I have asked myself this question for more than five years. Five years ago, I definitely said New York City is my inferno. I don’t remember how many times I have cried at night before sleeping because I thought my life in here was a nightmare. When I was lying on my bed and thought about my hometown, my tears just began to drop involuntarily. Nostalgia was one cause, but there are reasons. Life is always full of changes, but I didn’t expect such large differences between the two places. Although I wasn’t rich in China, at least I had a more decent living condition than I did in New York City. I don’t know whether I am justified in having so much comparison between the two places, but that always happened when people have lived in more than one region. Perhaps people may wonder why I would even come to America if I had a decent life in my hometown. Again, this answer may not be justified, but that is my only answer—I didn’t have any control over this issue, just like I didn’t have control over who my parents are. I may be able choose where to go when I finish undergraduate school, at least for the past and present time, I had no choice.
Life is tougher for my parents. That was the reason my mother always said, “I come here because of you.” While I really sympathized with her, I never agreed on this matter. I know that my parents have given up a lot to come to America, but my life didn’t become any better either. She always says that my future will be better in America, but who knows what will happen in the future. Just look at today’s economy, and see how depressing it is.
What exactly are so bad about New York City? Just like other places, if people are poor, they can hardly survive. Being poor is not a sin, but people simply cannot live in poverty. This is true in any place. Therefore, I began to ask myself what the American dream really is. Is it only a representation of wealth and money? At least I don’t agree. There are too many stories about people who are well educated come to America and look for jobs that are incompetent with their educational levels. Are they satisfied with their lives? Some of them may yes, but most of them would say no. Money is not omnipotent. It cannot exchange for reputation. It cannot be the substitutes for the achievements people are pursuing. I finally figured out that the American dream is not special at all. It is just that people’s expectations are too high. It was true that America was very prosperous in the old days, and many people had changed their lives through hard work, but these days don’t exist anymore, at least not in 2011.
My opinion towards New York City becomes better after I went to college. College is a pleasant experience because I can experience the beauty of New York City. To be honest, I have never been to any performances in New York City before attending college. This was the reason I was so excited about every performance that I went with class. I cannot say I like every performance, but the experiences were very enjoyable. I can never forget how many people I have asked to get to the Cherry Lane Theater the first time I went to the Greenwich Village. I can never forget the glamour of the Metropolitan Opera House as well as the entire Lincoln Center. The arts in the city are really attractive to me. I also want to thank New York City because it teaches me a lot. It provides me with so many educational opportunities, so I can finish my high school and college educations without worries. It helps me to understand the importance of education after having so many nightmarish experiences. (Although it’s a digression, I still want to write this down. I finally understand why young people were fighting for colleges after the Cultural Revolution in China. It is a turning point of one’s life without any doubt.) I can now choose a field that I think can best change my life. Although it may not be the field that I like the most, it is the one that is the most beneficial to me. (It is sad to love something that you shouldn’t love.) I believe in my choice and myself.
New York City is a shining star on earth. Yet to me, it is just the same as the other cities, or maybe worse. People cannot experience its difficulty if they are not in it. New York City would never be my Eden, but it would not be my inferno either. After all, I have spent my most crucial time in this city. It is the most important place for my education. It shapes my future, and I cannot deny its influence on me.
Um, well, this is a difficult question. I’m not too sure. My image of an Eden is somewhere that is flawless, preferably white, clean, and meeting my every need. It is a heaven where all feelings of pleasure and comfort are met. My image of an Inferno is a torturous, painful place full of discomfort and agony. In terms of these definitions, New York City is neither of these yet it is both.
NYC is far from heavenly, to say the least. It is not perfect, but neither is anywhere else. It certainly has flaws and thrives to play on my nerves, but in terms of my needs, it certainly meets them. I have not looked for something and have not found it in NY. Transportation is of the upmost ease, with many means of which to travel, food can be found in a variety of price ranges, and entertainment is as simple as walking through the streets. New York has everything; great sources of education, many creative opportunities, as well as many social advantages. The entire world gathers here; this diversity allows for uniqueness and yet lets me fit in at the same time.
