Work life

It's been a while since I've written due to a lot of recent activity in the job department! I accepted a job with the media agency, MediaCom a few weeks ago, and recently completed my first two weeks with the company. I am so fortunate to be working with a great group of people, and my office just happens to be on the 22nd floor, five blocks south of Times Square overlooking beautiful downtown NYC. I have finally officially transitioned into adulthood, and I couldn't be happier.

Before my employment, I had not completely been a part of the New York lifestyle, but I also didn't notice. Since I had not previously had to ride the subway at the exact same time as everyone else in the city, having to ride the subway at prime working hours is a big difference for me. Now that I am with the wave of the majority, I know exactly what being a New Yorker is all about.

No matter what time between the morning hours of 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. you are attempting to catch the subway to work, you will be forced to make like a sardine and cram into the cars. Yes, it is exactly like what you'd imagine millions of people trying to arrive in one central location at the same time would look like. Luckily my commute only calls for a 15 minute ride, so the claustrophobia is bearable. On the other hand, the 20 minutes of walking should be interesting in the winter time, as I’ve already experienced it in the rain. I was saved during one downpour when I forgot my umbrella because a vendor was selling cheap umbrellas outside of my subway stop. I swear I will always bring my umbrella from now on, even if there isn't a cloud in the sky!

New York is a very work-oriented city, also, which is probably why it is so prosperous. Although mine and Alex's jobs do not call for a strict 9 to 5, it makes things more efficient. I think the motto for work in NYC is stay until all work is complete, which sometimes can make for a long night.

Weekends are the times when we really explore the city, in between our adult responsibilities. This weekend we explored the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or “The Met.” Seeing artifacts and original paintings from the world's most renound artists like Monet and Van Gogh really made me understand just how much I have still yet to do and see in the city. Fall is around the corner, along with the cold weather, so I’m anticipating the new season in the city.

Work hard, play hard.

Life in the fast lane

Today marks the official two-month anniversary of moving out to the big city. I feel like certain things are becoming the norm for me, and to be honest, it kind of scares me. No longer am I studying a map when jumping on the subway line, but rather I’m simply making my way while not even having a map with me! While at first, the Macy’s store seemed overwhelming and impossible to navigate, now I have no problem making the trip downtown to the store to pick up my makeup or shop for a new pair of shoes. Things that I figured I would never get accustomed to, I am now somewhat taking for granted. The tall buildings and bright lights of Times Square have become an area in which I try to avoid simply because of the heavy traffic of tourists. What have I become?!

I am still mesmerized by the view of the city from the tall buildings, as I have been interviewing at companies directly downtown. Each time I enter the HR office that overlooks the city and sours 30 to 40 floors high, and I hope that the view I am greeted with never becomes old to me. In fact, on more than one occasion I have actually had my ears feel pressure while riding the elevator up to the offices. This is a unique feature of city life that I enjoy.

Alex and I had dinner last week at The Boathouse, a well-known restaurant on the lake in Central Park. It is mostly well-known for its cameos in “Sex and the City,” and is a place I would recommend to anyone visiting the city. The restaurant literally is opened completely and while it is covered overhead, you are practically outdoors. The view on the lake at sunset is amazing, and the food, while on the pricey side, is just as remarkable. When we left the restaurant, I finally experienced Central Park at night. Now I know why it is so dangerous. Although there are lamps lining the paths, they are dim and there are many secluded areas that could encourage dangerous activity. I would recommend not venturing to the park at night, and especially not alone.

We have been fortunate to eat out at several amazing restaurants in the city and have not yet visited the same one twice. One thing I have noticed about restaurants is their need for originality to keep them unique in a city where they are in competition with about 20,000 other eating establishments. For example, at one restaurant we visited, we were given grapes at the end of the meal that had been soaked in a homemade wine. The server brought out the large vase and speared the grapes with a long spear and fed them to everyone in our party. Although they were disgusting, the traditional aspect was amusing. At another restaurant, we were given small desserts and shots at the end of the meal. Again, not the most appetizing selection, but enough to make us remember our visit. Each restaurant we have visited was unique and delicious.

