Things I learned after living in New York: 1 Year Later
Sincerely, your “bubbly” SoCal zillennial girl
a blog post long overdue, none of these have changed since writing it back in June*
One severe snowstorm, one ticket, two power surges, multiple injuries, one heartbreak, and several floods later, your girl finally made it back to June. I’ll be honest with you: many of my decisions after I graduated have been on a whim and this has been one of them. By the time I leave, I will have spent my entire 24th and half of my 25th year in the city.
If you’re not as spontaneous as me here as some things you should know before you go…
1. Yes, you will be walking everywhere
Once your feet break in you’ll walk 20 blocks in no time. On the plus side, your apple watch rings have never looked better!
2. You will carry everything with you
Even if you live two blocks from the grocery store, having a bag on you is quintessential. You never know what you’re going to end up taking home once you leave the house and when you do you have to remember that you might be taking it on your delayed subway, humid ridden, two avenues over journey home. In this city, a personal shopping cart will be your best friend, no matter your age.
3. If all else fails, follow the signs (at the subway station)
Sometimes the constant in-n-out cell service left my Google Maps on the rainbow of death. But before I panicked, I remember what some skater boys walking past me said once: “just follow the signs.” The subway signs are up to date so just take a beat, look up, and you’ll get there. You’ll probably just miss the next train.
4. Become friends with native New Yorkers. They will keep it real and tell you what’s what
“I’m not like other transplants!!,” said me never! (maybe). But I think it's always important to understand more about where you are from people that are from there.
5. You are missing so much if you stick to your borough
If you’re here for a good time not a long time, traveling to different boroughs will feel like a fun day trip (until you’ve settled in and you refuse to go past a 10-block radius). The city is more than just Manhattan! If that doesn’t convince you, traveling for a melting pot of different cuisines as a motivator will.
6. Get to know the slang
It’s not brick-cold. It's just brick. I walked so you could fly, you’re welcome.
7. New Yorkers are truly kind, not nice
Don’t expect a full-blown conversation after you get help carrying your shopping cart up the stairs, but the people of this city will help you if you ask. I’ve never seen a community quite like it.
8. New York is the new LA for creators, but don’t be fooled by the illusion
Everyone’s “City Girl Era” is going to be different. If you compare yourself to every Tik Tok blurry photo montage you see, you won’t appreciate your own journey.
9. No public restrooms
There is probably an app for where to go, but knowing where you can go so you aren’t fighting for your life to get home in a city that fights back is quite literally life or death so start restroom hunting asap.
10. Transportation in the city might be worse in the rain than it is in the snow
Perhaps because I am personally triggered by this, but urban planning can tell you that the city was not designed to handle heavy rainfall and due to climate change it has only gotten worse. No matter if you ride a car or take the subway if you start to see the streets flood, find the nearest pigeon to fly home on.
11. Fashion is for the colder seasons
I have gotten so much fashion inspo being in the city but fashion is truly at its peak when you can wear layers. Look alive, the city is a runway.
12. It is lonely but you feel so alive
The city of 8 million people can be so claustrophobic but incredibly lonely. Yet, moments, when I was crying watching my first NYC marathon or sunset at Central Park, reminded me how much the city makes me feel alive, in the most existential way.
New York City has been described in films as a character and rightfully she is. She will remind you of your shortcomings, and pick you up when you need it. Not everyone can face her wrath and might give good graces to others. Yet all of these observations I learned were moments of growth, of trial and error, of struggling, and a reminder that I was alive…
and boy did she not let me forget it.
