Tips on Living in New York

I want to be a part of it. New York, New York!

Many individuals across the country and around the world want to move to New York City. With endless opportunities, beautiful tourist spots, and delicious cuisines, living in the city that never sleeps seems like an adventure.

Before you start packing your bags, here are some tips on living in The Big Apple:

Learn a Second Language

New York City is one of the most diverse places in the world. With thousands of immigrants in The Big Apple, you’re bound to meet someone who speaks a different language. Research shows that approximately 49% of NYC residents speak a second language and many of them don’t know English very well. Spanish and Chinese are the top languages in the city, next to English.

Meet new friends and get more opportunities by joining language classes. You’ll find many companies and organizations offering Spanish lessons in New York.

Practice Subway Etiquette

Apart from taking easy language lessons in Spanish, think about learning subway etiquette.

With over 8.3 million people living in the city, driving a car may mean getting stuck in traffic for hours during critical times of the day. Most New Yorkers prefer to use the subway, as it is fast and reliable. A good local knows how to ride the subway properly. While you may squeeze your way in and out of a train, learning subway etiquette will save you from embarrassment.

Staring is rude. You may be standing beside Bradley Cooper, Jessica Alba, Anne Hathaway, or other celebrities known to take the train, but this doesn’t mean you can stare at them. The city is full of beautiful residents. As a rule of thumb, never look at anyone for more than two seconds. When you can’t peel your eyes off a person, say hi. It’s the polite thing to do.

Walk More – and Faster

Taking a cab and renting a car are costly. To live in the city on a budget, take the subway, ride the bus, and walk.

The streets of the Big Apple are similar to freeways: everyone’s going fast. Walk slowly and pedestrians behind you will start pushing you forward. Save your leisurely walks on tourist spots.

Moving to NYC is exciting. Make it more fun by learning how to live like a local. As they say, when in New York, do what New Yorkers do.

Resources:

http://www.easyespanol.org/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/10/new-york-city-languages-non-english_n_2271353.html
http://www.examiner.com/article/tips-for-living-manhattan