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Now that we have been here in Flushing for a few months, here are some thoughts about life in the big city. First off, Day to day life in Flushing, you can almost forget you are in NYC. It is only an occasional glimpse of the Empire State Building ore Freedom Tower off in the distance the can remind you. Also, the local media helps you remember as well. Living in California, there was a perception than New Yorkers believed they were the center of the universe. Living here now, I can say that is true. They do believe they are the center of the universe. I have to laugh when I hear things like NYC truly is Middle America, or how Washington might be the capital of the US, but NYC is the capital of the world. Really? And the other perception is true as well. Of all the paces I have been in the US, NYC drivers are by far the worst. Here in Flushing you throw in the fact that most of the drivers probably learned to drive in China or Korea and well… Now as Panda tours starts research for places to see here, one place you can scratch off the “must see” list is Rockefeller Center. I took Jen down there on New Year’s Day to see the big tree. (Local media states it is a must see at Christmas time) Both of us had the same thought, “that’s it?” Times Square is a much better bet. Once you figure it out, the subway is a wonderful way to get around. Just watch out for crazy people. They seem to like to push folks onto the tracks when you stand too close. Now back to Flushing, the food here is outstanding. The combination of Chinese and Korean places is real good. I have some leads on finding the great pizza places around, but that makes for traveling to the Bronx or Brooklyn. Here in Flushing, NYC could easily fund the government by simply putting police on the corners of the intersections on Main Street and hand out tickets for J-walking. I have not seen such blatant ignoring of walk signals since, well, China. But then, I’ve almost been hit a few times by MTA busses while walking with a walk signal. But I can’t knock the city. They have important work to do like protecting New Yorkers from the evil Big Gulp. I hope I don’t cross the political line here, but it seems so silly to me that as of March, most places will be banned from serving a soda over 16 ounces, while you can find a Dunkin Doughnuts every 100 feet. The last thing I’ll mention this time around, I’m not sure if this is a cultural, thing or a city thing, or a youth thing. When I was in the sixth grade, I, like so many children, entered the world of wearing prescription glasses. In the years that followed, I lived through all of the usual taunting that goes with the glasses. Imagine my surprise, when I start seeing younger girls wearing glasses, with no lenses. Did I miss something? Are glasses now so cool that young folk desire to wear them even when they don’t need them? I even saw a girl wearing contacts to color her eyes, and then frames with no lenses. Oh well, maybe I’m getting to the point when I have to start saying things like, “kids these days.” Well before I ramble on further, I must go. There are things to do and more observations to make. In all, I think the move east will turn out to be a good one for Jen and I. We are still adjusting, but in the end, I think we will do fine here.
