Gentileza? Soh pagando.Kindness? Not for free.

Desde que eu cheguei aqui, notei que o povo novaiorquino nao eh muito de fazer favores. Tinha ouvido dizer que eles sao fechados (talvez achem que estranho eh sinomino de terrorista), mas nao a ponto de negar ajuda.
Apesar do pouco tempo, ja tive muitos exemplos. Vou citar os dois mais recentes. Os dois dizem respeito ao sistema de calefacao do meu apartamento, que estava desligado e era preciso remover um painel para acessar a valvula. Certo dia, acordo com o interfone tocando. Perguntei quem era e disseram que era da empresa que cuida do aquecimento central. Como o predio tem 2 portas, desci para deixar o funcionario entrar. Depois de entrar, o funcionario disse que estava lah a chamado do apartamento 4B, mas que ninguem atendia e, por isso, ele tocou no meu para poder entrar. Expliquei minha situacao e perguntei se ele podia me explicar como remover o painel quando acabasse o servico no outro apartamento. Resposta: NAO. Ou seja, contar comigo para entrar no predio, otimo. Ajudar, nem pensar...
Bem, passada a raiva, resolvi ligar para o dono do ape. Ele me disse (novamente) que talvez fosse soh questao de ligar o aquecedor e pediu para eu falasse com o zelador. Desci ao apartamento do zelador. Perguntei se ele podia subir um minuto para me explicar como remover o painel. Resposta: NAO. O dono que mande alguem...
O problema esta resolvido, mas eh estranho como os novairoquinos sao individualistas. Eu vou ate a esquina na vendinha de um mexicano e ele me ajuda com tudo. Acho que o altruismo necessario aa vida no terceiro mundo nao seria de todo mal aqui...

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Since I got here, I noticed that new yorkers aren't too excited about doing favors. I heard how reserved they were (maybe they think every strangers is a terrorist), but not to the point of denying help.
Despite the short time, I've experienced many examples of that. Let me tell you the latest two. Both have to do with my apartment's heating, that was off and needed to have its cover removed in order to be turned on. One day, I wake up with the buzzer buzzing like crazy. I asked who that was and someone told me it was the plumbing and heating company. Since the building has two doors, I went down to let the guy in. After that, the employee told me he was there to check the heating at apartment 4B, but since no one answered, he rang my buzzer to get in. I told him my situation and asked if he could show me how to remove the radiator's cover after he finished his job in the other apartment. His answer: NO. For him it's all right to count on me to enter the building. To help others in return, no way...
Once my anger was gone, I decided to call the landlord. He told me (again) that it might just be a matter of turning it on and asked me to talk with the super. I went down to the super's apartment. I asked him if he could come up for a minute and tell me how to remove the radiator's cover. His answer: NO. The landlord should send someone...
The problem is solved, but I find strange how much new yorkers are individualists. I go to the deli on the corner of my block and the Mexican helps me with almost anything. I believe the altruism necessary to live in a third world country would be a nice thing to have around here...