Cities within cities
Yesterday I was all over the place. I usually just try to keep plans for one day at a time but it seemed everything fell on this one Saturday.
In the morning I went to Flushing in Queens. I never knew Queens had such a large Chinese population I always assumed it was just full of Colombians. When I got there though it felt like I was the only non-Chinese person there. All the signs were in Mandarin and even the banks were full of Chinese bankers and a Chinese security guard to boot. I won't lie and admit I was a bit uncomfortable being there. If I wasn't there with my friend who knew what we were doing I probably would have headed back to more familiar territory. I have a few friends who refuse to come to Paterson and after being in Flushing I can somewhat understand why since there isn't a similar looking face in sight. Still childish though but I understand the reasoning.
Next off in the day I had to go to North Bergen. Now I hate going there and if the day hadn't been filled with activities I would have simply gotten a ride with my uncle but I drove there. Every time I go there I get lost and yesterday was no exception. Somehow I ended up in West New York. Luckily my general good sense of direction led me in the right direction so when I finally did stop and ask where to go, I was already nearby. Times like these almost convince me to get a smart phone.
I had to go there because we were celebrating my grandmother's birthday. At one point I needed to go to the liquor store so I went with my uncle in law I guess that is what he is. He doesn't speak English I assume so we were just driving in his car speaking Spanish. We went to a liquor store that was Spanish speaking and then went to a Colombian restaurant. The whole time I felt a certain happiness within me, like I was with similar people, MY people. Although it doesn't help integration having places like this at all, it does put the mind at ease, including mine when only a few hours before I was walking in a Chinese market unnervingly staring at a cart of live snakes right in front of me. I could have just gone up and picked up a live snake just like that. Yeah the Chinese do things differently no doubt but I'm sure they think us Hispanics weird as well.
At night I went Latin dancing. Yet again I felt a certain tranquility being around similar looking people. My friends came, including one girl who is white. She is my friend and all but she didn't seem comfortable being there so it made me wonder why she would even put herself in such a situation. I had a reason to be in Flushing but she doesn't dance Latin I assume so she must not have had a good time.
Its crazy though how these hotbeds of a certain group of people can exist in the country. Even though I live in Paterson it still isn't as dominated by one group like Flushing or North Bergen is. Its like being in a whole different country. I couldn't help but think that in Flushing the government was non-existent and that people did whatever they wanted. I mean damn selling live snakes like how they were cannot possibly be legal but they were doing it anyway. A city within a city I tell ya.
In the morning I went to Flushing in Queens. I never knew Queens had such a large Chinese population I always assumed it was just full of Colombians. When I got there though it felt like I was the only non-Chinese person there. All the signs were in Mandarin and even the banks were full of Chinese bankers and a Chinese security guard to boot. I won't lie and admit I was a bit uncomfortable being there. If I wasn't there with my friend who knew what we were doing I probably would have headed back to more familiar territory. I have a few friends who refuse to come to Paterson and after being in Flushing I can somewhat understand why since there isn't a similar looking face in sight. Still childish though but I understand the reasoning.
Next off in the day I had to go to North Bergen. Now I hate going there and if the day hadn't been filled with activities I would have simply gotten a ride with my uncle but I drove there. Every time I go there I get lost and yesterday was no exception. Somehow I ended up in West New York. Luckily my general good sense of direction led me in the right direction so when I finally did stop and ask where to go, I was already nearby. Times like these almost convince me to get a smart phone.
I had to go there because we were celebrating my grandmother's birthday. At one point I needed to go to the liquor store so I went with my uncle in law I guess that is what he is. He doesn't speak English I assume so we were just driving in his car speaking Spanish. We went to a liquor store that was Spanish speaking and then went to a Colombian restaurant. The whole time I felt a certain happiness within me, like I was with similar people, MY people. Although it doesn't help integration having places like this at all, it does put the mind at ease, including mine when only a few hours before I was walking in a Chinese market unnervingly staring at a cart of live snakes right in front of me. I could have just gone up and picked up a live snake just like that. Yeah the Chinese do things differently no doubt but I'm sure they think us Hispanics weird as well.
At night I went Latin dancing. Yet again I felt a certain tranquility being around similar looking people. My friends came, including one girl who is white. She is my friend and all but she didn't seem comfortable being there so it made me wonder why she would even put herself in such a situation. I had a reason to be in Flushing but she doesn't dance Latin I assume so she must not have had a good time.
Its crazy though how these hotbeds of a certain group of people can exist in the country. Even though I live in Paterson it still isn't as dominated by one group like Flushing or North Bergen is. Its like being in a whole different country. I couldn't help but think that in Flushing the government was non-existent and that people did whatever they wanted. I mean damn selling live snakes like how they were cannot possibly be legal but they were doing it anyway. A city within a city I tell ya.