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This is New York (4) :Tokyto vs. NYC
This is New York (4) :Tokyto vs. NYC
不一样的繁华，纽约 (四): 东京与纽约
不一样的繁华，纽约 (四): 东京与纽约
Tokyo and New York are like two sides of a mirror—both world-class cities, yet they seem to exist in different worlds.
Tokyo and New York are like two sides of a mirror—both world-class cities, yet they seem to exist in different worlds.
Tokyo and New York are like two sides of a mirror—both world-class cities, yet they seem to exist in different worlds.
The personalities of Tokyo and New York, much like the differences between Eastern and Western cultures, are worlds apart. Being amidst them, you can truly feel it.
As a visitor, your interactions with locals mostly revolve around encounters with hotel and attraction service staff. In terms of professional etiquette, both Tokyo and New York excel without comparison. Tokyo’s hotel service embodies Japanese respectfulness, ensuring a virtually “unpleasant” experience is rare in such places. New York’s hotels are equally top-notch, offering standardized service akin to luxury hotels worldwide. However, beyond the hotels, the outside world is vastly different.
In Tokyo, I once found myself in a convenience store, pouring out loose change on the counter to count for payment, only to have the clerk solemnly offer me a small tray. In Japan, cash cannot be handed directly by hand, let alone scattered on a counter; it must be placed on a tray. Such meticulous rules, applied uniformly even to us tourists, contribute to Tokyo’s pristine metropolitan environment. Tokyo’s streets are impeccably clean—no trash cans in sight, yet no litter on the ground. The subway is bustling but orderly, unlike the chaotic rush of Shanghai’s metro. However, Tokyo’s strict orderliness, while comforting, can also be unsettling. As outsiders in this “orderly” environment, any deviation stands out conspicuously. For instance, on narrow stairs, Japanese habitually keep left, and on escalators, no one stands on the right. Not noticing this can cause minor disruptions. The complexity of Tokyo’s subway and railway ticketing systems is another challenge for foreigners, with separate tickets for travel permits and seat reservations, and multiple train routes stopping at the same platform. Once you understand the rules, everything falls into place; but until then, it’s pure frustration.
In New York, the concept of “rules” rarely comes to mind. New Yorkers might even disregard traffic lights, reflecting their disdain for rules and constraints. Even if your bus card fails to swipe, they’ll wave you on without fuss, ensuring you get on board. At night, when we were the only four people on a bus, the driver kindly stopped closer to our hotel to spare us a few extra steps. Their transit system design reflects a preference for freedom and convenience. Buses and subways share the same fare, and using a credit card ensures seamless travel. New Yorkers, accustomed to crowds, accept noise and even chaos as normal. Garbage bins are plentiful, yet so is litter; homeless people sleep on sidewalks without raising eyebrows. Locals seem oblivious to disorder, treating it as naturally as breathing.
Moreover, I’m not sure if it’s because the Japanese aren’t very fluent in English, but they seem noticeably reserved when interacting with foreigners like us. When I was going through customs at the airport and made a small mistake, the customs officer asked me to fill out a paper form again but couldn’t say a single word in English. He could only helplessly point at the table where the forms were kept. On the streets of Tokyo, we rarely encountered anyone striking up a conversation with us. Even though we, as Chinese, look very much like the Japanese, they seemed to treat us as if we were invisible, not even exchanging glances, let alone conversations. It felt like we were drifting through a parallel world, walking among them but never really connecting. Then one day, when we happened to encounter a fluent English-speaking clerk in a Nike store, it brought immense gratitude.
New Yorkers probably never struggle with language barriers because English is the global language. For Americans who speak the world’s lingua franca, “language barrier” is a term that simply doesn’t exist in their vocabulary (which is why I’ve heard that Americans are among the least interested in learning foreign languages). It’s only we, non-native English-speaking tourists, who experience this. So, in New Yorkers, you won’t find the word “reserved.” They navigate the colorful, multicultural, multi-ethnic world around them with ease. The guard at the small store might joke with my kids, and even the homeless person outside the convenience store will greet you confidently. An elderly woman waiting at the bus stop advised us not to rush, pointing out that the driver would grab a coffee before leaving—she instantly recognized us as a first-time visitor. You can feel the energy pulsing through the city; everyone around you is brimming with vitality, just like the city’s own unceasing heartbeat.
Given these comparisons, would you prefer Tokyo or New York?
