Guestbook issue 4

Page 52

REPORT

A TALE OF FOUR CITIES In today’s globalised, über-connected world, does life really change that much when you relocate from one major hub to another? We put the question to a bunch of new kids on the international block and found that how you experience a city is as much about where you’re from as where you’re going

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lobalisation would have us believe that cities are becoming satellite states of one, all-encompassing world metropolis. That for certain strands of the international population, what they do, what they wear, and what they eat remains the same wherever on the planet they find themselves and, aside from the architecture and the air temperature, their identity and lifestyle remain intact. Scrape away a bit at this superficial truth, however, and the reality is quite different. Aside from the omnipresence of global brands in our cities, there are still tremendous differences in attitude, pace and collective moods, although these might be hard to spot during flighty visits. But as we immerse ourselves in local life, these attributes that shape and spice the urban community, are ever more apparent – for some, they only become pronounced when we move to a new city and suddenly are made aware of the imprint we carry from our previous home. In celebration of onefinestay’s four cities, London, Paris, New York and LA, ten intercity transplants tell their stories of choosing a life destination, surprises on arrival and what they have left behind.

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GUESTBOOK


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