This may seem like an unusual topic to discuss, but it is high time everyone knew that there are really nice people in big cities like New York and Boston.
I am from the deep South and all my life I have heard visitors talk about "Southern Hospitality", but I am here to announce that either thousands of Southerners have moved past the Mason Dixon line or someone has forgotten to let everyone know that New Yorkers and Bostonians are nice too.
This past week I took a group of students and parents from South Carolina to New York and then on to Boston. While we were in New York during a five hour layover, we experienced an unexpected amount of just plain niceness and hospitality. We asked at several different times directions from total strangers on the street. They were nice, smiled, held a conversation, and directed us in the right direction. The city seemed so friendly and inviting as we walked through Times Square and the nearby tourist areas. The most embarrassing experience for me was when we were almost in front of Madison Square Garden and I slipped on the sidewalk. Not just a small slip, but a wipe-out. One of my own group asked if I were trying out for a Lipitor commercial, you know the one where the lady is walking down the red carpet and does a nosedive. I can't begin to tell you how many people rushed to help me up and make sure I was not hurt. It was amazing at how helpful they all were. We Southerners might be making a big deal about this, but this was just what we would expect down home.
We reached Boston and were introduced to people like this all over again. People helpful in directing us around the area and understanding. Do you want to know how understanding these people were? Imagine this, 17 students who have never seen 2 inches of snow stay on the ground much less the seemingly 10+ inches that fell in Boston right before and during our stay. I am sure we don't need to say more...except thanks.
