Bettina Juszak
Staff Writer
Musings on American culture by a German exchange student.
New York City, the city of 8 million. I’m not even going to start on the waiting involved in this city. Remember when I said Washington DC was packed? It was nothing in comparison to New York City. Times Square? One could hardly move without bumping into someone, the masses of people were stifling (and it wasn’t even prime time in the evening). If so many people didn’t give one a headache, then all the blaring, garishly bright and obtrusive signs would. And another piece of advice – don’t try to find anything affordable, or without a line, to eat. It won’t work.
In Times Square, the Wax Museum, Madame Tussauds. Apart from being packed as well, I was surprised to find lots of celebrities in there who I wouldn’t have deemed worthy of a wax statue (apparently New York has less of an elitist attitude than London and Paris). I mean, Justin Bieber? Really? What has he contributed to society? In any event, actually seeing Times Square did make it clear to me why people are afraid of terrorist attacks there; I have never seen a place that has TARGET written in such bright and big letters on top of it.
Then there was Central Park. The word ‘Park’ might be a bit misleading. ‘Lots of people on top of each other trying to sun’ fits a lot better. As a reprieve, it is noisy and full people and definitely not a place one can really concentrate on something. Especially not if one doesn’t like the smell of hot dogs, as they are sold at every corner.
One good thing, however, as it was free and practically without waiting, was the Staten Ferry, and even though it didn’t quite lead near the Statue of Liberty, it was close enough and not besieged by tourists. Definitely a tip for anyone going there soon.
In the end, in my opinion, New York City is just a huge personal security risk. You are lucky if you make it out without being squished by the masses, driven over by a mad taxi driver, hit in a terrorist attack, or lost and mugged somewhere. This is definitely not a city I would want to live in.
