When I first moved to New York I had much to learn. Some of those lessons were somewhat obvious upon arrival, which you can read about here. Some of them took a few months to digest. Now that I have been living in New York City for six months {I know, whaaaaat}, I am here to share 10 more things I’ve learned after moving here.
1. Nobody cares {about you}
Okay, so this may sound harsh. But after living in New York for six months, it’s a reality that I’ve come to accept. It’s nothing personal. People are just out for themselves in the big apple. And you’ll meet some of the most narcissistic people because of it. But this can also be translated in the sense that nobody judges. Or if they do, it’s for such a brief moment, and then it’s back to worrying about themselves. Whether you think of yourself in a positive or negative light, nobody really cares. So you may as well be exactly who you are. NOBODY CAYYYYAS {cue Long Island accent}.
2. Late fees at the library are no joke
Seriously. Let’s just say my balance is $53.99. What the actual fuck? Word of caution, return your books.
3. Status is everything
I cannot stress this point enough. When it comes to the typical New Yorker, status and money are everything. From where you live, to the label in your shoes. People hold themselves to such a high standards {forgetting point number 1.} and expect you to do the same. When I first moved to New York and got my job at a private equity firm, the first question my co-workers asked me was, ‘Where are you from?’, which I then responded with, ‘California’. No, no, no. They were never asking where I was physically from, but more so from which company had I previously worked. This was mostly awkward as I had to respond along the lines of, ‘Well, my last “job” was chasing a seven year old around and refusing to serve candy for lunch to a toddler’. I was almost always met with a blank stare and a ‘good luck’.
4. The weather is spastic
This may only be true for this past year in New York, but the weather channels must be having a riot over their {lack of} need to do their job efficiently. They can literally get paid to be wrong every single day. That’s how unpredictable the weather is in New York. It can go from thunderstorms in the morning to a bright, blue sky come mid-afternoon. The humidity is off the charts high, and yet we still have only enjoyed a handful of days about 79 degrees. I have just stopped shopping as I have no idea what season I should be buying for.
5. Brooklyn is actually dangerous
Before moving to Brooklyn, I must admit I was naive. Without getting into too much detail {as to not scare my mother}, I have come to realize Brooklyn can actually be dangerous. Even in the nicest of areas. As with most of the world, bad things can happen anywhere. But there is a reason Jay-Z raps about the things that he does. They happen. That being said, I still love Brooklyn and wouldn’t trade it for anything.
6. Celebrities, ‘They’re Just Like Us’
We have all seen those categories in the magazines. Showcasing celebrities doing mundane, daily activities like picking the ripest avocado in the grocery store. Well, in New York city, this is especially true. I have seen more celebrities in “normal” circumstances than anywhere else in the world. For example, Hilary Duff casually strolled by as I was eating brunch the other afternoon. Ariana Grande’s brother was gabbing away as I nearly {physically} ran into him on Broadway. One of my favorite characters from the show ‘Greek’ {waaadddd up Calvin} was browsing the mens section at Top Shop on the same evening as me. Not to mention coming face to face with Derek Jeter, A-Rod, and multiple other athletes at a charity event. Celebrities guys, ‘they’re just like us’.
7. Subway weekend schedules are the worst
I am not kidding. The weekend schedule is literally the bane of my existence. There is always some kind of construction happening on most subway lines, meaning they will not be running or will only be running locally. It always effects my route into Manhattan, or elsewhere. And I always forget about it until I am on the platform staring at the roped off subway line. Sure, first world problems. But man does it get on my last nerve every single weekend. Keep it in mind when visiting the outer boroughs.
8. Avoid the bike lane on the Brooklyn Bridge
They won’t stop for you. The bikers will normally scream obscenities or holler extremely loud if you are in their way. To avoid embarrassing yourself, and possibly getting run over, I suggest keeping to the pedestrian side of the bridge. Yes, the tourists move slower than a one legged cat, but it is a tourist destination. Take a deep breath and enjoy the view while you wait.
9. The pizza is actually as good as they say
I’ve dined on authentic pizza in Italy, and I can happily say New York gives it a run for its money. I don’t risk my gluten intolerance on much, but when I do {lately} it has been for New York pizza. There is just something about the thin crust, gooey cheese, and perfect amount of tomato sauce that has me feeling some type of way.
10. The only accessible airport by public transportation is Newark {and it isn’t even technically in New York}
As a traveler, this point really grinds my gears. Living in Brooklyn, you would think getting to JFK would be a walk in the park. But no sir, it is not. You must jump on multiple subway lines and then an airport shuttle, all very time consuming. And don’t even get me started on Laguardia. The only way you’ll get to Laguardia for less than $30 is to take a bus… but who wants to haul a suitcase on the bus through Queens and then to Manhattan once landing? Newark has it figured out with a train that travels directly to the terminals. Ugh. My suggestion is to take the NYC Airporter {$34}, a cab, or a Lyft {though these prices can get ridiculous when a few planes have recently landed so wait it out until you are close to alone at the terminal}.
And there you have it! In another six months you can expect {even} 10 {more} Things I’ve Learned After Moving to New York. Until then, I’ll be attempting to remind myself that I must take the 2/3 line instead of the 4/5 on a Saturday afternoon.