I’m still a sucker for the tourist attractions and hope to see the Statue and go to the Empire State Building soon, but for now, I am living the NYC life like a native.

Big city things

Recently, Alex and I joined a gym in the city, and I’m not sure if the differences that I encountered are because I am used to a college atmosphere in the gym , or because we are just minutes from the stereotypical New Jersey folk with all of their characteristics, but either way they are plenty. First, I find it interesting that each time I enter the locker room, I am greeted with a feminine body part I would rather not see. Women aren’t ashamed to bare it all after their workout, which may be due to the outspoken, confident attitude portrayed by most women in the city, but it’s definitely not something I am used to.

Last weekend while venturing to Rockaway Beach in Brooklyn, we were unfortunate enough to set up camp on the sand next to three Brooklynites that were clearly unashamed of their conversations, no matter what the content. As they chattered about everything from sex to manicures, all I could really pick out were the profanities that came after every other word. The girls did not seem to care the atmosphere or the company in their surroundings, because they never acknowledged that their boisterous voices and harsh language may offend the children and others around them. I did get a kick out of one thing though- that heavy New York accent. When I first joined the gym mentioned previously, the trainer told me he actually heard a glimpse of the Midwest twang in my voice, but the New York draw in words like “wuata” (water) and “quafee” (coffee) is unmistakable and always amuses me from the natives.

The little things that New Yorkers do still entertain me to no end. For example, instead of loading groceries into a cart then into a car, the cashiers at the local grocery store recognize that most likely customers will be carrying their bags back to their apartment, which in some cases could be blocks away. One trend I found is that when putting large items like toilet paper and paper towels in the bag, the cashiers tie another bag to the handles to ensure that you can carry the bag comfortably with a long handle strap. If only every city thought of that then one’s fingers wouldn’t get cramped trying to carry grocery bags home!

Another adjustment I fortunately do not need to worry about is with having a vehicle. You’ll notice vehicles have rubber bumper savers on the front and rear bumpers as they are crammed bumper to bumper along the city streets. One thing is for sure, I wouldn’t purchase a nice new vehicle until I was sure I could have a garage or a safe place to park it. I have seen drivers in NYC, and they disregard traffic lights, other drivers, ‘turn only’ lanes and lanes altogether. I am perfectly content taking public transportation during my living stint in the city.

Every day a new city way.

Characters and such

Several things I do and see around my neighborhood in NYC are very unique, as I’m sure any new place is to new residents.


One thing about my neighborhood that I’m finally getting used to are the characters that linger around. The first man, I am confident is a hoarder. This is because I have seen him, number one, picking out of the trash, and number two, putting trash into one of three vehicles he owns that are stuffed to the maximum with trash inside. He is very kind and a little odd, as Alex and I found him washing his jeans in a bucket full of water on the sidewalk about a week ago. The hoarder has filled his cars with so much junk, that he now has to strap garbage on top and onto the back of his cars.


Character number two is good friends with our superintendent, and is our makeshift “doorman” that you can pretty much always find on the steps outside of our apartment. He is very kind, although I can’t understand 90 percent of what he says. Picture the guy that mumbles from the movie, “The Water Boy,” and you will have a perfect idea of my neighbor. This wouldn’t be so bad except for that he makes a comment every time we see him outside. It’s getting a little easier to decipher his words, but smiling and shaking our head usually does the trick of fending him off until we get inside.


Since our apartment is over 100 years old, the plumbing does have its flaws. For example, when turning on the water in the shower, think about how you usually get to the hot water, and that will give you cold water. Now, barely turning the nozzle, when you think you’d get cold water, is where you get hot water. It’s just a reversal of what I’m used to, but not that difficult to adapt. This brings me to my third character- our toilet. Yes, we have given her the animate pronoun “she” although “she” happens to be an inanimate object. This is because each time you go to flush “her”, she lets out a little screech until the water is down. Sometimes her screeches are louder than others which for lack of human contact, perhaps, in turn forces Alex and I to comment on our opinion on her mood for the day.


