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| Central Park |
My answer to people when they ask me how I like New
York is to say something diplomatic like “I’m glad it’s only for five years” or
“I’ll get used to it” or “It’s the complete opposite of Turku.”
This last answer is my favorite to think about. Turku was
quiet, peaceful, homogeneous, clean, easy-going. New York is loud, aggressive,
diverse, dirty and rushed. I felt at home in Turku, I do not feel at home here.
(Though diversity is one thing that New York has going for it over Turku)
But there are small pleasures I have discovered and so I will
devote this post to those small moments of joy in my new, temporary home.
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| My version of coffee |
1.
Coffee. This is not unique to New York— in fact,
I actually make it at home so I could make it anywhere—but I have found that nothing
compares to making a cup of Indian style cappuccino (hand whipped instant
coffee with lots of sugar and only milk) while I read articles for class.
2. The Teacher’s College Campus. Teacher’s College
is the graduate school for education at Columbia. It is old and therefore, the
architecture is beautiful and majestic. It feels like important things must
happen within these walls. Also, the TC library is wonderfully cozy and my
favorite place to study even late into the evenings.
3.
Architecture. While walking down a commercial
street, you will suddenly notice a building that looks like it came out of the
early 1900’s. It might now be a CVS but you can tell there is history in the
walls. Sometimes there are plaques that give you a snippet of this history.
4. The parks. Central Park is a mile away and a
very accessible place to go on a stroll. I now understand why New Yorkers are
so proud of it. There are so many nooks in the park that you could spend a week
exploring it and still not find all the secret spots. I love going on runs
through the park or taking some readings I need to do and sitting in the grass
with my aforementioned mug of coffee. There are also other parks which are also
wonderful running spots.
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| Teacher's College |
5. The
diversity. I do enjoy the many different kinds of people here. My cohort has people from all walks of life,
from teachers who have taught in New York for almost two decades to some who have
been studying for longer than we have taught (like me). There is racial
diversity, diversity in ages and diversity in experiences. It makes for
interesting conversation and interesting class discussions.
So, in the times that I feel
lonely or poor because of the exorbitant New York prices, I try to remember
these small moments that make New York worth coming to. I know there are many
more things the city has to offer but I have found that it is better to take my
time. New York is not going anywhere and neither am I. At least for a while.
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