impression – the world of professional translation is surprisingly small; word
gets around fast!
 Explore New York
 Take photographs
 Nobody expects you to work overtime, but work when you are at work
 Be punctual
 Show enthusiasm and interest
 Learn about the workings of the United Nations
 Go for a walk at lunchtime
 Share what you learn with your friends and teachers
 Keep in touch after your internship, you never know when job openings will arise
 Be proud — many people applied for the internship, but you got it!

GUIDE FOR TRANSLATION INTERNS AT UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS PAGE 13 of 29

3. Practical information
Please note that the information in this section is provided merely as a courtesy. We have
done our best to ensure it is up-to-date and hope it will be useful, but obviously cannot be
held responsible for any inconveniences caused by inaccuracies.

United Nations buildings in Manhattan

The United Nations Headquarters Building is located in Manhattan, on First Avenue at 42nd St,
right on the East River. The full address is 405 East 42nd Street, New York, NY10017. Note
that you should not use this as a mailing address. The building itself – which was constructed
between 1948 and 1952 – has an interesting history, and is just emerging from a major
renovation, having remained mostly untouched since its completion. The Headquarters
complex, which includes Secretariat headquarters, does not have the capacity to house all of
the Organization’s New-York-based staff, so a number are accommodated in buildings in the
surrounding area – see map in annex 1. This includes the translation services, which are a
short distance away on East 46th Street. We will give you a tour of the Secretariat complex
and the Albano Building after you arrive.

Arriving in the United States

Visas
Non-U.S. citizens/residents on a temporary, unpaid internship at the United Nations must
have a valid visa. You are responsible for the application process yourself, and should consult
the website of your nearest Embassy/Consulate as a first step. Application requirements vary
(they depend on considerations including your nationality and place of residence). The most
common categories of visa granted to interns are the B1 Business Travel Visa / B2 Tourist
Visa. The B1 visitor visa is a non-immigrant visa for foreign citizens desiring to enter the
United States temporarily for business purposes. The B2 visitor visa is a non-immigrant visa
for foreign citizens desiring to enter the United States temporarily for pleasure or medical
treatment. Even if you are from a country eligible for the US Visa Waiver Programme and
ESTA, you must not enter the country under this arrangement, which covers tourism and
business trips only.
Remember that, like all visas, the one that you obtain does not confer an automatic right to
entry. Admission is at the discretion of the officer at your port of entry.
The New York area airports
The New York City area is served by three main airports: John F. Kennedy (JFK), La Guardia
(LGA) and Newark Liberty (EWR). All are run by the Port Authority of New York and New
Jersey, whose website contains maps of the terminals, plus information on location, public
transport and taxi access.
If you are arriving directly from an international destination and one of these airports is your
first point of entry to the United States, do not take your time leaving the aircraft. It is in
your interest to avoid being at the back of the immigration queue, which is always slow and
can be very long at certain times of day. Note that some foreign airports (chiefly major
Canadian airports, and Dublin and Shannon airports in Ireland) have US customs and
immigration “pre-clearance”, which means that you clear US customs and immigration even

PAGE 14 of 29 UNHQ TRANSLATION SERVICES TRAINING OFFICERS GROUP

before boarding the plane. You will be required to indicate the address at which you intend to
stay after arrival.
Immigration officials will look at your US customs form, so make sure that it is filled in before
landing (before passing through immigration, if you are starting your journey at an airport
with pre-clearance). The immigration counters have fingerprint readers and webcam-sized
cameras. These are used to establish an entry record and compare information against the
data stored in your (preferably biometric) passport. For this reason, the process of clearing US
immigration can be time-consuming.
After clearing immigration, you collect your baggage and carry it through customs. There is no
red/green channel system; you simply hand the customs form, duly stamped by the
immigration officer, to the customs officer at the exit from the customs hall. You may be
taken aside for a spot-check of your luggage. Do not attempt to bring fruit, vegetables,
plants, seeds, meat or dairy products into the US. They will be confiscated immediately.

