A Tale of Two Cities, Essay Example

New York City (NYC) in New York and Norman in Oklahoma may share the first letter of their names but that is where the similarities end. While NYC has an unmistaken feel of a Megacity, Norman is a college town with small southern town atmosphere. Both of these cities will appeal to polar opposite personalities. NYC attracts those that love big American cities and the amenities that come with it such as large diverse population, museums, art & theater, and an educated population always looking for intellectual discussions. Norman attracts those that love quiet towns with people that are warm and the very embodiment of southern hospitality.

New Yorkers never run out of entertainment options and that include sports. The city is home to New York Jets, New York Yankees, New York Mets, and New York Knicks. While New York Yankees are the sports ambassador of New York to the outside world but even they do not enjoy the sheer popularity and loyalty that Normanians bestow upon The University of Oklahoma’s Sooners football team. In NYC, parking is a year-round luxury but in Norman parking is a luxury only on the eve of Sooners football games. Maybe it’s the lack of options that explain the fierce loyalty enjoyed by the Oklahoma Sooners. Norman doesn’t have as diverse population as NYC but one does miss the friendly smiles of Norman natives in NYC.

Norman might have been just another town in the U.S if it was not for the economic contributions of The University of Oklahoma to the city but the same cannot be said about NYC. NYC has so many great things as if the city was destined to be great. It has been invaded by dreamers, thinkers, adventurers, and freedom chasers for almost as long as it has been in existence. The city embodied the soul of a truly global city long before the term was formally coined and it welcomed and celebrated diversity long before the rest of the world even thought about it. It is one city that every single person on the world wants to visit at least once in his or her lifetime. One may not have the quiet and peaceful environment of Norman but it is almost impossible to get bored in NYC. New York thrives on dreams, on ideas, and on doing the impossible. No wonder it attracts the best of minds in finance, fashion, literature, media, and journalism. Diversity of people is simply diversity of ideas and experiences and New York has always been abundant in both.

Norman and NYC are also a world apart in cost of living. My personal experience shows that reasonable apartments in NYC cost almost three to four times than similar apartments in Norman and the cost of food is almost twice in NYC than Norman. Making the matters worse is the fact that the champion of low prices, Wal-Mart doesn’t have a single store in any of New York’s five boroughs. Thus, living in NYC and Norman is not just a matter of personal preference but also one’s financial situation. But those who are food and/or knowledge junkies will find that New York is worth every single cent.

Norman may be easier on the wallet but this doesn’t mean that NYC has forgotten low income groups. There are so many free events that NYC may actually be one of the cheapest cities in the U.S in terms of entertainment if one keeps an open eye. Norman may be a college town but it is conservative in terms of style. In contrast, you may see the most unusual fashion and personal styles in NYC but everyone looks comfortable in his or her skin. The unwritten rule of New York is not to judge but respect others. This is why it is so easy to be yourself in New York.

Norman may not be as perfect as NYC but many of whom who have lived in Norman for some time will never trade it with NYC. Life in NYC is so fast that some people feel overwhelmed. But small cities like Norman are not in any hurry to embrace modernism. Thus, they allow their residents to stay in touch with old lifestyles without feeling out of place in the modern world.