The NYC Life

As the Jewish new year begins, so does my life as a New Yorker.

I arrived in NYC on Monday. Not only did I arrive exhausted from what felt like a tour of various U.S. airports (Sacramento - Los Angeles - Boston - New York) but I arrived bag less. I had managed to fit everything I owned and deemed important in a 50 pound suitcase and a 45 pound backpack which I had confidently given to the Delta Airlines employee at the check-in counter in Sacramento. I figured it was highly possible that my bags wouldn't be able to keep up with my insanely stupid flight schedule, so I didn't freak out when they didn't appear on the conveyor belt. Luckily, they got delivered later that afternoon at my mom's cousin's place on the upper west side.

I've only been here a few days but I feel as though I've quickly jumped into my life here. I'm extremely fortunate to have amazing family who has opened up their apt. to me. I've got a room with a bed and wireless internet, bathroom, food...amazing! Although I wouldn't mind living here eternally, I am looking for a room of my own to rent. Know anyone in NY that needs a roommate?? Anywho, I spent my first night eating home-cooked lasagna, watching football and socializing with two of my amazing friends here in the city. It was almost as though we do it every Monday night. It was SO unbelievably normal! I spent the next night eating Indian food with another amazing friend and her roommate. I honestly feel as though I've been here a while and have to keep reminding myself that I just arrived and can't expect to have a job and an apartment all at once. Ok, this stuff is boring....what you REALLY want to hear about is what NYC is really like. Don't you? Here goes...

Here are a list of interactions and experiences that I've had these past few days. Instances that made me laugh to myself and reminded me that I am in New York.

*A car making a right turn stops shortly before hitting a man crossing the street. The man slams both hands on the hood and says "You're supposed to STOP!" Of course, he does this once the car is already stopped.

*Almost no child riding in a stroller even remotely resembles the person pushing them. (I'm living on the Upper West Side...the place is teaming with nannys)

*No one talks to anyone on the subway. I must remember to bring a book with me because I don't want to be caught staring.

*5:45 pm on the 1 train downtown I see a man enter the subway with a package of sushi from Whole Foods in one hand and a pair of wooden chopsticks in the other. He attempts to eat while standing and then finds a seat and finishes his meal in silence.

*Wearing cute shoes that have not been broken in will rub your heels raw. After experiencing this for myself, I began looking at people's feet. Sure enough, many women in the city have red circles on their heels. Guess they chose fashion over comfort.

*It's okay to use one of those Granny carts when transporting groceries.

*While at Fairway (an AMAZING food market) waiting at the deli counter for some sliced chicken, I witnessed numerous senior citizens stalking up on meat and pre-cooked food items. "We're talking potatoes," says an elderly man with a NY accent. "Give me 1/2 pound of this one, 1/2 pound of those," this goes on until he's gotten a half of pound of the 4 varieties of cooked potatoes. I nearly missed my number being called because I was so enthralled in the scene.

*Everything can be delivered. Including groceries.

*Most stores are usually 3 or 4 stories. I went into a 4 story Staples and a 4 story Barnes and Noble today.

*A railroad apartment means the rooms are one after another. If you have a bedroom in the middle, people must walk through yours to get to theirs. No thanks!

*I miss Target.

*Just because it's raining outside doesn't mean it's cold!

*Went to a Rosh Hashana dinner tonight with my family. While the company was nice and the food was great, I felt out of my league. I was the most inarticulate person there and the only one who didn't attend an Ivy League school. Oh well.

*My family's weekly housekeeper came Thursday to clean. I open a door and am surprised to find the woman vacuuming the edges of the framed photos on the wall in the hallway! Apparently she's a bit obsessive with the cleaning. Later, my mom's cousin makes lunch and feeds the housekeeper. When the woman was done cleaning the entire place, my mom's cousin thanked her profusely. So nice!

**I'll add to this list as the days go on. I know there are MANY things I probably left out! Hope you enjoyed it.