- HubPages»
- Travel and Places»
- Visiting North America»
- United States»
- New York
20 Things you must know about New York City
The following list is absolutely true and to the best of my recollection. The names may or may not have been changed to protect the guilty!
-
Craigslist is one of your best resources for:
finding jobs
finding an apartment
selling stuff
buying stuff
finding activities
making friends
finding free things
- There is such a thing as a free lunch: There are a lot of visitors to NY and many of them will pay your way to dinner or the theater just so that they don't have to go alone (this mostly works for women but I bet men could find some opportunities as well)!
-
You really can't trust people in New York:
New York is so expensive and so competitive that people will do anything to make it here..including lie, steal, flatter and pretend to be your friend and just generally mess you up if you allow them. Sure there are lots of nice people here too, the problem is you can't tell the difference much of the time.
- A good friend is worth their weight in gold in this city. It can be the difference between making it and breaking it. If you find one or more treat them well.
-
All those Ivy Leaguers are not any more intelligent than your average guy, they just read different magazines... like the Economist.
-
There is a class system in America and it's alive and well in Manhattan.
-
Don't ever dis a doorman or a waiter..you will pay for it in the end.
-
Most Manhattanites are atheists or agnostics.
-
You will have a better chance at winning the lottery than you have of meeting a New Yorker and getting married in Manhattan if you are female.
-
If you smile a lot and/or are generally happy most New Yorkers will A. not trust you. B. think you are an idiot or C. think that you're a tourist.
-
If you walk straight ahead you have the right of way, if you are walking at an angle you must yield the right away.
-
A quick way to get pushed to the ground is to suddenly stop walking on a crowded sidewalk.
-
Taxi-cab drivers will steal you blind if you don't know where you are going or what you are doing!
-
Borax kills roaches but you have to keep re-applying!
-
Complete strangers from all around the world will pay to sleep on your couch or in your closet!
-
Almost all New Yorkers living in Manhattan either have a deal from the government for low rent apartments or are wealthy or are/have both.
-
The reason they call the big apple the city that never sleeps is not because of all the fun activities there are to do here, it's because the street noise keeps us awake at night!
-
Don't ever look a crazy person in the eye and for goodness sake don't talk to one!
-
If you want to be invisible just wear sunglasses, a hat and earphones.
-
And finally the most important thing I've learned since coming to New York is that there is almost always a way to get what you want or need you just have to find the angle!
For those who have never lived in New York City, first of all, you have my condolences, but mainly I want to let you know that in spite of my list I absolutely adore New York City. There is no place like it. For those who will read my list and doubt these words, well you would just have to experience it for yourself. New York City, in spite of all it's difficulties, is the most exciting and challenging place on earth and I wouldn't give up one day that here. The people I met and made friends with have a quality unlike any I've ever known anywhere else. I hope to return one day and when I do I know I will cry..hard like when you cry after seeing a long lost love that has gone missing for many years.
Related Articles by Brie Hoffman
Comments
AUTHORHuh?
Omg ! You had me there for a minute I said " did she bump her head" really !
- AUTHOR
Umm..actually I miss it so much I'm thinking of returning. You couldn't be more mistaken.
I have been there several times, in my opinion it is a dump filled with greedy fools. Everyone thinks so highly of themselves, people there have no manners or sense of respect for other(fear is not respect) Nobody there can hunt, forage or take the time to learn how to build, or even maintain their own conveyances. They all eat poison, they wonder how they get sick after being around thousands of people everyday in a disgusting city deprived of nature. It is like a city, most cities in this nation are truly filled with worthless people, who have no pride in their family or their people(race) like slabs of meat programmed by hollywood and entertainment agencies to be animals. I feel sorry you had to endure that for 9 years, i pray you learn something in the country about your people and about the natural order. We belong to nature it is foolish of people to remain blind or closed off from it, or even to think we can control nature it's self. Cheers to a better life Brie!
- AUTHOR
I miss it terribly and every single day! Thanks for commenting.
