Letter from Boston New York Complex By MASAKO YAMADA	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
ニューヨーク・コンプレックス 先ごろ行なわれたメジャーリーグのアメリカンリーグ決勝戦で、ボストン・レッドソックスは惜しくニューヨークヤンキースに敗退。ボストン市民にとって、この野球対決は2都市の対決をも意味していました。大都市ニューヨークは、ボストンのライバルであり、あこがれでもあります。市民にとって常に気になる町なのです。

The Boston Red Sox are famous for breaking the hearts of loyal fans, but they put on a good show recently when they battled the New York Yankees for the American League spot in the World Series. They lost, but at least they made it as far as they did, and many Bostonians rallied to support them.

I saw pro-Boston T-shirts with slogans such as "Reverse the Curse" and "Yankees Suck" being sold around Fenway Park during those games. And I saw the windows of the majestic John Hancock Tower glowing "GO SOX" through a clever manipulation of office lights.

You see, this wasn't just about two baseball teams. This was an example of the age-old rivalry between the two cities, Boston and New York. New Yorkers may scoff at the very notion of a rivalry, since it seems obvious to everyone that New York is at the center of the world and other cities ought not even dare attempt a comparison. However, Bostonians stand proud by their city and are willing to put up a fight — usually.

I grew up in the shadow of New York City — indeed I could even see the lights of the skyline from my street. And I know full well the feeling of being tagged second-rate. Since I was a teenager, I've made my attempts to assimilate into New York culture by visiting the city and reading The New Yorker, The New York Times, and New York Magazine.

However, the sad fact is that I've always been one of the bridge-and-tunnel crowd. At least New Yorkers assign a label to suburbanites, though. I think they think of Boston as a far-off place where Pilgrims still live.

This is too bad, since Boston is a lovely city. I have lived in the area for six years and I'm still proud and excited to be here. There are many universities in the area and many opportunities to meet bright people from around the world. There are wonderful orchestras, museums and restaurants. Stately New England townhouses are located mere minutes away from bustling ethnic enclaves. It's a pleasure to walk around the city, since it's relatively safe, relatively clean, relatively quiet and relatively small.

Unfortunately, many people don't seem to fully appreciate the charms of Boston. There is a very popular night club near Boston University that touts the best "New York Style" club scene in Boston. What's wrong with calling it "True Boston Style"!?

I went to a kosher deli today that claims to be the best deli "north of New York," and they serve sandwiches with names such as "Wall Street" and "Gramercy Park." This deli has been a local institution for 75 years. Why can't they call their sandwiches "John Hancock Tower" or "Boston Common"!? While walking in the area after my meal, I saw another deli called "Manhattan Sandwiches"...

I suppose the fact of the matter is that the New York image sells everywhere, even in historically rich cities such as Boston. Institutions with the New York label inevitably attract wanna-be hipsters, both young and old. I can't count the number of non-native New Yorkers I know who have shed the weight of their childhood homes (Wisconsin? Canada? China?) and have started strutting around like they're 10 feet taller after finding jobs in Manhattan and living in "the City."

It's true that Frank Sinatra never crooned "Boston, Boston," and do I agree that New York is a special city. It's probably true there are not as many outrageous, colorful people in Boston as there are in New York, nor as many of the rich and famous.

But that's OK, I'm not an outrageous, colorful person either, nor am I rich and famous. I like that even as a grad student I can feel like a full citizen in this vibrant city. I'll probably always admire the flair and glamour of New York, but it's really not for me. I'd be most happy to buy a sandwich called "Allston-Brighton" in the comfort of my current home, Boston.

However, I must admit that I'll probably never be able to stop reading about the cosmopolitan life in The New York Times.

Shukan ST: Nov. 5, 1999

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