All that melts in New York

You walk in as a stranger to find that you are one amongst them.

That is the city of New York that carves a space for every one - no matter where you come from, what your language is, what you race or culture be. You are just one among the plenty. You are not daunted by a language that is overwhelmingly new or strange, nor a behavior, attitude or culture that makes you look an outsider.

There is no outsider here. Whether you are from Ghana, Indonesia, Peru, Norway or Sri Lanka, New York is a city that is just as familiar to you as it would be to an American.

You are never struck for words, nor for how to wish or what is not acceptable. You will know what you are not expected to do as much as you will find that you can along and do how you are.

I had not seen New York closer than I saw as I lived here beyond three months: meeting people from diverse countries, races, cultures or from varying ages and backgrounds - the Chinese here were not from Beijing, nor the Philipino from Manila or the Arab from Saudi. Even the Sikh from Punjab turned a stranger to me.

It is not that they gave up their cultures, behavior, habits or attitudes. In fact they lived that more as there were no set rules that required them to surrender a few things to be a part of the milieu. They would be just their own and yet you would them as a unique citizen as New Yorker.

So what is a New Yorker about I wondered? As I learnt New Yorker had no clear definition.

A person here is just what they are; as New York gives them an opportunity to be.

That is a huge compliment that you would give to a city: to let you be! Not in isolation but in conjunction with every nerve or its pulse.

I also heard about an attitude called the Yorker. Well the Yorker has their diary full for making an aspiration live, stretch out to show what you can do best and further to explore what the world has to offer. And they have very limited time in the hour.

Yet they would be there to give you direction. They would always hold the door for you in the subway. They would share what they know best. And, they would be willing to give newcomer a chance.

What more do you expect from a people who have their hands full for themselves and for others?

Nah, the New Yorker is not the one with a chip on their shoulders. Yes they are proud and deservingly so as they have contributed to their best, as the ordinary has to find their way away.

The average quality of anything that you get will be from the top of the draw. If it is food, it has more Grade A in every cost range, in clothing, accessories or wear, there would not be a costume from any part of the world that you may not get; and, never you will miss your country or home, if you know that you are outside in the world.

I love learning and enjoy newness; complimenting New York for offering the widest and deepest range would not be the best way to give back. I rather take pride in that I live here.