Hello Brian! Welcome.
One thing I can recommend to you is maybe starting an online conversation with someone who lives in NY as well. Do this by just posting in forums like these and others and just practice some small talk to people you meet and see everyday. Whether its the person serving you food or your mail man/woman, this will help you lose a little bit of shyness.
Anyways, take care, and don't be so hard on yourself. You just need to find ways of getting out there and you are still VERY young. Relax and take your time. Rushing into things is the worst thing you can do.
Peace.