Do New Yorkers see the Stars?

Daydreaming in Bryant Park

Bryant Park.

I have a habit of imagining a life wherever I visit. I give myself a story, including some background on how I landed in the city I’m staying in, and what I’m doing there. I love this exercise. It’s intimate and connects me further to the location.

Mid-morning at Bryant Park is where I began imagining a life in NYC. I picked up a pain au chocolat and a latte at a French bakery on my way to the park. As I enjoyed my treats, my mind wandered off. What would it be like if I lived here? I’d be interning or working at some advocacy organization or firm. Work would be busy and demanding, but I’m deeply satisfied. I love being busy here. I can feel the ambition in the pavement and its echoes through the buildings. Everyone is on the move. I have a few friends from work, classes, or coffee shops. I somehow managed to push against my social anxiety. It took me a while to make these friends, but I enjoyed the solace as I adjusted to the city. I felt like a main character in a coming-of-age film (classic Leena wishful thinking). I use the subway with ease (for the most part, there are, of course, moments where I didn’t look at the map’s suggestion well enough). I have an apartment in Brooklyn that’s haphazardly filled. I’m working on it. I go to the flea markets on Saturdays in hopes of finding trinkets to fill my space. I take long walks or bike rides around the boroughs for my exercise, but I’ll find somewhere to play amateur tennis as well. I’m a frequent museum/gallery goer. I love getting lost in the paintings, sculptures, and everything in between. The parks and museums are where I get a moment to relax and be still.

I wonder if I’d like living here more than my life in Indiana (most likely). Would I miss being close to my roots? Would I want the stillness of the suburbs? Do New Yorkers see the stars? I can’t imagine it’s easy to see them with all the light pollution. Would I miss seeing the stars? I love the stars. Searching for my favorite constellations would become a rare delight. Maybe the lights of Times Square or the reflections of streetlights onto buildings would become my stars.

“Alright, everyone, we will begin here shortly! Start with some easy stretches to warm up and keep some space between your yoga mats.” The instructor announced on the microphone.

I snapped out of my daydream. Somehow, in the time I let my imagination run loose, the grassy field became a yoga class. Smiling at the community yoga, I decided I ought to be present for the rest of my visit.

What a vibrant city. New York feels so much more alive in the summer than in the winter (I visited in December for a student trip to a UN conference). It’s certainly easier to walk around and get lost since you aren’t shivering. This trip, I was in Manhattan with some friends. I got to appreciate a different version of the city and reflect on what makes it so special. I admire the sense of community. As you walk the streets, you can feel the collective and the pride that comes with it. It’s unique. I wonder how this could be replicated in the suburbs of Indiana, though I think it’s unlikely. The sheer diversity of the communities in NYC warms my heart. The breadth of culture is something I ache for, and people are more willing to chat and get to know each other if you approach them with compassion. Another chilling reminder of how slow life can be in your hometown.

The interactions I had with New Yorkers are the ones that I’ll remember the most. I’m thinking about the young woman who stopped us at the southern tip of Central Park to ask one of us to take some pictures for her. As the designated photographer of my friend group, I happily obliged (and especially so after my friends pointed to me). To my surprise, this became a semi-serious photoshoot. I thought I was just going to take some iPhone pictures. Imagine my surprise when she handed me a Canon G7X. Her silk press and silver highlighter on her cheekbones glistened in the evening sun. Impressively, she wore tall black heels and was quick to pose. I wondered how she walked around the city in those heels. My feet hurt just watching her move. She was surely a micro-influencer of sorts. The photos came naturally to her, and she directed me on the angles she wanted. As I snapped photos, we began talking about where we were from and what we were up to. “Do y’all have any lovers?” she mischievously inquired. Bursting into laughter, we shrugged out no. The delivery of the question was comical. “Good, good. Men are distractions. I got distracted by one and dropped out of college! But, I’m going back to school this fall,” she revealed.

It shocked her to meet three young women from Indiana. She was ecstatic to hear about life in our state. We told her about the corn, the schools, the transportation, and the people. We exchanged insights about the college experience and our plans for post-grad. Satisfied, at the end of the photoshoot, she gave us nicknames and we exchanged our Instagrams. Miss professional photographer with the glowing skin was my nickname.

Central Park photoshoot location. So many people were outside enjoying the weather this evening. It was sweet.

I somehow end up chatting with a Desi uncle wherever I visit. And this trip was no exception. At the MET museum, I met a Bangladeshi man. He was a security guard taking laps in the Greek and Roman sculpture exhibit. This uncle and I kept looking at each other, leaving me to wonder if I knew him. He closely resembled a family friend of ours.

After taking some pictures of the sculptures, he walked up to me. “I don’t normally do this, but where are you from?” he gently asked. “Pakistan,” I said with a smile. “I knew it! You have a perfectly Pakistani face. Every feature is Pakistani. I am from Bangladesh!” he exclaimed. It’s always a delight meeting with other Desis in new locations. It’s a welcoming and warm feeling.

We spoke for a while. Our conversation ranged from Pakistani dramas and politics to the Pacers and Knicks rivalry this season. He very quickly began calling me beta (child) in our conversation. The endearing name made me sentimental. He asked me what I thought of New York and what I am studying. He gave us shortcuts to the exhibits and encouraged us to go to the rooftop. The basketball bit was hilarious. “The Pacers have been doing so well! I don’t know, the Knicks should just give it to them. They haven’t won in a long time. The Knicks have too many awards.” He said. “Are you sure you should be saying that in New York?” I exclaimed. “Probably not, but you all deserve it! Don’t tell anyone I said that, though.” He chuckled and wished us the best.

He was a sweet uncle.

A bit of the exhibit where I met the Bangladeshi uncle.

We did an array of activities and explored. There was a lot of shopping, eating, and exploring. We visited SoHo, Chinatown, Little Italy, Central Park, museums, and multiple Van Leeuwen locations. As I continue to travel, I’m finding aimless walking to be the best way to do it. Something about just going with the moment and talking to people about their stories and their connection to the city is fulfilling to me. I stray away from detailed itineraries and plans. I don’t feel immersed when there is a plan to follow on a trip. I loved speaking with the store owners in Chinatown and SoHo and stumbling across delicious restaurants. I felt like I got to know the different neighborhoods deeply and leave my presence somehow.

Manhattan made me wonder even more whether I’d enjoy living in the city. There are many logistics to consider, from finances to integrating into the city. It’s a great place to visit for sure. However, I don’t know how I feel about living there.

I’m still hung up on whether I’d miss the stars. Maybe I need to live there for a while to find out.