Being the son of two immigrants, I thought that I had heard enough from their stories and experiences to know everything there was to know about what it was that brought them to this country. Unbeknownst to me, however, was the reason as to why immigrants like my parents came to New York, and Jackson Heights in particular. Sure,
while it is easy to see that Jackson Heights allows for accessibility to transportation, is home to many good public schools, and is generally considered a safe neighborhood, there were aspects that were not as obvious.
Through the interview with Sangay, a Nepali immigrant and father of two, I was able to see a bigger reason as to why people move to Jackson Heights. Sangay, when asked to give a reason as to why he moved, presented the fact that many of those that he knew from Nepal – my own father included – had moved to Jackson Heights. Sangay also brought up his involvement in the United Sherpa Association and how their headquarters, a church-turned monastery/community center, is located in Jackson Heights. It was clear to see that being close to friends and family, more generally, a community of people similar nationalities was crucially important in making the decision to move from Brooklyn.
It seemed as though Jackson Height’s ability to bring a small piece of the old country to this country was what has made it such a popular destination for immigrants that were leaving their old life behind. The presence of ethnic restaurants, places of worship, etc. is what allows the thousands of people that live here to comfortable call it home.
