Ahhhhh…. New York City. The city of cities, financial powerhouse and beacon of pop culture, celebrated in song by everyone from Frank Sinatra to Alicia Keys. With over 8 million inhabitants, it is – by far – the most populous American metropolis, and perhaps the most diverse place in the world, representing over 600 languages.
I’ve met a lot of people who have never been to the US, and most of them have one thing in common: they all want to experience NYC. Before I went, I didn’t know what to tell them. Later, when asked why I chose to live there, the answer was simple:
“It’s New York.”
My first trip was spur of the moment; an old friend from Australia told me she was planning to visit, and it seemed like a good opportunity to finally see what I’d been missing. It was everything I expected and more.
Similarly, moving there was an impulse decision. When I decided it was time to leave Atlanta for good, I considered a handful of different cities. NYC was initially ruled out due to what seemed like an unreasonably high cost of living, but in the end, I realized that if I were going to stay in the US, there was only one place I wanted to be.
The fast-paced lifestyle isn’t for everyone, of course, and as a southerner at heart, I figured I’d burn out before too long. I only stayed a year and a half, but NYC will always have a special place in my heart, and if the stars align someday, I’d happily live there again.
There’s nothing more to be said about the place that hasn’t been said by countless others already, but every time I visit, there are two things I seek out: cheap eats and luxury perfume.