From Friends to How I Met Your Mother to The Great Gatsby, New York City is constantly romanticized in American culture. We see the skyline, the frenzy of people, and the dollar pizza signs and we know that this is a place like no other. My love affair with Manhattan began curiously with the Rear Window but no TV screen or pages of a book told me these little things I have come to realize.
1. Everything from restaurants to H&M would be open 24/7 or late at night
While one can go shopping at H&M in Times Square until 1am, it must be noted that one never should. Manhattan has turned me into a night owl; so it baffled me that I could go shopping until 9pm Upstate but most shops close at 7pm here.
2. Every Friday and Saturday night would be party night
I might have had some amazing nights in Manhattan, but going out requires some preparation. It’s hard to get a good plan together at 11pm when you’re already in your pajamas, two seasons deep into Criminal Minds.
3. Weather in New York City couldn’t possibly be that much different from Upstate New York
It was a magical moment for me when I realized that Fall would be a real thing here in Manhattan. Upstate goes from 85 degrees and humid to snowstorm in the matter of two weeks with no warning. There are actual seasons here like nature intended, and that’s enough for me to stick around.
4. I wouldn’t be able to find quiet or privacy
It may never truly be quiet in the city, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t places you can find that offer some degree of tranquility. I find that the little parks along the Hudson River are peaceful enough to read a book and decompress from running around in the city.
5. Subways run exactly how Google Maps says they’re going to and are always on time
Nope.
6. New York City is both cleaner and safer than I thought
I suppose I’ve developed a little bit tougher skin from my experiences since coming here, but aside from the green puddles after it rains (and I will remain peacefully ignorant on why that happens), New York is pretty decent. And yes, there are certain areas that I shouldn’t wander into alone in the dark, but life has been kind to me here so far.
7. Prices are higher but I use money like water because of all the choices
It’s overwhelming how much there is to see, eat, and buy in New York City; being able to resist something once it has caught my eye has never been my strong suit. Unfortunately, everything catches my eye here and my bank account suffers each time I leave my room.
I may be new to the city but I think this is the beginning of something great. There are 8.4 million people living here and finding those people and places that make it feel like home are crucial to be able to survive in this urban jungle. It is not quite the fantasy of Gossip Girl but my life on 27th Street has been a unique reality thus far.
