when moving to New york

I finally settled down. Nice house, cute guy, graduated with honors and on the lookout for a nice job. There was a lot of carefree drinking with friends going on. And morning hangovers solved with some aspirin so I still managed to show up for my temp job on time. Life was peaceful, simple and orderly. Then came the champagne bottle. Bang. My little world was shattered. Bang. We were off to the US of A!

No. I’m not complaining it just occurred to me that life can be very surprising. I wouldn’t go as far as to call it destiny or go all hippy about it but I’m sitting on a plane filled with Dutch people while writing this. So I thought this would be a good time to write about what I really miss and what really changes when you experience the adventure of moving to the big apple.

It’s a question I get a lot and to get off easy I mumble something about cycling in Amsterdam, fries with peanut sauce and onions and the empire state of mind. But these answers are really only scratching the surface. Now that I’m on a plane with my former countrymen I’ll dig a little deeper and draw some conclusions about what I really miss and and how New York changes you.

Not the stroopwafels but the fries and peanut sauce

Stroopwafels (syrup waffles), Dutch cheese and even bitterballen (small fried balls with ragout in them); I have found here. New York really does have it all! So to answer this question once and for all concerning Dutch delicacies: I’m good. But a whole-wheat sandwich with filet Americain or some fries with peanut sauce and onion. Boy, would I love it if I could get them over here.

Biased towards tradition

Everything about this town revolves around planning, reservations and traveling towards something. You can’t just step on your bike and walk into a nice restaurant, get a group table and call everyone to come round. Nope. In New York you always have to wait for your table, at least 20 minutes. If you’ve reserved a group table they only seat you if everyone is present. Dutch people see receiving the check unasked as ‘pay and get out’ while in New York it’s seen as good service. You decide when you pay and it’s not unusual to order an extra bottle of wine or cup of coffee. It’s also common to get into a cab and go to the next fun location, which is never around the corner. And that’s what I miss. Just hanging in casual cafe’s and hopping on my bike to go somewhere else if I feel like it. And all this is done without the need to be cool.

Spoiled brat

In the summer you drink wine on a rooftop, in the winter you hang out in the lobby or bar of a fancy hotel where you see people like Lady Gaga. In between you take a stroll through Central Park and forget about the the lights of the Empire State building flashing above you. Luxury is the standard in New York. So does New York change you? Definitely. You become a spoiled brat. The cool factor is so high you get used to it, from the Italian bistro to the hip Japanese restaurants. You can’t not take it for granted. But I regularly make myself realize how cool and gorgeous everything around me is by letting my inner tourist come out.

Patience is not a virtue

Just like the check in restaurants everything moves fast here. Flowered top in a different size? A sales person speaks into her CIA ear piece and your size and a few recommendations appear in a jiffy. Long lines at the supermarket? An extra checkout is opened. Some extra pepper on you filet mignon? The waiter is already there grinding away. The service in America is super and fast but it makes people impatient. Very impatient.

No negative Nancy

“The subway is awful.” “It’s too busy.” “New Yorkers are phony’s.” “I’m glad to see normal people for a change.” Could you stop yammering at gate 28! I was surprised but then realized that I already knew how whiney Dutch people can be. Sorry I’m not saying everybody’s like that and I don’t want to sound like a negative Nancy. Its just Dutch people complain a lot. A huge contrast to New Yorkers who think in possibilities, chances and believe in them. They stick up their thumb if you drive by in a Porsche, seeing you as successful instead of a showoff. And yes there’s always something to say about everything. But being positive and the belief you can only judge something you have tried it courses through the streets of NY and has a positive influence on everybody. It really does.