Just living in New York City can teach you so many lessons, from how to chase your dreams at full throttle to how to be resilient in the face of adversity.
But besides the more profound learnings, the streets of New York can be their own kind of school — teaching you very specific skills you need day to day in NYC, that you probably wouldn’t need anywhere else.
It’s like its own special type of NYC degree, one that we’re very proud to have earned!
So we asked our followers,
And here are your answers:
1. “Definitely minding my business.”
2. “Telling my cab driver where to take me. Street by street.”
3. “Jumping the turnstyle.”
4. “Knowing exactly which subway car to get on and which doorway to stand near, such that, when I arrive at my destination, I know I’ll be in front of the exact set of stairs I need.”
5. “Not looking into people’s eyes.”
6. “Trying to guess the languages that are spoken around me.”
7. “Walk really fast with a look that can kill.”
8. “Curse someone out in multiple languages.”
9. “Getting your butt in the backseat of a taxi and door closed before you tell the driver where you are going.”
10. “Knowing what a short block and long block is.”
11. “How to throw crazy eyes to get the G train conductor to wait for you, just 3 more seconds to make that short train.”
12. “The ability to walk forever without getting tired or taking a break. In heels.”
13. “How to answer a stranger when being asked for directions — walk and talk.”
14. “When to stare a person down…and when to avoid eye contact.”
15. “Walking very fast without bumping into anyone.”
16. “Noticing everyone around me without making eye contact with anyone.”
17. “Sleeping on train but knowing when to wake up at your stop, based solely on vibrations felt subconsciously through your limbs.”
18. “Jumping in your double parked car before the meter maid gives you a ticket.”
19. “The art of jay-walking.”
20. “How to lose myself for hours in a park.”
21. “Walking fast, while avoiding the rest of the world, managing not to be in the way and if possible, also eating a slice…like an obstacle course.”
22. “Saying ‘excuse me’ with an attitude when people congregate in the middle of the sidewalk.”
23. “Walking super fast without stopping, no matter what. Apparently, the rest of the world calls it running.”
24. “Holding your breath walking through Port Authority.”
25. “Knowing that 20 blocks and 10 Avenues are both a mile each.”
26. “Jumping in your double parked car before the meter maid gives you a ticket.”
27. “Being aware of my surroundings.”
28. “The inability to hear loud sounds (without really hearing how loud they actually are).”
29. “How to manage to wait hours to go to the bathroom without your bladder exploding, because there are no public bathrooms or the ones available are absolutely horrific.”
30. “Compliment ‘showtime-ers’ and give them money for their talent.”
31. “Shoulder push resistance when walking in large crowds of people.”
32. “Being kind to everyone.”
33. “Avoiding my neighbors even though they live on the other side of the wall.”
34. “I can zip through Times Sq. without touching another human and not a single character bothers me for a picture or a CD.”
35. “How to honk my horn in different tones of voice.”
36. “How to stand on a train without holding onto anything and not falling when it moves.”
37. “Living in a shoebox (and feeling lucky to have even that much space).”
38. “Being able to carry bags all the way up both arms to get the shopping back home.”
39. “Being proud to live in the best city in the world.”