It’s All Maya!

I’ve always heard that New York City during the Holiday Season takes on an entirely different atmosphere as New Yorkers get caught up in the holiday spirit.  People slow down and the snow not only covers the streets with a blanket of white and everything seems more hush-hush, but there’s also a blanket of goodwill that comes over New Yorkers.

Of course I wanted to see this for myself!  Afterall, when you go to NYC at any other time of the year it’s a dog eat dog, survival of the fittest, jungle out there!  Everyone rushing about, stressed out in what can only be described as the Rat Race and even though you go there as a tourist, you end up as stressed out as everyone else.

Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Christmas Season really does change New Yorkers.  People weren’t as fixated on getting from one place to another, where time is money and the goal is the almighty dollar.  People in the streets actually stopped and took time to give directions.  Everyone seemed friendly and helpful.

The memo to be nice, however, stopped there; they forgot to tell those working underground in the subways that it was Christmastime.  Whenever one of us asked for directions, this was the usual exchange:

Me:  “Excuse me, is that the direction toward Greenwich Village?” I said, pointing toward the southbound train.
Subway Worker:  “Humph.” she mumbled, waving her hand in the direction I was pointing toward.
Me:  “Sorry?”
Subway Worker:  Still not saying a word, but waving her hand more vigorously in the same direction.  (Words were just too much work to ask of her.)

Again we needed directions down in the subway.

Me:  “Excuse me, can you tell me which train to take to catch the ferry for the Statue of Liberty?”
Subway Worker:  “Mummph, muummble muumble mummble.” she said through the glass window, but with her microphone off.
Me:  “I’m sorry, but I can’t hear you.”
Subway Worker:  Grabbing her mike so I could hear her, and then thinking better of it, she pushed her microphone away from her once more and said, “Mummph, muummble muumble mummble.”
Me:  “Sorry, but I still can’t hear you.”
Subway Worker:  Out came her hand in a “Heil Hitler” salute, pointing in the direction I was suppose to take.

Over and over it was the same old story!

I looked at Patrick and Rose and shook my head thinking, ……And they say that Parisians are rude!  At least in Paris if you ask someone politely for help, they will very politely help you as much as they can.

Maya Muses:  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Parisians get a bum rap.  In 39 years, I can only think of 3 rude encounters with Parisians.  Instead they are as polite and as helpful as anyone can hope for, many times going out of their way to assist you. 

Like Parisians, however, I really shouldn’t generalize about New Yorkers, I’m sure there are many of them who are just as helpful, and as I’ve said, people on the streets seemed quite friendly, but it was systematic down in the subways that any assistance you may need is seen as an intrusion on their naptime! 

Still, it doesn’t take long to encounter a rude New Yorker; from waiters in a restaurant to public transportation, you won’t be disappointed…..not even during the Holiday Season!

Photo Credits:  Personal Photos