I Heart NY

For the past five months, I feel like almost half of my lesson time has been devoted to telling my students all about New York. Why? Because, like almost every other European, most of them recently went or will soon go on holiday to the Big Apple. Verb tenses and idioms have been often pushed aside to make way for expressions related to asking for directions and ordering from a menu—not to mention endless discussions on the true must-sees, restaurant recommendations, the lowdown on where to shop, and a crash course on how to survive as a tourist in America. My students have been happy to learn how to order a steak at the desired cuisson (level of cooking) and to know that in America wines are classified by the French name of the grape, but have been duly shocked that it’s customary to pay up to a 20% tip on dining (the French don’t tip, as servers’ wages are higher and the menu prices account for that).

What’s been even funnier is hearing their impressions after they’ve returned from their NYC getaways. “Oh la la, ze portions—zhey are so beeeg! And ze beeeldeeengs aussi!” (Typical, and, well, 100% true.) “I don’t ahnderstand zhis Abaire-crahm-BEE and Feeetch. Why do zhey have the yahng guy weeeth no shehrt?” (I think I laughed for a whole day after hearing this.) “Ze pee-pahl are so friendleee! So nice! Eet eez a soorprise.” (New Yorkers have always gotten a bad rep. We are a friendly bunch, if not a little rowdy. Parisians are relatively cold and distant.) I’ve also been tickled by some students’ tourism choices. Several went to see Yankees games (no Mets love from this side of the pond, apparently) and absolutely loved it! Who knew the French could get behind baseball? Also, several went to see a Gospel Mass at churches in Harlem (must be in the guidebooks?) and were nuts about this experience. Plus, I’ve been happily encouraging them to help boost the American economy. Oh yes, they Shopped. With a capital S. Suitcases were filled. Debit cards were maxed (too bad the French don’t have credit cards in the true sense). Many “eee-Puhds” (iPods) were purchased. To those who are toying with the idea of visiting Manhattan this fall, I tell them to hurry. The dollar is rising in value. Gotta cram in crazy shopping sprees while you can! Tick tock!

You’d think all this New York talk would have turned me off to the idea of actually joining the masses and visiting the city myself, but nah. It is my homeland, after all. I had almost no work to speak of in August (since most of my students were away themselves) and a free ticket to the States burning a hole in my pocket, so off I went for 10 glorious days.

I had SUCH a great time. I spent a lot of quality time with family, which is always a nourishing experience, and had a blast hanging with good friends and meeting some of my sister’s. The weather was stellar. I cycled in Central Park, said hello to the dinos at the Museum of Natural History, saw lots of films (including a free screening of Velvet Goldmine in the old, emptied pool at McCarren Park in Brooklyn), ate some great kosher deli, and, with my American Monopoly-style money in hand, shopped. Not with a capital S, per se, but my suitcase certainly put on some weight for its return trip.

My impressions? Oh la la, the portions are huge! The buildings, too. And the people are SOOOOOOO nice and I can recognize every freakin’ last word they say. I’m walking in public in my sweaty gym clothes after a Pilates or yoga class and no one is staring at me or looking at me funny (and I understood 100% of what the instructors said—first time in a year!). In Williamsburg, my sister’s friend parked in front of a 24-hour natural food store. Oh Jesus, this is what is great about America, I thought. Total excess, but delivered in such a convenient, shiny way. Such a thing does not exist in France.

It dawned on me that all these superficial comforts aside, I was really, really happy to be back in the States. Home. And so I returned to my new home a bit more homesick than before.