Antonio’s First Trip to New York City
Antonio’s First Trip to New York City
A Spanish Teenager’s First Impressions
Why hadn’t Antonio visited New York before?
Antonio’s family moved to Spain just before his 12th birthday, and he never got the opportunity to visit New York until now.
Why is it difficult to talk about a ‘real’ New Yorker?
Since the city was founded, people from different races and cultures have come to New York seeking a better life. It has always had a mixture of cultures and religions. There are people there from every part of the world, and they’re all ‘real’ New Yorkers.
How did passing through Times Square affect Antonio and why?
He was speechless. He said it was like seeing your favorite movie star in person. He had seen these streets so many times in movies, and now he was really there.
Why did Antonio’s father say that the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood was tough?
Because it was very near the piers where ships used to arrive, and there were a lot of gangs in the area. It doesn’t look so dangerous now.
Why did Times Square remind Antonio of the Puerta del Sol in Madrid?
Because there was a building in Times Square where a ball comes down during the countdown to midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Thanksgiving in New York City
What does Thanksgiving commemorate?
Thanksgiving was one of Antonio’s favorite holidays. It commemorates how the Native Americans helped the first English settlers in Massachusetts survive their first difficult year in the new world.
Which groups of people take part in the big parade on Thanksgiving morning?
Marching bands from high schools all over the country play in it. There are also lots of clowns and famous people who ride in elaborate floats.
Explain how the ‘orphans’ dinner’ got its name.
Elaine and Jason have a group of friends who can’t be with their families for Thanksgiving. That’s why they call themselves ‘orphans’.
Why was Antonio surprised when he entered the loft apartment?
It was the largest apartment where Antonio had ever been. It was so big that one of the guests was riding a bicycle around it. There was a grand piano in the middle of the room.
Why are there newspapers written in Spanish in New York?
Because there’s a very large Hispanic population in New York, with people from almost every part of Latin America.
A Day of Culture and History
Why was Antonio happy to spend a day relaxing with Jason?
Because his body was still getting accustomed to Spain’s time zone.
What did Elaine tell Antonio about the subway in New York?
Elaine explained that the New York subway system was the first to have express trains, making trips shorter for people who need to travel a long distance.
Why was Ellis Island important in the past?
Immigrants passed through Ellis Island to be processed, helping to make this the great city that it is today.
Who gave the Statue of Liberty to America and why?
The statue was a gift from the French government in 1876 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the USA. The statue was finally erected in 1886.
What made leaving difficult for the new immigrants?
They left their countries, their cultures, their friends, and their families. All of this made it difficult. It’s hard for us to imagine.