Moving from Kentucky to New York City was full of surprises. Here are 5 things I learned.

30.08.2024 - 23:27 / insider.com

The summer before my senior year of high school, I was standing in the middle of New York City's Times Square when I saw an advertisement that read, "Inspiration is everywhere."

At that moment, I knew that one day I would be back in the city, not as a tourist, but as a resident. Fast forward six years later, and I am proud to call the Upper East Side of Manhattan home. 

After living in the city for a few weeks, I've learned quite a lot about New York that I didn't know when I moved from the small town of Owenton, Kentucky, about an hour northwest of Lexington. 

When I stepped out of the Uber to move into my apartment, my building super happened to be outside. He instantly introduced himself and helped carry my heavy luggage up the stairs into my apartment.

With a vast amount of people in the city, New Yorkers I've seen tend to keep to themselves, which may come off as rude to some people. But I've found if you take the time to introduce yourself to them, odds are you will spark up an instant kinship.

Growing up in Kentucky, I always traveled by car to get to my destination and I can hardly recall a time when there was not a moment of traffic. When I would go grocery shopping, I had to carve out nearly three hours of my day because of the inevitable traffic I would deal with.

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However, in New York City, this never happens to me when I choose to walk or take the subway (however, taking a taxi or Uber is a totally different story). Everything is so convenient because I have a grocery store and drugstore on my street and a subway station that's incredibly close to me.

Everything seems like it's right at arm's length and I feel like I get so much more out of my day by simply walking where I need to go.

Kentucky is a very sport-centric state.

There's the battle of the bluegrass — the University of Kentucky Wildcats and the University of Louisville Cardinals — and then there's horse racing at Churchill Downs in Louisville, home to the Kentucky Derby. And in Lexington, there's Keeneland Racing.

But that's about it, so people like me who don't find sports that thrilling often struggled to find things to do in Kentucky.

On the other hand, there are constantly things going on in New York City that appeal to a range of interests, from Broadway shows and concerts to karaoke nights and street fairs. You never know what you may stumble upon.

Since I don't have a car — most households in New York City don't — I've walked most places, which my legs and feet had to adjust to.

One morning, I walked to Central Park and when I got home, I realized that I had already walked 5 miles before breakfast.

My feet and heels are often covered in blisters, and I'm already on my second box of bandages — but the