Thursday, December 23, 2010

People Watching in New York City

At the beginning of December I traveled to New York City for the weekend. I loved being surrounded by so many languages and cultures. As I overheard a different language or walked through Chinatown, I momentarily thought that I was in a foreign country rather than in my own. I have grown to appreciate traveling because I can experience other cultures. I enjoy observing how other people live so differently, yet we are all still similar.
I discovered New York City to be the perfect place for people watching. There is much hustle and bustle with everyone coming and going. No matter where one sits or walks, there are plenty of people to observe. I particularly found the subway intriguing as everyone crams onto the trains, but no words are exchanged while you stand nose to nose with a stranger. Some people tune out their surroundings with headphones, others escape with a book, while the majority stares off into an empty space to avoid eye contact with strangers.  I could not help but look around and take note of the diversity in cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds represented by all the passengers on the same train. I found myself wondering about each person’s unique life story.
People watching can be entertaining especially when there is a hackey-sac hand juggler guy on the subway train. I am sure we also provided entertainment for fellow passengers when we started singing “Happy Birthday” to Heather at midnight. Surprisingly the next day very few people were alarmed when we started yelling as the doors quickly closed on Heather's arm while she was left on the outside of the train. With no help from other passengers, she luckily got her arm free and took the next train eight minutes later where we were reunited at the next stop.
Surrounded by the continuous activity of people coming and going, I found myself contemplating my own life. I reflected on how much I have changed since my previous trip to New York City with my high school senior class. I definitely have a greater appreciation for life and traveling than in high school. I also remember as a high school student being overly concerned about what other people [watchers] might think about me. Now, six years later I am back in New York and my perspective has changed. Now I am less concerned with other people’s opinion and have learned to appreciate differences in style, culture, and language. Now, rather than worry about what other people think I have taken the seat as a people watcher.

"The Famous Wrap Around Photo" in Time Square
The Adventure Seekers: Amber, Heather, Emily, and me