Once you have passed customs, you have several options for onward transportation. All of
the airports have ground transportation information desks. If you are using the bus or
subway to travel from the airport, see “Public transport routes and fares” below.
● JFK: flat-fare taxi service ($52 plus tip and tunnel toll to/from Manhattan; if you are
not going to/from Manhattan, taxi fares will vary by distance and time), or Air Train and
subway. Use the Sutphin Boulevard-Archer Avenue-JFK Airport station (served by the
Jamaica-bound AirTrain and subway trains E, J and Z) or the Howard Beach-JFK Airport
station, (served by the Howard Beach-bound AirTrain and the A subway train)– (the fare
is $7.50 plus $1 for a Metrocard if you don’t already have one). Both take about an hour,
but the E train is quickest to Uptown and Midtown Manhattan and Queens, while the A
train is best for Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. Another rail option is the Long Island
Railroad, which runs non-stop to Penn Station on 34th St and 7th Avenue from Jamaica
station (the LIRR is one floor below the AirTrain station and one floor above the Sutphin
Boulevard-Archer Avenue-JFK subway station). There are also Airporter express buses
from JFK to Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan, but these, like the taxis, can sometimes
become snarled in traffic, especially on the bridges and in the tunnels.
● EWR: metered taxi service (can be up to $70 in total) or Air Train and train to Penn
Station in Manhattan ($5.50, plus train fare, which depends on whether you taken an
Amtrak or New Jersey Transit train) or express bus (coach) service to the Port Authority
Bus Terminal in Manhattan and beyond ($16). The trip should take under an hour, but
you may have to wait for a train at Newark Airport station.
● LGA: metered taxi service (about $45 plus tip) or bus (M60 to 125th St Manhattan or
Q70 to 74th St/Roosevelt Ave in Jackson Heights, Queens, from where you can connect
to the E, F, M, R and 7 subway lines). Fare is $2.50, plus $1 for the metrocard that stores
the fare – see “Public transport routes and fares” below. There are also Airporter
express buses from LGA to Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan, but these, like the taxis,
can sometimes become snarled in traffic, especially on the bridges and in the tunnels.
If you are carrying luggage, do not necessarily be put off taking trains and buses. Increasing
numbers of subway stations, particularly those in Manhattan, have disabled access from the
train platform to the street (i.e. elevators or escalators, though technically you are not
allowed to take luggage on escalators). Go to the MTA website and look for the maps of the
subway lines. A wheelchair symbol will tell you which stations have alternatives to the stairs.

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It may be cheaper to take public transport to the nearest “accessible” station to your
destination, and then hail a taxi on the street.

Public transport routes and fares

Buses and subway trains and suburban trains are run by the MTA, whose website has maps,
apps, fare information and route and schedule alteration notices (particularly important for
weekend travel!). A good place to start is the tourist information section of the site.
Although you can pay your fare using cash on the buses (coins only!) and at subway station
ticket booths, the most common form of fare payment is the plastic Metrocard, which stores
information in a magnetic strip that is read by bus fare machines and subway station turnstiles.
The card itself costs $1. You can then add value or time, as the same card is used as a pay-as-
you-go farecard, and a season-ticket type farecard. The MTA website will help you calculate
whether a pay-per-ride, 7-day unlimited or 30-day unlimited card is best value for you.
Metrocards are available from a number of sources. For example, if you arrive at JFK, the Air
Train fare is paid using a Metrocard, to which you can add cash to cover an onward trip on
the subway or bus. There are ticket machines at the exit from the Air Train platform. At EWR
and JFK, you would have to buy a Metrocard inside the airport, at a Hudson News newsstand.
Metrocard vending machines accept cash and debit/ATM/credit cards. Follow the instructions
on the touchscreen. If you use a credit card, the machine may ask you to enter your billing
zipcode (postal code). If your card is billed to an address outside the US, you should be able to
go ahead with the purchase simply by entering “00000”.
When boarding a bus, hold your Metrocard vertically, with the cutoff corner at top left and
the magnetic strip facing you on the right. Insert it into the slot on the machine next to the
driver. The LED display will show you how much value remains on the card.
When entering a subway station, swipe your Metrocard sideways-on through the reader on
the turnstile, with the magnetic strip facing to the left. If the turnstile does not unlock to
allow you through, do not try another turnstile. Try swiping your card again through the
same turnstile. If you still have trouble getting through, there is either too little value
remaining on your card, or your card is damaged.
You are not charged $2.50 for every part of your journey. If your journey has been under way
for less than two hours, you can transfer from the bus to the subway (or vice versa)or to
another bus without an extra fare (known as a “free transfer”, and indicated by the LED
display on the bus fare machine or subway turnstile as “Xfer”.
Make sure you enter the right subway station entrance, check on the white-on-black signs
above the entrance whether they say “downtown” or “uptown”. If they do, you will be able
to access only trains going in that direction (and if you go through the turnstile, you will have
to come out, walk across the street and swipe your card (i.e.) pay again – or if you have an
unlimited ride Metrocard, you will have to wait about 15 minutes before you can swipe again).
If the signs say nothing but the numbers or letters of the lines, you will be able to access
trains travelling in both directions.

