The Literacy Review - Gallatin School of Individualized Study - New ...

A Glimpse of New York Life
Maria Cristina Palma
38 Appreciating
I like to sit on the subway. I take it to get to my part-time job. I read my English book.
When I get on the subway, it is usually empty. Then more and more it becomes crowded.
The people look tired because it is three in the afternoon.
I like to hear the people in the subway when they speak English. I stop reading and
try to hear what they say. This is my practice. I see many people who take a short nap
because the temperature inside is warm.
There are many young couples who are standing very close and laughing. They hold
hands in expression of love. Every time the train stops, I hear the voice announce what
the next stop is. It is clear and nice. One stop it is a man’s voice; the next, a lady’s. There
is a sweet smell from many perfumes.
When I was in my country, the men used to give their seats to ladies. They were very
polite, but here I do not see this. Everyone in the subway is tired or busy. The people are
thinking about what will happen half an hour from now. They are checking their day
books or working on their laptops or making calculations.
This is my station, where I have to get off the train and go to work. There are many
passengers who want to exit at my stop, and all of them want to leave first. When the
train stops, everyone is running. Someone has to catch a bus. Others have to start to
work. Others put a cigarette in their hand even before they leave the station.
To get back home, I have to take the same line at night. I usually see the same people
waiting for the train, and we say hello. Sometimes, I bring my music. I feel better when
I do, and I read my English book again because when I concentrate on my book, the
time flies. Sometimes, I see a very old white woman who sits in the middle of the car.
She has beautiful blue eyes. She carries a lot of stuff. She is very clean. Sometimes she
is sleeping, sometimes reading. I feel sorry for her because maybe she does not have a
house or family.
Many people use this time differently. I hear and see a young man who is playing
guitar and singing. He passes his hat for money. Some people listen to their own music,
and sometimes they sing out loud or dance. It is very funny because we cannot hear the
music. Some young women put on their makeup. Last time, I saw one art student who
drew a picture of a girl who was sitting in front of him. He drew her perfectly.
When the train is running at night, there is a little time when I can see the beautiful
skyline of Manhattan. Day or night, all passengers have big and heavy bags. I don’t
know what is in them, but maybe they don’t need it. New York is a place where we can
see a lot of people with suitcases—on the train or on the street, maybe for business,