Another small adjustment we have made to our Midwestern lives is going the extra length to save some money. We have found that even the off-brand of cereal at our local grocery store, Gristede’s, is twice as much as we want to pay, and half as tasty. We have beat the system though, and now get our cereal from CVS. Yes, this may seem odd, but the local CVS is always running a deal on cereal, whether it be two for $5 or two for $4, it beats spending $6 per box. We may not always get our first choice, but usually Kellogg’s and Honey Bunches of Oats are in the mix, so we are content with this extra step to splurge later on something better.


Oh, the things you’ll find in time when changing you’re state of mind.

Central Park

If you aren’t from New York, mentions of Central Park probably trigger imagery of trees and maybe even fields. Being within the large park proves that it in fact houses a lot more.

Last weekend, Alex and I walked over to the park, which luckily for us is only about four streets west of our apartment. Our goal was to walk throughout and then visit the zoo. What we found was so much more.

First of all, just about every 30 yards, you will find someone expressing their musical talent to try to earn a quick buck. We encountered everything from a fiddler, a guitarist, and violinist, to a man with a cart full of toys that was spinning a plate on a stick while balancing it on his chin. These aren’t the only characters you will find. You will also pass bike tours discussing the history of the park and kiosks set up of people selling artwork, t-shirts, magnets or cold drinks and street meat. Not to mention the randoms such as the lady on stilts dressed in full Statue of Liberty garb or the man walking around dressed like Elmo.

Since this is such a big tourist attraction in the city, it is no wonder that the park can’t simply be a park. There is also the zoo that has everything from penguins to ants (still not sure about that one), and an amusement park with rides comparable to the local fair. Also, in the park close to The Dakota where John Lennon lived and was assassinated, is a memorial dedicated to him. Now don’t get me wrong, disregarding the few restaurants and the tourist sites that aren’t really park-esque features, there are very scenic parts of the park, also. There are several ponds, the Great Lawn, many baseball diamonds, and a path for bikers and joggers to get in their daily workout.

One feature of the park that is great in some instances and frustrating in others is that there are hardly any roads linking the Upper East Side to the Upper West Side of Manhattan that go across the park, and no subway lines take this route, either. This means that if I want to get from East 65^th Street to West 65^th Street via the subway, I need to go south then transfer to a line that goes west, and finally go north. Although this can be a stressful travelling route when the easiest way would be to cut straight across the park, the quiet getaway that the park is from the bustling city makes me understand why the system is set up as it is.

Central Park is beautiful and very calming in comparison to the heavy traffic of cars and people in the city.

It’s a nice place to get away especially during a Summer day.

The subway

Getting used to the subway system has been an interesting experience during my time in the city, to say the least. There are some trends I have noticed on these lines that any first-timer in NYC venturing out onto one of these may want to know.

First of all, people in New York are always in a hurry. This means that even though the escalators taking you up and down to reach the subway platform are going at a steady pace, it is not steady enough for the majority. When stepping onto one of these, always remain on the right. Just as in traffic, staying on the right side will ensure that you will not be bothered by the fast-moving traffic on the left. Remaining on the right side is proper subway escalator etiquette so those who want to walk the escalator as it is moving can do so.

Secondly, do not be alarmed if you hear a strange song being sang or played on a unique instrument while waiting for the subway. Many artists looking to make a quick buck share their musical talents on the subway platforms. I have had the pleasure to hear everything from a fairly good rendition of Drake’s “Find Your Love” to an improvised song about chicken. Yes, a guy literally sang, “I am looking for money to get some chicken. Fried chicken, chicken nuggets, chicken sandwich,” and he went on and on. Sometimes these characters even make it into the subway to ask for spare change while belting out a Spanish tune. I am yet to see this work out well for the beggers.

