Introduction - Amalia

Introduction - Amalia

by Amalia Jaimes-Lukes -
Number of replies: 4

My name is Amalia and I am a senior Sociology major from Brooklyn, NY. I was born in Philadelphia but my family moved back to Brooklyn before I turned one. After I graduate I plan on moving back to Brooklyn.

Something I've always loved about New York is how big it is. There is always a somewhere to go and things to do. I am constantly discovering something new that in reality is not new at all. I feel this constant contrast between feeling small and insignificant as just 1 person out of 8 million but and also feeling so much commonality, understanding, and connection to millions of others who are also living in the city.

What I find most frustrating about New York is how quickly it is gentrifying. Every time I come home from being at school, there are new luxury apartments buildings, high end grocery stores, and less local businesses. In this course I am look forward to learning more about how cities are both fixed and constantly changing. 

In reply to Amalia Jaimes-Lukes

Re: Introduction - Amalia

by Maria Reyes Torres -
Hi Amalia! As a fellow New Yorker, I totally get what you're saying. Sometimes when I'm surrounded by all the people it feels overwhelming but at the same time, I feel connected to them and empowered to be apart of such a vibrant community :)
In reply to Amalia Jaimes-Lukes

Re: Introduction - Amalia

by Corinne Hartshorne -
Hi! Your point about what is fixed and what is changing in cities is very interesting. I hadn't thought of that before but I am curious to know what you think remains fixed in cities.
In reply to Amalia Jaimes-Lukes

Re: Introduction - Amalia

by Isabelle Meegan -
Hi Amalia! I really like how you've described living in the city and I am curious to hear about how gentrification changes your experience with discovering old things, like you were saying.
In reply to Amalia Jaimes-Lukes

Re: Introduction - Amalia

by Saiqian Xiao -
Hi, Amalia! You point about NYC's gentrification reminds me of the city I live in -- Beijing, China. We are having the same gentrified process here, and I sometimes cannot remember how the street in my community used to look like. Although the government is publicizing the protection to the central old city, the gentrification still exists in outside regions. Hope to learn more about this topic through this class!