When my mother and I walked in Uptown, she would always sigh, “This is the true New York City.” To people who live in the poor neighborhoods in New York City, Uptown is a symbol of the city they truly dream about. I am one of them. In this blog entry, I would like to tell a little story about how I perceive New York City. Perhaps, you may feel offended by my story. Nevertheless, it tells the truth about my and many other people’s perception who have similar experience as I do.
As a child growing up in a well-developed modern city, I always view city as a place with only skyscrapers and cars. Any other places with small buildings or houses are considered suburb or country, and suburb is not a place of affluence to me before I came to America. Therefore, when I first arrived in Brooklyn, the first sentence I could think of was “Is this New York City?” In many people’s mind, New York City is the most modernized and affluent city in the world. As the international financial center, the appearance of New York City is certainly the most attractive aspect to many dream pursuers. Therefore, I was surprised that there is a part of New York City that seems like a “country with no field”. Of course, my point of view was soon proved to be extremely narrow after I went to “have a look” at the wealthier part of New York City.
When I walked along Fifth Avenue for the first time, the enormous skyscrapers standing along the street amazed me. I was not amazed by their fanciness or height. I was amazed by the strength of these skyscrapers. Unlike the fancy buildings in a newly developed city, the skyscrapers in New York City are very solemn. No matter how much time has passes, they are still standing with dignity. They give people a sense of steady and sturdy. People immediately feel safe after looking at these buildings. Of course, this feeling has changed slightly over the past ten years, but the solemnity and beauty still remain. I love to see and touch the bricks of the skyscrapers, as they are the witness of time in this wonderful city.
So when you ask me what image I have when I think about Uptown, I will have the same image as the ten-cent postcards of the New York City skylines sell outside of the gift shops. I am very impressed by the architectures because in my mind, they represent a New York City within the New York City. I do not mean the other parts of New York City are not as good; it is just that Uptown is too symbolic to people around the world.
To me, Uptown is a “true” New York City. It appears in exactly the same way as many people perceive it. Yet, it is also a symbol of privilege and wealth. Every time I walk around there, I feel I am only a passenger who never belongs to there. Perhaps this feeling of unfitting will stay with me forever, and so as my love to the augustness and beauty of the skyscrapers.
