Out of the 8.4 million people that live in NYC, can you pick out the true New Yorkers? If you’re having a tough time distinguishing between those who’ve moved to the Big Apple, from those who are from the city that never sleeps you’ve come to the right place. There are a few tell tale signs that set the natives apart from the rest.

One of those signs is hearing the way a real New Yorker says “excuse me.” In actuality they’re not trying to excuse themselves. They’re either acknowledging the fact that they’ve bumped into someone, or that someone is in their way. It’s just a nicer way of putting it. I’ve been guilty of this on more than one occasion.

An odd sign that someone’s a real New Yorker is they most likely haven’t been to the Statue of Liberty. Why? Well it’s not going anywhere so they figure what’s the rush? I didn’t go till I was 16 years old and I’ve lived in New York my entire life. Guilty again.

You can hear a true New Yorker from a mile away. They speak about three octaves higher than the average person. They’re not trying to yell, that’s just their definition of an inside voice. You have to speak a little louder when theres 8.4 million people to talk over. I’m so deaf to the fact that I speak way louder than most people do, but at least I can be heard.

Real New Yorkers jay-walk without considering it jay-walking. They just walk where the easiest exit to the side walk is. Crossing at the corner is over rated. I can’t remember the last time I waited to cross the street at a corner.

Real New Yorkers wake up with a purpose even if theres nowhere for them to go. When they leave the house they’re automatically in a rush and where ever they’re going they want to get there fast. I need to get somewhere at the fastest possible rate and if not I swear my level of aggravation is through the roof.

A native New Yorker know’s exactly what car to take on the train to let them out at the appropriate side to where ever they’re going. Stand at the wrong end of the train and you can put yourself totally out of your way. I learned that the hard way; never again.

As I sat and thought about all of these things that distinguish a genuine New Yorker from the rest, I realized how guilty of each of the above that I am. They’re not habits, its just a way of life. You meet many different types of people here in the melting pot that is NYC, but those who are guilty of some of the above are most likely the real deal.