Goodbye Essex St.

I’m actually going to miss this little apartment. I can’t believe my roomie and I have been living here for a year! Sitting here looking at the expose brick made me think about all of our crazy memories. My roomie, Vi, and I had over 20 people who have slept on our love seat futon/pull out couch that’s in our living room/kitchen/dining area.  Like they say, living in the Lower East Side is like living in a shoebox. What’s strange is that the size of the apartment didn’t bother me. I actually quite liked it.

Vi and I live in the hip area of the Lower East Side. We actually rented this apartment one day before Vi had to leave her apartment in Brooklyn, so basically it was out of desperation. Even though it was a last minute decision, it was the best decision ever! The convenience of the location and cheap food definitely made the application fee ($50) + rent ($2100) + security deposit ($2100) + broker fees (12% of one years rent), worth it. If we were hungry, we can walk 3 stores down to get 10 dumplings for 5 bucks. If we were bored, SoHo was 10 minutes away. During the summer time, we would walk across the street to the Hester Street Fair to buy jewelry, eat unique food and to look at cool vintage items. This last minute decision made me fall in LOVE with New York, especially with the LES.

Most of you are probably thinking to yourself, why would you want to leave your apartment. Well, here’s another NY apartment tip. Make sure to ALWAYS to look and ask your broker for 1) storage/closets 2) does the superintendent live in the building 3) what’s consider “late” when turning in your rent. 4) What’s the procedure when you’re locked out of your apartment on the weekday 5) How are the rodents?  TRUST ME, these are REAL LIFE ISSUES living in New York. These questions may seem silly back home in Washington and common sense but New York is all about the hustle and you must have great attention to detail or you will get screwed over with your time, money and energy. Because of our lack of attention to detail, we rented out an apartment with 1 small closet (located in my bedroom), the super./mangers living in another building in Manhattan, the super/managers changing the rent due date, and being locked out for almost 2 days.

So here we are, calling a U-Haul and trying to find a rental space because Vi and I are official HOMELESS. We got screwed over for the two apartments we wanted to move into so now we’re moving in my boyfriend and his roommate’s apartment for a month.  Guess we just can’t catch a break! 

It’s still unreal that we’re moving out. Even though this place is a shit hole, I feel like our shitty situation definitely gave me the best memories in NYC.  Goodbye Essex St! 

Welcome to the city of...

New York. Only the strongest people make it in this city.  You have to be emotionally, mentally and physically strong. You have to have to ability to make decisions, have endless passion and tough skin. You would think since I’ve been here for almost a year and half that I would be acclimated to this monstrous city, but why am I finding myself crying alone in my room at 9pm on a Thursday night (the craziest night in NYC)? I should be having drinks with friends, getting fucked up and having the time of my life. Is there something wrong with me?

I know what is it. No it’s not that fact that I have a boyfriend – who’ve I’ve been dating for 3 yrs. - or the fact that I really don’t have that many friends in the city. It’s because of my job. My job literally sucks up my whole fucking life. It sucks my time, my energy, my emotions, my thoughts, my over well being! There hasn’t been at least 5 minutes where I haven’t thought about my job.

I came to New York as a bright-eyed North Western girl who never got mad, who was always positive and happy. One year later, I’m still the same girl but with a sailor tongue and mindset. Cursing every minute, mad at my life, slowly starting to snap at people. It’s honestly hard for me to show if I’m angry to anyone besides 1) my family and 2) my boyfriend, so I’m out of my element in New York City.  So is New York really making me a stronger person or is it making me angrier? Or is that why people are so “strong” and aggressive here - it’s because half of the time they’re angry and hate their lives. Is this life really worth it?

I’m that girl who hates giving up at things, who has big dreams and who will always put her career before anything! Before, I would envy someone with this mentality but now being in this situation I’m thinking to myself “is this really worth it?”

Welcome to New York, a city that eat newbs like me (90% of this damn city) alive. Maybe they should call it Newb York.