[New York Diary] Saying Thank You

Stories from Everyday Life in New York
A Year of Gratitude and Heartfelt Connections

The place I lived in during my first year in New York, USA, was a building about 100 years old. Even though I paid expensive rent for the apartment, the old wooden front door was warped, and the windows had sagged slightly, so they didn’t lock properly or close fully. The cracked wooden floor creaked with every step I took. On the first night, I stayed up almost all night with the sound of sirens in the background, worrying unnecessarily. After all, no one was going to fly up to the 14th-floor window like Spider-Man.

After a few days, I got used to this lifestyle. The small studio was a cozy retreat, not bad for living alone. But the crisis (??) soon came. That late summer, my family came to New York all at once. We tried to book a nearby hotel, but my mother said, "We’re coming to see how you live, so what are you talking about? It’s only a few days, so even if it’s a bit uncomfortable, let’s stay together." Of course, not long after, everyone regretted this decision.

The reason I suddenly shared this TMI is because of what my mother said to the ‘home’ on the day she returned to Korea. Before leaving for the airport, I paused for a moment watching my mother stroke the wall by the door and say, "You’ve worked hard. Thank you so much." I thought I had seen a similar scene somewhere in the sitcom ‘Friends.’ But no one laughed or teased at that moment because the sincerity in her words, the ‘heartfelt gratitude,’ was 100% conveyed. Strangely, that moment has remained in my mind like an old photograph and sometimes pops up unexpectedly.

There are said to be three main steps to expressing gratitude: finding moments of thanks in everyday life, even small ones; specifically saying what you are thankful for; and expressing that gratitude through actions. It’s not as easy as it sounds. Recently, while talking with some Korean friends I made in the U.S., I heard this: saying "I love you," "Thank you," or compliments come out easily in English, but strangely, in Korean, it feels embarrassing. The person who brought this up wondered if it was a difference in expression or culture, and everyone nodded in agreement. It seems that, culturally, Koreans find it difficult to express their feelings openly.

Looking back, living in the U.S. even briefly made me realize that I express gratitude more often in daily life. Of course, there were times living as a foreigner in this city when I felt sad or fed up. I have been terrified more than once when hearing racist curses right in front of me while walking down the street, and there were days when my heart was troubled after sudden trash attacks. I also witnessed many unpleasant sights on subway platforms. Still, my life in New York was rich because I saw more good things in everyday life: respecting each other and recognizing diversity, giving small compliments in daily life, appreciating others’ consideration, and above all, ‘expressing’ that feeling.

This is my final ‘New York Diary’ as a New York correspondent. And today is my last official working day. At this moment, there are so many things to be thankful for and so many people to express gratitude to. Officially, I am grateful to have been able to cover the vibrant scenes in New York, the global financial and cultural hub, as a correspondent. Personally, I am thankful to have completed my term healthily without any major accidents.

Behind all of this, there were countless connections I met like prepared gifts whenever I faced difficulties living away from home. To those who were sometimes joy and sometimes support during my challenging short stay in New York, I want to sincerely express my gratitude.

The first month of the year is almost over. How has everyone’s first month been? I hope that everyone has a year full of gratitude in the small moments of daily life, and even more, a year of expressing that gratitude. I, too, will welcome the upcoming Lunar New Year in Korea. I resolve not to forget this feeling and to always express gratitude in everyday life throughout the year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.