Personal experience: New York through the eyes of a novice

Photo: depositphoto

The experience of living in New York is useful for any person with an active lifestyle. During my short stay here, I never cease to be amazed at the structure of American society, the rules for organizing city life for every resident - and I dispel my personal myths about the life of Americans.

Street musicians

Few people know, but in order to be able to make money playing music on the New York subway, you need to pass a competition and audition. Musicians send their recordings, they are selected for an audition, and those who pass are given permission to work for a certain period. It is good practice to take care of the ears and musical tastes of passengers and give creative people the opportunity to earn a living legally.

Short talk

Americans are sociable, Americans are immensely sociable, Americans are so sociable that it is almost impossible to be alone with yourself and your thoughts in any crowded place. Wherever you are and whatever you do, people will talk to you. Whether you want it or not. Because they always talk, they talk loudly, they talk a lot, they talk about anything, they talk to friends and strangers, to tourists and neighbors, in good and bad English. But they always say. And they always care about you. You stop for a minute in the metro and look for the transfer sign in your direction, immediately 2 people rush to tell you what and how - with a strange and incomprehensible participation. I burst into tears in a cafe, and then out of nowhere a plump dark-skinned aunt appears with a pack of paper napkins:

- Are you ok, honey?

You go to the edge of the world, walked in a half-empty car to the subway map to count the number of stops before the transfer, now the grandfather of 75-years crawls through the entire car:

-Hi! I do this line for 40 years! Where you go?

I'm not talking about the morning:

- How're you, babe? Black coffee no sugar, no milk?

in nearby Toby's coffee from smiling bearded man. Or:

— How are you doing, darling? I love your shoes! It might be too heavy for You!

(the last one about my watermelon, all three sentences without pauses) from the Spanish-speaking cashier at 50-years in the Gourmet Garage. Or:

- Hi! We're Your neighbors, thanks for planting and watering these flowers, You've made our street nicer! Btw, where're you from?

Or op across the street from the owner of the wine shop:

— How was your cava yesterday night? Did you enjoy it?

At first it annoyed me:

- Leave me alone, I’m already stressed without you!

Now it entertains me endlessly. They can not get bored, you'll never be left alone in this crazy Big City.

People in the US work a lot

People in the USA work very hard! The concept of paid leave does not exist by law, it exists under a contract with your employer. A good employer and you are a great specialist - get your 2 weeks. The bad one is your problem, that means you’re crap and not an employee, be glad you have a job. There is no concept of maternity leave, 2-3 weeks - and please go to work, girls. Daycare or free kindergarten - forget it: $2 per month for daycare, or take a nanny for even more money, or do whatever you want with your partner. Taxes are 500-30% of income and try not to pay. Medical insurance is paid for at your own expense, or if you are a top specialist, it may be paid for by the company. Become a professional - learn! Good higher education $50-30 thousand per year - take out a loan and work it off afterwards. I won’t even mention the amount of utility bills.

The whole essence of modern America is in freedom

Photo: Ksenia Efremova

This granny is standing in line for boarding a water taxi in her own decorated carriage. She lives in the village of Kismet with the average cost of a wooden summer house from $ 800 thousand a few kilometers from the gay friendly village of Cherry Grove, the connection between which is only by water. Arrived at the parade and drag queen show (show trances) in honor of Independence Day. Arrived, hanged out, going home. This is the essence of modern America. Freedom!

New York is a city of queues

Photo: Ksenia Efremova

A queue at a cheap eatery is easy, a queue for morning coffee is a must, a queue at a Michelin-starred restaurant with a reservation 3 weeks in advance - you will easily be asked to wait 15-20 minutes at the bar. A line at the museum three blocks long, consisting of people standing evenly, none of whom even tries to walk half a meter around the person in front, is a common occurrence. A life-long line at the Rag&Bone sample sale is a must, a line at the sale at Mahnolo Blahnik is a must. To rent an apartment for $3000 there is a queue for an open house, to rent an apartment for $15000 there is a queue for an open house. To see a doctor at one of the best clinics in the city, the wait in line is 1 hour and 10 minutes. The waiting list for making an appointment is 3 weeks. Taxi line, subway line, traffic jams, line at JFK. And no one is complaining, it’s just the way it is here - everything is first come first serve, and no one is special enough to get in or out of it.

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