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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
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
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.
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.