Addresses
Cross-streets within Manhattan’s grid are numbered in ascending order as you go north
(uptown). Building numbering goes east or west from 5th Avenue, in blocks of 100. Avenues

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(which run north-south) are numbered in ascending order from east to west, but may change
name at several points and have illogical building numbering. In Queens, all house or building
numbers have two components, separated by a dash. The first component gives the cross
street, the second is the house or building number itself.
When providing or looking for addresses, remember to determine the cross street(s). For
example, do not ask a taxi driver to take you to 305 East 46th Street (the address of the
Albano Building). Specify that you are going to East 46th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues.
Zip (postal) codes are also important. If you want to find a retailer that is part of a chain, go to
its website, click on the “store locator” link, and type in the zip code (for the area around the
United Nations, 10017).

Taxis and car services

Taxis are hailed in the street, or found outside hotels and railway stations. They are available
for hire when the centre light on top of the roof is lit (it contains the medallion number,
which is also on the licence plate and on a sign in the back of the vehicle; if you ask for a
receipt, it will also appear there). The taxi is not for hire if the light is off, or if the "off duty"
lights on each side of the medallion number are on. There is a night surcharge of 50 cents,
and a peak surcharge (1800-2000) of $1.50. Tipping is customary (15-20%). You can pay by
debit or credit card in all taxis.
Yellow taxis serve all five boroughs. The green taxis are “borough taxis”, introduced to
address the shortage of cabs that would transport people to and from the outer boroughs (i.e.
outside Manhattan). In Manhattan, they are not allowed to pick up passengers south of
110th St on the West side and 96th St on the East side.
Beware the afternoon shift-change (1630-1730), when the taxi drivers all head back to their
garages with their "off duty" lights on. Try to travel before or after those hours.
“Car service” means cars that are reserved by phone or on line. A number of apps, like Hailo
and Uber, are increasingly popular, but there are a number of well-known companies with
memorable numbers that are used, for example, for airport trips:
● Dial 7: 212-777 7777
● Carmel: 212-666 6666
Do not be misled by the use of the word “limousine”. While it can indeed be used for the
stereotyped stretch limo, it is more commonly anything from a black Lincoln that is simply a
more luxurious taxicab to a shared minibus or van.

Housing
Unless you are familiar with the accommodation situation in New York City, be prepared for
big differences in cost and standards compared with what you have seen before. Although
living in Manhattan is the most convenient solution, you should also consider Astoria and
Long Island City in Queens (only a few subway stops away), and the nearer areas of Brooklyn,
as a close second in terms of travel time.
The further away you move, the cheaper accommodation will be. Transport will not cost you
more if you are in an area served by MTA buses or subways, as the fare does not increase
with distance. Travel time, or course, does. Closer areas of New Jersey, such as Jersey City,

GUIDE FOR TRANSLATION INTERNS AT UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS PAGE 17 of 29

and Connecticut, such as Greenwich, also provide a cost saving with little lost in terms of
convenience. Jersey City is served by the PATH train, similar to a subway, and using the MTA
Metrocard as a means of fare payment. It stops in several places in Manhattan, terminating
near Penn Station at 33rd Street and 6th Avenue. Connecticut is served by the Metro North
train, which terminates at Grand Central Station (at 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue).
It is worth doing some research on neighbourhoods even before you arrive. If you have found
likely-looking accommodation, find the zip code (5-digit postal code) for the location and use
it to look for useful information, including the location of the nearest transportation.
The average rent for a shared room can range from $500-750 per month, for a room in a
house or apartment from $600-1200 per month, and for an apartment or studio from $1000-
2000 per month. New Jersey, Connecticut and the outer boroughs of New York City make up
the lower end of these ranges and Manhattan accounts for the upper end. More luxurious
accommodations can be found if you are willing to pay more.
Craigslist is an open, public bulletin board/communication site. Accommodation sites like
AirBnB and (once you have arrived) the United Nations bulletin board and UNDP bulletin
board (ask your colleagues where to find it, outside the lounge area on the third floor of the
DC-1 building) may help. Word of mouth is also a valuable resource, particularly during times
when people are looking for pet-sitters. Additionally, there are many open Facebook groups
that might be helpful. Chinese (or Chinese-speaking) interns may find useful information on
NYU’s Chinese Student Association page here. NYU’s dorm rooms can also be rented for the
summer, from $200-400 per week. For more information, click here.

