Sesame Street : New York A Place Even For Asian Tourists And Travelers

My early impressions of contemporary America come from New York.

But these impressions are not the same as what I have commonly seen in most of the articles that I have seen online about the place. It is not surprising to hear and read that New York is a jungle: insensitive, a wasteland, and a danger zone. The various and not-so-good descriptions of New York would even come from famous writers, politicians, and celebrities.

Moreover, the pictures and videos from you tube and the other sites feature the majestic but equally impersonal side of the city: the skyscrapers, the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, and the chic and upbeat crowd of New Yorkers. There are vintage films too in black and white of a city on the move: on land , on air, and at the harbors.

But the New York that I knew as a child was a small place called Sesame Street. And far from being a jungle it was a friendly neighborhood with real and non-real(?) characters.

How can I forget my favorite character: the Count. Perhaps because of my early fear of ghosts, this character thrills me the most- as most children of my age will probably agree. And then you have the partners in good and bad times - Ernie and Bert. I remember Berts nasal voice and Ernies peculiar laugh and warm: Hi Bert! greetings. Then you have Big Bird who at that time I found to be a little corny. Of course Cookie monster who spills all the cookies in his mouth. And the grumpy/grouchy character Oscar who deserves - by virtue of his sheer and undaunted will, to live inside a garbage can.

There were the other real characters too like the kindly Bob and girl companion Susan. I remember they always sang and comforted the lonely, problematic, and depressed. And Mr. Hooper the old man with a beard and a hat.

Although I didnt understand 90% of what they said, I felt 100% - the message, that the world is wonderful.

That was some forty years ago. Today, whenever my family uses Google Earth, one of our favorite places is New York. Well, it is actually my favorite and my 5 kids have just learned to enjoy seeing the busy streets and shops and tall buildings found in Manhattan and the other places in the city. I suspect they are more awed by the spectacle than anything else.

I never told them about Sesame Street. And neither are the children aware of contemporary America. But hopefully when we travel to New York someday, itll be the first destination of our city tour.

Perhaps, at Sesame Street I can rekindle my early impressions of wonder; but more importantly bring back the sense of belonging in a neighborhood where the people know each other well and good.