New York City: Expectation Vs Reality
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New York City: Expectation Vs Reality

Living in the city is probably not what you'd expect it to be.

 Julia Bauer
Aug 01, 2016
University of Oklahoma
271
New York City: Expectation Vs Reality
Corso-antincendio

For the past three months, I've lived in the beautiful and famous New York City. There have been many ups and many downs, but I wouldn't change a thing about my time here. Since I had visited the city so many times before moving here for my internship, I thought I knew what to expect. I was wrong.

The Subway

Expectation: A clean subway where everyone has a seat.

Reality: A cramped, smelly subway car that makes you question what exactly is touching your back.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F08%2F01%2F636056593734494808-2113791745_japanese-subway-cramming-o2.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=490&h=39e683cc2a700efbb27f8a76f03797d8ddc37709b9b44ee231a3e609cdc7b1c2&size=980x&c=462298179 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F08%252F01%252F636056593734494808-2113791745_japanese-subway-cramming-o2.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D490%26h%3D39e683cc2a700efbb27f8a76f03797d8ddc37709b9b44ee231a3e609cdc7b1c2%26size%3D980x%26c%3D462298179%22%7D" expand=1]

The Neighborhoods

Expectation: That all neighborhoods are the same.

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Reality: Each has their own unique feel and you can definitely have a favorite.

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Getting Around Town

Expectation: That I could walk everywhere.

Reality: Nothing is as close as it seems.

The Weather

Expectation: That nothing could be as bad as hot and humid Houston, Texas.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F08%2F01%2F636056636595280285522925975_1.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=100&h=1dd1213c28092e08cf1b557ead0169cb8aeab2110da78e4cfcc2f2c4280198bf&size=980x&c=3426366991 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F08%252F01%252F636056636595280285522925975_1.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D100%26h%3D1dd1213c28092e08cf1b557ead0169cb8aeab2110da78e4cfcc2f2c4280198bf%26size%3D980x%26c%3D3426366991%22%7D" expand=1]

Reality: Rain one minute, sun the next, 60 degrees in the morning and 95 degrees by the afternoon. You are never prepared for the weather.

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The Lifestyle

Expectation: A mix of Carrie Bradshaw's relaxed work ethic and Blair Waldorf's spending habits.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F08%2F01%2F636056638759158792-228473483_giphy%2520%288%29.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=915&h=f7d18a33c988617c5e0bf095683a137eb3537e7663646eb58a860498b20a7ec4&size=980x&c=348999388 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F08%252F01%252F636056638759158792-228473483_giphy%252520%25288%2529.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D915%26h%3Df7d18a33c988617c5e0bf095683a137eb3537e7663646eb58a860498b20a7ec4%26size%3D980x%26c%3D348999388%22%7D" expand=1]

Reality: Working around the clock to hit your goals and trying to figure out how to make $20 last for the entire week.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F08%2F01%2F636056639510008444-1947530807_anigif_optimized-24586-1428310201-32.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=102&h=78db6ff02b51fbbb8841e826eebb0d75cf888a70815f8dc5683bc42ee291b787&size=980x&c=1607394381 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F08%252F01%252F636056639510008444-1947530807_anigif_optimized-24586-1428310201-32.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D102%26h%3D78db6ff02b51fbbb8841e826eebb0d75cf888a70815f8dc5683bc42ee291b787%26size%3D980x%26c%3D1607394381%22%7D" expand=1]

The Personalities

Expectation: All New Yorkers are rude and will shove you out of the way.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F08%2F01%2F636056640412190697-749324137_6358625927822297831521704972_giphy-1.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=732&h=08f1f2c8744a8ba42eb5c04a66c575463fb61bc641d900ce75b071080920e840&size=980x&c=2775747333 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F08%252F01%252F636056640412190697-749324137_6358625927822297831521704972_giphy-1.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D732%26h%3D08f1f2c8744a8ba42eb5c04a66c575463fb61bc641d900ce75b071080920e840%26size%3D980x%26c%3D2775747333%22%7D" expand=1]

Reality: Some of them actually are like this, but most will smile at you and give you directions if you're lost.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F08%2F01%2F636056643859572363679967327_tumblr_o68y2gNlls1qbfm1po1_500.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=706&h=04071e4833399261ba85b474c81288d0bc2b0e1d521bd7c7a1f02b848386bc38&size=980x&c=3421058316 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F08%252F01%252F636056643859572363679967327_tumblr_o68y2gNlls1qbfm1po1_500.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D706%26h%3D04071e4833399261ba85b474c81288d0bc2b0e1d521bd7c7a1f02b848386bc38%26size%3D980x%26c%3D3421058316%22%7D" expand=1]

The City

Expectation: That I would get over the hype of NYC after living here.

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Reality: I'll never be over it. New York City is amazing.

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F08%2F01%2F636056646172532154-1237699465_giphy%2520%289%29.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=811&h=f88f444d46b091d275c5e0cb8dfe180ef93d78e80616f6220ee7ad78b6e0b94e&size=980x&c=2399354558 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F08%252F01%252F636056646172532154-1237699465_giphy%252520%25289%2529.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D811%26h%3Df88f444d46b091d275c5e0cb8dfe180ef93d78e80616f6220ee7ad78b6e0b94e%26size%3D980x%26c%3D2399354558%22%7D" expand=1]

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