This month, Natural Selections features Wan-Chun Liu, Research Assistant Professor, Nottebohm Laboratory.
Country of Origin: Taiwan

1. How long have you been living in New York?

Four years.

2. Where do you live?

I live on the Upper East Side in Faculty House.

3. Which is your favorite neighborhood?

The Upper East Side.

4. What do you think is the most overrated thing in the city? And underrated?

The most overrated thing in the city is the lifestyle. Rent and food prices are all very expensive in this city. The most underrated thing in the city is the East River Park.

5. What do you miss most when you are out of town?

The energy. New York has so much energy, cultural diversity, and activity. And public transportation here is very convenient.

6. If you could change one thing about NYC, what would that be?

Noise. The noise level is especially bad where I live, in Faculty House, because it’s so close to the FDR Drive.

7. Describe a perfect weekend in NYC.

A perfect weekend in NYC would start with a jog in Central Park or East River Park with my son in pleasant weather. Then my family would have brunch in a nice restaurant and return to my apartment. The views from Faculty House, of the East River, are beautiful. It’s nice to simply enjoy the view and quiet in my apartment, while reading, or playing games with my family.

8. .What is the most memorable experience you have had in NYC?

My most memorable experience in NYC would be bird-watching in Central Park. In mid-May the migratory birds descend upon the park. The sheer number of them, viewed at such a close distance, and in contrast to the urban landscape (with the tall buildings in the background) is really impressive.

9. If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?

If I could live anywhere else, it would be in a college town, like Amherst, Massachusetts (where I got my Ph.D.), or a more rural area. I enjoy being close to nature, but still in an environment where there is a strong intellectual life.

10. Do you think of yourself as a New Yorker? Why?

I’d like to consider myself a New Yorker; I try to enjoy (or be positive) wherever I stay and become a part of it, and I have been enjoying this city.