The Big Apple. The City That Never Sleeps. If you dream about moving to the big city, you should know that it isn’t as easy as it sounds. From rental fees to building a career to people shoving each other on the streets, New York isn’t for everyone. But if you have the guts, you might find yourself falling in love with the city every day.
There are many things you can learn in New York. If you want to become a paralegal, you can take paralegal programs in NYC. There are other short courses and programs that you can apply to. If you dream about walking the streets of New York, you need to find a job that will allow you to afford its cost of living, which is one of the highest in the world.
But there are also some misconceptions about New York and New Yorkers that must simply be straightened out. Here are the things that you need to know before planning your big move:
New Yorkers Aren’t Rude
There are many things you’ll hear about New Yorkers on social media—that they are rude, they honk the moment the stoplight turns green (known as New York minute), and they push people on the streets because they walk too slow. Here’s the truth: New Yorkers are always going somewhere. In the morning, they might push you because they are rushing to catch the train. There’s nothing personal here. They just want to arrive at work early once and for all.
New York Is More Than 50% Immigrants
More than 50% of the people who live in New York aren’t just born outside the state; they are born outside the country. It is truly a melting pot of cultures and traditions. This is where you’ll find Koreatown, Little Italy, Chinatown, and many more. In some rough-and-tumble neighborhoods of Lower Manhattan, you’ll find many Eastern Europeans trying to make a living.
New Yorkers Don’t Own Cars
More than 56% of New York residents don’t own a car. This is because the parking lot is a commodity that not all people can afford. If you are allowed to park on the sides of the street, you’ll have to move it at least twice a week so that street cleaners can come through. This gets tiring. That and the traffic, of course.
New York Is a Walkable City
According to walkscore.com, New York is 88% walkable. Yes, you can walk from Lower Manhattan to the Upper West Side if that’s your thing. No one’s stopping you. It’s also easy to hail a cab if you have the money for it. The subway system is fairly decent and easy to understand. It will help if you download a subway map and start memorizing the stops and train lines.
New York Has Beaches
You don’t have to travel to Jersey Shore to have a taste of sand. New York has beaches, too. Trek the end of the subway line to get to Coney Island and have some of their famous hot dogs by the beach. You can even visit Rockaway Beach or areas such as Fort Tilden Beach. Further out in Long Island, there’s the Robert Moses State Park, too.
New York is an extraordinary city. It’s a city of contradictions: There are more billionaires than in any other city in the world, but there are also some 60,000 homeless people. If you are brave enough to try living here, you’ll likely fall in love with these contradictions. If you do make it through, the city will turn your resilience into strength.
