Of Culture and Identity.... the immigrant fabric of New York City

The past week has been a rich example of cultural references and discussions with old friends and new acquaintances of what it means to be a New Yorker, an American and where most of us "come from".

My good friend Suzy was joking recently that I'm "fresh off the boat" and in a certain way that is quite true. Although I've lived half my life here in the U.S. I've always lived a double life. I'm half Greek half American and I've had a life in both the U.S and Greece. Something the differentiates my upbringing from many other Greek/Americans is that I have lived studied and worked equally in both countries, I call both countries home and I consider both English and Greek to be mother tongues. No one in New York is "from here" yet all who live in this great metropolis relate to being New Yorkers. This city is one of the most diverse in cultural and language examples. The neighborhoods are defined by their cultural identity. Brighton Beach and Coney Island have a heavy Russian influence, Astoria Queens was and is settled by many Greeks and Italians, Flushing Queens is the enclave of many Korean immigrants. In Manhattan alone there are pockets of the island unique in cultural references as well as language and food.  Little Italy, Spanish Harlem, Harlem, Chinatown, Koreatown, Hell's Kitchen, Upper West Side. All once and in some ways still strongly connected to the people who inhabit these neighborhoods the food they cook and the music they listen to.

 A rich map of people making New York their home, all unique and defined as much by where they came from but also where they are now. As my new friend Sam told me when we were discussing her background:
"The fabric of immigrants here is woven with a lot of different threads". That is such a wonderful image of what America is really about. All who come here bring with them their language, their traditions, their food and their connection to their ancestors. And wherever you go in New York you can take part in these traditions and tastes and travel with out even leaving the five boroughs!


And as a closer here is a piece of music from one my favorite New Yorkers.....and Astorians
Tony Bennett or Antonio Dominick Benedetto :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ6zVW3V1hc








 

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