Thirdly, make sure you bring something to occupy yourself that is not texting, talking on the phone, or browsing the Internet. Once you descend to the subway area, you will not have any service. AT&T, Verizon or whoever, you will have zero bars below ground. Because of this, I suggest bringing a book or an iPod to pass the time, as the ten minutes of isolation from the cell-phone world can seem almost unbearable.

The nice thing about the subway as opposed to the bus system is that it goes very quickly and can get you to your destination fast. Yes, the cars are air-conditioned, although the platforms are not. Also, be sure to invest in a map of the different lines to ensure that you are getting on the right train going the right direction.

When you know how to go, you’re one step closer to being a pro.

Not what I am used to

Last weekend marked a few firsts for me in my big city adventure. It was the first time I went out on the town, and the first time I attempted to cook a meal that required a recipe in NYC.

When we ventured out to enjoy the city’s nightlife, we decided to check out the Murray Hill location, because this is where a few New Yorkers informed us would be bustling with folks our age. Although our neighborhood is only about 30 blocks north of this area, we noticed an immediate demographic change when we hopped off the bus. The streets were lit well and many yuppies were dressed up ready to party. We met up with one of Alex’s coworkers there before heading to the bar, Arlo and Esme.

When we arrived at the bar, the bouncer notified us that it would be a two-hour wait to get inside. I believe he did this to every group to deter overcrowding in the bar. Anyways, we stepped aside to wait, and within five minutes he came over and told us it would be ok for us to come inside. I immediately understood his reasoning when going inside, as the bar was overflowing with people. The cover was only $5, and the old-fashioned aesthetic of the place was neat because it looked like a century-old house turned bar. The prices of drinks were not that neat. I am used to the Indiana college town specials like 15 cent pints, so you can imagine my surprise when I was charged $20 for two vodka tonics. Next time, more pre-drinking will ensue before heading out.

Making pasta salad seems like an easy task, but not when every grocery is local and therefore does not sell the ingredients you are used to. The first ingredient I needed was Zesty Italian dressing. Not there. They had Robust Italian and regular Italian, but no Zesty. Fail number one. The second ingredient was salad seasoning. I am used to the spices being located in alphabetical order in the spice aisle. This grocery store arranges their spices around the store next to items they believe you will need them with. So, after a long search I found the seasoning by the vegetables and of course it wasn’t the type I usually use. When making the salad lacking the two main ingredients, it definitely did not taste the same. I will need to get used to the brands and types of foods these groceries sell before my next cooking attempt.

Learning the style may take a while.

The first week

I’m starting to get used to the big transition, although some things are still a bit tough to adapt to. Take for example what I like to call “ultra-cooking.” We have a gas stove, and if you aren’t used to this, be prepared to speed things up. For example, with an electric stove, you may find yourself waiting for the skillet to heat up in order to fry some eggs. Not here. You better have those eggs ready to crack in one hand and the spatula ready to flip in the other because a gas stove takes no time to go from zero to really darn hot. Although this is a very different way of cooking, it puts a speedy twist on making dinner.

Another change I encountered was laundry. Today marked the one-week anniversary of living in New York City and my first time doing laundry since my arrival. Since most apartments (at least in our price range) do not have a washer and dryer in the building, there are laundromats on every block. Luckily ours just happens to be directly across the street. While hauling your clothes around in a bag is not ideal, Alex and I kept our Midwestern flair by using our Indiana University sack. Go Hoosiers!

Anytime you want to stock up on groceries, be prepared to make two pit stops. The first at the grocery store where you can get bread, milk and all the necessities, and the second at the corner produce stand to get your fruit and vegetables. This may seem odd, but those corner stands not only house hot dogs and soft drink vendors, many are devoted only to produce. This is the best place to buy produce, also. Bananas are typically five for $1, and lemons are three for $1.

