What City or Town Most Captures Your Imagination?

When I was nine, my family and I took a trip to New York City over the summer. The second I stepped out of th airport, I instantly fell in love. I fell in love with the tall buildings, reaching for the sky with their long arms. I fell in love with the smell of the hot dog carts, taking me back to the memories of my previous childhood summers. I fell in love with the serene feel of Central Park, an escape from the busy, buzzing feel of the city it ironically lies within. But most importantly, I fell in love with the people, constantly on the go. As loads of people continuously rush past, it’s clear that they all have a plan, a destination. When our short, five day trip was over, I did not want to come back. Jacksonville is the city in which I grew up; the host of my childhood memories. Only she and I have experienced every aspect of myself: she has seen me at my best and at my worst. She has seen me laugh, she has seen me cry, she has seen me angry, she has seen me proud. She has been there every step of the way throughout my transition from childhood to teenage years, and seen me grow and evolve in the last 13 years we have been together. For this reason, she will forever hold a place in my heart. However, I long to be back within the magic of New York City, with its inspiring dedicated people and uplifting feel. Being surrounded by these driven people will not seize to inspire me as well, and push me towards achieving any goal, no matter how far fetched it may be.

Crowned with majestic mountains, fresh with the scent of towering pines, and wild with the sound of wind through the leaves, North Carolina sets my thoughts free. My family’s trip to North Carolina is an annual occurrence. We reach our rental home and immediately run through the halls, calling out quite loudly which room we’re staying in and who is or isn’t allowed to stay with us. We hurriedly tie our shoes and soon set off for the market. Housed in a small, rustic, barn-looking building with peeling gray paint, the market smells like heaven. A banjo player (or sometimes a fiddler) plays classic country music that sets the mood of being in the mountains. We make ourselves comfortable on a picnic bench, and attempt to eat our food, though lunch is made up of a lot of elbow-shoving and playful arguing. Little time has passed as we have eaten, which allows us to sit and give our (loud) opinions about what we should do next. My dad drives up to Whiteside Mountain, a classic hike for us. By the end of the hike, all of us are sweaty, exhausted, and ridiculously happy. Cashiers provides endless amounts of creativity and imagination for me. Not only am I inspired by its incredible scenery, but also the hilarious experiences that have taken place there. Cashiers sings a song of pure, puerile joy and wild imagination that enriches my life and my mind for the better.

Connecticut, similar to Ms Gerwig and how she feels at home and how her city in New York is very welcoming to her, she loves it! I've be going to Connecticut sense I was 10 years old and my family is great up there the place is so different from NC, I love Connecticut it's a good get away place for me i would only visit there because that's a place where I can just forget everything and just relax, not have worries about school, grades, and the unnecessary drama I have to deal with at home.

Florida. I have always connected with it. Similarly to Ms. Gerwig’s connected to New York City because of her mother, my mother grew up in Florida until she was eight. I didn't grow up there, but every time I visited Florida, I felt like I was never meant to leave. Most people assume I like Florida because of the beach; there's so much more. From Cape Canaveral to South Beach, I’ve fallen in love with it all. Florida feels like home, but also a nice getaway depending on where you go. For example, one of my oldest friends lives on Merritt Island, and I visit her whenever I can. I’ve contemplated dropping everything and moving many times. It just feels like home. When I visited South Beach, it was a totally different vibe, but it was even more spectacular than I originally thought. Now yes, it can be very superficial, but during my stay, I was able to find a balance between the healthy, clean, and vegan lifestyle that is prominent there along with the money, decadent restaurants, exotic cars, and luxurious lifestyles. I think for the most part, when I was able to see polar opposites coexisting in the same place, it put a lot of things into perspective. It was unique to say the least. I would be elated to live in either one of these places, but I can only thank one person for introducing me to the places I love along with my strong desire to travel, my mom.

