When I first moved to Boston for school, I was so lost. Coming from a town of just over 5,000 people, I wasn't used to most of the daily occurrences of city life that most of my peers had experienced before, and it was quite a shock, to say the least. Sure, I'd visited Boston before, but living there was a completely different experience. I went from a town with no stoplights to one with a train going through the middle of a street— literally.

I've had to adjust to so many different aspects of city life that I may not even realize most of them. Here are the major changes I've made and that many other rural transplants make while acclimating to urban living:

1. Using Uber

Uber is basically a religion to many city dwellers. In the country, our idea of "ride-sharing" is asking your neighbor down the street to bring you to the grocery store when your car breaks down, but in more populated areas, Uber is the primary mode of transport besides the subway. It's very useful, but be warned: your wallet will be impacted, particularly on busy nights. Also, make sure you get into the right car, especially when you're on a date with your boyfriend (who happens to be from Long Island), or you'll be teased to no end--not that I have personal experience with that, of course.

At least most drivers allow you to pick the music; your neighbor would never do that.

2. All of the lights

It's not just a Kanye song. The city is always blinding, especially at night. You'll see streetlights, spotlights, traffic lights, and more. My dorm even had a lit courtyard right outside my window, meaning that every night at about 12:30 or so, my room would be flooded with light. It's an adjustment, for sure, but it makes you appreciate the wide open skies of the country. You'll definitely miss seeing the stars, but the twinkling of the city is a fair substitute.

3. People walk— everywhere

It's not easy to walk places in the country; most roads don't have sidewalks, and the distance alone is enough of a deterrent for most. However, in the city, things are so much more compact that walking places is the most common mode of transportation, particularly for college students with no car and little money to spend on public transportation. While the farthest you may have walked back home was to your best friend's house down the road, in the city, you can walk to the grocery store, to clubs, and even to the park. If the distance is a bit too far, public transportation can ease the strain, but for the most part, you'll be walking everywhere.

4. Late-night snack runs

Believe it or not, places are in fact open after 11 p.m. I know, it's shocking, but when you have a late-night craving for pizza or Ben and Jerry's, chances are you'll be able to find that food--and more. It can take a toll on your food budget, but the convenience of having restaurants and stores open late will be something you'll appreciate come finals.

5. Diversity

Small towns don't exactly lend themselves to diversity. Before moving to Boston, I'd really only heard three languages spoken in everyday life--English, Spanish, and French. (The French came from my best friend in elementary school and her family as well as the French-Canadian tourists that flocked to New Hampshire for vacation and outlet shopping.) In the city, however, you can hear and see more languages than you could possibly count. People from different countries bring their languages and customs with them, and urban settings provide an amazing opportunity to increase your communication skills and widen your cultural knowledge.

6. The ability to hang out with friends whenever they're free

This is something I didn't realize was an issue until I talked with people from less rural places. Apparently, when you live close to public transportation and/or close to one another, you're able to spend more time with your friends. You don't have to worry about getting a ride back and forth, which can be challenging, especially during the winter. There are also so many more places to meet and more things to do--no more being forced to pick only one friend's centrally-located house for a Netflix marathon.

7. All. The. Food.

There's nothing quite like the variety of food choices in the city. Sure, your mom's homemade chicken wings are delicious, but other than a restaurant or two in addition to home-cooked meals, there aren't very many options in a small town. In the city, though, you can choose from nearly every culture's food – authentic Italian, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Mexican and more. Sometimes the number of options can be overwhelming, but you'll find your favorite places, especially if you ask people from that culture what restaurants they recommend. The food will soon become one of your favorite aspects of whatever city you live in.

So go on, country kids. Remember your roots, and get ready to take on the big city, one Uber ride at a time.