I am another person who totally agrees with Ma-san and HIEN-san. I live here and do not wish to move to another state but it is a city not always accurately portrayed to the world.
New York, center of the world, is sometimes so behind its image. Most of the people living here are from out-of-state and (I am one too) out-of-country that do not speak English as we have in mind. It is not really that they are too busy to explain things, I feel they are either too lazy or don't know how to explain even if they want to. Like Ma-san mentioned, it is more that there is no depth. Even when speaking to an American. One has to give full and complete sentences for them to understand what you are saying or trying to say. No ability to guess, may be?? They give you this blank face, but do not try to figure out ...
As per the gaijins they do not listen and guess often. It is fine, but they guess wrong sometimes . I go to a deli to get a cup of coffee and I ask for no sugar, but they put sugar and a lots of it...and I have seen deli staff being pissed at customers who does not speak English very well, I mean, not that they themselves speak well. All this can be seen in any part of New York. But these are the people who are helping New York City move and it is big part of New York being New York. One has to forget about speaking English correctly, but rather finding a way to get it across.
I have found a smile being stronger that speaking English correctly.