I have lived in Virginia for 11 years. It has been my home. But every once in a while, I visit other places too. Every place I have been to has had its own unique thing about it. One particular place I am very fond of is New York City. New York City is one of the most lively places I have been to. People are always bustling about in shopping malls, restaurants, famous attractions, etc. NYC's vibrant culture has always been one of my favorite aspects about it. Another aspect of New York I like is how kind and generous people are over there. Everywhere you go, you are always greeted by someone with a smile on his/her face. When my family and me were going to the world trade center and it was raining, then a woman gave my mom and my baby brother an umbrella to keep. This experience just showed the warmness of New York City. I have always loved big cities. New York City is my favorite because of the kindhearted nature of the people who live there.

I enjoy the lifestyle, and the environment of where I live. I live in an area saturated with stores, and new construction is put into play everyday. At night, my city is covered in lights and there's always somewhere to go at anytime. When I grow up, I have dreams of opening a business, which shows where I am living right now is great. If I chose to move elsewhere in the United States, I would chose New York. New York is full of big names, big business, and is where great people grew up from. Similar to Greta Gerwig, I love living in anyways full of people and crowds, but also having beautiful, open areas to visit.

I closely relate to Greta Gerwig in the way that my mother is also a New Yorker. My mom was born and raised in Brooklyn. My mom would always tell me stories about what it was like growing up in such a big city and about all the dangerous things that happened around her. Coming from the sheltered mind I have (due to living in small cities where nothing happens), it was crazy to think the stories I heard on the news were similar to those that she grew up around. Like Gerwig said, there was a professors wife who walked into a drug deal and had to use her street sense to get out of it safely, that's what my mom had to deal with all the time. I already admire my mom and her character tremendously but, hearing how brave she had to be in her every day life made me see her as a hero. I have always loved NYC based off the movies I watched and the stories I heard, I visited for the third time this past summer and realized it's the place that I want to go to school in and start my career. The best part of New York are the vibrant personalities roaming the streets. Everyone has something to say and isn't afraid to say it. I love how many people are unapologetically themselves and stand up for what they believe in. I want to be a part of that free living every day, that's why I'm so excited to grow up and be amongst them as an adult. I guess I think of New York so highly because it's the place that made my mom who she is today, and there's no better person to grow up to be, than my mom.

I was born and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina and have never left. It’s been great getting to grow up in a medium size town, only 20 minutes away from the beach. I’ve always dreamed of living in New York, however. I think it would be a great place to work and also have one of those cool, tiny apartments that you see on tv. I also think it would be easy to find something entertaining to do, like see a broadway play. I’d think it would be a great place to live while I am young or still in college. I imagine the food to be delicious because of the many famous restaurants. There are also many great places to shop and meet new people. I’m not sure if I could just give up Wilmington. I have so many friends that I would have to say goodbye to. Almost all of my family lives in town as well. My parents, grandparents, and cousins. I have always had them here growing up and always around me and I’m just not sure that I could give all of it up.

Even though I don't live there myself, I think the best place I'd like to associate myself with would be somewhere in the Nordic countries. It's hard to put it in words, but I always dream about being in a place depicted by videos like these (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sadOfmkTtpw) or the setting for the music video of Ed Sheeran's Perfect. Once in a while, it's nice to cuddle up in a blanket with friends near a window, from where you can see the snow falling, nice and slow, and play cards, or just hang out.

I was born in Haiti and lived there for the first seven years of my life. I don’t remember much but even so, I have always felt an intense connection to the country. This seems to be the nature of many people. For example, In Gerwig’s essay, she explains her connection to her mother’s town. Though it was not the town that she was born and raised in, she still felt a strong connection to it. She visited New York city in her childhood and had some of her most enlightening adventures there. This is similar to my experience in Haiti. It is the place where my childhood flourished. I remember the neighborhood and the people and how connected we were. This is very different from the life that I live now in Orlando. At lively times during the day, my neighborhood is silent, as if no one lived there. Children do not come outside to play every day and that is unfamiliar to me. I grew up around kids in my early days and the fact the children in my neighboorhood do not get to experience this is disheartening.