Please take every precaution when meeting people you contact, and when agreeing on
payments. The United Nations is not responsible for any loss or other harm to you based on
any contacts made through this channel.

Money matters
Make sure you have access to sufficient funds to last you through your internship. Plan for
monthly expenses of a minimum of $1500-$2000.
There is no point in opening a new bank account on arrival in New York City. Your existing
cash withdrawal, debit and credit cards should work. Bear in mind that some foreign banks
require you to activate your cards for use outside the country or area of issue. For example,
some European banks will not allow automatic use of their cards outside Europe. It is in any
case a good idea to warn your bank and credit card company that you will be travelling, giving
dates and locations. This will avoid inconvenient blocking of your card.
ATMs (cash machines) are everywhere, including airport terminals on arrival. You are likely to
be charged a fee for withdrawal unless your own bank has made arrangements for the fee to
be waived. The closest machine to the Albano Building is inside the Duane Reade drugstore
on the corner of 46th Street and 2nd Avenue, just opposite the Albano Building. Other nearby
machines are in the lobby of the Bank of America branch on 2nd Avenue at 44th Street and at
street level at 820 Second Avenue between 43rd and 44th Streets (the Diplomat Building,
ATM belongs to the United Nations Federal Credit Union). All corner grocery stores (known as
“bodegas” in New York City) also have machines, but withdrawal fees tend to be high –
sometimes up to $3.75. The machines inside McDonalds tend to have lower fees (as low as 99
cents).

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Most machines do not swallow your card while you make the transaction. You need instead
to “dip” it – push it into the slot, and then withdraw it. Then proceed with the operation.
The chip-and-PIN credit card payment system in broad worldwide use is not used in the
United States. Even if your card has an embedded chip, you will have to sign your name when
using your credit card (exceptions for smaller amounts). Contactless payment is used,
however.
You can also use prepaid credit cards issued by the major credit card companies. These can
be bought easily for cash if you don’t want to carry money on you. Local vendors include
branches of the drugstore chains Duane Reade, Walgreens and CVS.
Money transfers are common, mainly using Paypal, Western Union, Moneygram or Xoom,
but there are many other services.

Identification documents
There is no population register or national identity card system in the US, so driving licences
are the most commonly used form of identification. If you have a credit-card-sized driving
licence (including US, Canadian, Australian and newer EU models) you will find it useful for
getting into places that serve alcohol. “Carding”, or a check of your photo/date of birth, is
common at all bars and clubs. You may also find it useful to carry with you a photocopy of the
identity page of your passport, and a copy of the visa that you have used to get into the US.
Also, proof of health insurance (see “Healthcare” below).

Mobile/cell phones
You are likely to have brought a phone with you, but beware of high roaming fees,
particularly for data, and the fact that your phone must be technically compatible with one of
the network specifications used in the US (up to 4G LTE for data, GSM and CDMA for voice,
but there are important differences in the frequencies used, particularly between North
America and other parts of the world). If you want a SIM card and a US number, you can get
one from a phone store. The closest one to the Albano Building is the Wireless Warehouse
store at 852 2nd Avenue, between 45th and 46th Streets. Basic prepaid phones are also
available from drugstores and mobile service providers (AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon
Wireless) and electronic stores (like Best Buy). To find these, go to the company websites,
find the store locator link, and type in the zip (postal) code 10017.
Your work landline will not enable you to make anything other than local calls. To dial, press 9
(for an outside line), followed by 1 and the three-digit area code and seven-digit phone
number. The English Translation Service has a fax machine (212-963 2730).
Prepaid calling cards are available at all drugstores, corner groceries (bodegas) and
newsstands.

Post Office
The closest United States Postal Service branches:
● Full post offices:
450 Lexington Ave at 45th St
909 3rd Ave at 55th St

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● Automated kiosk:
884 2nd Ave at 47th Street (no staff, but a machine that weighs items and sells stamps –
note that international mail sent from this location can only contain documents)
The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) sells United Nations and commemorative
stamps – although these can be used on mail, they can only be used on mail posted from
inside the United Nations compound (the postal counter is inside the Dag Hammarskjöld
Library Building).

