"America is the greatest engine of
innovation that has ever existed, and it can't be duplicated anytime soon,
because it is the product of a multitude of factors: extreme freedom of
thought, an emphasis on independent thinking, a steady immigration of new minds,
a risk-taking culture with no stigma attached to trying and failing, a
non-corrupt bureaucracy, and financial markets and a venture capital system
that are unrivaled at taking new ideas and turning them into global
products." Thomas L.
Friedman
All the striking features of American
society listed by Friedman above can clearly be felt, experienced, and lived by
any well-observing, meticulous visitor to the country. For me, although, a few
days can never be sufficient to make that claim, I have found New York,
however, full of charms as well as
contradictions. Before coming to the USA, and like any traveller trying to find
out something about the host country, the Internet was the easiest place to
look. Two main ideas I had in mind about New York; ideas that at that seemed to
epitomised the city, possibly because they were presented in a light, and witty
manner. The first idea was a picture I downloaded, the second was a list of
facts about New York.
41
RANDOM FACTS ABOUT NEW YORK THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND
Beginnings
A few weeks ago, I was at my office back
home in front of a list of random names about whom I knew hardly anything
except where they were from. Today, with only eleven days into the 6-week
program, these people have come to mean something for me, and for every member
of the group. During these few days, we seem to have done so many things together;
we shared a small life experience that entailed sharing food, trips, subway
rides, hotel rooms, breakfasts, walking tours, and the list goes on. Of one of
the loveliest moments we've had together was a night at the 18th century
Maple-hurst Inn, in Antrim, New Hampshire a few days ago.
These wonderful beginnings could never
have been realized without the patience and professionalism of two of our
lovely guides, Donald Johnson, and Carol Krinsky.
246 Greene Street, Room 301
Despite the fact that the building
never seems to free itself from the presence of builders all day long, we've
kind of built a special attachment to a lovely room on the third floor. On
weekdays, and during 4 hours, on two separate sessions, the room is full of
life, buzzing with lively interactions and heated discussions after some very
insightful lectures by well-known professors in a variety of domains. Half-way
into our second week, and there is hardly any area of research that has not
been touched upon: political science, religious studies, philosophy, education,
history, and many others. Even though the paste of the lectures have not been
very demanding from us in terms of prior readings, or homework, the group seems
to be taking every presentation with a serious tenor, depth, and critical
interaction.
The following is a short list of some
of the distinguished speakers we have had over the last week or so.
Alyshia Galvez Rene
Arcilla
Daniel Flamberg Thomas Halper
Gabriel Moran Richard Pious
Ralph Engelman Philip Hosay
Marilyn
MacMillan Karen
Kupperman
Terence Moran
Art
One can never write about New York in
isolation from art. During the last couple of days, I was so lucky to attend
two lovely events that have certainly left their impact on me, and engraved a
picture of New York deeply steeped in art and culture. The first event was at
Bryant Park, with an international display of accordions, and the second was
last night at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, showing the Broadway musical "
After Midnight".
Accordions Around the World
Despite being a regular event every
Tuesday, Bryant park gives the impression that something special is going on
everytime one visits it; this was, at least, what it felt like last Tuesday.
What is striking about the park is the beautiful feel it has, the chairs
surrounding its several walking ways it has, while the clean grass lies in the
middle. People seem to do different things: some enjoy a drink or something to
eat, others simply sat and watched the beautiful views across the imposing building
of New York Public library. The park has even a couple of book stands for
people to read there; the stand, I think, is sponsored by HSBC bank as the sign
on the umbrella says on top of the stand. The idea of reading struck me, as
something innovative and liberating; innovative, as inbringing books to green
places, where people may love to read, and liberating as
it turns people from passive spectators
and consumers of pleasure to critical thinkers and knowledge lovers. People
from all walks of life: different ages, races, nationalities; Bryant park
seems that evening as a little New
York! Below, I sat with my friends, Lydia, Umut, and Nicoleta, enjoying a good
Irish band. A highly recommended location to visit!
See more about the festival at this link: Accordions Around the World in Bryant Park
“After Midnight”
We left the Brooks Atkinson Theatre at
9 pm last night; my friends were asking me if I liked the play; I could not
articulate the awe and joy I experienced during the show; With top class
dancers, awesome music, glamorous costumes, a great orchestra, and a
synchronised rhythmic atmosphere, the whole beautiful theatre was on its
feet. For me, as a teacher who have
lectured a little about America in the 1920s and ‘30s, the play brought alive myriad
of visions built from books, films, shows, and figures: Langston Hughes, Frank Sinatra, The
Great Gatsby,
Harlem Renaissance, the Roaring Twenties, art, glamour, and best things
America stands for. After Midnight, for me, epitomized everything great about the USA.
With last night’s show alongside all
the interesting activities we’ve done, the lovely trips we’ve made, I can
safely say that the program, MIAS, has been one of "Great
Expectations", to draw on Dickens’ Novel- Dickens himself was in Lowell!
The MIAS program has by far exceeded our expectations; well, mine at least!
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