Danvers is a painfully boring place. We lack any claim to fame, though my mother and I often crack jokes about how Danvers is the place to be if you want to get your nails done, get a slice of pizza, get your hair done, and get money from the bank. Every corner is dotted with a pizza parlor, nail salon, hair salon, or bank. Every. Single. One. Humans long for adventure. We long for a great expanse of something, a Cathartic Roadtrip, a wide-open field heavy with wildflowers. We crave buildings, we crave glass and brick and concrete. The idea of spontaneity wraps around me like a blanket; I drape it over my shoulders whenever the stench of grease and cheese engulfs me. I, of course, long for adventure - and adventure, for me, takes the shape of New York City. There is something about the buildings, I think. I am sucker for architecture. New York City is the half-baked daydream that I slip into sometimes. When you have lived in the same washed-out suburban town for eleven years, things get really boring really quickly. New York City is the Definition of Adventure - the opposite of washed-out. Every street is exploding with life, every corner teeming with bookstores and the smell of Potential. And, the only pizza shops are the really good ones.

I have lived in the same place my whole life, Wilmington, North Carolina. A small southern city that I am dying to get out of. I always knew I belonged in a big city, but visiting New York and having my first taste of a big city confirmed this for me. Like Greta Gerwig and her mother, I was in my element. Walking the streets for the first time was magical, my favorite time there about 8 O'clock when adults are hustling to work all with their coffee and business suit on their ways to different jobs. my surroundings felt real. The second city I visited was San Francisco, also my second choice of where to live. Being in the city in San Francisco was similar to New York but less significant. I just didn't seem as magical or real. I think my top place to like would be a big city abroad like Tokyo or Dubai. My more realistic option is New York or maybe Seattle Washington. What is not an option is staying in Wilmington.

Wilmington is the place I was born, the place I grew up in, and the place that I live in currently. When ignoring the ridiculous traffic, questionable building locations, and water tainted with a chemical byproduct, Wilmington does earn its special place in my heart. Mostly because I am so familiar with the place and some my family lives here. If I were to live by myself somewhere across the country such as L.A. it wouldn't feel the same and I would want to be around the people I know and care about. Although, If there were one place I'd have to cross off my bucket list it would be Greece. Even with its terrible financial situation, the locations are amazing and worth visiting. Also since I am Greek, we have cousins and other family members that already own property there, which is also well worth checking out.

Ms. Gerwig’s story of getting on the subway and riding it to the farthest corner of New York and attempting to walk back to her apartment amazes me. A city that big is unfathomable to me. But, perhaps that’s what makes it so intriguing. At age 11, I moved from my home since birth in Carolina Beach to a new house in Wilmington. Both are neighboring small cities, so I felt as if I was still living in the same place. I’ve always loved Wilmington, but now that I’m in high school, I feel as if I’ve done everything Wilmington has to offer me. In a big city, I can only imagine the endless opportunities I would be presented with; a never ending list of things to see, always new people to meet, and the feeling that I could never be bored. Ms. Gerwig spent most of her early life in Sacramento, which is a somewhat large city, but it seems similar to Wilmington in many ways ranging from the individual playsets in each backyard to choosy friend groups. I want to move to a big city after college for a lifestyle that’s not so confined. I want a lifestyle that’s free.

My entire life I have lived in the same house, the same town. Everything was the same. Don’t get me wrong, I love everything about my town from the sense of community and having the ability to get to my friends house in the matter of minutes. My small town in my home. I frequently dream as to what my life would be like if I were to like in a busier, more hectic community like Chicago or Boston, but I also wonder what it would be like to live by the lake where silence surround you. Every year, I go to upstate New York, Lake George. My cousins live on 5 minutes from the lake in a neighborhood that is secluded from many things. The houses are all huge yet all of the neighbors are extremely friendly. The nearest grocery store is 15 minutes away down long winding roads. There is a completely different mindset near the lake. Everyone takes their time, no one is in a rush. Everytime I go to to lake, I feel free. I feel like I can let my mind go and not think about anything. The stress of school, friends, dance, from my small hometown just disappears. I am still not sure which I would prefer, a bustling city with thousands of people, and millions of noises, or a secluded lake where the nearest store is miles away, or even my small hometown where everyone knows everyone. The place I grew up.

