'In New York you will have to save money, even if your income is higher than the US average': Belarusian told about life in America

First steps in America

Anna was born in Belarus, where she graduated from high school and entered the university. She never really dreamed about America, but she nevertheless understood the opportunities that would open up for her in the United States. In 2017, when she was 19 years old, at the invitation of her relatives, the girl moved to Philadelphia.

“I understood that you can always return home, but moving overseas is a unique opportunity. The support of loved ones helped to feel more confident, ”Anna explained.

After moving, she went to study at Community College.

“I went to language courses, to the simplest accounting. Worked at the same time. A year later, she entered the university - "School of Business" Temple University. It was already more difficult there: a lot of subjects related to doing business, managing finances, and legal norms. And several disciplines related to the insurance industry,” the girl said, noting that the education system in the United States is more convenient than in Belarus.

“Firstly, while studying at the university, you can easily change your specialty. If you started to study as a doctor, then you can transfer to a programmer - in the first, second and even in the third year of study. You will have to go through all those "classes" that you did not have, but you will not need to re-enter and completely relearn. Secondly, I really like the lesson planning system, the ability to choose some additional courses on my own. For example, in Belarus, in the first year, almost all students study history, economics, and political science for general development. In the US, this is also there, but among the many options, you can choose interesting ones for yourself and fill your time with them. By the way, each student thinks over his own schedule. Thanks to this, you can get enough sleep according to the usual schedule, earn extra money, ”Anna shared.

During her studies, the girl managed to work in a cafe, in a clothing store, in the cleaning industry and on the campus of the university itself.

“Even before moving, I heard about the gap year - a break between school and university, university and work, which American students supposedly can afford. There were no such examples in my environment. In addition, I learned that modern HRs are skeptical about resumes with such breaks. At the same time, it’s normal to have a little rest after receiving a diploma: to graduate from the university in May and go to work at the end of the summer, in September,” the Belarusian noted.

"This country makes you take loans"

While still studying, Anna began to look for a job in her specialty. She says that it is very difficult for a graduate without experience. Therefore, already after the second or third year, students, with the help of the university, are looking for an internship, gaining experience over months of vacation. The girl was lucky - she managed to get a job almost immediately after graduation.

On the subject: Twelve life hacks that will make life in New York cheaper and more convenient

“By the way, my citizenship was not a problem when looking for a job. Employers saw that I did not have a student visa, that I had the right to work in this country, that I spoke English fluently, and considered me on an equal footing with US citizens, ”said the immigrant.

If Anna liked the education system, then the housing rental system did not.

“This country makes you take out loans. If there is no credit history yet or there are problems in it, it will be difficult to rent or buy an apartment. Now a credit history usually begins with the fact that a person draws up a credit card, pays with it, and repays expenses at the end of each month. There is no benefit in this, it’s just accepted,” the girl explained.

New York, New York...

In 2021, Anna moved from Philadelphia to New York and rented a studio here.

"I like my flat. It is small, but it has a good repair, there are no foreign smells, nothing breaks. The building itself has a free gym for residents, laundry. By the way, the ability to do laundry at home is a luxury for New York. There are no washing machines in the apartments; many wear clothes to the nearest laundries. In general, the house itself is good, but the area has its drawbacks. We have a lot of people with low income, they often stand in groups, look at passers-by, try to talk, ask for money. Some live right on the street, take drugs while sitting on the sidewalks, ”Anna described the picture of life.

Prices in New York unpleasantly struck the girl - two times higher than in Philadelphia.

“Salaries are also high, but even if your income is above the national average, you will have to save. Food, clothing, and technology are available, but it's hard to rent good accommodation for yourself. For example, I work in Manhattan's Financial District and can't afford to live there. I have to commute to work for 40 minutes one way. During the pandemic, apartment prices were falling - locals were also more interested in the suburbs. Now they are growing again. For some, the rental price soared by 70% - these are incredible numbers! Monthly studio rentals start at $2. Much depends on the area: on average, studios cost $3, and one-room apartments cost $4,” the girl said.

According to her, you can think about a mortgage after 5-7 years of work after graduation. By this time, a person will most likely already have an extensive credit history, certain savings for a down payment - about 20% of the cost of housing.

A big plus of New York, according to Anna, is diversity and a large number of immigrants.

“Here, it’s a little easier to adapt and feel like “your own”: after all, almost all your friends will have moved, earlier or later than you. By the way, I also understand the local humor as much as possible, all the jokes that I hear are funny. But mine sometimes seem rather tough to Americans, because here people from childhood are accustomed to carefully treat each other's feelings, not to offend anyone even for the sake of laughter. Americans also love to talk about sports and politics. Formally, at work, the discussion of politics is not welcome, as it can lead to conflict, but in fact I constantly hear talk about world news, about events in other countries and in the United States, ”Anna admitted.

Another plus of New York is entertainment.

“You can find a restaurant of any national cuisine and try something new - it's quite affordable. It has a great metro system, all areas are connected, there are express trains near my street, which helps to save time. A taxi, in my opinion, is a little expensive and not worth these expenses: you can call it if the way on public transport seems unsafe, ”Anna explained.

In general, she likes New York, but still plans to move in the future.

“New York is a wonderful city, but I don't want to live here forever. It is overcrowded and noisy. I no longer want to be in the middle of things, working overtime in order to afford a normal life. Sometimes I think about moving back to Philadelphia - my relatives live there, it’s also interesting and comfortable there, and it’s even much more accessible, ”admitted the immigrant.