I became a messenger delivering packages all over the metro area. It became a crash course on the city. I learned the way to get from here to there. I learned where to park and where not to park. That part of my training enriched the city quite a few times.
Parking tickets are serious business in New York.
I learned the basic distribution of ethnic groups in the five boroughs and about the racial tensions. I learned were the gays congregated. I learned the safe times to be in certain areas and what times required extra caution. I have learned no place is completely safe. I had my personal laptop stolen from my office at work.