Wilmington has always held a special place in my heart. I love being so close to the beach and going there whenever I want. Some kids don’t get that same opportunity that I get, and I am very grateful for it. I love being able to walk to the edge of the ocean and smell that salty ocean air. Being able to sit in the sun and go swimming all day is what I long for all through the winter days. Not only does the amazing environment make me love this city, but its all of my friends and family that live here and that I have a connection to. They are the reason that I love to live here, and without them, Wilmington would not be as enjoyable of a place to live. Every year or so, my family and I travel to Rochester, NY, the complete opposite of a city like Wilmington. It is always so dark and gloomy, and whenever we go there it either snows about to our knees or we are walking in puddles all day. Even though the weather is horrible we always go back because of the friends and family that live up there. I feel like that's why I love Wilmington so much. I get to have great weather and gorgeous environment while having my friends and family by my side. I may move on to other places in my lifetime, but I will always be able to call Wilmington home.

When I was about 8 years old, I moved from Maine to Pennsylvania. This was a HUGE change. Although, my all-time favorite place to go is Puerto Rico. I absolutely love Puerto Rico. When my dad asked me to go on this trip with me, I was hesitant at first. I am so glad that I went, though. I associate my favorite place, Puerto Rico, with the beach and sunshine because at that point in my life, I was very sad and I didn't want to talk to anyone or do anything. When I dream about going somewhere, I dream of going to Australia because it is so different than the United States. It is on the opposite side of the world! I believe that everyone should be able to go to the place that makes them smile.

I have grown up in a relatively small city in the south and lived there my entire life so far. I traveled to Washington D.C when I was 12 years old, and ever since I knew that I wanted to live out my adult life there. Unlike Ms. Gerwig, I don't associate a person/people with the city, in fact, I've always seen it as a symbol of my independence and freedom from the people in my small town. The reason I love Washing D.C is the rich culture in the city. Coming from a family of Italian immigrants, I have always been curious about other countries. My dream is to live in a nice apartment in D.C and work at one of the foreign embassies. There isn't much diversity in my hometown as D.C, which is why I hope to move there eventually.

Much like Ms. Gerwig, I have grown up in a small, suburban town. I too love New York, with its constant energy and amazing collection of people. However, not just New York is enticing to me. Of all of the places I’ve been lucky enough to travel to, cities have always been my favorite part. I’ve always loved going into Boston, even though it’s just a short distance from my hometown. Philadelphia, D.C., Chicago, Seattle, Prague, Dublin, and Barcelona have been where some of my favorite memories were made. Wherever I go, cities all seem to have an electricity from being filled with all different kinds of people. In a city, it seems that there is always something to do, always something happening, always new and interesting people who are different from each other. No matter where I end up in life, I want to be in the heart of this energy and life. I can’t say for sure if there’s one city in particular that I know I’ll be drawn to, but as long as I’m in the midst of this excitement I think I will be very happy.

Well, I must say I agree with Ms. Gerwig. I was born in New York City and was pulled away at a young age, but the city's spirit remains within me. My family travels there frequently to visit relatives and it's hard to leave. There isn't one specific thing that pulls you back, just the feeling of a purpose. The purpose of all the people around you. The purpose of the massive buildings and statues. And most of all, the purpose of unity. Though everyone is bustling about, there is a sweet tranquility to be felt as you walk among so many. A feeling that is unparalleled to anything in the world. Everyone has something to do and sometimes they may be brusque, and they usually are, but that just adds to the charm. One time there was an old man at the bus stop who was moving in an odd manner and yelling into his phone. We then continued to enter the same bus while his telephone rant continued. I was naturally quite scared, but my initial apprehension slowly faded. Looking back at that moment perfectly sums up New York for me. It is a place where all types of people gather, as their true selves, not caring about petty matters like pleasing everyone. That is the type of feeling I'm attracted to, and it just so happens to be in the city that never sleeps.

