Life in New York City I

Words bring imagination.

It's been a month since I landed in New York. It is truly impressive that my SQ-024 flight took 18.5 hours to cross the Pacific Ocean and land in JFK. As I rode in a car driven by a Chinese driver, I gazed out at the city I'd only ever seen on Google Earth's 3D model. I took in the details: the number of digits on the license plates, how the state names were written, the road signs, and the vastness of the East River under the Queens Bridge.

As a newcomer to the States, I couldn't help but feel curious and excited. I asked the driver, "Do drug dealers really trade in Central Park at night?"

He smiled and replied, "Drug dealing happens all over America."

The Gate of the apartment

Studying abroad is not always as glamorous as it may seem on Instagram or Reddit, even if you're living in Manhattan, the supposed center of the universe. Embarrassing moments can happen anywhere. On my first day here, I found out that my iPhone roaming wasn't working, and my roommate Hang hadn't even thought about it. Two primitive guys were just sent to the apartment. When the first Chinese person we met appeared in the elevator, we immediately asked her, "Excuse me, may I ask where is the nearest carrier service provider store?" Fortunately, we happened to meet a charming and kind girl named Bian who not only took us to enroll with the local carrier service but also led us to shop at Whole Foods, where we became addicted to Häagen-Dazs ice cream. Bian gave us some supplies as well. Finally, we started to fight with the jat lag.

The next day, I went to fill out a work order at the doorman's desk. The chubby doorman played a joke with me to write larger words because the handyman had poor eyesight, given I wore a glass too. I didn't hear him properly when he said, "You can lend your glasses to him..." I didn't realize he meant that if I lent my glasses to the handyman, he would be able to see more clearly. Unfortunately, I didn't connect my myopia glasses with the hyperopia glasses, so I didn't understand his point. I just kept writing and ignored him. Eventually, he said in disappointment, "Well, I guess you laughed under your mask." I was so embarrassed that I felt like I was able to dig a hole in the ground with my anxious toes.

Peace Fountain by Greg Wyatt, 1047 Amsterdam

One afternoon back in Beijing, hanging out at Yuyuantan Park, I noticed a group of aged Beijingnese staying by the lake, each one holding a tripod and a camera equipped with a super telephoto lens pointed towards the sky. Confused and curious, I considered approaching them to inquire, but instead, I sent a message to a WeChat Group: "What if Yuan were here! She would be able to strike up a conversation with those gentlemen easily." I have always admired Yuan's amiable and kind nature. Her energy makes strangers feel comfortable, regardless of her physical appearance. On the other hand, I tend to avoid talking to strangers as I lack that similar energy. However, since moving to New York, I have been making an effort to interact with people more. I greet doormen, converse with policemen at the campus NYPD shed, and listen to their instructions on public safety. I also bought a painting from a shy boy on the Brooklyn Bridge, requested wine recommendations from store staff, and learned how to fill out a check with a teller at Citibank. In China, there is a pervasive fear of being looked down upon by others, even strangers on the street. People often distrust and take on the responsibility of solving problems themselves to avoid embarrassment and deception.

Despite the uncertainties of people's true attitudes and the prevalence of discrimination, I have identified that in New York, when I make an effort to understand and connect with others, they would respond with genuine warmth and kindness. Even when I stumble over my words or don't fully understand something, people are patient and quick to offer help. In a time where issues of discrimination and prejudice are at the forefront of political discussions, the genuine friendliness of New Yorkers has been a source of comfort and relief for me.

Brooklyn Bridge

"Money can make even God serve you," as described by Huning Wang, a current member of the Politburo Standing Committee, in his book "America against America" thirty years ago. As for me, I am the one who serves others on the countrary. I joke around myself for not being able to afford the metro and choosing to wait for my Amazon cookware to arrive late instead of paying a higher price in store. But the other day, when all cookware arrived, my roommate and I made fried ribs and pasta with a classic marinara sauce that would make you exclaim "sooooo Italian" after just a single taste. Cooking brings us happiness, unlike the beautifully presented dishes on social media, some with attractive herbs and garlic-seasoned steaks, while others with colorful fried rice. As straight boys (which holds a unique meaning in Chinese, referring to individuals who are not skilled in dressing up or wearing makeup, focusing instead on studies, games, and other hobbies), we do not seek extreme delicacies or aesthetically pleasing presentations; we only care about enjoying ourselves by eating what we like. Our meat options include beef steak, pork steak, wings, and sausages, while our main dishes consist of fast noodles, spaghetti, pasta, toast, and pizza. For fruits and vegetables, we have lettuce, peach, apple, tomato, blueberry, and banana. With these ingredients, we could create a whopping 360 recipes (C(4,1)*C(6,1)*C(6,2)). (kidding...)

