Hello everybody, my name is Andre, an intern at Wf360. It is definitely not a new subject, as New York City is well known for its versatility, but this is something I want to share in my blog. When I started here, I was asked, “What is different about NYC compared to Germany?” The answer for me was obvious: the diverse people and mixture of cultures in this metropolitan area, especially in the subway.
This is my 5th time in NYC, but the first time I have spent more than 3 weeks here. I am not shocked and big-eyed from all the impressions and wonderful things in NYC, due to the fact that I had more time to settle in and adjust to this city that never sleeps. I love to see different places and observe people. I can just sit anywhere for hours - of course without being pushy – watching their unique forms of communication and the way they go about it. Taking the subway is a terrific way to do this. Watching the different kinds of people that take the train and seeing which station they enter or leave is fascinating to me.
Everybody seems to ride the subway. It is probably the most magnificent difference from the metropolis Los Angeles, where it seems like everyone drives cars to get around. It’s a lot harder to come across other people this way, while here, New Yorkers have the opportunity to encounter each other every minute of their commute.
In the metro, misery sits next to beauty, success stands next to curiosity. It is so marvelous to see a cross section of mankind in every train. With close monitoring you can see the weather, the time of the year and the state of mind of the passengers on the train. The NYC subway is a place which excited my admiration, which marks the spirit of New York.
What do you think about riding the subway? Is it a joy or a nightmare to share space with so many people you don’t know? Does it instigate conversation with your colleagues or friends? I love to communicate even if it is non verbal, because I feel that this form of communication tells a lot about a person.
Author of I is for Intercourse: The ABC's of Conversation, Susan Bird is the visionary behind Wf360, and a sought-after speaker around the world for her views on leadership, the strategic importance of conversation, entrepreneurship, and the role of women business leaders.
I would love to take a ride on NY subway and just sit back and watch different people from all walks of life in that same small "tube".
We don´t have much subway lines over here in Finland, so partly I´m just itching to ride one, but at the same time you can´t match the cultural diversity that New York has so I would like to witness that myself as well.
So for me, subway ride would be a joy. In fact, taking a subway ride would definitely be among the first things I would do if I ever will be able to visit there.
And you´re right about the non verbal communication, sometimes it tells way more about a person than words will ever do.
Posted by: Anssi Eriksson | August 01, 2009 at 08:47 AM