First experience in the big city..

[Anomalocaris]

Heh, should I be worried? I'm flying into the States Saturday night.

Who knows, maybe I'll have a little "Esquilax goes to 'Murica" story to contribute once the 36 hours of traveling and attendant jetlag have worn off.

I lived in New York for 6 years and we still fly into Laguardia at least once a year to visit my parents. We've flown in and out of every terminal. While there are unending constructions, on the whole the airport is efficient and clean, if congested. The bathrooms are cleaner than those in most motel rooms in Florida. Every "arab" girl (how did he know she was arab?) is not out to get you. New Yorkers tend to be worldly, streetwise and don't suffer nonsense easily. You would have to act outstandingly yokelish to cause any New York crooks to single you out as a victim.

I traveled quite a lot for a previous job. If you are flying into a major murican city, you would see large American international airports tend to be congested, dated in decor and design and lacking in the overwhelming size and post modern sleekness often found in other international airports, particularly new ones in Asia. But they are usually competently and efficiently run, and not dens of filth, confusion and vice as the OP makes one of them out to be.