People generally leave you alone because they too, savor their own sanctuary
Here is New York – There are roughly three New Yorks. There is, first, the New York of the man or woman who was born here, who takes the city for granted and accept its size, its turbulence as natural and inevitable. Second, there is the New York of the commuter- the city that is devoured by locusts each day and spat out each night. Third, there is the New York of the person who was born somewhere else and came to New York in quest of something… Commuters give the city its tidal restlessness, natives give it solidity and continuity, but the settlers give it passion. E.B White (1899- 1985)
The subway is a big part of living here in New York City. I ride it everyday to work as well as to the unexplored alleys of the city. I always believe that trains have souls. Sometimes you get on a bad train where there are noisy and inconsiderate people who steal the air from your lungs. There are fortunate days when you get a seat in a packed train – “ a special one that becomes soundproof courtesy of your iPod or even just your thoughts.
People generally leave you alone because they too, savor their own sanctuary in the minutes they spend on their commute. The subway is selfless to grant me the skills to survive, run and defeat time to catch the last train; hold on to maintain balance and poise as a woman and smirk at the man for beating him for a coveted spot. From my cocoon, the sound of the railing has awakened my drive to find my niche, my destination and purpose for choosing to live in the Big Apple.
Nobody wants to be bullied on the train so toughen up and come forward to the challenges, unexpected turns but like every ride, we will inevitably pass through dark tunnels but we will always end up in the light.
It is an irony that when I build invisible walls while I ride the train, I grow more sensitive to the passengers around me. There is the mother trying to quiet down her screaming child, the space hogs who think that the train is a skating rink, the man who claps to the rhythm of the vibration, a gorgeous lady whose book I am interested to read, the teenage couples who kiss passionately thinking that true love has occurred and the tired man in a business suit slumped in a corner with his mouth open. Who cares? I do, I go into intraspection to fathom how human beings act in closed spaces that take them to their work, lovers, parents and happy or lonely homes. My closest friend said “You are obsessed with thinking, when we are outside, you drift away with the hordes of people passing by. What exactly do you get from them?”
I do not have a definite, accurate answer to his query. However I am sure that years from now, my life would be cut off along with the memories of my subway ride. Perhaps, I would request that my ashes would be taken to each station like a last journey in the city that I helplessly fell in love with.
Inspite of the “Commuters give the city its tidal restlessness, natives give it solidity and continuity” quote, I affirm my belief that this is the greatest city in the world. A subway ride can change your life. There is just one thing to keep in mind, there are two ways – ride in the mediocrity of existence waiting for retirement or discover, taste and linger in the orgasmic life you regard so highly. Nobody wants to be bullied on the train so toughen up and come forward to the challenges, unexpected turns but like every ride, we will inevitably pass through dark tunnels but we will always end up in the light.
We get on and off with another memory of the lines that connects the city to its five boroughs. E. B White’s piece “Here is New York” continuously mesmerize me as I ride the 6 train. His words have begun to engrave a label I would love to be known for.
A settler from Asia who came to New York to add to the consuming, cannot live without and uncontrollable thirst for PASSION. Hazel was born and raised in the Philippines. She graduated with a degree in Psychology and pursued a Master’s degree in Special Education. Her fascination with being a global citizen prompted her to leave the confines of home to accept a teaching job in New York. . Hazel passionately writes about her experiences in the Big Apple and her everyday interactions with people from all walks of life. She currently teaches in a pediatric hospital in downtown Manhattan.