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Ironically, as I walked with my headphones on, I began to notice more.  With all the noise blocked out except for the music, I could concentrate better on other sights and focus on an object or person without being distracted by a squeaky subway track, a baby crying or a barking dog.

When our group arrived we found out that our visit had two parts, indoor and outdoor.  The latter informed us about the tenements, which are such a part New York City’s history, and also about neighborhoods and people of the Lower East Side. With the cold snap finally over, we had a refreshing, interesting, and informative stroll through a famous part of New York. 

The deal that will send Alex Rodriguez to the Yankees has the entire city thinking championship again. After the departures of Roger Clemens, David Wells, Nick Johnson, Andy Pettite, and the season- ending knee injury to Aaron Boone, Yankee fans had little to cheer about. The trade news changed all that.

I have been going in to work early and leaving late every night. I even went in on Saturday to help out with compiling the final shots and voice-over for the Monday night Diane Sawyer special.  This challenging experience has taught me a lot about myself and has been rewarding in ways I never expected. 

In recognizing that in one moment Manhattan can be devastated, New Yorkers understand that every moment holds infinitely positive potential as well.  The best way to pay to tribute to the tragedy and the city is to recognize the dynamics of a New York minute and allow the change to carry them through their lives.  Formerly a wasteland of ruins, the area surrounding Ground Zero now houses people, businesses, and culture. 

Before I began working in the business district of lower Manhattan, I imagined that the pace would be frantic. I have been surprised to learn that this was not actually the case. 

I am slowly starting to appreciate the little nuances that make up New York City, particularly with regard to the subway system that I earlier criticized so harshly. Technicalities aside, I am starting to understand its personality.

Boston’s subway lines are color coded, New York’s relies on both letters and numbers. The “T” doesn’t have express and local trains. Can I love Boston but prefer New York City’s subway system? It weighs on my mind, ever so slightly.

Particularly when you are producing a live show on a daily basis, this line of work can be a real pressure cooker. “I can’t do it” usually doesn’t cut it as an answer. There may appear to be a lighthearted atmosphere, but everyone here knows that he or she is always under the gun. Nobody bats an eyelash when things go right on the show, but every mistake gets blown up a thousand-fold on live television.

Hearing stories of 14 people crammed into small dark apartments, garment shops being set up in these apartments, and bathrooms in the backyard made me realize both the space and the luxuries that living in NYC in 2004 can provide – at least with a good deal of money.  The tenement had no grand entrance, no frescos on the ceiling of the lobby, no doorman welcoming you inside after a long day.  Sometimes, a reality check is just what you need.