Emma Huhtala Named Inaugural Canal NY Marketing & Business Alliance Intern

(Read her article below, use this link to view Emma's video)

I knew I would gain an education in much more than just English literature when I started university in London. I knew I would become familiar with art and history by exploring London’s museums and being a part of its creative community. I knew I would learn about culture, cuisine, and language by having the opportunity to further explore Europe. But I didn’t know that living abroad would deepen my appreciation for my own home by giving me a greater understanding of the unique appeal of New York State.

I have not at all been surprised that most of the people I meet in London have not heard of my hometown, Syracuse, New York. Big capital cities in any country always overshadow lesser-known cities, and what American city is as popular as New York City? However, I think the appeal of Upstate New York lies in the fact that it is far less travelled to. Everybody has heard of the Met. Everybody knows Central Park. But travelling to Upstate New York would give Europeans new stories to share and new places to recommend.

During my time as a student, I have visited Copenhagen, Dublin, Brussels, Amsterdam, Florence, Pisa, Verona, and Paris. I have seen works by my favorite artists, tasted different foods, and visited countless historical sites. With all of these trips, I have noticed that social media is the first place my friends go to find spots to visit in new cities. Everyone is always looking for advice from locals, and social media is a great place to instantly connect with people from any city. Students like myself seek out travel advice from locals not only to find activities to fill extra time but to really get to know the cities we visit. Students tend to look for hidden gems not only to stay within their budget but also to have immersive cultural experiences and to be able to recommend restaurants, shops, and gardens which their friends will not have heard of. People want to share unique travel experiences, and others want to hear them. In a way, listening to stories about others’ travel experiences is a means of travelling by proxy.

But people tire of hearing the same stories over and over. Lots of my friends have been to popular American destinations— New York, Orlando, LA. Speaking with a friend about shared experiences in these places is a good way to connect, sure, but the conversations ultimately don’t last very long because there is not much one of us can share that the other doesn’t know. Yet, when I talk about Upstate New York, I notice genuine curiosity, surprise, and often an eagerness to visit because my friends are unfamiliar with it.

Much of the appeal of Upstate New York, especially for Londoners and people living in big European cities, lies in its natural beauty. Most of my friends use their vacations to travel with their families to places like the Scottish Highlands, the Alps, and Lapland. I would argue that places like Lake Placid, Cooperstown, and the Thousand Islands Region would be just as interesting, especially because of their novelty to international tourists.

However, Upstate New York is not only valuable for its mountains, lakes, rivers, and gorges. Its museums like the Everson Museum of Art and the Corning Museum of Glass preserve the region’s connection to arts and culture with unique exhibitions. One major draw of Upstate New York’s cultural scene is the prevalence of independent businesses. Places like Rochester’s Record Archive would certainly appeal to lots of London locals, as, in my experience, they are very keen to support small businesses and to shop for vintage and antique goods.

Ultimately, my experience exploring London and other European cities and interacting with an international community of students has taught me that Upstate New York could be just as interesting to international tourists as Europe has been to me.