Anyone living/from/visited New York City? Help meeeehh

[hollywood_girl]

Hey lads and lassies

I'm looking for advice... Next march I'm off to the Big Apple~ New York Cit-eh!!!!! i'm also planning on spending some time in LA.
I've travelled to Japan twice in the past 3 years, both on exchange programmes.. but this is just by my lonesome, and im slightly petrified.
Anyhoo, i have never visited NYC before, or even the US so i dont know what to expect.
I knooooooow prices are sky high in NYC, but its allll sorted.
Im Australian and I've never lived in another country, or by myself.

HELP ME! What should i expect from the move? Are Americans/New Yorkers/LA peeps much different to Australians? Is the culture much different? Do i HAVE to tip?
Thanks lovelies
xo

[Jacklinger]

New Yorkers, in my experience, are mostly polite, but impatient. Don't hold up any lines that you get in, boy does THAT ever piss them off. American culture is pretty non-existant compared to other countries because we're a nation of immigrants and if we tried to practice every culture that people brought with them it'd be really confusing. So basically anything goes except public sex, murder, and cutting taxes. New Yorkers in particular are mostly extroverted which means they will walk right up to you and just start talking, especially if you're attractive. Don't let anyone carry your stuff though. Some random guy may offer to carry your luggage, or pack, whatever and you think he's being nice. But then when you get to where you're going he says that will cost $50 and threaten not to give you your items back unless you pay. If that does happen, you can call the police because that's plain ilegal. Avoid the little restaurants along the streets unless it's a fast food chain you recognize. The proprietorships often called something like "Dinah's House of Asian Cuisine" or somesuch love to charge you $25 for 4 tiny strips of chicken on a leaf of lettuce, and no i'm not kidding. That actually happened to me when I was there. Eat at fast food places or buy your own food from the grocers. The good part about NY is that everything is usually in walking distance. It's good exercise and you never have to worry about running out of things - just don't hold up the line at the stores.

And if/when you get to Los Angeles, i can tell you alot about that place, because, I live there. I'll even show you around if you like. Though there's not much to see unless you like all the Hollywood touristy stuff.

Good luck!!

[lovebexs]

yes you do have to tip in nyc. 15% is for average service and 20-25% is for good service.
i live in new york city, so if you need more info pm me :]
as jack said, i can totally show you around the city! xo

[hollywood_girl]

Thanks Jacklinger, some great info there! Im starting to become a little worried about NYC now actually.. Are the the crime rates really that high?
Also, i hear the New Yorkers are really frank, as in they tell it how it is when they feel the need... Is this true?
Also, I've heard (on MTV :P) that people from LA can be shallow and judgemental. True, or just a stereotype? In LA, all i really want is to visit a really glamorous cafe. :D Speaking of food, is it true that portion sizes in the US are HUGE? Does everyone really eat hotdogs, nachos, pizza and stuff all the time?
With tipping, what happens if you DONT tip..? Haha, i sound like such a tightarse, but tipping in Aust is REALLY rare, and completely unnessasary.
Thanks for the tour offers! I'll definately hold you to them! xoxo

[lily11022]

that's great!

[Jacklinger]

Thanks Jacklinger, some great info there! Im starting to become a little worried about NYC now actually.. Are the the crime rates really that high?

Not as high as they used to be. Just stick to places where you see people walking around who wear nice clothes. They know which places to avoid.


Also, i hear the New Yorkers are really frank, as in they tell it how it is when they feel the need... Is this true?

Yes. And they will tell you even if you don't solicit the information in the first place, which can get a bit annoying.


Also, I've heard (on MTV :P) that people from LA can be shallow and judgemental. True, or just a stereotype?

True, except for me, maybe because I'm not a native. The closer you get to Beverly Hills the truer it tends to get. Los Angelinos think they know the solution to every problem in the whole damned universe and that solution usually involves tofu and socialism. Seriously, ask someone how to change a lightbulb. You'll get a condescending answer about greedy power companies trying to keep high-efficiency flourescent bulbs away from the public, and then recommend a place where you can buy them that also serves tofu.


In LA, all i really want is to visit a really glamorous cafe.
We got those. Never been to one. But they're around somewhere. Easy enough to google one up and then go to it, pay $20 for parking, then wait 2 hours for a table and pay $40 for a snack. But it'd be worth it if that's what you really want to do. Does Hardrock Cafe sound good?



:D Speaking of food, is it true that portion sizes in the US are HUGE?
Yes. A typical meal at a diner type place has about 1100 calories. Some meals at Claim Jumpers can even have 4000 calories!!! The reason why they do that is because food in America is very cheap compared to the rest of the world, and the more food they can move the cheaper they can sell it. So cheap food served in huge portions makes it cheaper still so you can get some really great food for a low price, just bring an army to feed.



Does everyone really eat hotdogs, nachos, pizza and stuff all the time?

Well not so much these days, at least not in Los Angeles. Food is heading in healthier directions these days and there are sushi and vegetarian places all over the dang place now. I hate it because I'm a burger and fries guy.


With tipping, what happens if you DONT tip..?
They kill you. Ok maybe not, but they'll remember you and start to resent you after a month or so, but if you're not going to stay here too long then who cares? I wouldn't tip either!


Haha, i sound like such a tightarse, but tipping in Aust is REALLY rare, and completely unnessasary.
Don't Australian restaurants charge a gratiuty already? That's the same as a tip.


Thanks for the tour offers! I'll definately hold you to them! xoxo
Ok. Just let me know. I could even take some time off work if needed. I have some vacation time saved up and wouldn't mind taking a Friday and Monday off so I could have 4 days to help you get situated. Don't know how long you're planning on staying but the offer is there if you need it. One major problem with Los Angeles is that nothing is in walking distance at all. It's like the opposite of New York. You might need to rent a car. Car rentals here are not so bad price wise though as long as you're 25 years old. I think I rented one for about $30 per day when my car was getting fixed one time. Not bad.