The Phobia of the Other Boroughs.

6/18/2011: In Williamsburg, looking across the East River.

 New Yorkers, we have very odd perceptions of the "other" boroughs. Every borough that is not our own is somehow lesser, somewhat unworthy. 

As a Bronx native, I can share mine:
Queens--who even lives in Queens?
Manhattan--for the people who enjoy living in their offices. 
Staten Island--we shouldn't even claim that place, let's be serious.
Brooklyn--if you live in the Bronx, what reason do you have to go to Brooklyn?

Stroll along the city lights and let their warmth linger.

 
Brooklyn, specifically, has caught my attention lately.
Last month, I was so upset when I realized my internship required me to go down to Brooklyn to do my fingerprints...were they serious? The last time I had been to Brooklyn was to go to a good friend's birthday party--just about the only kind of thing to make me make the hour plus long trip across the city. Were there not any fingerprinting locations in somewhere land rather than nowhere land? Geez.





Well, I would take back such thoughts if I could. What has changed?--you might ask. Well, you see...I'm kind of living in Brooklyn right now. Big transition! For four weeks, I'll be down here exploring beyond the familiar and homey streets of the Bronx. Paying attention to my surroundings rather than rushing home past the streets I've walked so many times that their creases are etched on my heart. I'm learning to love my city for all of what it is--and that includes the "other" boroughs. Afterall, there's still room for more etching of perfect imperfections on this heart. 

I'm here and I'm NY[SEE]ing. Come see with me.

And when those lights are out of sight, their warmth will bring me back this night.