According to the New York Times, it takes a while for all those new young people to find their fit in the Big Apple.
But for many, the thrill of arrival is often tempered by the sinking realization of what an alienating place the city can be, especially for those who are not wealthy or who do not have a pre-existing network of friends. Nothing comes easily, even if one can get past the dauntingly high cost of living. The subway maze seems indecipherable. People are everywhere, but ignore each other on the street. Friends might live in distant neighborhoods, and seeing them often requires booking time, like an appointment, weeks in advance.
Money quote: “The city abuses you, and you just have to abuse it back.”
August 31st, 2008 at 9:43 pm
New York is an extremely crowded city full of anonymity. I find it fascinating. I’m impressed by the people who voluntarily relocate there and throw themselves into the demands of the city. As intimidating as it can be, it has always felt like one of the most creative places in the world. They don’t necessarily welcome people with open arms… they just ignore them as they assimilate.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I went there straight out of high school to go to Parsons and loved it immediately. I stayed for 17 years, and my favorite thing about it was the feeling of non-stop potential. But yeah, it can be a financial nightmare, and the stress of all that is one reason I finally left. If you don’t have money, you’d better have enthusiasm and determination, otherwise the city’ll eat you alive. In retrospect I think the most important thing about it was MAKING CONNECTIONS. You can mix and mingle with all kinds of people there… the only other place I can think of that offers that kind of mash-up and immediacy (well, similar but different) is Black Rock City.