Reading Ms. Gerwig’s story made me think about where I want to live when I am an adult. A lot of factors play a role in these decisions including, the type of profession I will have and where I can work. I have traveled to many states and countries; Greece and Costa Rica outside the country and in the United States: Florida, California, Alaska, etc. Every year my family takes a trip to Florida which is my favorite place to go. But, after a week I miss being in Massachusetts. A city that really fascinates me is New York City. It is a busy city filled with so many different types of people and the city that my favorite show is based in. Being in Florida during the winter makes me begin to miss the cold weather and seeing the snow on the ground. If I were to live there I think that I would become homesick and want to go back to my hometown. I am not one for change so leaving Danvers is something I find scary because I have never lived anywhere else. As life moves forward, I will have to think about where I could see myself living, and I think that when I am ready, I could move anywhere. Even though I have not moved anywhere else, there are many things that could take me away from my hometown to a new unknown place. When I find the place that I want to live in it will become my new home and it will be as though I have never lived anywhere else. New York City is a fascinating city where I could potentially live, but I believe that I could move anywhere.

My whole life I’ve lived in one state and one town. I’ve gotten used to living in a busy area, the traffic, highways, and living a maximum of 10 minutes from a mall and my friends. I often dream of living in a bigger, busier area like a city in California, yet I also wonder what my life would be like if I moved to where my mom had grown up. My mom lived on the peninsula of Washington State. It’s a small town, or group of towns, that I visit every summer. Everyone knows everyone, and the closest shopping center is 30 minutes away in Oregon. But there is something to that area that makes saying goodbye every summer so hard. The thing that sparks my imagination most in Washington compared to back home is the serenity you experience everyday. Because I live in a lively and bustling area, I don’t get to experience as much peace through nature as I would hope to. However, when I get those 2 weeks in summer, I feel different. Whether it’s the dangerous ocean, the large amount of wildlife, or Mount St. Helens in the distance, I am able to take a step back from my normal life and just breathe. I often think about how different it would be to live there, and how my life would be changed. I haven’t thought very much about which I would prefer, but busy city, or small town, I know I will find a place where I belong.

A city that best captures my imagination is Boston. I have lived near Boston my whole life and when I go to there, it gives me warm and pleasant feelings of nostalgia because this is where my first home was when I moved to America. This city contributed to the many valuable memories I created like feeding bread to the ducks at the Charles River Reservation park, learning how to speak and write in English, and having sleepovers at my cousins house where I was constantly reminded of my home in Pakistan. Boston has diversity like no other place. This place is filled with friends and relatives from back home as well as many people of different cultures and backgrounds. I felt like I have made friends from many countries in every continent. This city has enabled me to broaden my perspective and become a truly accepting person of everyone because I was warmly accepted by those young friends in school who would kindly tolerate my lack of communication and strangers at the mall who would complement our traditional, exotic, and colorful clothing. Even though I did not know what they were saying at the time, I knew it wasn’t something bad because of the friendly smile on their faces. Boston captures my imagination because in my imagination, the ducks are always fed, the sleepovers are filled with hilarious stories from Pakistan, and more friends from new places are made. In my imagination, memories are cherished, diversity is embraced, and home is never forgotten.

The ocean was more clear than any natural body of water I had seen before. The streets filled with more people than cars, a sense of stability and calm covered the cobblestone squares and alleyways. Two trips I have taken to Italy, the second of which more epic than the last. The first I took with my family, the second with my Latin club, and needless to say, I had just as much fun during both. During the second trip, we toured all over Italy, exploring various cities and old towns, but one city stood out to me. The city of Romeo and Juliet, lovely Verona. Verona stood out to me instantly, because it didn't have the bustle of a city. It had a sense of calm and pleasure in it's tranquil surroundings. Everything was coated with beautiful colors, the streets kept clean, the gardens trimmed and nourished. The thing I loved most, though, was the confident and semi-lazy demeanor that every local had established, where mean kept their hair unkempt and everyone walked as if they had no place to go.

Growing up with parents who like to travel, I have been very lucky. We have visited London, Scotland, many islands, and countless trips to Disney World. Of all the places I have been able to visit, Orlando is by far my favorite. This city has so much to offer the imagination and allows you to escape from reality. No matter what age I am, I always get to be a little kid when I visit Orlando. Obviously when I visit Orlando I spend most of my time in Disney World. The amount of excitement I feel when walking through the main gates of the Magic Kingdom can’t be matched anywhere else. The second you get to the other side of the main gate, you are transported to a place like no other. The sights, the sounds, and the smells take you to places your imagination could only dream of. I know that I am going to have the best adventure every time I go there. You just can’t help but be happy when you are in that magical land. I associate this place with having a great time with my family, running around from one fun attraction to another. I have always been fascinated by what Walt Disney must have initially thought up to create a place that embodies the childhood imaginations of children from all over the world. And I am continually amazed at how Disney World continues to evolve every year with new and improved attractions. Just when you think they can’t improve on what they have, they do. It is for that reason that even after visiting there 17 times, I can’t wait to go again.