Eating
United Nations cafeterias and restaurants
● The main United Nations cafeteria is in the South Lobby of the Secretariat Building,. It
serves breakfast and lunch at reasonable prices. Opening hours are Monday – Friday
Breakfast 8:00AM–10:30AM Lunch 11:30AM–2:30PM Snacks 2:30PM–4:00PM
● The Vienna Cafe on the first basement level of the Conference Building serves drinks
and snacks from 09:00-16:30.
There are two rather more luxurious options, both located in the Conference Building
between the Secretariat and the North Lawn. Your pass will not get you into this area by
yourself, so you will need to be escorted there.
● The Delegates’ Lounge is mainly a bar with a large seating area;
● The Delegates’ Dining Room serves a lunch buffet, and table reservations must be made
24 hours in advance.
Eating and drinking locally

Here are a few suggested destinations for economical and healthy lunches, not far from your desk:
Price range: $ - 5-10, $$ - 10-15, $$$ - 15-20

Pay by weight, serve yourself (salad, veg., seafood and meat):

Olympia 833 2nd Ave, between 44th and 45th St.
Morton Williams supermarket 908 2nd Ave, between 48th and 49th St.
United Nations cafeteria 401 E 42nd St.
Amish Market 240 E 45th St, between 2nd and 3rd Ave.

Sandwiches, salads, hot food:Plaza Garden ($) 303 E 44 St between 1st and 2nd Ave.
45 Deli ($-$$) 839 2nd Ave, between 44th and 45th St.
Sido Gourmet ($-$$) 849 2nd Ave, between 45th and 46th St.
Pret a Manger ($-$$) 757 3rd Ave. between 47th and 48th St.
Ranch One ($-$$) 918 3rd Ave between 55th and 56th St.

Bakeries:
Le Pain Quotidien ($$-$$$) 937 2nd Ave between 49th and 50th St.

Brunch:
The Smith ($$-$$$) 956 2nd Ave between 50th and 51st St.

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Chinese:
Mee Noodle Shop ($) 922 2nd Ave. between 48th and 49th St.
Plaza Garden ($) 303 E 44 St. between 1st and 2nd Ave.
Our Evergreen Shanghai ($-$$) 913 2nd Ave. between 48th and 49th St.
Shih Lee Chinese Eatery ($-$$) 311 E 45th St. between 1st and 2nd Ave.

Cuban:
Sophie’s Cuban ($$) 369 Lexington Ave between 40th and 41st St.

French:
Matisse ($$$) 924 2nd Ave. between 49th and 50th St.

German:
German Bierhaus ($$-$$$) 712 3rd Ave. between 44th and 45th St.

Indian:
Indigo Indian Bistro ($-$$) 357 E 50th St. between 1st and 2nd Ave.
Joy ($-$$) 148 E 46th St. between 3rd and Lexington Ave.
Kati Roll Company ($-$$) 229 E 53rd St. between 2nd and 3rd Ave.

Israeli and Lebanese specialities:

Naya Express ($-$$) 688 3rd Ave, between 43rd and 44th
Chopita ($$) 300 E 45th St. between 1st and 2nd Ave.

Japanese:
Yama ($$-$$$) 308 E 49th St. between 1st and 2nd Ave.First and Second

Mexican:
Dos Caminos ($$-$$$) 825 3rd Ave between 50th and 51 St.

Paella:
Socarrat ($$$) 953 2nd Ave. between 50th and 51st St.

Pizza:
Latrattoria ($) 844 2nd Ave. on the corner of 45th St.
Ocean's Eleven Pizzeria ($-$$) 849 2nd Ave. between 45th and 46th St.

Thai:
Dee Daa ($$) 155 E 44th between 3rd and Lexington Ave.
Bangkok Palace ($$) 882 1st Ave. between 49th and 50th St.

Turkish:
Gulluoglu ($-$$) 982 2nd Ave between 51st & 52nd St.
Sip Sak ($$$) 928 2nd Ave. between 49th and 50th St.

Supermarkets:
Morton Williams supermarket 908 2nd Ave, between 48th and 49th St.
Amish Market 240 E 45th St, between 2nd and 3rd Ave.
Food Emporium 969 2nd Ave. between 51st and 52nd St.

Foodtrucks:
See a map of foodtrucks in the area here.

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The Cinnamon Snail. Find it here.
Wafels and Dinges food truck. Find it here.

Great coffee:
Penny Lane 305 E 45th St. between 1st and 2nd Ave. (wifi password “underthebell”)

A google search for “Cheap eats in East midtown” will yield many great locations, with independent
reviews written by fellow midtowners. Websites like www.menupages.com and www.zagat.com
list restaurants by type and location.

Tipping

Please note you are expected to tip double the tax in New York restaurants, i.e. 18%. If you
tip less than that, they will presume you were dissatisfied and ask what the problem was.

