1) “He made his companion the tiger and the lizard, the wolf and the leopard; he befriended the civet and the deer, and he called the gibbon and baboon his kin.” (Journey to the West, 424)

This quote from Journey to the West describes an eclectic group of animals who all seem to join together within their environment. To me, this is relatable to the common environment of Penn Station. Within Penn Station, there are people of a number of different races, religions, and backgrounds who all seem to join together and pass through this common point, each being on their own journey. Penn Station can also be extremely chaotic at times, similar to a jungle atmosphere filled with animals. People often run to catch their trains and ensure that they arrive to their destination on time.

2) “I Celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every Atom belonging to me as good as belongs to you.” (Song of Myself, 1)

This beginning quote from Whitman’s Song of Myself creates the feeling of a carefree, “happy-go-lucky” environment. Passing through the park each day is very enjoyable as there is always something new to see and observe. Madison Square park is the one place within the city where I’ve witnessed people escape the hustle and bustle of the city and demonstrate this kind of behavior. More so during the warmer months, it is a place of relaxation for many, as well as a place where friends can meet up on and have an enjoyable time away from work and school.

3) “‘You will hence be given the religious name ‘Wake-to-Vacuity’, all right?’, ‘Splendid! Splendid!’, said the monkey. (Journey to the West, 436)

Similar to how the Patriarch gave the stone monkey the name ‘Wake-to-Vacuity’ to awaken him to knowledge, Dunkin’ Donuts is an essential stop in my morning commute to awaken me for knowledge as well. After a long commute early each morning, I have come to rely on Dunkin’ Donuts to energize me for the day, ultimately making me prepared, ready, and open to receiving knowledge in school.