Growing up in the small town of Danvers, I loved being in a tight-knit community. With friday night football games, a “bustling” downtown on sundays full of parents running errands, and weekend block parties where the whole neighborhood was invited, I sometimes got caught up in the humdrum of suburbia. So, every time I go outside the zip code, it feels like a mini-vacation. The city of Boston especially, sparks my imagination. The first time I visited Boston I was ten years old and it felt like I had traveled into a new universe. Bright stop lights blinked with zooming cars to follow as clumps of people attempted to cross the street (without getting hit). Music roared from every corner of the city; for it was coming from the hands of magicians since instead of traditional instruments, they banged on dirty plastic bottles and recycling cans. Ever since my first trip to Boston, I’ve fell in love with its charm. If you’re from Boston, you love the Sox (not the Red Sox), you eat Fenway Franks (not just any hot dog) and park in the Harvard yard (and its not said like that). You get hot cocoa and gaze up at the fifty-foot Christmas tree in Faneuil Hall even though you end up freezing your butt off and feeling like you are just looking at an overgrown broccoli sprout. You act like your 100% Italian in the North End as you stuff your face with the best pasta and pizza….ever. And best of all, you feel like you are always welcome; and at home.

I was born in Cary, N.C. and when I was a year old I moved to Wilmington, N.C. Being so young, I don’t remember it. Wilmington is a beautiful town with everything from easy access to beaches, to a serene downtown right on the river. I love Wilmington and everything about it, but Topsail Beach is my favorite place to be. We have a family house up there that used to belong to my grandpa. It was his haven. It’s not very big, but it is right on the beach and it has a widow’s walk on the roof, where my family will sometimes eat dinner while watching the beautiful waves or looking up at the stars and being able to see a ton more than in the city because there is not nearly as much light pollution. When I was in 6th grade, my grandpa passed away due to Alzheimer’s, so being that this was his favorite city and house, it has carried on to be mine, my brother’s, and my parents’ as well. There are so many little shops and places to eat on the island that I love. Contrasting the beaches in Wilmington, Topsail Beach is not very crowded. Every summer, my dad is able to take off work and we go up to the beach house for a week. This is a week that I look forward to all year. We are also able to go up some weekends when we aren’t busy. Like Ms.Gerwig associates New York City with her mother, I feel like I not only associate Topsail Beach with my papa, but just my family in general. New York was Gerwig’s home away from Sacramento, just as Topsail Beach is my home away from Wilmington.

Being a teenager, with real-life experience amounting little to none, and amid the discovery of the erie ‘who am I’ question, I do not have a specific special place in the world yet. The only place that comes close to this special place is to some can call home; this home for me is where my mother is. A strong maternal bond ties me not to a place in which I feel safe, but wherever she may be. Having moved from my home of 13 years, my special place has become grounded through this bond with my mom. Without her, a special place in which I would want to escape to would be not any specific place, but a quiet town, frequented by snow and the peace of nature. Nature in this town would capture my imagination in the sounds, sights, and surroundings of beauty and creatures. In this busy day and age, peace and quiet cannot be easily found. My hope one day is to relish in the comfort of home, my special place, a snowy paradise surrounded by nature.

