How to pass for yours in New York: funny tips from a seasoned city dweller

Those who have lived in the Big Apple for many years have formed a real New York character. It is he who distinguishes old-timers from beginners. But is it possible to become a real native if you were born elsewhere? This is being considered by Peter Zalmaev, an international observer and presenter on the Direct TV channel, who has lived in New York for 20 years. The material was published on the website of the publication "New time".

"Being the most European city in America and at the same time hanging huge star-striped flags on every second building, New York is spiritually neither Europe nor America," writes Zalmaev.

New York is fundamentally different from other American cities. “Unlike most American cities throughout New York, and not only in its central part (there is no center as such in New York), a pedestrian, not a car, dominates. Here is the most branched, though far from the cleanest metro in the world: 36 lines and 468 stations, ”the author says.

Zalmaev calls New York not just the most European city in the country, but "a separate country." Or at least the "capital of the world." “In what other city can you have breakfast in the Ukrainian dumpling on Brighton Beach, drink green tea with tapioca grains (China Town, Brooklyn), have a meal with Hasidic herring and booklet (Williamsburg, Brooklyn), dine Korean bolsimb bibimbap (Little Korea - 34th street, Manhattan), dig in to the dump of juicy beef in Brazilian Churascaria (Little Brazil, 46th Street, Manhattan) and, if there is enough space, enjoy a Latin American dessert tres lechez in the Dominican tavern Mama Juana (Washington Heights, Manhattan). And all this along one metro line in one day, ”Peter paints. By the way, those who want to taste all these dishes in one place can do it in the international dining room of the UN General Assembly building on 44th Manhattan Street.

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If you, like Peter Zalmaev before moving, thought that New York is a gloomy metropolis, built up with gray skyscrapers that do not let in sunlight, then you were mistaken. Here, in addition to the Central steam, there are many other parks, squares and playgrounds. The latter are the legacy of the omnipotent "chief builder" of New York, Robert Moses, who mercilessly redrawed the map of the city from the 1920s to the 1960s. ”

Later, the Moses case was continued by the 108th mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg. Under his leadership, the city became even more green and comfortable for life, although prohibitively expensive for an ever-increasing number of its inhabitants. “Probably his most striking initiative is High Line Park, built on an abandoned ground branch of an old freight railway. It rises to the floor above the ground and extends along residential buildings from 12th to 34th Manhattan Street, ”Zalmaev said.

And only after living in New York for some time you will learn about what is the "New York character." It is he who distinguishes old-timers from beginners. “Being a New Yorker is not paying attention to a traffic light (only tourists are waiting for its green light). By all means to avoid Times Square - the most postcard part of the city. As well as never calling the city its tourist name Big Apple - for you it is just New York. Here, in order to understand your social status, it is enough for the girl in the bar to ask where you live, ”Peter explains.

One of the most important rules of the “true native” is to pretend that he did not notice another celebrity on the street, of which there are a lot. “But I have not yet boasted that in 2008 I was sitting next to Mick Jagger at the Metropolitan Opera! And the way that in 2007 he rode in the elevator to the 36th floor of the Trump Tower with its owner of the same name! ” - Not without pride observes Zalmaev.

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“Being a New Yorker is ordering a cooofee with a typical nasal stretched ooo. And you will be served a large glass of it with you, because coffee is not here for small talk, but for walks, business meetings and quick dashes between buildings, ”the author writes.

Is it possible to become a true New Yorker if you were not lucky enough to be born in this metropolis? Zalmaev sure yes. But for this you need to live here for at least 10 years "or just be born that way."

Now, New York is going through hard times due to a pandemic of coronavirus infection, which caused great damage to the economy and disrupted the usual rhythm of life. However, this metropolis has already experienced many other troubles and managed to survive. For example, the attacks of September 11, 2011, the financial crisis in 2008, the hurricane Sandy in 2012. “New York has a chance once again to get dry out of the water and become even cooler. Well, if not, well: we, his emissaries, will carry the banner of our city around the world, for, as Frank Sinatra sings, “if I succeed here, I can do it everywhere, New York,” the author concluded.

As ForumDaily New York wrote earlier:

• When you gradually turn from a tourist into a local resident, New York opens from a completely different direction. The city is so diverse that even when the euphoria from meeting it passes, it does not cease to amaze. About how real life in New York works and how much it costs, read in this publication.
• The path to the “American dream” is similar for many immigrants. About how the first days of the Russian migrant in America go, Read here.
• Ukrainian Roman Apostle managed to get a job at Google. He later quit to develop his own business. Now Roman shares his experience with others. Read about the stages of the interview, salary and those with whom you had to work in a world-famous company in this material.