The Idiosyncrasies of New Yorkers

Am I a New Yorker?  Not really, no.  I haven't lived in the city long enough to transform into such a thing.  Yet, I do find myself slowly adopting some NY traits.  In a way, I kind of like the fact that I get annoyed when people talk on the subway or when a man with a golf umbrella walks down the sidewalk, oblivious to how big of a turd-nugget he's being.  I like the idea of fitting in, being a "local."  Yet, I also don't like a lot of the things I see myself beginning to do.  That's not me.  I don't want to lose my Midwest roots.  But, at the same time, I do.  To solve this problem, I've decided to become a hybrid of sorts, a mix between the two cultures.  It seems like the greenest thing I can do in this environmentally anal society.  I am a "Mid-Yorker."

Here are some other funny things I see New Yorkers regularly do.  I catch myself doing some of them too on occasion:

• Staring down the car that's waiting for the light to change when  you cross the street.  You're effectively letting the driver know, "Ha!  I have the right of way!  You have to wait.  Hahaha. Go honk yourself.
  
• As a mentioned above, giving evil looks at the jerk who uses a giant golf umbrella and takes up half of the sidewalk.  Either he's ignorant or just a boob.
• When a homeless person comes on the subway to ask for money, no one makes eye contact.  Even if the homeless person comes up to you and starts talking to you, you just ignore him.  It's just common curtsey to ignore hobos, don't cha know?
• Walking in NYC is like driving home in rush hour - cars (aka "people") everywhere.  Sometimes, people cut others off.  This usually elicits a cold, blood thirsty death stare at the back of the offender's head. I'm totally guilty of this one...the staring part.
• Making sure you're the first one on the subway car so you can be the first to grab any open seat, if there is one (which is rare).  
• Walking around everywhere with headphones in your ears.
• Smiling at people?  Bah!  This is New York.  People don't smile.
• Looking at tourists with disdain when they walk down the sidewalk shoulder to shoulder, unaware of the multitude of people behind them trying to get around them.  Poor etiquette.
• Personally, I am a stair person.  If I had to choose between the stairs and an escalator, I would choose stairs every time.  However, when I have to use the escalator, I expect people to stand to one side so that those who want to walk up the escalator can do so.  People rarely respect this unwritten rule
• "Do Not Cross" means squat here.  If there are no cars coming you can cross.  Heck, even if there are cars coming you can still cross.  They'll slow down.  You'll probably get a honk but honks are like cabs around here...everywhere.

What are some of the stereotypes you have of New Yorkers?  Are there any interesting traits or tics that make you laugh?  If so, share them!

Half a Year Living in NYC

Well, 6 months in NYC is fast approaching.  Soon, I will have lived here for half a year!  It’s strange to think about it, actually.  There’s a part of me that still hasn’t accepted the fact that NYC is my home.  I live here.  I work here.  I go shopping here.  Manhattan is my backyard.  Yet, I still find myself from time to time thinking, “Wait…I live in NYC!  That’s so cool of me.”  I forget that this is my home, and when I do remember, I get this “Ben-is-awesome” feeling.

Okay, so six months.  What do I have to say for myself?  For one thing, I’ve found that people (such as me) like lists.  So, I will compile my thoughts in a list for your reading pleasure.

• For there being so many people in NYC, it’s easy to feel alone and isolated.
• On the other hand, a brisk walk around Brooklyn or into Manhattan can do a lot to remove the “alone” feeling but not remove it.
• Work has come a long way.  My confidence has grown tremendously in what I do and my stress levels are much lower than my first few months.  After being thrown to the dogs around month three with a gigantic and overwhelming project, I think I’ve past the hump.  I can truly call myself an analyst now.
• Rent is still obnoxiously expensive.
• I love being able to see and spend time with my NJ cousins (Alonza and Cortez) and my aunt and uncle (Fred and Marina).  My last visit to NJ included various trips to Wal-Mart to play tag and hide-n-go seek.

• During the weekends, I find myself without a purpose.  While there’s plenty to do in the city, most of it lacks a certain amount of depth for me.  I’ve been looking for a hobby or something that can give me a goal/purpose and fulfill my desire for something more.  No luck so far.  Ideas?
• Regarding purpose, I just signed up for a Spring soccer coed league.  I’m waiting to hear back from the organization but I hope this will help some.  Soccer and exercise – there’s nothing better.
• Speaking of exercise, I’m looking forward to the warmer temperatures so I can run daily.
• While Sofy (my friend, for lack of a better title, from Costa Rica) and I only knew each other for a month or so in Costa Rica, she and I still talk multiple times a week on Skype.  Sometimes I wish she was here in NY with me.  That would certainly solve #1 above.
• I am flying to Detroit at the end of June for Mike’s wedding and to help Emily move out of her apartment (she’s going to Russia in July for three weeks!!).   

I really have a lot more to say but I’ve also found that lists, while enjoyed by many, also have their limit.  If they’re too long, people lose interest – a sad but true fact of life.

So, there you have it.  Six months of thoughts boiled down to a list of 10.

If you want to know more about my life here in NYC or if you have a question about something I’ve written above, let me know by posting a comment or sending me a Facebook message.

Yours truly,
Benjamin Gau, Urban Socialite