Blog67:
A few hours from now, I head back to life left
behind in NC. In my mind are the stark
differences New York City (NYC), offers in contrast to Greensboro (GSO), my North
Carolina city/roots in this new world, the U.S.A.
NYC can’t be compared with GSO in terms of movement,
recreation, awareness-focused groups or like activities. Greensboro, NC is a way sleepier as a developing
urban area, and it is much too much spread out.
Even at the financial, commercial, and educational districts, driving in
and around it is still the best and easiest transport. NYC is richly flavored on all levels –
cultural diversity, action, interest-serving leisure, programming of all
kinds. Transplanting yourself in a
district (or borough, as is used commonly), requires literally walking and
navigating its lay of the land. It is by
far the best way to discover and experience people, places and events, next to
double decker tour buses. As an island, one can easily enjoy water and land
access in a day. Bikes of all forms,
buses, cabs, train-subway-thoroughfare, boats and ferries are all accessible
for movement. Not so in GSO
unfortunately. While there are bike
routes, they are few and in between.
Public buses are looked down upon, utility-wise, and are perceived to
belong only to those who can’t afford to own and park a car. Trains and interstate connecting buses are
available, but only a few people access them.
Carolinians favor car travel and air flights as movement access, unlike
NYC residents.
Streets are more amazingly interesting in NYC as
well. Almost in every corner at which people
arrive in their ‘walk from point A-B, signage, crosswalks and warning lights
are prominently set up. The city
evidently addresses ‘people safety-first’. GSO has a general approach to all
three, but in secondary streets, very few provisions for road safety are
visible. Streets, according to their
structuring year, are either cemented, cobble-stoned, asphalted; there are very
well-kept and unkempt road and street ways, lighted or not, just like
everywhere else in the world!
GSO is fast becoming diverse in population, unlike
the exploding standing of NYC population makeup. In mid-8o’s, during the first few years of my
residence in GSO, I could easily recognize and count on hand the foreign-operated
agencies and establishments. Today, organizations,
food establishments, stores and services to immigrants from around the world
have sprouted in leaps and bounds. People from all walks of life, immigrants
and visitors around the world are beginning to notice my city. Nowadays, there are as many people who claim
and display their African-descent heritages: Egyptians, Liberians, Ghanaians,
Nigerians, Togolese, etc. Latin-Americans
are dominantly represented by Salvadorans, Costa Ricans, Puerto Ricans,
Chileans and the like, but especially Mexicans from south of North America; Indians,
Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese/Montagnards, Cambodians, Nepalese, Bhutanese,
Burmese compete in representation from Asia; there are a handful of Filipinos
I’ve met, but I have not come aware of whether or not there’s really a herd of
us around. Filipinos blend well and are commonly
mistaken for Malaysians, which is probably OK, because we come from the same
stock. While population diversity has
grown tremendously in the city, outward expressions of culture have not caught
up. NYC is far different. It is expressive and even imposing of
cultures coming together and living side by side in a positive way. There appears to be great respect and
welcoming attitude for newcomers, residents and those who have planted
themselves: Europeans … Asians … Africans, some of whom were brought in against
their choice, but nevertheless learned to become part of the melting pot or have
distinctly prided themselves of ethnicity.
All in all, residents and visitors in New York present a tapestry of
cultural mixtures that form pleasant coalitions of neighborliness, at least
from my vantage point. GSO is far behind
in diversity acceptance or welcome. In
many ways, it is hostile to peoples of other heritage beyond its makeup.
An impressive fast-paced life in NYC dominates. People are almost always on the go. The streets are never asleep, it seems. Vending shops are nudged at every block and
corner and so are eateries. All over the
city one could choose to sample whatever taste is favored, whatever leisure is
desired and whatever arts with what one is delighted to observe or
participate.
I think I’ve fallen in love with the City of New York
in this particular visit more than I have in the past three other times. I know that I’d like to get embroiled and meaningfully
find myself lost in the crowd and the city’s vibrancy, and for many moments, at
least for a little while longer, I don't mind forgeting the disciplines of living!
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