One Year in NYC: Looking Back and Looking Forward

Just over one year ago, I moved to New York City. Crazy, right?! I can hardly believe it myself. This marks the longest I’ve lived in one place since I finished high school. After I graduated, I went to Davidson, but it was that weird limbo where you live there for the school year and then go home for breaks. Then I lived in Paris, then in London. Then back in Davidson for one more school year. After graduation, I moved

This marks the longest I’ve lived in one place since I finished high school. After I graduated, I went to Davidson, but it was that weird limbo where you live there for the school year and then go home for breaks. Then I lived in Paris, then in London. Then back in Davidson for one more school year.

After graduation, I moved to NYC for a six-month internship at the UN, hoping deep down that I would find a job after so that I could stay. As great as college was and all that moving around, I felt the need to stay in one place, for a little while at least.

Now, I’m not ready to settle down or anything. I still want to see more of the world and would love to live in other places (anybody got any European visa connections?).

But I just needed a break from living in limbo. I like stability in life and it finally feels good to be in one place for a  year without feeling like I’m packing up to move home for the summer or packing for 10 months in Europe or packing for school. It’s good for me to have certainty in my life and I’m so happy that certainty means I get to be in NYC.

I honestly can’t believe I’ve been in NYC for a year. It’s been quite the whirlwind. Surreal, even.

I’ve met some amazing people.

I met people from all around the world at the UN. I met some celebrities and world leaders too. At my current job, I’ve met some great NYC natives, which is great too. 

I’ve had some amazing food.

Only in such a large city can you have world class Turkish food one meal and incredibly delicious Indian food the next, followed by the best Korean food after. It’s like a dream come true!

I’ve seen some really cool sights.

There’s nothing better than seeing New York City from above.

I’ve walked thousands of miles.

As a wanderer, I’m drawn to places where I can get around by walking. New York City is perfect for that. I’ve wandered miles upon miles and always find new spots.

I’ve worked two amazing jobs.

I love this city. I love it because it’s so anonymous. When I go somewhere, I won’t be approached by a friend of my grandmother’s who met me when I was a baby and assumes that I’ll know them. I can travel mere miles and be confronted by a completely different atmosphere. I can see snow in the winter and not (completely) die from heat in the summer. I can go long periods of time without driving (it’s been over a year!) because it makes me really anxious.

So, for right now, I am really happy to be living in NYC. While it is lonely at times (so few of my friends live here), it is nice to have a place to call home for awhile without having one foot out the door.