After 49 states, 5 countries, and 3 continents, I realized that I have done a little traveling, but home base has always been relatively the same. I’ve lived a quarter of a century in the western United States, and it has definitely shaped me. When I moved to New York two months ago, I knew things would be different. Here are ten myths from the West Coast about New York that may or may not be true.
Fact 1: The best pizza on Earth
While I can’t say that I have actually tried pizza from every single shop in the world, I can say that New York is consistently the most delicious I have had. There is plenty of variety with another pizza place on practically every other corner (sometimes more). Many places offer a plain cheese slice for only a dollar. I don’t know what wizardry goes on in New York ovens, but I’m addicted. Don’t feel bad Chicago—you still have the best hot dogs.
Fact 2: There’s a crowd
This is probably not much of a surprise. In terms of square feet, the island of Manhattan is smaller than the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. The millions of people who call it home have managed to build a life stacking apartments on top of one another in countless high rises. That means a lot of people in very little space. You can do the math.
Fact 3: No one is waiting
Everyone has somewhere to be. That means whether you are on the subway, the street, or even a restaurant, no one has time to stand behind you if you’re daydreaming or lost. Jaywalking isn’t a thing here. Traffic signals are merely suggestions. Weaving in and out of foot traffic in a way that would seriously irk any westerner is completely acceptable in the city. When the morning rush hour hits, it’s best if you find a safe place to wait it out. I’ve seen stampeding buffalo less dangerous.
Fact 4: Fashion rules
When the kid who sells magazines on the street corner is suddenly better dressed than you are, you realize that the closet needs some updating. West Coast casual means, “I’m comfortable. I don’t care what I look like.” Most everyone seems dressed to impress. Even on those jeans and T-shirt days, most tags say fitted or designer.
Fact 5: Public transportation works
People really do take taxi cabs. It’s not just tourists and people coming home from the airport. Western public transit is a remarkable pain in the neck. Having a car on the West coast is a status statement, because no one wants to take the bus. Some of the wealthiest people I’ve met in New York don’t even know how to drive—something a teenager in the western states can’t even fathom.
Fiction 1: New Yorkers walk fast
Regardless of the fact that everyone is on the go (see Fact 3), everyone is moving slow. On the West Coast, things are much more spread out. That means plenty of ground to cover and plenty of room to take big steps. New York seems to work on the premise that people move about by shuffling around town. I can only assume that the time difference is made up by disregarding traffic laws and what western states know as personal space.
Fiction 2: There are no trees
A purely imagined bias of the western half of the country. I always imagined New York to be a leafless victim of urban sprawl. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the concrete jungle is surprisingly green. I have to give my respect to city planners, who managed to integrate some nature into the big city environment.
Fiction 3: NYC is dangerous
Upon my first visit to New York, relatives were concerned that I would be robbed and assaulted within my first few minutes. I emerged from the L subway train to the neighborhood of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. I was greeted not by mafia heavies in trench coats but by hipster aloha shirts and funny mustaches. I have never felt unsafe in any part of the city. Warning: any traveler in an unfamiliar place knows that the key is to not look like a tourist. That means keep an eye on your belongings and don’t act obnoxious.
Fiction 4: A 24 hour town
It’s true that some establishments stay open all hours of the night. When I think of a city that never sleeps, however, I imagine places that are just as lively at 3 AM as they are at 3 PM. Not quite the case. Most of the city looks like a ghost town during those late night hours. After all, most people have to be in the office at 9 AM tomorrow.
Fiction 5: Everyone is rude
Apart from the complete disregard for personal space, most of my interactions with the native wildlife has been very pleasant. If you are expecting a big Midwestern howdy from everyone on the street, of course you will be disappointed. There are too many people and too few hours to observe the usual courtesies of other places. Like most human beings, however, if you smile and are friendly, you will usually get the same in return.
I’m slowly learning things like the word hoagie means a sandwich and a toll booth is actually a thing. As the feeling that I stepped onto an alien planet begins to dissipate, and I feel more and more at home, I understand why people the world over have proclaimed it: I love New York.