While walking home from downtown along Fashion Avenue yesterday I also found a unique feature of the city. Many stores that display the cutest most fashionable outfits in the windows are not open to the public. This is because these stores are for wholesale only. Let me tell you how much of a tease that can be! These window displays show 10 or more mannequins dressed to the nines and you can’t buy a thing. No worries, because I found the downtown Macy’s on my walk to the subway home as well, and that is definitely open to the public!

One week in my new place and still a lot to embrace!

The people

While touring some of the must-see tourist locations in New York, I got a pretty good feel for the wide variety of people that really do live on this small island. Little Italy and Chinatown get their name for the primary population living in those neighborhoods. The areas also accommodate the population as if they were actually Chinese or Italian cities stuck right in the middle of New York City. Each store in Chinatown displays Chinese writing for prices and products. Even the Chase bank sign has Chinese writing for the locals to read.

The markets and restaurants are also native to the population of these areas. There are fish markets selling raw fish and clothing stores selling kimonos. Little Italy also houses Italian restaurants and bakeries with gelato and every variety of traditional Italian cooking you can imagine. This will definitely be the area I go to when I’m looking to splurge on real pizza!

Not only are the people diverse, but they are plenty! I learned this when attending the Macy’s fireworks show on the Hudson River. Thousands of people flocked to the event to catch a glimpse of the over-the-top fireworks for Independence Day, and I got a true feeling as to how only around 2 percent of all apartments in New York City are unoccupied at any given time. I kept my patience, and aside from a little subway mix up, it took Alex and me only about an hour to get home from the event.

A big misconception is that people in the city are rude and pushy. While I’m sure the city gives way to people of all types, those whom I have come into contact with have been very nice and more than willing to help a Midwesterner. Aside from the one girl that rode by the crowd of firework-watchers on her bike yelling “F*** everyone”, (I hope she was drunk), I have really met some genuinely nice people. For example the nice man in the building next door could have scoffed at our attempt to rid our apartment of our moving trash in one bin, disregarding the New York state law that requires recycling, but instead he helped us separate our trash and explained thoroughly the process to us.

Learning every day to know the way of a big city girl.

Finally here

And here I am, plopped down right in the middle of the concrete jungle in my quaint apartment on 65^thStreet. Alex and I moved in yesterday and hustled to get all of our things in place in order to make our apartment seem more like home. His must-have bicycle currently resides in front of our “fireplace,” but other than that decorating faux pas, our place is really shaping up!

If anyone needs advice for moving to the city that never sleeps, this is the place to find it. Coming straight from a first-timer that has lived in the city a total of 48 hours, here are the must-dos/don’ts and the best advice I can offer when moving to Manhattan.

First things first- do not attempt to move your stuff. Yes, this may seem odd, but having Alex’s company professionally move all of our items out here in order to simply catch to flight to meet the movers in time to unpack was a blessing. Why? Because, this isn’t just a move where you shimmy your truck right up into the driveway and unload. This is Manhattan. Busy streets bustling with people and traffic, not to mention a way of life that moves so fast that even Usain Bolt couldn’t keep up. So, save up the bucks and have someone else do the dirty work. I promise, it will be worth it.

Second of all, you might want to measure the space between your couch and your entertainment center before purchasing a 55” inch flat screen. Yes, when you are moving in with Mr. Technologically Advanced it may be hard to settle for anything less than the best, but keep in mind that space is limited. Perhaps a smaller TV would work for the initial move and that could be moved to the bedroom to make way for Papa TV in the living room when you move into a bigger space. Our 55” works well, luckily, and I think we will be the go-to friends when our neighbors want to see the newest movie out on Netflix.

Last but not least, do not forget the wine opener. After two long days of unpacking and decorating you will be more than ready to settle down with a nice glass of cabernet sauvignon. Do not resort to using a drill and pliers like Alex and I had to do. Bring your opener, hit up the local liquor store and enjoy your first calm night as a New Yorker.

I have embraced the city wholly with my first experiences and loved every minute of it. I can only hope I will grow to love it even more.

Different space, different place.

