Pros and cons of living in New York: educational program for immigrants
'27.11.2020'
Vita Popova
Moving to a new city, and even more so to a country, is always a test. Those who have acquaintances in a new place find it easier to settle down. And those who do not have such acquaintances should thoroughly prepare for the move, having studied the information well and weighing the pros and cons. The author of the channel "Azbuka Immigranta" told about the pros and cons of living in New York on the website Yandex Zen.
Pros of living in New York
- City of Opportunities
New York City has one of the highest wages in America. And there are a lot of opportunities for self-realization. “There are about 8,5 million people living in New York City. World famous companies are concentrated in the business districts. It seems that all the money in the world is concentrated in Manhattan. In such conditions, it is more likely to find a job and get on your feet, ”the author writes.
- Russian diaspora
Of course, those moving to the United States must be proficient in English. But only a few have it at once at a sufficient level. Most take time to master it at a decent level. “Therefore, one cannot do without native speech,” the author writes. - They can advise where to look for housing, where - work, where to buy buckwheat.
In New York, Russian can be heard anywhere, not just in Brighton Beach, the most popular Russian-speaking area of the city. “In addition, New York has a huge selection of Russian-speaking doctors, lawyers, real estate agents and other professionals,” the author said.
- Well-developed transport system
In New York, you can easily do without your own car. This is true for newly arrived immigrants, as their budget is often limited. “Some don't even have an extra thousand for that. And in New York you can easily do without a car. Metro, buses, ferries, taxis, even a funicular to Roosevelt Island goes. You can even take the metro from the airport, ”the author shares.
- Consulate of the Russian Federation in the USA
Representative offices of the Russian Federation remained only in Washington, Houston and New York. Therefore, if you need to renew your passport or make a power of attorney, you need to go or fly only to these three cities. “Someone arrives in the United States, looks around for a month or two and decides to stay forever and sell the remaining apartment in Russia. You need to make a power of attorney. And it's not that easy. First, the electronic queue, filing an application and only then - visiting the consulate. It's one thing when you can get there by metro, it's another thing when you need to fly for several hours, ”the author writes.
- The diversity of the world in one city
New York has brought together hundreds of cultures, which allows you to experience the diversity of the whole world while being here. It is New York that represents the concentration of the America we saw in the movies. “Fifth Avenue, Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Carnegie Hall, Ground Zero, UN Headquarters, Rockefeller Center, Wall Street - all these are not only symbols of New York, but also symbols of the United States in general. ", - the author notes.
“Among the virtues of New York, I can also attribute clean tap water, nature (ducks and turkeys fit perfectly into the atmosphere of a big city), and cheap gasoline. Yesterday, for example, a gallon of gasoline (3.78 liters) cost $ 2.09 or 55 cents per liter. With local salaries, this is a penny, ”the author added.
But like any place on earth, New York is not perfect.
On the subject: Not what it seemed: why the Russian-speaking tourist didn't like New York
Disadvantages of living in New York
- Old housing stock
There are a lot of old houses in New York, built at the beginning of the 1960th century. The fact is that the Second World War did not damage American cities, so they did not have to rebuild everything, as it was in the USSR. “If in Russia the Khrushchev houses built in the 1970-XNUMXs are already being demolished due to dilapidation, then in the USA houses of the same time are considered quite acceptable for life. The durability of houses, however, can be accompanied by bedbugs and other animals that need to be poisoned. Although I have never come across them yet, ”the author writes.
- Specific climate
Since the city is located on the ocean coast, this has its consequences. “On the one hand, a beautiful view of the ocean, and on the other, winds, rains, fogs. And if your body reacts to the weather, then it is better to carry ibuprofen with you all the time, ”the author advises.
- Expensive housing
Housing in New York, according to the author, is unreasonably expensive. Renting a one-bedroom apartment will cost about $ 1500. Renting a three-bedroom house is about $ 3000. “If only the husband works in the family, and the wife sits with the children, then he needs to earn a lot in order to support everyone,” the author notes.
- Long waiting time for transport
New York has long public transit times. “If in Moscow metro trains run every 1-2 minutes, then 15 minutes in New York is the average waiting time. Therefore, if you are traveling with transfers, it is not convenient, ”the author explained.
- Toll bridges and tunnels
“If a person lives in Brooklyn and needs to get to Staten Island, it will cost $ 19 to travel across the Verrazano Bridge there and back. And it's expensive, - the author notes. “But there is a discount for residents of Staten Island itself. The same trip costs $ 5,5, which, by the way, is also quite a lot. "
“Whether it is worth starting with New York is up to everyone. I did not live in other states and only shared my impressions. There are advantages, there are disadvantages. However, as elsewhere, ”- summed up the author.
