Ready

These two weeks in New York City have been absolutely extraordinary. I never imagined how much I could learn about the communities of the city, the built environment and complete strangers in such a short period of time. Above all, I am beginning to learn more about myself. I haven’t quite processed all that I have seen, done, tasted and heard, and therefore it can be quite a challenge to communicate and synthesize my thoughts and reflections in a blog post. There are, however, a few themes or key concepts I have discovered from my time here which I would like to share with you.

Identity

Identity has played a key role in the IHP program. Through neighborhood visits and discussion with my peers, I have discovered that there are many complex layers to how one identifies herself. We have applied the concept of identity to both communities we have observed in the city, and within our learning community of IHP. During class on Wednesday, we were asked to write about how we, as individuals, identify ourselves. Many of my friends had difficulty with this exercise, but my first reaction to the word “identity” came with no hesitation; family- I am the daughter of Holly and Larry and the sister to Amanda and Sara. This is how I identify myself first and foremost, and I feel so very fortunate, blessed and proud that my family shapes such a large part of who I am.

Becoming Comfortable with the Unknown

Stepping into the unfamiliar can be a very nerve-racking experience. Even while in New York City, a place I consider to feel very comfortable in, I have felt extremely uncomfortable when walking through new neighborhoods. For example, yesterday I visited East Flatbush, Brooklyn with a group of students. We traveled to our destination underground, unaware of what filled the streets above us. When we got off the subway and entered the neighborhood, I was overwhelmed with thoughts and feelings. We instantly stuck out like many sore thumbs; we were the only white people in the overcrowded neighborhood. I felt myself clutching onto my purse but remember feeling deeply guilty about it at the same time. I felt like I needed to look all around me, but also keep my eyes straight ahead. My heart and head were filled with paradoxes. Everything I sensed while in this Haitian community was so very new; I had never felt like a minority in this way before. After we exited the corner near the subway entrance, I soon realized that I was looking, but not seeing. I needed to regroup, let go of judgments and go deeper than the surface. During my time in the neighborhood, I searched to find a relaxed awareness; a cautious mind, but also an open mind.

There’s always the moon

After our exhilarating day through Brooklyn, my friends and I ended in Prospect Park right as the sun was going down and the moon was coming up. We sat on a bench and looked up at the orange-gray sky. The silhouette of the trees was like a painting, I felt so at peace sitting on that bench after the intensity of the day. I looked high above and saw the beaming moon and all of the sudden realized; there’s always the moon. Even though I was just in Brooklyn, I was exposed to an entirely new way of life, I felt as though I was in a completely different world. The language, the food, the people, the retail, the sidewalks- it was all new. But when I looked up, I saw the very same moon, the moon I see every night, the moon that all people see, all around the world. It may sound very cheesy, but I felt such a sense of safety and comfort knowing that the moon was always there for me, especially in times of great change and in new and unfamiliar settings. That constant light of comfort will be there for me in Delhi, Dakar and Buenos Aires.  When you look up at the sky Saturday night, know that I will be looking at the same moon in India.

After spending two weeks in New York, with wonderful people and taking part in an incredibly well-done program, I am feeling much more prepared for my travels than I did when I walked through the doors of the International House twelve days ago. I am ready to take in these dynamic and diverse cities in all ways possible. I am ready to see how people operate in their day-to-day lives so very differently than I do. I am ready to taste each city. I am ready to take photographs. I am ready to talk to strangers. I am ready to fly 14 hours. I am ready to speak up. I am ready to shop. I am ready to wander. I am ready to dance. I am ready to be moved. I am ready to cry. I am ready to be inspired. I am ready to live fully with a passionate heart and open mind. I am ready.

Talk to you from India! Enjoy the pictures below. 

Lots of love,

Rachel

Brownstones In Harlem

Incense: Street Vendor in Harlem

Family Dinner at Sam's!

The Chefs (Lindsey, Cebe, Sam)

My Roommate! Julia and Me

East Flatbush, Brooklyn

Mural in East Flatbush

There's Always the Moon. Prospect Park, Brooklyn