Weather
The weather in New York can be quite extreme. You might find yourself fighting your way
through snow blizzards if you are here in January and melting in the heat and the humidity if
you are here in July and August. Temperatures also tend to be extreme indoors: stores,
restaurants and offices tend to crank up the heating in winter and set the air conditioning to
maximum in summer. So bring jackets, scarves, coats, etc. that you can put on and take off
quickly and bring lip balm for winter and suntan screen for summer (see more in the “what to
wear” section). Of course, you can also purchase any of these items very conveniently at any
time of the day or night when you get to New York City.
Predicting the weather in New York City is somewhat tricky because of its geographical
features and location (in other words the forecasters often get it wrong), but the most
recommended sites for checking out short- and long-term forecasts is
www.accuweather.com – use zip code 10017, toggle between degrees F and degrees C.
Note that local news stations (and people) give temperatures in Fahrenheit.

What to bring (and what not to bring)

Most chargers or power supplies for mobile phones, tablets, laptops and e-readers are now
multi voltage. Look on the charger itself for the input voltage and make sure it can be used on
110-120 volts, 60Hz.
Standard US plugs have two flat blades, one often wider than the other (“polarized plug”),
and may have a round earth (ground) pin in addition. The standard socket (outlet) is below,
with examples of 2- and 3-pin plugs.

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If your existing charger or power supply is suitable for use in the US, its plug may not be
compatible. The Basics Plus hardware store at 845 2nd Ave, between 45th and 46th Streets,
has a wide variety of plug adapters. Always remember that plug adapters do not convert
voltage.
If your existing charger or power supply is not suitable, consider buying another when you
arrive. Even if a branded version of the charger or power supply is not available, the chain
store Radio Shack has equivalents of all output voltages and plug designs. The closest to the
United Nations is at 150 E 42nd St, between 3rd Ave and Lexington Ave.
It is hardly worth bringing with you any electrical item that will not work in the US, However,
if you have something that you absolutely must bring that runs on 220-240 volts, 50Hz, you
will probably be able to use it with a “step-up” 110/120 volt to 220/240 volt converter or
transformer. There are two things to consider here. (1) does the appliance have electronic
components, or just (for example) a heating element? (2) what is the wattage of the
appliance? If the appliance just heats, you should be able to use it with a simple converter
(obtainable at drugstores like Duane Reade, electronics chains like Radio Shack and Best Buy).
If the appliance has electronic components, you will need a transformer (uses coils of wire to
convert the voltage and is heavier). Small versions can also be found in the same places. For
more complicated cases, you will have to go to a specialist electronics online supplier like
voltage-converter-transformers.com.
Basic clothing (like t-shirts and underwear) is cheap and easily obtainable in New York, so do
not weigh down your bags with items that you could buy for very little here and take home or
donate. The same applies to products like shampoo and styling products, deodorants and
perfumes.

Health care
The United Nations has a medical service. However, it handles only medical emergencies: it
does not provide medical treatment or medical advice to staff (or interns).
The United States in general, and New York City in particular, is a very high-cost healthcare
environment. Make sure that you carry with you at all times proof of medical insurance, as
anything out of the ordinary – like not having a US health insurance card – has to be
explained. Also make absolutely sure that friends and family have details of this insurance
and know how to make a claim on your behalf.
Emergency treatment
Call 911 and ask for an ambulance. Emergency rooms cannot turn you away, and must give
you treatment.
Walk-in centres
There are a number of chains of walk-in medical centres. The closest to the United Nations is
the Med-Rite Urgent Care Center at 919 2nd Ave (between 48th and 49th Streets).
Another chain, CityMD, has centres in other locations.
These centres typically have X-ray facilities and can write prescriptions. Expect to pay about
$90 for a consultation. You should be able to claim this back from your insurance company or
national medical plan. The centres are used to dealing with visitors from outside the US, and
can provide statements and invoices.

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Doctors and dentists
You can make an appointment with any doctor or dentist who will see you, but be aware that
s/he will be most attuned to patients with standard US insurance. If you have travel or other
emergency assistance insurance, be prepared to be asked for a credit card and to have the
cost refunded by your insurer. The standard full charge for a visit is about $350 (with
standard US health insurance the patient would be liable only for a “co-payment” of about
$15-20).
Medicines
Drugstores sell a wide variety of over-the-counter medicines that in many other places would
be obtainable only from a pharmacy. For prescription medicines, you will have to go to the
pharmacy counter in a drugstore, or to an independent pharmacy. If you take a prescription
medicine, find out whether it is known by a different name in the US (Wikipedia is a good
source of this information).
Glasses and contact lenses
Both glasses and contact lenses are cheaper than in many other countries. For glasses, there
is a Lenscrafters store near the Albano Building at 777 3rd Ave (at 48th St). there are other
smaller chain operators in the area. Contact lenses are more often ordered on line (from
Lenscrafters, a drugstore like Walgreens or a specialist supplier like 1-800-contacts. Contact
lens solutions are easily and cheaply available from all drugstores, including the Duane Reade
store on 2nd Ave on the corner of 46th St.

