Two roommates, two very different childhoods. While one of us spent her younger years living in different countries and cities around the world, attending various international schools, and finally finishing out her secondary schooling in the Big Apple, the other grew up and spent her entire adolescence in suburban Pennsylvania. Now we're both at a private university in Boston, Massachusetts, reflecting on the two very different lives we've experienced. Answering a series of questions, we'll attempt to make pretty obvious the noticeable differences between our two childhoods.
What was a typical Friday night like when you were growing up?
M(city): I lived in East Village, Manhattan, so there was always plenty to do. One of my favorite pastimes was going to St. Marks Place for an hour or two of karaoke, then heading to one of the nearby pizza places (open into the late hours of the night) to grab a steaming slice of New York's famous food. Other times, if I was feeling more adventurous, I went to one of the more touristy spots of Manhattan, such as Times Square or 34th Street, to really soak in the vibe of the city nightlife.
A(suburbs): Depending on the season, my Friday nights consisted of a variety of different things. Fall was all about the high school football games where you'd see just about everyone you knew there to cheer on the home team, maybe followed by a bonfire. In the Winter you'd see the malls, the movie theaters, the bowling alleys and the restaurants, all teeming with neighbors, classmates and family friends. In the Spring and Summer there's a good chance you'd be at an outdoor concert or a local state park with friends. The variety of things to do was pretty wide, but after living there for so long, nothing really maintains the new and exciting feeling it may first give off.
What was your childhood home like?
M: I was lucky enough to live in a compound area in East Village called Stuy Town, which most New Yorkers can't really say. It had a big (well I thought it was) grassy area in the middle of the apartment buildings, where during the summer people would go out to picnic and sunbathe (sometimes the entire area is just plastered with semi-nude people). I lived in a one bedroom with my mother and dog and didn't bother having a bed frame; we just had two mattresses strewn about the house.
A: Being in the suburbs I am lucky enough to say that there was no shortage of grassy areas for play. my backyard alone was big enough for a trampoline or a swingset or a wiffleball game. There was usually a disappointing lack of unique homes, however, as many neighborhoods had streets upon streets lined with "cookie-cutter" houses that all looked relatively the same.
The school you went to?
M: I went to a very small (300 people) public high school in Chelsea, Manhattan. The student body was made up of about 95% black and Hispanic kids, with Asian and whites being the minority. It was a very different experience than what I was used to because most of the kids had a very different view of the world than I did. For example, they did not always see education as a priority but placed family above all else. Eventually, I grew used to the environment and by the time I graduated, was truly happy to have been a part of it.
A: My high school was huuuge. With nearly 4,000 kids, it wasn't uncommon that you wouldn't know the kid sitting next to you at graduation, but the diversity of opportunities and activities was insane and something I was impressed by and supportive of. The culture of my school and the town was very much focused on school spirit. Pep rallies, sporting events, fundraisers, proms, you name it, it was probably written about somewhere in the local paper.
How did you get around?
M: Public transportation!! My life revolved around the bus, the subway, and my own two feet. I did eventually get my driver's license at 18, but I have probably only driven a car about three times total, and don't really feel that comfortable with it.
A: The evolution of travel for the suburban child is as follows: in elementary school, your main method of transportation was your bike, or your scooter, or your skateboard or your feet. It's not like you were really going far anyway, maybe to your friend Sally's who lived down the street. In middle school, it was all about bumming rides off of your parents--bonus points if you carpooled with like 4 other friends. And then in high school, you were completely reliant on your car. Nothing aside from maybe a convenience or a grocery store was within walking distance. You racked up the mileage on your old car.
What were your feelings about coming to school in Boston?
M: I find Boston to be a lot calmer and quieter than what I am used to, which I am happy about. The city seems awfully small, and it's incredible to me how I can just basically walk from one end of the city to the other. The vibe is much more intellectual I think, and the architecture blends in very well with that. I am very happy to have chosen to come here.
A: Aside from the occasional excursions to Philadelphia or New York City, I had never had much exposure to city life. I was beyond excited to try out a different style of living. Public transportation and skyscaper skylines, it seemed like something out of a movie. I was more than ready to be engulfed and overwhelmed by it all and the sense of independence that it was going to bring me in addition to the feat of living on my own in the first place.
Two very different narratives that led us both to the same school, making friends with the same people, doing the same things on the weekends. Our childhoods may not have had much in common, but that surely hasn't kept us from pursuing the kind of lives we wish to lead in the future.