Random differences, but important nonetheless

While driving through southern Indiana this afternoon, I really took in the atmosphere. The greenery, the wildlife and the realization that I would soon be trading it for very different surroundings. The biggest difference, though, will be that I was in fact driving.

Due to the high price of parking a vehicle in NYC and the impossible driving course that is Manhattan, I will not be taking my car to the city. Apparently I will need to learn the subway routes and get accustomed to seeing rats on the tracks. (I saw two in my four day visit earlier this month!) Transportation will most likely be the most challenging change for me during my transition. No longer will the term "railroaded" be used in my vocabulary as I'm sure the New York natives have never heard of the term. The coasting of my Ford Escape behind a John Deere on a back road will soon become the abrupt stop-and-go of a taxi behind a Maserati.

Now to completely change the subject...

I had the opportunity of attending karaoke at a local restaurant this week where I realized there is something about the Midwestern feel that I'm really going to miss. As I watched the 60-year-old man dressed in plaid sing Shaggy's "It Wasn't Me" while incorporating hand gestures to the line "Picture this we were both butt naked..." (you know the rest), I paused to really see the charm of it all. Where else can you get this kind of sheer entertainment that makes you feel so uncomfortable because the performer is so comfortable? Not Broadway! Only in a small town of Indiana will you see these characters who butcher every country song in the books and feel as if they truly are Keith Urban or Tim McGraw putting on a concert.

Similarities will be few, but I'm ready for the "new."

Beautiful people

It is no wonder New York City is known for the fittest, most fashionable, beautiful people in the world- the town is made to accommodate this lifestyle! First, you’ll notice that every street from the Upper East to the Upper West side is lined with shops. Shopping for shoes, clothes and not mention the mother of all Tiffany & Co. stores downtown.

So once you’ve successfully dressed to impress, it’s on to getting into shape. A trend you’ll notice at each restaurant, from local cafés to Sbarro, is that calories are listed beside each entrée item regardless of how large the count may be. So, you may think twice before indulging in that extra breadstick knowing it is in fact another 250 calories. This may be why the streets seem to be lined with modelesque men and women every day. This also may be why Indiana consistently ranks in the top 15 fattest states in America, according to some online poles, while New York remains at the bottom of the totem pole closer to 40^th. The need to take public transportation also keeps New Yorkers walking and exercising, as well.

Manicures and pedicures are frequented often too because of the extremely low prices. How low you ask? A full manicure and pedicure is $19 for both at most places I have seen! It is no wonder every person keeps their hands and feet fully primped when it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to maintain them!

Relaxation is the key to not being stressed out and thus preventing the effects of aging. Good thing New York City has a massage parlor on every block so the population remains stress-free and thus, beautiful. Other states may want to take a lesson from this New York trend and start whipping their citizens into shape!

The city helps you look your best better than those states in the Midwest!

Learning the rules

There are many lessons that a New Yorker must learn when tackling the city for the first time. Luckily Alex and I had the privilege of touring the city with a native city slicker, our real-estate agent, Joe, and we got the rundown as to the proper mannerisms of NYC.

We experienced a very rainy day during one of our apartment hunting trips which taught us lesson number one- you must have a durable, wind-proof, rain-proof, fire-proof and any other proof umbrella if you want to maximize its efficiency in the city. When Joe met us with his large and in charge golfing umbrella, we knew that cheapo one we bought at the local CVS wasn’t going to cut it. As we both huddled under this umbrella while maintaining a mix of grace and speed down the street, we soon experienced the tourist faux pas of a faulty umbrella. The wind was unforgiving and our umbrella flipped inside out multiple times leaving us wet, but educated. We will invest in some strong umbrellas upon our arrival for good.

