Living in New York City to work in fashion marketing sounds glamorous. Think coffee runs, rooftop sunsets and walking around like you're Carrie Bradshaw.
The reality? I got on the wrong bus more times than the right one, spent more money on lunch than I care to admit and somehow managed to lock myself out of my room with dripping wet hair.
But I wouldn’t change any of it, if it means I could stay here forever.
Everyone Knows What They're Doing…Except Me
Social anxiety cannot exist in New York because I can almost guarantee that you will need help at some point or another. I do think it would be 1000x easier if you just had your shit together and didn’t need to leave 2 hours earlier than needed just to make sure you get somewhere on time.
Listen, I am from a small city in England, which means underground trains and most public transport don’t exist unless it’s a bus. So, you'd think the subway would be my biggest issue, apparently not. The subway may be the easiest public transport I have yet to attempt in another country but I was blissfully unaware of the excessively large bus station with about 400 gates and very unclear instructions on which ones go where.
This is where the idea of no social anxiety comes in you see because at some point you have to stop scrambling about on citymapper and endlessly googling useless information and just ask someone. Luckily for me, you can purchase your tickets at the ‘bus terminal’. I handed my phone over to the man and explained where I needed to go, simple. Unluckily for me, he gave me the wrong ticket. $40 later in an uber and I was still late to my first day at the internship.
Out of the five workdays, I caught the wrong bus three times. Yes, it wasn’t just a mistake once, it happened more than necessary honestly. At least I can provide great entertainment for my family when I call to tell them I have done it again but this time I got on one too early and was dropped off on a highway in New Jersey.
New York is Expensive. Like REALLY Expensive
I know it’s silly to not expect a big city to be so expensive, but when I tell you it's expensive it is no joke. Just to start off with a shock, I spent $26 on sandwich ingredients and that doesn't even include butter.
Back home, I'd think twice about spending £10 on lunch. Here, I've found myself handing over $18 for a salad and somehow convincing myself it was a sensible decision. Add a coffee, a snack for the afternoon and the occasional sweet treat because you've had a long day, and suddenly you've spent enough to buy a week's worth of food back home.
I've quickly realised that convenience comes at a price. When you're out all day, it's so easy to grab something on the way to work or pick up dinner after a long walk home. It doesn't feel like much at the time, but after a few days I started adding it all up and decided I needed to get a bit more organised.
I'm slowly learning where the cheaper grocery stores are, which places are worth the money and which ones definitely aren't. It's all part of figuring out life here. My first week might have been a little harsh on my wallet, but at least it's taught me one thing: budgeting in New York is practically a full-time job.
Pyjamas, Wet Hair and a Faulty Door
I have never been a night shower person but after a day of the subway and humidity, nothing feels better than a nice shower to freshen you up. All squeaky clean, in my pyjamas, hair dripping well, carrying my old clothes and a damp towel… my door doesn't open.
I wasn’t locked out by any fault of mine but that day and basically every other day for the rest of the week, the door decided it wasn't going to unlock with the key. Of course the one time I have just got out of the shower and can’t get in, someone decides to linger around the corridor watching my struggle.
After about 30 minutes of trial and error I braved it and headed to reception but their solution was to give me more keys and keep trying. The universe must have decided I had enough torment and the door finally opened.
From now on my door is latched if I’m going to the bathroom because the chance of someone going in might be less embarrassing then that happening to me again.
Small Wins and Big Adventures
Any slight inconvenience in New York doesn’t really matter because well… you're in New York. Plus it’s good to celebrate the small wins like getting to work okay, learning the subway, ordering coffee with confidence because this makes every problem forgotten.
Outside of work, I've already packed more into one week than I ever imagined. I've seen the Statue of Liberty from the ferry, spent hours wandering around The Met, browsed flea markets and thrift shops, stood underneath the giant billboards in Times Square, eaten a bagel in Central Perk, people-watched in Washington Square Park and finished the day with ice cream at Central Park as the sun went down. Those moments make every wrong turn worth it.
If there's one thing my first week has taught me, it's that you don't have to get everything right to enjoy yourself. Sometimes the best stories come from the things that don't go to plan. As much as I've dreamed about living in New York, I don't think I imagined it would involve so many buses, so much money disappearing from my account or a door that simply refused to let me in.
But somehow, all of those little disasters have made me feel more at home. I'm learning the city one mistake at a time, and I already know this first week is one I'll never forget.
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