Just an extra thought: in my view, whether it’s Tokyo, New York—or Shanghai—there’s one thing these cities share, and that’s the remarkable work ethic of the people who live there. You can feel the hustle, the energy of countless individuals striving amidst the rushing crowds. It is through their relentless effort and passion that these cities have transformed into the world’s most vibrant and dazzling metropolises.. Such prosperity doesn’t happen by chance. (The end.)
The personalities of Tokyo and New York, much like the differences between Eastern and Western cultures, are worlds apart. Being amidst them, you can truly feel it.
As a visitor, your interactions with locals mostly revolve around encounters with hotel and attraction service staff. In terms of professional etiquette, both Tokyo and New York excel without comparison. Tokyo’s hotel service embodies Japanese respectfulness, ensuring a virtually “unpleasant” experience is rare in such places. New York’s hotels are equally top-notch, offering standardized service akin to luxury hotels worldwide. However, beyond the hotels, the outside world is vastly different.
In Tokyo, I once found myself in a convenience store, pouring out loose change on the counter to count for payment, only to have the clerk solemnly offer me a small tray. In Japan, cash cannot be handed directly by hand, let alone scattered on a counter; it must be placed on a tray. Such meticulous rules, applied uniformly even to us tourists, contribute to Tokyo’s pristine metropolitan environment. Tokyo’s streets are impeccably clean—no trash cans in sight, yet no litter on the ground. The subway is bustling but orderly, unlike the chaotic rush of Shanghai’s metro. However, Tokyo’s strict orderliness, while comforting, can also be unsettling. As outsiders in this “orderly” environment, any deviation stands out conspicuously. For instance, on narrow stairs, Japanese habitually keep left, and on escalators, no one stands on the right. Not noticing this can cause minor disruptions. The complexity of Tokyo’s subway and railway ticketing systems is another challenge for foreigners, with separate tickets for travel permits and seat reservations, and multiple train routes stopping at the same platform. Once you understand the rules, everything falls into place; but until then, it’s pure frustration.
In New York, the concept of “rules” rarely comes to mind. New Yorkers might even disregard traffic lights, reflecting their disdain for rules and constraints. Even if your bus card fails to swipe, they’ll wave you on without fuss, ensuring you get on board. At night, when we were the only four people on a bus, the driver kindly stopped closer to our hotel to spare us a few extra steps. Their transit system design reflects a preference for freedom and convenience. Buses and subways share the same fare, and using a credit card ensures seamless travel. New Yorkers, accustomed to crowds, accept noise and even chaos as normal. Garbage bins are plentiful, yet so is litter; homeless people sleep on sidewalks without raising eyebrows. Locals seem oblivious to disorder, treating it as naturally as breathing.
Moreover, I’m not sure if it’s because the Japanese aren’t very fluent in English, but they seem noticeably reserved when interacting with foreigners like us. When I was going through customs at the airport and made a small mistake, the customs officer asked me to fill out a paper form again but couldn’t say a single word in English. He could only helplessly point at the table where the forms were kept. On the streets of Tokyo, we rarely encountered anyone striking up a conversation with us. Even though we, as Chinese, look very much like the Japanese, they seemed to treat us as if we were invisible, not even exchanging glances, let alone conversations. It felt like we were drifting through a parallel world, walking among them but never really connecting. Then one day, when we happened to encounter a fluent English-speaking clerk in a Nike store, it brought immense gratitude.
New Yorkers probably never struggle with language barriers because English is the global language. For Americans who speak the world’s lingua franca, “language barrier” is a term that simply doesn’t exist in their vocabulary (which is why I’ve heard that Americans are among the least interested in learning foreign languages). It’s only we, non-native English-speaking tourists, who experience this. So, in New Yorkers, you won’t find the word “reserved.” They navigate the colorful, multicultural, multi-ethnic world around them with ease. The guard at the small store might joke with my kids, and even the homeless person outside the convenience store will greet you confidently. An elderly woman waiting at the bus stop advised us not to rush, pointing out that the driver would grab a coffee before leaving—she instantly recognized us as a first-time visitor. You can feel the energy pulsing through the city; everyone around you is brimming with vitality, just like the city’s own unceasing heartbeat.
Given these comparisons, would you prefer Tokyo or New York?
Just an extra thought: in my view, whether it’s Tokyo, New York—or Shanghai—there’s one thing these cities share, and that’s the remarkable work ethic of the people who live there. You can feel the hustle, the energy of countless individuals striving amidst the rushing crowds. It is through their relentless effort and passion that these cities have transformed into the world’s most vibrant and dazzling metropolises.. Such prosperity doesn’t happen by chance. (The end.)