The second lesson we learned was taxi-hailing etiquette. As Joe stood on the street watching taxi after taxi pass without lifting his arm to stop one, Alex and I inquired as to why he wasn’t asking one to stop. It turns out, taxis let you know when they are full, off-duty, or available by the lights on the top. No, those aren’t simply to make them seem more cliché, but they in fact do serve a purpose. If both outside lights are on, it means the cab is off duty. So unless your stop happens to be on their way home, you have no chance of getting them to stop. If all the lights are off, the cab already has passengers and this guy too will not stop at your frantically waiving hand. Now, if the center light is on, ding-ding-ding, that is the only instance in which the cab will stop to pick you up. So to make you seem more like a New Yorker, do not wave at every passing cab.

Lesson number three- you must learn every borough, neighborhood and landmark in the city if you want to get around. You’ll notice in the subway system that the signs don’t simply point you North, South, East or West but rather toward specific areas around the city. For example, you need to know if you need to hop on the subway going toward Brighton Beach or the Bronx. So, you better grab a map or memorize the city in order to successfully reach your destination.

There is lots to know if you want to be a pro in NYC.

Changing spaces

Furnishing the odd measurements of a 100-year-old apartment has its ups and downs. Now that I've officially transitioned from the 'throw-everything-together-in-hopes-that-it-matches' college mindset, I'm paying attention to the details so minute as the wood coloring in the side table matching the wood in the entertainment center exactly.


Curtains, now that is the tricky part. Why did they make windows eight feet high and one foot wide in 1900? Perhaps it was so nobody could escape, or they wanted to light the room vertically. Either way, it's annoying to find curtains that fit in 2010!


Now the ups you ask? Well, I am already anticipating hanging stockings on our fireplace that is unusable, but antique and awesome nonetheless. Christmastime will be extraordinary this year with this new addition. And the high ceilings of my new joint make the room seem surprisingly bigger despite its measurements- what a great set up for a tall Christmas tree! Ok, so most of the benefits of this small space won't be reaped until December...


The little details about an NYC apartment as opposed to an Indiana apartment haven't gone unnoticed either. For example, I now have to worry about the size of the dish drying rack, because we don't have a dishwasher, and the mode of transportation of my laundry to and from the nearest cleaners, since we don't have a washer and dryer. Be advised that many appliances that you have taken for granted in Indiana will not be available in your NYC home. Air conditioning-forget about it.

Off we go to decorate and appreciate life in the fast lane!

Not exactly corn fields and Amish folk

As my plane descended into New York City for the first time, I noticed I would soon be trading the flat terrain of the Midwest for the concrete jungle that is The Big Apple- but the landscape is not the only thing that would be changing. In fact, my entire lifestyle learned in 22 years in Indiana would be flipped 180 degrees.

Within 15 minutes of being outside of my terminal at La Guardia, I was bombarded with a little New York wheeling and dealing of cab and limo drivers. I soon realized this was commonplace not only with your choice of transportation, but with cafes, comedy shows and even a 21-minute massage. (Still not quite sure about the math in that one.) As I dodged the continuously honking traffic, clearly disregarding the ”no-honking” law, and the dog-walkers and baby-pushers, I arrived at my hotel on the Upper West Side which was quaint with narrow halls and little space. This is a trend I soon learned is consistent in all real estate.

This trip was devoted to searching for an apartment to begin the final move into Manhattan with my boyfriend, Alex. We began looking at apartments in our price range, and something about the $1800 per month, five-hundred square feet apartments is in fact charming. The negative side of this process, in my opinion, was walking 30 blocks to view these apartments in ballet flats that were all kinds of uncomfortable, not to mention the 90 mile-per-hour pace our real estate agent decided to walk. I didn’t want to act like I wasn’t cut out for the city, so I ignored the blistering beginning to form on the sides of my feet and took to the streets!

It wasn’t until Alex and I took a break to admire the greenery of Central Park that I began to people-watch and noticed that nothing about the shoes worn by the New York natives were attractive. In fact, I saw every variation of Crocs and Keds. Needless to say, the rest of my trip was spent wearing comfy sandals and halfway considering stopping into the Crocs superstore downtown.

The pace is fast and the city is vast, but I think I can get used to this New York state of mind.