New York City, the Big Apple, the Concrete Jungle. A destination for many, and a home for many others. If you plan to move to New York, you have made one of the best decisions in your life, and these are some things you should know before you do. If you are already a New Yorker, you’ll definitely relate with all of these things us New Yorkers do and think.
1. Subways are way more awkward than elevators.
Everybody uses the subway in New York City, hence a ride on the subway can always result in an awkward, funny or even scary story. Whether it is because people are standing too close to you, staring right at you or some psycho is shouting senselessness things on the subway car, you’ll come to the conclusion that subways are way more awkward than elevators. (But don’t worry, after a while you get used to it.)
A piece of advice: avoid eye contact and mind your own business.
2. Everybody J-walks.
And I mean everybody. You look stupid if you don’t j-walk.The reason behind this may be because everyone is always late or in a rush. You can differentiate a New Yorker from a tourist just by looking to whether they j-walk or wait for the signal to turn green. However, if you do j-walk, just please don’t get hit by a car. (Especially cabs. They are always running over people).
3. Google maps is a life saver.
Google maps, Citymapper, TripGo. They are the best way to move around the city, especially if you are not very familiar with the city transportation. They saved my life multiple times when I first move to the city. (Okay, they still do).
4. Everybody drinks coffee, every day.
This is really the city that runs on coffee. Everybody always has a cup of coffee in their hands, whether to try to keep awake or for the sole purpose of keeping their hands warm during the winter. (I know I have done that.)
5. Sneakers and comfy shoes are your best friends.
Since everybody walks everywhere in the city, everybody wears sneakers, or at least comfortable shoes. Women that wear heels to work, normally walk on sneakers and then change into their heels when they get to their job. (If you still want to wear heels around the city, you know that low and chunky heels are the new sky-high heels.)
6. You will get irritated by tourists.
You just will. Especially when they stop in the middle of the sidewalk, to take a picture or take out their ridiculous enormous maps.
A piece of advice: Avoid Times Square.
7. Earphones are always a good idea.
Walking around the city with your headphones on is just great. It makes you feel like you’re in a movie, or can at least help you ignore creepy, crazy people on the streets.
8. Gett is cheaper that Uber.
Yup, it's true. We all are more familiar with Uber, however, Gett is way cheaper. You can even share your “code” with your friends and get free rides. If free transportation in the city is not amazing, I don’t know what is.
9. You’ll start walking like you are in a rush.
And not necessarily because you are in a rush. Since everyone walks very fast in New York, after a couple of weeks you’ll find yourself walking just as fast as everybody else, and you'll get annoyed by people with a slow pace.
10. Houston St. is pronounced “how-ston” not “hew-ston”.
It is written exactly the same as the city, but pronounced differently. Why? I don’t know, that’s just the way it is.
11. When in doubt, wear black.
We all have those days in which you just have nothing to wear. But an “all black everything” outfit in the city can never go wrong. Especially during the winter.
Once you start noticing all these things by yourself, congratulations, you can start referring to yourself as a true New Yorker.