Food

I am enamored with the lifestyle here, and every passing moment cements my love for it. Riding the campus shuttle bus is a delight. As I wait for the bus, I relish the fragmentary time, allowing me to relax, feel every gust of wind, and immerse myself in a good book. Hanging out on campus is another favorite pastime of mine. The Watson Library in CBS can be a bit noisy and crowded, but the Starbucks Frappuccino there is priced twice as much as the one in Level 6 at MUDD. The East Asian Library's stacks contain many valuable resources about modern Chinese history, and it's hard not to notice the great people's names that are illogically printed on the wall outside of Butler Library. I also love the Math Library, even though it's tiny, and the Barnard Library looks luxurious, although it's a bit far. My favorite library is Avery Library, operated by GSAPP, where I can usually take great afternoon naps. One day, when my home internet had not yet been furnished, I took a break from studying and hung out on the lawns. There, I witnessed a peaceful campus scene where guys played frisbee happily, girls read and lounged on the grass, tourists explored the campus, and students ate and sat on the steps behind Alma Mater, all under a clear blue sky and bright sunshine. Lost in the beauty of this scenery, I was reminded of the university life I had long anticipated since I first watched "3 Idiots" in 2010.

Saturday afternoon

I wasn't particularly eager to make new connections. In a master's program like mine, our paths will likely never cross again, and we remain mere acquaintances.

Each person has their own unique goals and aspirations, and we are all heading in different directions.

After meeting our classmates for the first time, exchanging social media accounts, we seldom talked again. Constant discussions about job searching only fueled my anxiety, so I spent a lot of time alone. I dined alone on campus and treated myself to Uncle Luoyang's food on a few occasions. But I loved going to Subway, even if it meant a 10-minute walk. When I wanted to get away from campus, I went to Riverside Park to watch the sunset. I took leisurely walks across DUMBO and Brooklyn Bridge, and cycled through Central Park while listening to the New York Times Daily podcast or Xieliao podcast. In New York, I bid farewell to Zhihu, with its endless stream of absurd news, and unfollowed Xinhua News Agency and The Paper (two major propaganda newspapers under CCP). In the end, I found the New York Times to be an excellent newspaper. Nevertheless, I continued my habit of observing people, categorizing them as extroverted or introverted, humorous or shy, diligent or relaxed. I only spoke with people who were good conversationalists. I enjoyed chatting with Moya, sitting by the flower bed with a gentle breeze while waiting for the Statistics 5701 course.

As we mature, we develop our own set of beliefs and may become less tolerant of those who don't share our views. However, it's important to recognize this tendency and actively work to overcome our narrow-mindedness and biases in order to cultivate a diverse and supportive social network. Striking a balance between our convictions and openness to different perspectives is crucial for personal growth and societal progress.

dumbo - Once Upon a Time in America stills

visiting Little Italy with Kelsie

New York is everything, which is how I would love to describe it. In the US, everything, including public safety, is out of the control of the government in comparison with life under the Department of Propaganda in China. Inclusiveness is the most impressive thing. In New York, gorgeous CBD lays in downtown while dirty streets and phantomlike homeless appear below the CBD. There are some luxury fine dining halls that I never imagine while numerous food trucks move in Times Square. Rich people lived in Upper East while beggars were here and there, opening McDonald/Popeyes doors for you on Broadway. Some restaurants require vaccination for dining in, while some special people resist vaccination. It is easy to distinguish people based on race and color, like a fat black woman. But I saw a white man trying to use "the bald guy" to describe his only black colleague. Actually, as anti-discrimination becomes political correctness, every job application investigates if you are Hispanic, what ethnicity, whether you are a protected veteran, and whether you are disabled. The university you come from can become a part of promoting diversity too. I regard this as another style of discrimination, discrimination against a standard Asian, Chinese citizenship man. Is this the end of equality? I'm afraid the battle between freedom and equality will never end.

Times Square

Central Park, a running mother with a baby carriage

Unlike the Chinese who pursue an undergraduate in America, Chinese with an undergraduate degree in China think a lot about their future, from the options of studying abroad, getting admitted by a Chinese university, or looking for jobs on the market or government agencies. Ultimately, they chose to study abroad in the United States, driven by factors such as H-1B/PR opportunities and the desire for a different lifestyle. I also started to seek what I desired and answer the questions that confused me. 

Does the power separation principle by Montesquieu still work well here? How does American society compare to China regarding gender equality and acceptance of diverse individuals? Is there less societal pressure to constantly compare oneself to others here? Which type of government - one with more or less power - is preferable? Are workers' rights better protected by law in the US than in China?

Riverside Park

Please never stop questioning.

Oct 6th, 2021