What is that New York thing? The buildings, the speed, the people, the life. The city is magic in a way—there's always something going on, and there are endless possibilities here. Everyone always has somewhere to go or something to do. The days are packed with so many experiences and opportunities that each day feels like you live many in one. The lifestyle is fast-paced but filled with promise and excitement.
The sounds of the city don't stop even when it's late at night. Taxi cabs and Ubers move around the city through the night, escorting the people of New York to where they need to be. Sirens are heard at all hours of the night and throughout the day, contributing to the city's unique soundscape. It's not unusual to see 12 cop cars go down Fifth Ave (I was the only one with my head turned when this happened the other day). People aren't phased by much here.
No one waits for the crosswalk to turn, and no one presses the button to turn the pedestrian light on. Everyone starts walking across the street before all the cars have passed, unphased by the cars whizzing by and focused on where they need to be next.
New Yorkers are said to have a certain edge to them. And this makes sense why once one spends a day walking around the streets of New York. There are a lot of characters. The city is full of promise and activity, but it is also filled with a certain level of wildness, which means you can never reasonably predict what's around the corner. This adds to the city's persona, but it also speaks to why New Yorkers may be known for their straight faces and fast-paced attitude--it's a response to the environment around them.
A lot of people take their coffee black. Especially the commute crowd at 8:00 AM on their way to work. Some may say that this speaks to the overall edge of the quintessential New Yorker, but when you look at people in the city, none seem inherently rigid or harsh. They all have a story, a reason why they are here. In these morning moments on the way to work, they seem busy, rushed, or focused. I am apt to believe that the quintessential New Yorker is good at heart. The standard New Yorker isn't harsh unless you're in their way while they're trying to cross the street on their way back from work in Midtown or are in a rush to meet their friends for lunch in SoHo on a Saturday afternoon.
People here walk a lot. A 30-minute walk is equivalent to a stroll, and walking seems to be the preferred form of transportation (aside from the subway morning commute). I've loved getting my steps in daily and prefer walking to the subway commute. I walk past the Empire State Building on my way to work and pinch myself that I'm really here. I have heard New York summers tend to get pretty steamy so that this habit may have to change in the coming weeks.
I've learned that SoHo on Saturdays in the summer is the place to be, that is, if you're not fleeing the city for the weekend to jet off to the Hamptons or retreat to an oasis upstate. That being said, the weekends in the town hold a lot of promise, as, like I said before, there's always something to do. It's impossible to be bored here; if you are, all you need to do is step outside.
It's not uncommon here to run into celebrities on the street, but the only ones phased by seeing them are likely those who don't live here. Most New Yorkers have a general nonchalantness about them. Nothing can phase them on the street, and seeing someone in real life from a blockbuster film is the same. That said, I still keep my eyes peeled whenever I walk around the city, especially on the weekends. I may be a New Yorker for the summer, but I'm not that nonchalant just yet.
The city is just like I've dreamed of, only probably better. Even though I am only living here for a short time, it feels like it holds the potential to add so many stories and fun memories to my life storybook. I love this chapter and look forward to learning more and more about the city every day.
XO
-MH
Comments