Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. It has been raining for the past couple days so the walks to get from point A to point B haven't been the greatest. Even trying to hail a cab in rain is dreadful. Anyway, despite the dreariness of it all, it is a wonderful backdrop for writing in a quiet place, which is what I'm about to do. I apologize for no photos, but I just want to give a little insight on what the city has taught me the past couple months.
Lately, things have been beyond crazy. I feel like my mind is constantly swimming in clutter. Too many things to think about and I feel like I'm getting way ahead of myself. I've literally had to stop and make time to lay low, which has been really brief. I don't know if it's the hype the city gives off, but I need a breather. Sometimes it just takes one simple moment of pondering about things that bring my mind to an ease.
So many people have the impression of a luxurious life when it comes to living in New York. Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news to anyone who hasn't experienced it, but it's a hard life. There is nothing easy about living in a big city. Maybe your thinking, "well this girl is from a small town and she just can't handle it". I wouldn't be here if I thought I couldn't handle it. Over 80% of people who live here are pursuing an opportunity, a dream. I have so much respect for those who can move up here on a whim without even having a job. I moved here because of a job. I'm not making this post to complain, because I knew exactly what I was getting myself into as soon as I said "yes" to the job I moved up here for. These are simply facts to be stated about life in the Big Apple.
So,"What makes it so difficult?", you may ask. Well it's a no brainer that living in New York isn't cheap. I'm working so hard to spend it all on rent. Also, it takes twice as long to get things done. I don't have the luxury of hopping into a vehicle to run to the grocery store so I can get food for the next 2 weeks. I walk one avenue and five blocks to go to the grocery store (and I am pretty lucky at that. Some people have to commute via subway with their groceries) I also have to watch how much I'm getting because I can only carry two bagfuls back with me. The cool part about the whole experience/ process is that every store fits the needs of the customers. They give out huge bags so you can fit more because they know you are going to be walking around with it. People make do. I am making do with the city life. You gotta suck it up, blend in, and just do it. That's what everyone does here, and I respect that.
Experiencing life here has made me appreciate the things I took for granted before I came. Something that stands out the most is time spent with people. I live alone here, and I thought I would be great at it. Turns out, it's been a little hard for me to come home and sit in silence. I used to think that I would love my alone time, but that was during a time when I never had any. Now that I have it, I value the time spent with friends in the city. Speaking of which, this is another thing that takes time to do. The commutes can be long for others when you want to meet up with someone, so you really have to plan in advance. It's not like before where I could just call up a friend to meet me in 10 at the nearest coffee shop. I have friends in Brooklyn and Queens so we really have to make sure the travel distance isn't longer than the time spent in the city, but again like I said before we make do, and it's always great when I get to see my friends.
Now despite everything I just told you, the experience has been great so far and something that will always impact me in more ways than one. Being in different places has helped me adapt easier in any situation, definitely makes me more cultured, and has taught me to think differently in how I do things and how I plan my time. Even though there are negatives that make it a little bit more difficult to do the simple things, the positives are definitely all there with living, learning, and life.
I always say "It's the little things". I actually quoted it on Facebook weeks ago now that I think of it.... anyway, I'm in a big city, but it really is the little things that make me smile. A sunny day, a letter from home, people walking dogs that look like them, a kid being silly on the sidewalk, an elderly couple holding hands crossing the street, FIT students talking about classes and crazy professors (remember those days), etc. Things like this are what get me through a crazy day of cars, taxis, meetings, solicitors, protestors, and seas of people trying to get somewhere just like me. Things that I saw as everyday things at home are the things I relish the most here.
I may be in a big city of dreams, but I will always have my small-town southern roots. There will always be a special place in my heart for anything that relates to home as it would anyone else. For some, it may be easy to forget, or forgetting may be wanted in fact, but I could never forget where I came from and how it has shaped who I am today.
That's it for now! I hope this is relative or impactful to you in some way, shape, or form and I hope you have a wonderful, restful, night!
xo,
andrea
Hang in there! It will get easier with time :)
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