Twas a little weird
It hasn't been long since I moved to New York, just a bit more than two years. All in all, it's been great, especially lately, when I started to really become a New Yorker.
Previous to moving in New York, I lived in a suburb just outside of Athens, Greece. Now, I had visited New York in the past, but nothing prepared me to what I was bound to go through by actually moving here. I had already gotten accustomed with the sky-high buildings, busy traffic, packed subway trains, and quick lifestyle, that wasn't the surprise, no. What hit me when I first got here was that I was not a tourist anymore.
When I first visited as a tourist my day consisted of walking, shopping, eating out and drinking Starbucks, habits which I honor to this very day, not with any particular pride though. To think back, I wish I never tried that damn Caramel Macchiato because I've spent more money on it alone than I'd care to admit. Anyway though, disregarding all the obvious ignorance I had when moving here, everything else seemed to be in order, it really wasn't though.
Within two days I enrolled into school and I had a moment of absolute clarity right away. It's the same thing all over, only completely different. Weird right? Instead of walking to school I'd take the subway. Instead of passing through small houses and parks I'd pass through gigantic towers. Instead of speaking Greek I'd speak English, and instead of knowing everybody, I'd know nobody. In essence, it was the same thing though. Professors, homework, duties, activities etc...; can't find a break anywhere.
Soon though, all of that would change. I would become more open to new ideas, learn new things about the environment that's surrounding me, make new friends, and grow around this new, intriguing experience that was awaiting to develop around me. At this point, I consider myself to be a New Yorker. My definition of a New Yorker though? Eating, Drinking, Riding, Observing; things I'll get to by the time. All that under my perspective, a perspective of a shadow living in New York.
