A young Immigrant From Elmhurst Queens - Metrognome

Elmhurst, Queens is a quaint neighborhood just south of La Guardia Airport. Known for little more than the famous McDowell's (converted from a Wendy's) for the 80s movie "Coming to America" and the near by Queens Center Mall; its a minute blip on the often overlooked borough of Queens. Htat Lin Htut 18, a recent immigrant from Burma calls it home after migrating to the U.S. 4 years ago. He lives alone with his father an employee of the Staten Island Ferry, a single parent following a fatal accident in which his wife was struck by a speeding vehicle while crossing the street.

Htut is one Asian amongst many in a neighborhood 0f 104,000 with whites in the minority at 34% according to a NYC.gov poll in 2008. The majority often shifts between Asians and Hispanics currently 39% Asian and 43% Hispanic; the census fluctuates yearly and doesn't consider illegal immigrants. Elmhurst is a example of racial integration at work as well as the conflicts in culture that arise in it's wake.

"In my building because its so diverse, they play different music all the time. Spanish people would play loud Spanish salsa music. It would bother non-Spanish neighbors" said Htut speaking of his diverse 6 floor apartment complex at 42 Layton st. opposite the Elmhurst Hospital Center. It houses Dominicans, Mexicans, Filipinos, Chinese and Puerto Ricans among a myriad of other ethnicities. "Sometimes when the Spanish are playing loud music, a Chinese lady will come down stairs and scream at them saying fuck you and they scream fuck you too, I'll just be using my laptop listening."

According to Htut the drowning beat of Spanish music in the building will go on into the night at times up to 2 am in the morning.

Elmhurst's immigrant communities play out much like they have throughout history with the key difference being the commercial mix-up of restaurants, clothing, and general stores that service the neighborhood creating a diverse choice in international cuisine, style and goods that rivals the neighboring Jackson Heights neighborhood often noted for its diversity along Roosevelt Ave. Socially however contrary government claims harmonious Utopian relationships among the various ethnicities are far from achieved as often residents segregate themselves within the confines of private and public space. Htut recently graduated from Newtown High School in Elmhurst where like most inner city High schools race and status plays a big part. "In the school blacks and hispanics would make fun of Asians, sterotype them" said Htut. Htut now attends Hunter College a CUNY melting pot of students from throughout the 5 boroughs.

"Theirs always something going on in the park in the summer. It's Called Broadway park (Clemont Clarke Moore Homestead Park). Lots of people around there go to that park, especially teenagers. They'll play football (Soccer). The Korean Church will always come by trying to convert people to Christianity" said Htut who gave a full description of the daily goings on of the park, a central point for the neighborhood.

Elmhurst is a unique neighborhood which is a testament to the diversity of New York City as well as a clear earmark of its flaws. For this teenager, who's moved here from the other side of the globe to be met with both hardship and laughs, its simply called home.