New York is hard. But, New York is worth it, if you do New York things, from having a fancy New York job to going to Central Park and the Met and the ballet every weekend. I will never have a fancy New York journalism job (the reason I moved a decade ago) and the most ambitious New York thing I do is drag myself to Prospect Park.
I think it clicked for me when I spent something like two months trying to arrange a trip to the Met with two of my best friends and it kept falling through because everyone is busy and it's JUST SO HARD to do things in New York. Just the subway ride alone. I know the train isn't dangerous. But it's also not especially good on your central nervous system to have a schizophrenic scream in your face. It's DEF not good on your central nervous system for a bagel and two small coffees to cost $20.
People have these funny ideas about Bulgaria, possibly because Bulgarians are Olympic champions at complaining so you'd get the impression life here's a slog. No. In literally every way it's easier, healthier, and better, and not because it's some hick back country. If I dropped you in the middle of any big to medium sized city in Bulgaria you'd think you were in Western Europe, except that everything is shockingly cheap.
Honestly, in every way. In ways I wouldn't have expected. The food, walkability, socializing, public transportation, access to nature, sure, but ... even ... dating? I'm not dating right now. But I feel like if I were I could get a boyfriend with the snap of a finger. I partly get a lot of attention because people are curious about Americans, but also, I get the sense that it's more normalized here for a single man to WANT a girlfriend, rather than frantically whip through Tindr and ghost etc and be a commitment-phobe forever. Even the idea of endless choice is toxic.
How do you like living there v Brooklyn? Would you stay?
Yes.
New York is hard. But, New York is worth it, if you do New York things, from having a fancy New York job to going to Central Park and the Met and the ballet every weekend. I will never have a fancy New York journalism job (the reason I moved a decade ago) and the most ambitious New York thing I do is drag myself to Prospect Park.
I think it clicked for me when I spent something like two months trying to arrange a trip to the Met with two of my best friends and it kept falling through because everyone is busy and it's JUST SO HARD to do things in New York. Just the subway ride alone. I know the train isn't dangerous. But it's also not especially good on your central nervous system to have a schizophrenic scream in your face. It's DEF not good on your central nervous system for a bagel and two small coffees to cost $20.
People have these funny ideas about Bulgaria, possibly because Bulgarians are Olympic champions at complaining so you'd get the impression life here's a slog. No. In literally every way it's easier, healthier, and better, and not because it's some hick back country. If I dropped you in the middle of any big to medium sized city in Bulgaria you'd think you were in Western Europe, except that everything is shockingly cheap.
I'm coming around to the idea that most places in Europe are better than living in the US.
Honestly, in every way. In ways I wouldn't have expected. The food, walkability, socializing, public transportation, access to nature, sure, but ... even ... dating? I'm not dating right now. But I feel like if I were I could get a boyfriend with the snap of a finger. I partly get a lot of attention because people are curious about Americans, but also, I get the sense that it's more normalized here for a single man to WANT a girlfriend, rather than frantically whip through Tindr and ghost etc and be a commitment-phobe forever. Even the idea of endless choice is toxic.