I have moved from a city to a town in my life. At first, moving to the town felt distant, almost like I didn’t belong. With time I felt more comfortable in the town I moved, but I knew for sure it was not where I wanted to live when I was older. Like Gerwig, I have similar feelings towards a place about wanting to live there and be apart of it. Instead of New York however, my feelings go towards the city of Boston. I never lived in Boston, but just visiting makes me happy and want to be apart of it. Boston is just so unique in so many different ways. In such a small city compared to New York, there is still so much to do and see everyday. Boston is the perfect place for me. It is a city that isn’t just concrete but actually has trees and nature. It is a city with some of the most prestigious sports teams of all time such as the Red Sox and Celtics. It is a city that originates from the beginning of America and one of the reasons America exists today. Most importantly, there is a North End with the best Italian food and pizza around. Boston isn’t for everyone, but it’s small size, large buildings, scattered nature, and historic sports teams are for me.

As a native of Augusta, Georgia moving to Wilmington has definitely broadened my surroundings. Wilmington is the home of the Azalea Festival, many beach shops, and the best part is that we have access to the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. Even though we live near the beach and have a great life here, my favorite destination is the West Coast. I lived in California for only one year, but it was the best year. I would look outside of the window each morning and be greeted by the brilliant rays of sunshine and majority of plants and vegetation. California has endured many dry, arid years, but the area I lived in was a haven. Ms. Gerwig loved New York and felt at home. When I am reminded of my year in California I feel the same and want to go back. I loved going on vacations to Hollywood, the excitement rising each time I walked down a street knowing celebrities once walked through.The vineyards in Napa were a peaceful escape from the bustling cities. My little town of Davis, where bike lanes thrived. One day I hope to go back to California, feeling once again, at home.

The city that most captures my imagination is Boston, my home state's capital. I might want to live there one day when I am in my 20s. Boston has a special place in my heart for its millennial spirit and innovation. Boston is not too crowded, but when there are small concerts or protest rallies, the people of Boston come together to enjoy life. Friends stroll along the city sidewalks, laughing, while strangers politely greet each other. I love the tall buildings that soar above the city, surrounded by beautiful bodies of water like the Charles River. People can walk and bike in the welcoming atmosphere of Boston. What I love most about Boston is its culture and diversity. There are so many museums to explore and admire. My favorite painting is "the Dos Mujeres" by Frida Kahlo in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. At night time, the city hums with jazz music by the park and chattering by the movie theater. I like visiting Boston, but one day, I would love to a part of the city.

Being only 16, I have absolutely no idea where I belong. I was born and raised in the same town my entire life, and I have traveled up and down the east coast but have yet to find a place that feels like home. I have been to many states like North Carolina, New York, Florida, etc…, but no place has made me feel how Ms. Gerwig felt about New York City. However, there is one place I visit every summer for vacation. I go to a campsite in Waterford, Maine every year with friends and family. Being there with my best friends and parents makes the trip even more special. When I am there I can escape the stress of everything at home. I would consider this my favorite place. Nevertheless, the place that captures my imagination most significantly is Amsterdam. I am fascinated by their culture in the Netherlands and their intricate canal system. I wish to visit the Anne Frank House and The Van Gogh Museum and admire their architecture. Amsterdam is unique because it is built on canals like Venice, Italy but I believe it is home to much more interesting history such as the story of Anne Frank as well as the many museums they have to offer.

The most interesting city in the United States, in my opinion, is Detroit, Michigan. In my lifetime, I have never witnessed a more disappointing city, with less impressive attractions. First off, the sports teams in Detroit are an overall disaster. The Detroit Tigers, Detroit’s astounding MLB franchise, finished last in their division, behind even the 67-95 Chicago White Sox. Additionally, the Tigers have won only four championship titles in the history of the MLB, and the last time they won was in 1984. Furthermore, the Detroit Lions, Detroit’s incredible NFL team, has not appeared in the playoffs for 26 years. Along with this outstanding drought, the Lions have never appeared in a Super Bowl Championship game. For some odd reason, I am amused by Detroit’s lack of success in sports. This is not an insult, but I am waiting for the day where I look up at the television and see the sports teams of Detroit dominating everything. Other than its sports teams, Detroit is also plagued by abandoned houses and failing properties. Mobile homes and trailer parks are widely popular in this city, and this reflects some famous people from this city, such as Eminem, who often speaks of the poor conditions in this city. Despite its many downsides, Detroit does have rich history in music, and it has many museums and such that are fascinating and fun to explore. I find Detroit interesting because it is so abstract and different from every other city in this country.