Coming from Tanzania, a country known for its hospitality, New Yorkers' attidutes were hard to swallow but I had to embrace them, whether I liked it or not.
The first week of my stay was merely spent wondering around at the tallest buildings, and I nearly broke my neck trying to twist it around to have a clear view of the buildings.
The second week was mainly spent trying to keep up with the walking pace. In New York everyone walks fast, talks fast and probably eats fast. You would think people are being chased by some ugly and deadly animal if you looked at everyone walking down the road.
Standing on the pedestrians’ passage and looking at others wasthe best way I could learn before I could walk the walk. Mixing up with others before learning would mean struggling not to stumble over others while walking.
If you walk at that speed back home, people would start questioning your mental personality order. Very few may excuse you thought,thinking you’re late for work or an appointment. After all, who cares about time or wearing a watch back home? Most of us determine time by looking at theposition of the sun.
And we could be excused for that.
But being late for work or an appointment in New York City wherepeople have clocks everywhere is unforgivable. There are clocks in kitchens, living rooms,bathrooms and even in metros, and without forgetting blackberries.
The worst part is when people don’t talk no matter how hard you tryto grin at them. The only word they seem to recite every time is “excuse me”. Every New Yorker wants to be excused for sidestepping you, not responding to yourgreetings and everything else.
Is it becausethey’re disappointed at President Bush for derailing the economy?
But Ithought they would all be smiling after the president bailed them out the otherday?
For menow, the only option I have remained with is to put a placard around my neckreading, “I am new in New York.” If that could make them smile………probably.
