A very shocking thing happened to me last night. Although it's been almost 6 months living in New York City, I have seldom travelled around the city!!
It happened last night. I wanted to buy a new calendar and schedule notebook for 2009. I would go to "ecute" or "ITOYA" if I were in Tokyo. But, in New York, I have no idea where I can get them. So, I was checking guidebooks that I brought from Japan. One of these books was actually from 2005. In 2005, I came here to cheer Godzilla Matsui. So, while I was turning pages, I found some check marks, which I had been planning to visit.
As soon as I found those marks, suddenly, I was scared of the fact that I have only visited a few imited places and areas in the last 6 months!! Going to school everyday, then, sometimes dropped off the train at 34th or 42nd, just like that!! How boring my life in NY!!
I mean, I actually have visited many different areas while I was struggling with finding an apartment. But, it was not for fun, so I didn't check any interesting shops, restaurants, in turn, neighborhoods.
So, today, I went to NOHO since this place was one of my favorite places in New York when I was here a few years ago. Unfortunately, most of things sold in NOHO is something I can't afford. But, each shop has very unique items and they are all worth doing window shopping. And, it's simply fun! (Sorry, shop owners, I'm not buying!!)
Later that, I went to SOHO, Union square, and Grand Central Station. It was already dark outside and the buildings were already sparkling when I was walking in front of Grand Central Station. Looking up the Grand Central Station, I was remembering the excitement that I had 3 years ago. I loved this building. Above the station, I could see the beautiful Chrysler building, too. It is a tremendously scenery, but I love the inside of Grand Central Station, as well. Not only the beautiful ceiling, but also the atmospheres crated by people, such as someone who will leave the city, or are waiting someone coming to the city. There I could imagine hundreds of stories. So, today's short trip reminded me that how deeply I love New York city. In other words, I've just figured out how I was deeply missing New York!!
In 2009, no mater how I have to go crazy for the school, I'll definitely go outside and enjoy New York, because these 6 months, I was keeping saying, "you cannot go and hang around the city as you have to study and you don't have money either!". How wack!!
I was also telling myself like this, "I have already travelled around the city when I came here before, so don't need to go around, just study". How silly!!
New York city is alive and active all the time. So, nothing is the same. Even timeless things will have different impressions all the time.
You'll never be bored in New York City if you ARE active and alive in the city. Oh, I didn't get either calendar and schedule book, so I have another chance to hang around the city tomorrow!!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, November 30, 2008
English is direct or Lanugage is difficult
These days, I've been working on writing practices for the coming CUNY ACT writing test. It tests if students have adequate skills to think and write logically. Unlike abstract writings like poems, it has to have concrete and specific ideas to show that I am able to think critically and write logically. But, frequently, I use broad ideas. Whenever my professor evaluates my writing, she says, "your ideas are too general". Also, a friend of mine pointed out that I often use general "words" in writings, such as it, do, does, etc,. I was thinking how I can change this writing habits.
And then, a hint to understand the meaning of using a "specific" word came up to my mind during conversations with my roommate this morning! My roommate was taking a spoon of salt from the kitchen to the bathroom! She told me that she has rhinitis. That's why, every morning, she uses salt and water to rinse her nose so that she can breathe easily, instead of taking medicine. I replied to her, "that's good because you don't have to rely on a medicine".
After saying that, I realized that it was not clear what good meant.
"Good" is a simple and useful word. It can be used for every occasions. You could use it as "ok", "tasty", whatever. In my mind, I was thinking it would be healthy because she doesn't use any chemical medicine but natural salt. This thought was a big realization, like "this is the difference!!". I was lacking of sufficient words that express direct meaning, for this situation, "healthy". It's simple and nothing is difficult, but I had had a bad habit to use easy and useful words. This is a huge realization for me to understand my weakness.
Actually, I thought this weakness cane from the difference between English and Japanese because various meanings are included in Japanese words. Like, "いい" for "オッケー" or "おいしい". Mmm, wait a minute, it is the same thing! Well, my guess is Japanese language includes more broad and general words as much as English has. In Japanese conversations, we are usually guessing what the other says because our language doesn't have to have a subject all the time. In contrast, English has to have it. It is much more direct. Most important thing is to understand that no one can read your mind!!, so I need to use exact words to express my thoughts choosing the right words, no matter what cultural or language differences there are.
And then, a hint to understand the meaning of using a "specific" word came up to my mind during conversations with my roommate this morning! My roommate was taking a spoon of salt from the kitchen to the bathroom! She told me that she has rhinitis. That's why, every morning, she uses salt and water to rinse her nose so that she can breathe easily, instead of taking medicine. I replied to her, "that's good because you don't have to rely on a medicine".
After saying that, I realized that it was not clear what good meant.
"Good" is a simple and useful word. It can be used for every occasions. You could use it as "ok", "tasty", whatever. In my mind, I was thinking it would be healthy because she doesn't use any chemical medicine but natural salt. This thought was a big realization, like "this is the difference!!". I was lacking of sufficient words that express direct meaning, for this situation, "healthy". It's simple and nothing is difficult, but I had had a bad habit to use easy and useful words. This is a huge realization for me to understand my weakness.
Actually, I thought this weakness cane from the difference between English and Japanese because various meanings are included in Japanese words. Like, "いい" for "オッケー" or "おいしい". Mmm, wait a minute, it is the same thing! Well, my guess is Japanese language includes more broad and general words as much as English has. In Japanese conversations, we are usually guessing what the other says because our language doesn't have to have a subject all the time. In contrast, English has to have it. It is much more direct. Most important thing is to understand that no one can read your mind!!, so I need to use exact words to express my thoughts choosing the right words, no matter what cultural or language differences there are.
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