Safety
TV shows and movies might portray New York as a dangerous or scary place, but reality is
that New York is and has been for a long while one of the top 10 safest cities in the United
States. There may be more beggars and unusual characters in the streets than you are used
to, but violent crime is rare. As in any city, you need to be a bit street-wise and exercise your
common sense. Information, including safety tips, can be found here. The general emergency
number is 911.

Shopping
Opening hours
Many food stores (supermarkets and convenience stores, known as bodegas), and some
restaurants, are open round the clock, seven days a week. Stores rarely close at 5-5.30p.m.,
and it’s not uncommon for them to remain open until 9p.m. or later, particularly in tourist
areas like Times Square. Very few stores are closed at the weekends (except dry cleaners,
which tend to close on Sundays).
Department stores, chain stores and discounters
The best-known New York City department stores, Macy’s (34th St and 6th Ave) and
Bloomingdale’s (59th St and 3rd Ave), have a tourist discount. To be eligible, you must go first
to their visitor’s bureau (will be clearly marked on the store guide) and show foreign-issued
identification – this can be almost any form of photo ID. You will receive a discount card. At

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Macy’s, this is valid for a month. At Bloomingdale’s, only for a day. In both cases, the
discount does not apply to all items. However, it will usually apply to things that are already
discounted in a sale. Other department stores are not well represented in New York City itself.
Exceptions are Lord and Taylor (5th Ave between 38th and 39th Streets ) and JC Penney (in
the Manhattan Mall at 6th Ave and 33rd St). Much more exclusive, but still not averse to sales,
is Saks Fifth Avenue (5th Ave at 50th St).
Sales or discounting periods are not limited to certain times of year (as they are in some parts
of Europe, for example), so almost any time is an excuse for a sale. Always remember to
retain receipts, as exchange and refund policies are extremely generous and liberal,
particularly by European standards.
Chain stores are well represented in the City. To locate them, go to the retailer’s website,,
and look for the “store locator” or “store finder” link. The best-known discounter in the City is
Century 21. Its main store is next to the World Trade Center site, at 22 Cortlandt St. Easier to
navigate is its newer store at Lincoln Center (66th St and Broadway). If what you are looking
for is a traditional shopping mall, you will need to go to the suburbs. One to try is the
Newport Centre mall, above the Pavonia-Newport station in Jersey City, easily reachable by
PATH train.
Outlet malls and villages
The New York area has outlet malls and villages within about an hour of the City. Most are
served by buses leaving from the Port Authority Bus Terminal on 8th Ave at 42nd St.
● Jersey Gardens, New Jersey Transit Bus #111 and #115 from Port Authority
● Woodbury Common, accessible by bus (Gray Line or Coach USA from Port Authority or
train from Grand Central)
NYC sales tax
NYC sales tax is added to most items except supermarket food and shoes/clothing costing
under $110) – it is not included in the marked price. 8.875% will be added at the register. The
only way to escape it is to shop on line from a retailer with no stores in New York State, or go
to the nearby areas of New Jersey that are in that state’s urban enterprise zone (for example,
Jersey City – sales tax is 3.5%).
Laundry and dry cleaning
Most apartments do not have laundry facilities. Many will have shared laundry rooms (with
washing machines costing about $2 and dryers about the same to use), but in other instances
the residents will have to use a local laundromat.
Dry cleaning is not very expensive, and there is a dry cleaner on almost every city block. There
is one right next to the Albano Building. Most also do clothing alterations and will wash
clothes for you (known as “wash and fold”) although you have to accumulate about 8
pounds/4 kilos of clothes. All dry cleaners launder and iron shirts for about $2-2.50 each, and
as a result, almost nobody ever washes them at home.

Things to do in New York City

Tour the UN

GUIDE FOR TRANSLATION INTERNS AT UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS PAGE 25 of 29

Free tours of the UN building are usually available for interns. Check with your training officer
for dates and availability.

