About a week ago, I packed up all my things, stuffed them into the car and drove to my new home. To attend college, I have to make the transition from living in a New York suburb to living in the major city of Boston. While some aspects were familiar, sidewalks and rushing cars, others were not. There are five ways I soon found that a city uniquely differs from a suburb.

1. Street crossing is do or die.

Back in the 518, if you had to go across a street, it was usually when the little man on the sign told you so. In a city, pedestrians own the streets and sometimes they’ll cross even if it’s not their turn. Regardless, whenever people cross, there’s no room for hesitation. Once you start, you have to finish.

2. Walk, walk, walk.

In a suburb, you would usually drive everywhere and it would be strange to walk 15 or 20 minutes to a store or shop. In cities, it’s the norm because who wants to drive in this craziness? Probably the least stressful way is with your own two feet, and maybe the help of the T. I’ve never walked so much in my life. However, for those of us with driving anxiety, it’s great to be able to get to a restaurant or store without getting behind the wheel. Plus, there’s the added health benefits and strong leg muscles to look forward to!

3. Constant noise.

Just the other day, I heard a jackhammer going at 1 AM. The sounds in the city never sleep. With all these people living so close by, it makes sense. But back in New York, my little suburb would be pretty quiet late at night and into the early morning. There wasn’t much night life and general ruckus like there is here.

4. Fantastic architecture.

Some buildings in Boston have stood for centuries, and some are only a few years old. This makes for an interesting mix of brick sidewalks and glossy skyscrapers, of old streetlamps and modern chain stores. It contributes to the beauty and diversity of the city, like history written across aged stone and rusting metal and realized with slick glass and solid concrete.

5. Lots of life.

In the city, there is so much going on in one space that you can feel the life like a pulse. Every area has its own pulse, from Chinatown to Little Italy, Allston to Downtown. Within these areas, within their streets, there are small, hidden sources of this life waiting to be found. A city is much like a universe in and of itself, complex to a point we can’t even comprehend. With all this energy, no wonder cities never lay still. Boston is certainly no exception.