Noted Differences

Separated by only a thousand or so miles and a handful of states, New York and Michigan aren't really all that different, right? They both have suburban cities, rural towns, and their share of hobos. They both have failed sports franchises like the Lions and Knicks and successful sports franchises like the Red Wings and Yankees too. But Detroit and New York couldn't be anymore different.

I'm sure in Michigan there are stores that sell soap, but they are a rarity and most likely found in boutique hotels somewhere in Birmingham. In New York, soap stores seem to be all the rage. Just in my commute to work I pass no less than four or five stores devoted to just soap in the bar and liquid variety. Think of a soap store in NYC as like a strip club in Detroit. On my drive to high school every morning I would probably pass close to seven or eight strip clubs, just on one road. I guess it's all relative.

Another anomaly I have found in New York versus home in the 'D' are New Yorkers undying love for Poland Spring Water. Everyone drinks Poland Spring. I only bought a bottle to fit in, but as far as I can tell it tastes like any regular water. The problem with Poland Spring isn't the fact they have a monopoly on the NYC water market, but the fact they are named after an Eastern European country who tried to fight World War I with cavalry. It's a true story. Plus, Poland Spring would never fly in Detroit. Most people in Detroit, especially old people, are too racist to buy water named after a country. My grandma won't even enter a restaurant unless it's owned by an Italian, Greek, or a friend of a Greek so the chances of her even touching a bottle of Poland Spring simply would never happen.

But the most important difference between New York and Detroit is mass transit. Subways, trains, buses, cabs, bikes, rickshaws- you name a type of transportation device, New York has got it. And even more importantly, everything runs on time. Buses don't just "show up" like in Detroit, in the Big Apple, they are on a tight schedule. And I sure hope so because when I'm paying $88 for a 30 month mass transit pass, everything better be on schedule when my internship-livelihood is on the line. You know, I got to make a good impression and I never want to be late. Speaking of my internship, if you have an inkling of curiosity to see the inner workings of a Grey intern check out the Grey NY Intern Blog. Enjoy the read and check out the photos from inside the office.