The personalities of Tokyo and New York, much like the differences between Eastern and Western cultures, are worlds apart. Being amidst them, you can truly feel it.
As a visitor, your interactions with locals mostly revolve around encounters with hotel and attraction service staff. In terms of professional etiquette, both Tokyo and New York excel without comparison. Tokyo’s hotel service embodies Japanese respectfulness, ensuring a virtually “unpleasant” experience is rare in such places. New York’s hotels are equally top-notch, offering standardized service akin to luxury hotels worldwide. However, beyond the hotels, the outside world is vastly different.
In Tokyo, I once found myself in a convenience store, pouring out loose change on the counter to count for payment, only to have the clerk solemnly offer me a small tray. In Japan, cash cannot be handed directly by hand, let alone scattered on a counter; it must be placed on a tray. Such meticulous rules, applied uniformly even to us tourists, contribute to Tokyo’s pristine metropolitan environment. Tokyo’s streets are impeccably clean—no trash cans in sight, yet no litter on the ground. The subway is bustling but orderly, unlike the chaotic rush of Shanghai’s metro. However, Tokyo’s strict orderliness, while comforting, can also be unsettling. As outsiders in this “orderly” environment, any deviation stands out conspicuously. For instance, on narrow stairs, Japanese habitually keep left, and on escalators, no one stands on the right. Not noticing this can cause minor disruptions. The complexity of Tokyo’s subway and railway ticketing systems is another challenge for foreigners, with separate tickets for travel permits and seat reservations, and multiple train routes stopping at the same platform. Once you understand the rules, everything falls into place; but until then, it’s pure frustration.
In New York, the concept of “rules” rarely comes to mind. New Yorkers might even disregard traffic lights, reflecting their disdain for rules and constraints. Even if your bus card fails to swipe, they’ll wave you on without fuss, ensuring you get on board. At night, when we were the only four people on a bus, the driver kindly stopped closer to our hotel to spare us a few extra steps. Their transit system design reflects a preference for freedom and convenience. Buses and subways share the same fare, and using a credit card ensures seamless travel. New Yorkers, accustomed to crowds, accept noise and even chaos as normal. Garbage bins are plentiful, yet so is litter; homeless people sleep on sidewalks without raising eyebrows. Locals seem oblivious to disorder, treating it as naturally as breathing.
Moreover, I’m not sure if it’s because the Japanese aren’t very fluent in English, but they seem noticeably reserved when interacting with foreigners like us. When I was going through customs at the airport and made a small mistake, the customs officer asked me to fill out a paper form again but couldn’t say a single word in English. He could only helplessly point at the table where the forms were kept. On the streets of Tokyo, we rarely encountered anyone striking up a conversation with us. Even though we, as Chinese, look very much like the Japanese, they seemed to treat us as if we were invisible, not even exchanging glances, let alone conversations. It felt like we were drifting through a parallel world, walking among them but never really connecting. Then one day, when we happened to encounter a fluent English-speaking clerk in a Nike store, it brought immense gratitude.
New Yorkers probably never struggle with language barriers because English is the global language. For Americans who speak the world’s lingua franca, “language barrier” is a term that simply doesn’t exist in their vocabulary (which is why I’ve heard that Americans are among the least interested in learning foreign languages). It’s only we, non-native English-speaking tourists, who experience this. So, in New Yorkers, you won’t find the word “reserved.” They navigate the colorful, multicultural, multi-ethnic world around them with ease. The guard at the small store might joke with my kids, and even the homeless person outside the convenience store will greet you confidently. An elderly woman waiting at the bus stop advised us not to rush, pointing out that the driver would grab a coffee before leaving—she instantly recognized us as a first-time visitor. You can feel the energy pulsing through the city; everyone around you is brimming with vitality, just like the city’s own unceasing heartbeat.
Given these comparisons, would you prefer Tokyo or New York?
Just an extra thought: in my view, whether it’s Tokyo, New York—or Shanghai—there’s one thing these cities share, and that’s the remarkable work ethic of the people who live there. You can feel the hustle, the energy of countless individuals striving amidst the rushing crowds. It is through their relentless effort and passion that these cities have transformed into the world’s most vibrant and dazzling metropolises.. Such prosperity doesn’t happen by chance. (The end.)
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