How charming! I've always wanted to live in NYC for one year to experience it in all the seasons. Won't you miss it?
5.All those Ivy Leaguers are not any more intelligent than your average guy, they just read different magazines... like the Economist. I think the best thing about an Ivy League education must be the network you are automatically a part of. Ever notice how many published authors (especially first time authors) went to an IL school? I'm sure the publisher is part of their collegiate network. Best of luck and God's Speed.
Wow! Brie you took me to NYC and back ! I had a hunch city dwellers have no time at the expense of others! It's like a fog fantasy or fiction like living only to be awaken with clutter and chaos!!!
- AUTHOR
I don't do that anymore but when I did..yeah, I was in my bedroom and they were in the closet outside my bedroom :) You can see the apartment on You Tube if you search for Brie217
Love your wit. Gotta ask....do you stay around when those strangers sleep in your closet....I have wondered how you can screen out the creeps.....
- AUTHOR
Thanks Sue.
I liked it it was interesting and I think its good advise not to trust anyone anywhere most serial killer are not in NYC they are in Washington state and out West. You know that they troll all day long and as far as trusting people don't ever let anyone you know sleep on your couch and don't ever be alone with them I don't care where you are this is from someone whos favorite shows are on Investigative ID true crime stories. The old saying you never think it can happen to to you until it does. Great article some true talk to you soon
- AUTHOR
Wow, I'm glad you liked it.
In 1998 I spent about one month in New York, your hub brought back some memories, thanks!
- AUTHOR
Now you know..we don't sleep :) I'm glad you had a great time, everyone should visit New York at least once in their lives.
Very funny and also very true. I went to New York for my first time this past summer. I so understand your number 17-It is soooo loud there. Taxi's honking constantly. I don't know how people sleep at night unless they sleep with earphones. I disliked all the pollution and felt like I couldn't breathe when I was there. I did have a great time though and it was something I always wanted to do.
- AUTHOR
Yep! I used to get that a lot, not so much anymore :) I must be getting more jaded just being around them..not good.
While I never lived in NYC, I used to live close enough to visit a quite a bit. I enjoyed your advice and I'm sure much of it is quite true! I laughed when you said if you smile, people won't trust you or think you're an idiot or a tourist. On one visit to NYC, I was getting on an escalator and bumped into someone accidentally. Naturally, being from out of town, I looked at the person, smiled and said, "excuse me." Their reaction? "Oh, you must be from out of town!" :)
- AUTHOR
Thanks for commenting "BrightMeadow", I hope you make it because everyone should have NYC on their bucket list.
- AUTHOR
Thanks Joseph, I've never been to Nashville, one of these days I hope to visit.
It's on my bucket list. Now if and when I get there I will have a better idea of how to conduct myself. Thank you for the insights. :)
This was a very lovely article, and funny too. I enjoyed it, and will someday come back to it and enjoy it again. Many of these things are also true for Nashville, some are not.
- AUTHOR
Hi Larry, thanks for commenting. I actually know Sacramento. I went to Sac State and grew up in Folsom. I never really liked it though..too hot for me! But, thanks again for voting up and commenting.
Thanks, Brie. I'm not a fan of monster cities. And your hub is a great way to learn about one of the biggest and baddest, without actually spending a lot of time there.
The Sacramento metro area, where I live, is the exact opposite of the old saying about NYC: It's a great place to live, but I wouldn't want to visit there. Why so great? Because it's so easy for Nature aficionados here to get away from it all.
The answer to your next question is yes, and we've had Trader Joe here longer than you have in NY. So much for high culture. :)
Voted up and interesting.
- AUTHOR
Thanks Faith, please be sure to vote it up and pass it along on your facebook if you have one :)
Too funny! I have never lived in New York, but I thoroughly enjoyed this list.
- AUTHOR
Thanks "lovebuglena" so would you say that those items are true for you as well?
Hmmmm.... Interesting hub. I am from NYC myself.
27