Free museum days

A list of museums that offer free or discounted entry can be found here

CityPASS

CityPASS combines entry to a number of attractions around the city for a discounted rate,
though a few of these also offer free or discounted entry (see Free museum days above). More
information about CityPASS can be found here

PAGE 26 of 29 UNHQ TRANSLATION SERVICES TRAINING OFFICERS GROUP

Annex 1. Map of United Nations buildings

GUIDE FOR TRANSLATION INTERNS AT UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS PAGE 27 of 29

Annex 2. UN-related fiction and non-fiction
Note that some of these works are critical of the Organization – they do not reflect the views of anyone but
their authors.

NON-FICTION

Shake Hands With the Devil, by Romeo Dallaire

A first-person account of the Rwandan genocide by the head of the UN peacekeeping operation there, a French-
Canadian military man.

Countenance of Truth by Shirley Hazzard (description from amazon.com)

In this work, Hazzard, who worked at the UN for a decade before achieving literary renown, focuses on a series of
issues arising from the decade-long reign of Kurt Waldheim as Secretary-General. How could an official with a Nazi
past rise to such a post? How could a Secretary-General with a record of extending favors prominently and
outrageously to Soviet interests escape criticism from within the UN?

Defeat of an Ideal: a study of the self-destruction of the United Nations by Shirley Hazzard (description from
amazon.com)
The author said in an interview in The Paris Review, "’Defeat of an Ideal’ was an act of indignation against the
silence surrounding the UN Secretariat's complete surrender to McCarthyism in 1951-55."

Chasing the Flame, by Samantha Power (now the US ambassador to the UN)
This is about the life and death of a leading UN diplomat, Sergio Vieira de Mello, who served, at various times, as
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Head of the Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and
High Commissioner for Human Rights and also worked in many capacities in the UN High Commission for Refugees.
He died in a bombing in Baghdad 2003.

From Russian into English, by Lynn Visson

On simultaneous interpretation at the UN, contains a lot of useful terminology.

The UN for Beginners, by Ian Williams

Description from Amazon.com: Thoroughly exploring the role of the U.N. in world events and the true dimensions
of its power, Williams clearly explains the General Assembly and Security Council and examines the leadership of
secretary generals. He discusses the World Bank and UNESCO and traces the U.N.'s mediation attempts in long-
standing conflicts such as that between the Arabs and the Israelis.

FICTION

Between, by Christine Brooke-Rose

Comment from goodreads:
This is a brilliant, multilingual British nouveau roman with humor and a satirical view of the world of travel,
conferences, and diplomacy.

Belle du Seigneur, by Albert Cohen

Description from amazon.com: As Under-Secretary-General of the League of Nations, Solal has become
disillusioned with a world dominated by personal and national interest. His one hope for redemption is through
love, and he embarks on the seduction of the beautiful Ariane, wife of the dull-witted Adrien Deume, who works
for Solal.

PAGE 28 of 29 UNHQ TRANSLATION SERVICES TRAINING OFFICERS GROUP

Modelo para armar/A Model Kit, by Julio Cortazar
Cortazar, a leading light of Argentinian literature, worked as a translator and interpreter for UNESCO and the UN.

The Ice Wagon Going Down the Street, by Mavis Gallant

In this short story, a former UN employee who has had a somewhat mediocre career sits at breakfast with his wife
as the two of them look back on their international trajectory.
Gallant is one of the most respected and prolific short story writers in recent memory, having published over a
hundred stories in The New Yorker over nearly half a century. This story can be found in her "Collected Stories"
and in "Paris Stories."

People Who Live in Glass Houses, by Shirley Hazzard

A short story collection that draws on Hazzard's years working at the UN.

Corazon tan blanco (A Heart So White) by Javier Marías

Description from amazon.com:
A husband and wife make their living as interpreters, and so it is a gut reflex to be translating the words of others.
One scene involves the deliberate misinterpretation of the remarks of two high level politicians from different
countries. As Marías says: "...the task of the translator or interpreter of speeches and reports is boring in the
extreme, both because of the identical and fundamentally incomprehensible jargon universally used by all
parliamentarians, delegates, ministers, politicians, deputies, ambassadors, experts and representatives of all kinds
from every nation in the world, and because of the unvarying turgid nature of all their speeches, appeals, protests,
harangues and reports." Clearly, Marias has "been there," and so why not a scenario that plays with meanings, just
to liven things up? There is also a scene involving an Australian politician, at an all-English speaking conference,
who demands to be "interpreted," which is particularly funny.

November 2014

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