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New York City

New York City is definitely a BUSY city. No matter where I go, I can see confusion that

never seems to end. There seems to be an endless amount of cars flowing through the streets and

honking their monotone horns. Some of the vehicles are large trucks that seem to add the never-

ending noise generated by rest of the things around me. Everyone seems to be in a hurry, not

worrying about anything going on around them.

I just arrived at Penn. Station in New York City. The underground terminal we are in

reminds me of Underground Atlanta and has stores and shops lining the walls. As I walk by, I can

smell all sorts of things. When I walk by the Starbucks Coffee, I can smell coffee and milk.

When I pass by the numerous bagel shops, I can smell bagels and cream cheese. It is so busy

here, I can even smell the cologne on the people hurriedly passing by. When I look around, I see

the huge departures board with names of stations and corresponding train numbers and departure

times. Looking down, all I can see is the movement of a mass of people. Some are carrying bags.

Some are dragging rolling backpacks. All seem to be unconscious of anything going on around

them, but they somehow manage not to run into anyone else, almost operating like a clock.

As soon as I go up the stairs to the ground level, I can't help but notice the stench of the

city. It is a mix between carbon monoxide from cars, trash, and other indistinguishable things. It

would remind you of the swamplands but less nature. On the streets, I see an endless flow of cars

in traffic, many of which have a small illuminated sign with the word "TAXI" on top. The drivers

all seem to be foreign, and many are loudly talking on their cell phones, oblivious to their client

in the back seat. Looking up the road, I see a seemingly endless skyline of tall buildings. Some
are very tall, some are medium size, and there is the occasional "small" building. The people on

the sidewalks are doing various things. Some are talking on their cell phone while quickly

walking to where they have to be. A few people on the sidewalks are moms clutching their

child's hand tightly. Most are business people dressed in black suits, some of which are walking

with similarly dressed colleagues. Just like in the train station, everyone is unaware of the

almost-chaos going on around them.

When I go into one of the many coffee shops, I can tell everything that the store sells just

by smelling the air in and around the store. I go in and see many people dressed in suits reading

newspapers, talking on cell phones, or sipping on coffee. I wait in the line at the register filled

with impatient people waiting to buy some food. When it's my turn to order, it seems like I am in

front of a hundred people speaking. The person at the register is very quickly doing her job and

glares at me when I stop to think about what I want to order. After paying, I wait in the next line

to receive what I just ordered. After receiving my bagel and coffee, I went to sit down. I feel so

crammed when I sat down at the two-person table. The table was slightly sticky, and it seemed to

match the odor of the city as well. I feel as if I was confined to a small broom closet as people

walked past me. It was amazing that the 50 or so people in the store were fitting into the very

small area it took up. All I can hear in this store are people talking to their friends or cell phones.

The occasional large truck rumbles down the road outside.

This experience in New York City is very interesting. I have seen all sorts of people and

I've witnessed so many things. In some ways, New York City is disgusting considering the bad

smell and all. Though, like many things, you grow used to it and learn to greatly enjoy it. When I
first arrived, it was a little overwhelming seeing all the people, cars, and buildings all doing

things independent of each other. All the excitement could be felt in the air the entire time.

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