Sir, - Aisling Irish Community Center opened in 1997 as a place for young Irish people to drop in. It offers a range of services, including information on accommodation and work. Each year during May and June our services are used by the many Irish students who come to New York looking for work.
It is our experience that a significant number of students come to New York unprepared. In some cases they don't have either work or accommodation set up. Without these, they take the risk of quickly running out of money and in some cases resorting to sleeping rough in the local parks - a highly dangerous situation. Without wishing to sound alarmist and frighten students from coming, it is important to highlight a number of significant facts.
It is difficult to find work in the New York area during the summer months. This will be particularly true this year, as there is a definite slowdown in the construction business, a traditional employer for men. Girls tend to rely on waitressing and nannying jobs, which again are difficult to find. We find that students do better if they go to the resort areas up and down the east coast where jobs in the service end of the tourist industry are readily available.
To be adequately prepared, students should have a solid contact in America for accommodation and work. They should bring enough money to pay for food and accommodation in the event of not finding work - at least $1,000, at a conservative estimate. It is advisable that students have a J1 visa. This allows them to work legitimately and be protected in the event of sickness or some other misfortune.
With adequate preparation, a summer visit to New York can be a very rewarding experience for students. Otherwise, it may be a disillusioning if not dangerous experience.
May I reassure all that we at the Irish Center remain committed to helping those who find themselves in difficulty or have any need. - Yours, etc.,
Rev Thomas Flynn, Irish chaplain, New York, Aisling Irish Community Center, 990 McLean Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10704, USA.