Can you make it in New York?
When I moved to New York with only $2000 in my pocket, I knew that nothing good can come out of it. However, I was hoping for the best, but now I realize that my expectations were still super high, regardless of the things that I can control. The first month I was staying at an Airbnb apartment with a private bathroom, which is super rare for cheap New York apartments. Now, I moved into the apartment in Brooklyn, and I pay for my room $850. The apartment is located close to Brighton Beach, which is, in my opinion, one of the most depressing places in the world. I have to share a bathroom with only one lady, but there is no washing machine, dryer, no patio, and no laundry in the building. In Florida, you may find a studio for the same price; you pay $500 for a room, and it comes with a private bathroom. Plus, most likely, there is a washing machine, dryer, free gym, free coffee in the leasing office, and pool on the premises of the apartment complex. You might share your kitchen with 3 other people, and your room might be small, but you will not face the horrors of obsolete new york apartments with tiny windows, ugly wall colors, and a horrible acoustic (now, I can hear how my neighbors sneeze).
New York City itself is not a dreamland; please believe to ones who complain that New York is filthy and smells bad. There is no exaggeration in those statements. Probably, when people think of New York, they only have an image of the Upper East Side in their heads. The Upper East Side feels like it is a separate country; it is lavish. I do not know anyone who can afford living in the Upper East Side; probably, just celebrities.
I often try to understand, “Do people move to NYC because they genuinely enjoy the city?” or “Do they move to NYC to prove that they are in the best city in the world?” It has been labeled as the best city in the world for a long time, but it is far not a great one. I was trying my best to give a chance to Brooklyn and Manhattan, but it is not working out. I keep asking myself if I made the right decision; I gave up my sad but convenient life and moved to New York. I keep trying to figure out what good can come out of these horrible experiences that I am enduring now, but I only focus on negative things about New York that irritate me. It is not a good way to cure my anxiety or improve my love-hate relationship with New York. Yes, love-hate relationship, because there are still some pros; for example, a lot of vegan and vegan-friendly spots. If you are vegan, you will never be bored in NYC. Plus, the transportation system is excellent. You can get to Coney Island to enjoy the beach after shopping in East Village just in 1 hour without having your own car. Moreover, ladies are dressed so well here; I just enjoy watching the outfits of strangers. It is like scrolling through Pinterest; there are no too many well-dressed people in Florida. Here, I got inspired to get dressed up every day, and I am trying different styles; it does elevate my daily experiences.
Regardless of the pros and cons, the city might be challenging for introverts; it does get super lonely here, and it is not easy to make friends, especially during the pandemic. A lot of restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops offer to dine outside, but when winter comes, they will offer to dine in at only 25% capacity. New York may make you feel invisible and unimportant; there are so many people around, and if you are by yourself, you feel like you’re nobody.
If anyone needs my advice, I would say “be honest with yourself”. Be honest about why you want to move to NYC. It is important to know why, and it is important to have an elaborate plan. Moreover, you gotta have a backup plan, in case if your elaborate plan does not work out. There is nothing scary about quitting your job and moving to another state or country. It is important to be ready for challenges, struggles, and failures. Eventually, people do figure out everything and live well, but it takes a lot of time and patience.