Is it my inferno? I don’t think that it is, though I cannot say that it is not. New York can be so frustrating to the point of absolute disgust. The subway stations are the farthest from clean as it can get. Now, I’m no germophobe, but sometimes it can get ridiculous. And the crowds! Don’t get me started on the pressing throngs that can suffocate you to no end. I despise the 6 train during rush hour for that reason. And the audacity of some of the riders, thinking I’m absolutely vile because I so much as bumped into them or because I can’t make room for them simply because there is no room.
The endless construction that is now a permanent part of the image of NY manages to sadden me further as I think of this city as a place to eventually settle. Always the constant change, an upgrade to what’s better. It has become a permanent mentality; we always want what is bigger, better, more expensive, never mind that what we have may be perfectly fine. New York is never satisfied with itself, always needing to change and reconstruct as if to impress someone. What are you, a teenage girl?
Though I have a lot of negative remarks about the ways of our city, I’m not ready to bolt any chance I get. I could see myself settling here and beginning a family; it is not an unpleasant thought. Yes, leaving is also a large possibility, as I want to travel outside the bubble that we tend to build around us. I guess NYC, to me, is a cross between the two, a sort of neutral ground, earth (since earth is between heaven and hell). It is my home base, somewhere I can leave and return to, but not anywhere that I can completely reject or completely embrace.
Que pasa, amigos? Today I want to discuss with all of you why I consider New York to be my “Eden.” I resided in New York all my life and ever since have grown deeply attached to it. What I enjoy the most about New York is its diversity and breadth of talent. It truly astonishes me when I see people from so many different backgrounds and individuals that possess such fantastically unique skills. For instance, I remember when I went to Carnegie Hall for a school trip and the mellifluous sounds of musicians playing their instruments were angelic. Each note was so perfect, yet so soothing to listen to. Furthermore, observing people from so many distinct regions was scintillating. I felt that it gave me an opportunity to learn more about their cultures and beliefs. I do not regret once living in New York and always felt at home here. I say this because of the wonderful education available here, the myriad of places to visit, and the innumerable activities to participate in. For the most part, most people I have met while living in New York are amiable and enjoyable to converse with.
Moreover, I consider New York as a sanctuary because I was always at peace here and never went through any difficult circumstances. My family settled in New York with ease and they possessed the same intentions most immigrants had to live here: opportunity. I definitely agree with the fact that New York is a place of opportunity. In my case, I have been exposed to many research and internship programs, which I tried out for successfully and participated in volunteering. In addition, the breathtaking view of the city always makes me happy to know that I live in such a wonderful place. I remember when my family and I took the seemingly everlasting elevator expedition to the zenith of the Empire State Building. My goodness, what a spectacular sight! Also, I had the chance to traverse the Intrepid, which was a very exciting experience. The high-tech airplanes, submarines, and jets aboard the Intrepid were amazing. In New York, I always had something to occupy my time, whether it was hanging out with friends, visiting the park, traveling to the city, or just enjoying the pleasant atmosphere of my neighborhood.
Maybe the reason why I am so attached to New York is I have been living here all my life and have adjusted to its way of life well. I have traveled to many other states, such as Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Maryland but none seem to display the grandeur New York contains. The beautiful skyscrapers, various shopping malls, parades and diversity all define New York. I simply cannot imagine living somewhere else besides New York. Of course life can be rough here for some people, but with the experiences I have underwent with my family, no grievances are made. I also feel more comfortable living here because most of my family from India immigrated to New York, as well. Thus, I have the chance to visit my family relatives often and spend time with them. I remember my mom telling me how in India there was a lack of diversity and that people were often burdened with a plethora of restrictions. However, over here I have the chance to meet new people daily and can be my own independent self.
Essentially, my experience in New York has been a positive one and I am really glad to be living here. I’m just happy I have a gem of a family and that nothing can make me happier than living with them here in this splendid region. With the many opportunities New York has to offer, I’ll be sure to take advantage of them and become a successful person. New York is my haven and I hope to live here for as long as possible. When I think of home, I think of New York. Now that Thanksgiving is imminent, I can say with much assurance that I am thankful to be in New York! 😀
NYTimes Arts
