The First New York Experience
Setting and Emotion
Last summer, I had my own experience of New York City to discover the stories I have heard in the past. I closed my eyes and pictured the city and its glamour as I left my room to ensure that I had every essential utility that I might need. As I arrived at the airport, excitement caught me as I realized that my dream of being in a plane and heading to New York had finally come true. I watched the buildings vanish to infinity as the plane rose in attitude, only to exhilarate to visit the most amazing city in the country. Landing in New York was ecstatic. Everyone in the city was busy from here to there, honking vehicles, and no traffic like in my city. There were no idlers as everyone was hurrying like they are being chased.
In my hotel in Times Square, I noted the complex transport system to ensure no traffic. There was an efficient subway station, bus and taxi system that ensured that the city is always on the move. I stood in the window to watch the interesting observation of a rushing city. I compared it to my city and it was nothing similar to my previous experience. The buildings in the city are incredible. The buildings are built in patterns and the skyscrapers are well decorated to provide a heavenly sight at night. When I went to Empire State Building, I watched the whole city from its pinnacle. For instance, I would easily spot Ellis Island as a magnificent feature in the middle of the blue waters. The stores were huge and full of shoppers and their locations made me realize why items are expensive in New York than in my city. I wondered how such disparities can exist in the same country. I admitted that my town is peaceful and life was sustainable but it can be magnified for more than a hundred times to become a wonder city like New York.
Reflection
The setting of New York made me realize the potential growth a city has and how investors target some places to develop to be relied on by other people around the world. During my one week stay in the city, I realized that most people who were not in a rush were tourists, like me. Most shoppers in the mall, viewers in the museums, and walkers in the parks were touring the magnificent city. Since the economy is always moving, New York has grown exponentially. Tourists contribute a large percentage to the city’s revenue. If a pizza’s price in the city was triple the price from my home town, how can the two compete? However, to sustain the economy of New York, such prices must be subjected to commodities.
I also learnt that the mindset of people determines the momentum of a city. Imagine everything and everyone was on the move in the city. My city is full of people walking aimlessly, chatting by the shops and stores, window shopping, and having leisure time, not as tourists, but as locals. Therefore, it is very hard for businesses to have exponential growth unless such behavior evolves. In such an idle city, crimes are prevalent and police patrol cars are seen regularly. It is surprising that I saw no police patrol car in New York. I would only conclude that the city is too busy for people to engage in destructive behavior. Also, the security of the city is enhanced through modern technology, making the work of the policy easier compared to my city (Lorenzo, 2011).
In conclusion, my first New York Experience gave me an insight of economic disparities of a country and how mindset of the people is determined by lack of experience to inform any form of development. In future, I would want to reside in New York City or lobby for development in my hometown to introduce a new feel of a modern city.
References
Lorenzo, G. (2011). Development and Development Paradigms A (Reasoned) Review of Prevailing Visions. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/docs/up/easypol/882/defining_development_paradigms_102en.pdf