It is impossible to talk about New Haven, Connecticut without mentioning Yale University.

This city is so defined by Yale that it is not an exaggeration to say that the presence of Yale creates the entire atmosphere and identity of the city.

When I first started living in New Haven, I felt that it was not just a city with a university, but that the whole city breathes with Yale University.

Yale University, founded in 1701, is the second oldest university in the United States, and its Ivy League status alone carries significant symbolism.

However, walking through the campus, that weight feels even greater. The Gothic-style buildings, the old libraries, and the medieval campus scenery that looks like it came out of a movie are overwhelming even to tourists.

But for the people of New Haven, this is everyday life. While riding the bus, the buildings of Yale are visible out the window, and when going out for lunch, it is natural to see students at the next table engaged in passionate discussions.

The reason New Haven is more vibrant than other small towns in the East is precisely because of Yale.

Thanks to the young energy brought by students and researchers and professors from around the world, the city always has an international atmosphere.

You can tell just by visiting restaurants or cafes.

Just stepping into a pizza place, you can always hear a mix of Chinese and Spanish, and English with various accents from different countries.

So during exam periods, our local cafes are filled with students studying with their laptops open.

It can be said that Yale is responsible for the cultural aspect as well.

There are old cultural spaces like the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum, but Yale itself has world-class art galleries, museums, and galleries.

The residents of New Haven enjoy the benefit of accessing world-class art and culture for free or at very low cost. In the evenings, they can watch performances at the Yale Repertory Theatre or enjoy concerts by students from the Yale School of Music. Having these experiences is one of the greatest privileges of living in New Haven.

True to its image as an educational city, New Haven has active local school and library programs thanks to Yale's influence. At community centers, Yale students often volunteer to mentor, and there are abundant educational programs for children. It is quite special that residents can naturally take advantage of opportunities connected to the university.

Of course, just because it is a city with Yale does not mean there are only positives. Areas where students gather are always crowded, and some neighborhoods have seen rent prices rise, causing residents to feel burdened. Additionally, New Haven itself is a city often mentioned for its crime rate, so while the area around Yale is safe, the atmosphere can change just a little further away.

Drinking coffee in a bustling café in front of the campus in the morning, standing in line with students at a New Haven pizza place in the afternoon, and listening to music at a Yale performance venue in the evening. This is the everyday life of New Haven.

New Haven is not just a city in Connecticut; it is a place with a special character because of Yale University. The youth, culture, and internationality brought by Yale, along with the vibrancy and conflicts that arise from it, all combine to create what is "New Haven-ness." So if I had to describe New Haven in one sentence, I would say, "Yale is New Haven, and New Haven is Yale."