Focus on U.S. immigration, U.S. travel, read the guide, and be prepared for your visit to New York! The first must-see attraction in New York is naturally the Statue of Liberty, and we plan to take the ferry from New Jersey. When we arrived at the ferry terminal, fortunately, there weren't as many people as we had imagined. Across the dock is the famous Manhattan Island, with skyscrapers stacked upon each other, emerging like silhouettes through the still-dispersing mist. Is this the Manhattan that was often mentioned in our English textbooks??After “9/11”, without the two WorldWay Center towers as a backdrop, Manhattan seems to lack some confidence. I remember the Bible's Book of Genesis mentioned that humanity built the Tower of Babel to make a name for themselves, and God confused their language to disrupt this plan. Is it possible that God is warning the United States through “9/11” that even a powerful America is not invulnerable? Like a person, if a country is too domineering and disregards the sovereignty of others, it too will face punishment.
The wind blowing towards us carries a hint of saltiness, and the ferry ride feels somewhat like being on the Huangpu River in Shanghai. However, the water here is much cleaner, perhaps due to the excessive silt in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The ferry first docks at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, where early immigrants to the United States were checked. Upon entering the museum hall, the first thing that catches the eye is the various ancient wooden and bamboo boxes brought by the immigrants. It seems that the early immigrants faced great hardships; not only did they endure long journeys, but they also arrived in a completely undeveloped new land. I truly admire those first immigrants who had the courage to come here. Even though we now have favorable living conditions and environments in the United States, the lack of cultural and spiritual communication can make one feel nostalgic for their homeland and familiar life. The early immigrants endured not only a spiritual void but also a material one. I remember imagining that as long as I could go abroad, everything would be fine, but if a person does not have a strong will, they can easily be overwhelmed, because here you have no connections, and everything relies on yourself, sometimes luck.(This may be why many Chinese people are willing to go to church after arriving here; when you are weak and helpless, God may be your only support.)In the hall, there are also many materials and statistical displays about immigration. In front of a large screen, as long as you input the country code, it will show the distribution of people across various states. When we entered the code for China, we found that the Chinese nation is indeed a resilient one; even in the sparsely populated and very cold Alaska, there are over a thousand Chinese living there, not to mention states like California and New York with more job opportunities. Indeed, for hardworking and intelligent Chinese people, surviving in such a resource-rich country as the United States is quite easy. However, with thousands of years of history and culture, it seems that Chinese people find it difficult to let go of that innate sense of belonging, no matter where they go. Is this a blessing or a narrow-mindedness??It seems hard to say.
After leaving Ellis Island, the ferry heads towards the Statue of Liberty, which stands in a light green hue, as always holding the torch symbolizing freedom and gazing into the distance. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to celebrate the 100th anniversary of American independence, and its designer was also the designer of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The seven rays of her crown symbolize the seven seas and seven continents. After arriving on the island, we took a tour and took photos from various angles. Although the island is not large, we encountered many tour groups composed of Chinese people, which felt very familiar. It seems that with China's opening up and economic development, more and more Chinese people have the opportunity to travel, which is truly wonderful.
Speaking of freedom in America, I can't help but recall a recent lawsuit in California, where a parent sued the public schools over the phrase "under God" in the daily Pledge of Allegiance recited by students, claiming it violated the First Amendment of the Constitution regarding the prohibition of government support for any religion and the principle of separation of church and state, thus being unconstitutional. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, composed of three judges, ruled with a 2 to 1 decision on this matter. Upon hearing this news, the federal capital on the East Coast immediately interrupted normal debates. Except for one senator who was ill and hospitalized, the Senate unanimously voted 99 to 0 to criticize this ruling, deeming it "foolish." It seems that the freedom-loving America also understands that a lawless freedom is terrifying, and it hopes that the freedom people possess is "Under the control of God".(in the grasp of God) The full text of the Pledge of Allegiance is as follows: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
After visiting Liberty Island, everyone was quite hungry. Another wish for this trip to New York was to let our Chinese stomachs enjoy a feast. Having been in the United States for so long, just thinking about Chinese food and the rich variety of snacks makes my mouth water. We drove excitedly towards Chinatown in New York. Wow, this whole street looks no different from the streets back home, with shops displaying Chinese signs, and almost half of the people passing by have yellow skin and black eyes. Many Chinese people are selling pirated DVDs on the street, and some well-dressed individuals are setting up stalls to draw portraits or write names with watercolor pens. It seems that it is entirely possible for graduates from art academies in China to make a living on the street; survival is the fundamental issue that must be addressed first. Perhaps our expectations were too high; after searching for a long time, we couldn't find a restaurant that suited our taste. Plus, the weather was hot and the crowds were large, so when we finally saw a quiet and cool place, we rushed in, forgetting our original intention of eating. My husband, who had previously worked in a Chinese restaurant, was overly generous with the tip, which made me feel a bit pained. He argued, "Money that goes out here will come back from there!" It seemed as if the tip was for himself.
Time was tight, so we took the subway to the WorldWay Center site, the United Nations, and Times Square. The number of people at the WorldWay Center site was unexpectedly large, but the former glory has now been reduced to rubble. The site is surrounded by construction facilities, and visitors curiously try to peek through the plastic barriers, but indeed, apart from the hard concrete and the rumbling machines at work, there is nothing left. The new WorldWay Center can still rise in Manhattan, but the many innocent lives lost in the "9/11" incident can never return; may they find their way to heaven.
As night falls, my trip to New York comes to an end. Although I am just one of many tourists, and my experience is hardly worth mentioning, it is still difficult for me to connect the city I have encountered countless times in movies and books with the reality before my eyes. It seems I prefer to cherish the memory of New York in my mind.