So…I’ve never lived outside of Southern CA, and never been to NYC.
What is it like there? I’m mostly interested in the small cultural differences that add up.
From the movies, I’ve gotten the impression that, in New York:
Everyone lives in really tiny really expensive apartments in super tall buildings (over 3 stories). Even in the nice buildings, there are bugs and mice.
Nobody has a lawn, and hardly anyone has a car. A lot of people don’t have a driver’s license at all.
People seem to get mugged all the time. (Mugging is when you’re a pedestrian and another pedestrian robs you, right? I’ve never been certain, exactly.)
There are lots of Europeans-from-Europe and Puerto Ricans, but not as many Asians and hardly any Mexicans.
Lots more people seem to smoke there.
Schools have numbers (like P.S. 273) instead of names (like Luther Burbank Elementary).
People talk a lot faster, move quicker, and get angry more easily.
There is a bigger variety of street food.
Street gangs are different somehow? Not sure about this one. Maybe more likely for white kids to be in them?
Plays are considered more important and interesting than movies.
I know a lot of this is stereotype and at least some of it is out of date, but it’s very interesting to me. I’d especially like to hear from people who have lived in both places for at least a few years.
Note: It may be inevitable, but I would like if possible to avoid turning this into a “my-city-is-better-than-yours” thread. Different from =/= better than!