How to NYC, Lesson 1 (UPDATED)

A Working Guide to Touring / Transplanting to New York from a Midwesterner’s Perspective
When I first moved to New York a few months ago, I was totally overwhelmed and terrified for several days. Having come from a very rural background, I had no idea of what to expect. I’d done my best to do as much research as possible to prepare myself, but none of those materials could have truly prepared me for the experiences and challenges I would face.

So I’ve written this little series, How to NYC, with my fellow Midwesterners in mind. For those of you who have never traveled to a big city beyond Minneapolis or Chicago before (that’s okay!), who have never used a public transportation system before, and who have never not experienced Minnesota Nice, this is for you. (And for those of you who haven’t ever experienced Minnesota Nice, I see a pleasant trip in your near future…)

Lesson 1: Common Myths and Misperceptions

Many of the people I talked to "back home" before moving to New York seemed to carry a lot of the same (usually) untrue beliefs about the Big Apple. I'd to discuss a few of them here:

• Crime rates are outrageous and you will die. Clearly not true, since I am still here to grace you with my unending blabber. As is true of most everywhere, you need to stay alert and keep your wits about you, and there are some areas it's wise to stay away from, but there's no need to be paranoid. Most everyone is here to make an honest living for themselves, and no one wants to harm you anymore than they want to be harmed. 
• Everything is too expensive. Not necessarily true. While there are definitely many incredulously expensive places to shop, wine, and dine around here, there are also just as many places to find a super cheap bite or affordable clothes. You may have to look a little harder for them, but they're there (and they're usually more fun!).
• The people are rude. Just because they're ignoring your presence doesn't mean they are rude. Most residents of New York are in a rush, and don't have time to look up and smile at every stranger they meet. But if you were to ask one for directions or for suggestions on a good place to eat, most all will happily point you the right way.
• The city will eat you up and spit you out. This can be true, but only if you let it. If you're moving here looking for opportunities, know that they are endless, but you've got to work your ass off to find them. 

This is a small start of a list that will continue to grow as I encounter more busted myths. Stay tuned for more lessons to come!

Ironic update: Since this post was written and scheduled to be posted, my purse was stolen right from underneath my nose. No, I was not mugged, nor was my purse snatched from my hands. I just wasn't paying as close attention to it as I should have been. While I still believe that crime in New York is often exaggerated, it's been a good (hard) reminder to me to keep my belongings close to me at all times!