If you’ve been on social media recently, you may have seen a “portal” just five minutes from BCCHS, at the world-famous Flatiron Building, connecting strangers in NYC and Dublin, Ireland. Due to the close proximity of the portal to BCCHS, many students have visited and connected with complete strangers who are all the way across the Atlantic.
Junior Malachi Middleton shared his thoughts after visiting the portal with some friends and thinks that the idea of seeing people in a different country is unique and a pretty rare opportunity that people should appreciate.
“I had the great opportunity to visit the portal about a few weeks ago with my friends, Jaylen and Dean. I would rate it a 10/10,” he said.
Middleton also said how he had the chance to talk to someone in Dublin and how this rare opportunity connects strangers who are thousands of miles away.
“I got the opportunity to actually call someone from Ireland. His name was Kyle and he was a really nice guy.”
Additionally, Junior Dean Turkuru had some thoughts to share on the portal after he visited with Middleton a few weeks back.
“It was a cool opportunity to connect with strangers in Ireland. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to see people in a different place,” he said.
Junior Nash Ramjattan said that he would recommend the portal to other students and believes it is a special attraction that will not be here for long. However, he believes that the portal is more for tourists and that native New Yorkers don’t really care about it and treat it more like any other tourist attraction in the city.
“I don’t think people who already live in the city don’t really care too much, it’s more like a tourist spot to come here and look at other people in a different country,” Ramjattan said.
The majority of responses seemed to be positive with Senior Matthew Winfield agreeing that although the portal had been shut down in previous weeks for some less than desirable behavior, he still thinks it is a unique attraction that people should enjoy.
“I think it’s a pretty unique experience… I would still recommend it to other students even [if some inappropriate content was shown] like that one time where a photo of 9/11 was flashed up but you know that’s ok,” he said.
Some students such as Junior Jeffery He disagreed with the purpose of the portal and did not recommend it to other students due to inappropriate conduct in previous weeks.
“I think it’s bad for the people because very explicit things can be shown on the portal and can make people all around the world uncomfortable,” said He.
Overall, the majority of Baruchians agree that the portal is a cool futuristic attraction located right next to BCCHS and that the portal allows students and NYC residents to connect with strangers who are thousands of miles away.
