Besides the having best pizza in the nation (duh), New Yorkers have a far greater advantage. Even though we may have a loud and rude-mouthed reputation, we are a people of acceptance. What I mean is that because we are such a culturally diverse city with citizens from around the globe, we have a certain tolerance for people who don't share the same background as us. This is not to say that all New Yorkers have this point of view; however, from the generosity and acceptance I’ve seen throughout my life in this big city, I can definitively say that we have a particular approach to how we deal with outsiders.

Recently, I took a trip to another state where I spent a few days touring and sight-seeing. I couldn’t help but notice the looks that were given to me and my family whenever we walked into any crowded or public area. It wasn’t anything serious, but it was enough to feel uncomfortable when entering into any place. I had hoped this feeling would subside, but it seemed to arise in any area we went to. In these uneasy moments, I began to wish that I was back in New York, where no one looked at me, or anyone else I was with, in a different way. Besides these thoughts, I also wondered why people would be so insistent on looking at others in such a way. That is when I realized that New York is much different in this aspect. We are constantly interacting with people from so many places on Earth that we don’t stop to wonder why or even care. We pass one another on the streets, eat with one another at restaurants, stand so close to one another on the subway that it would make anyone not from New York feel extremely uncomfortable, and so on and so forth. The fact that we have almost every nationality living in this city is the reason why we are so accustomed to everyone we encounter. This isn't to say that other cities or states don’t do this either. However, the truth is that some other cities just aren’t as accustomed to dealing with so many other cultures.

This may just be my own view, but I do consider New Yorkers to have a special connection with more than just our own kind. We cater to everyone without complaints, and maybe this makes some of us have a more open mind. And open-mindedness always prevails in interacting with anyone and everything; there is no denying that. The fact that we share the traditions of other cultures, notoriously the food, also contributes to this tolerance. We share our identities and it makes us see more than just what we have in front of us. This diversity helps us have a better connection with others right from the start. It’s not uncommon to see people of so many different races sitting down to enjoy a good meal at an Italian, Japanese, American or Hispanic restaurant. It is an uplifting sight to see people come together to share such an important aspect of all of our lives.

So whether we are sitting next to one another or sharing a feast, New Yorkers will always welcome others despite our differences.