New York City is the most diverse place on earth. But as a lifelong resident, I never get to truly enjoy it. The large array of languages on the subway are normally drowned out by my headphones. The synchronization of sounds from a construction site are blocked by my windows. And the symphony of car horns cannot be heard over the thump of the sub-woofer sitting in my trunk. So when I tried to do this assignment, and actually listen to my surroundings, I realized what I was missing out on.
Sitting in a subway cart, taking a ride from Coney Island-Stillwell Ave. all the way to 59th St.-Lexington Avenue, is somewhat reminiscent of, "Its A Small World," in Disney World. In Coney Island, you hear people speaking Russian, by the time you reach Sunset Park, its a mixture of Russian, English, and Spanish. When you get to Canal Street, your halfway around the world, and in China. The MTA is an example of a melting pot in motion.
The clanking of construction tools and honking of horns is often considered noise. And granted, in the city that never sleeps, it can be really annoying when your trying to sleep. However, if you listen just to listen, you will come to realize that their is a unique melody to these sounds, that can't be heard anywhere else in the world. As residents of New York, the sounds of the city usually land on deaf ears, but once you open those ears, you will be pleasantly surprised.
