Born in Metro Manila, raised in small-town Canada, obsessed with NYC since age 4. To actual New Yorkers: Does the reality ever top the lifelong dream?
I have never set foot in New York City, yet it has captivated me for as long as I can remember.
In my 19 years of life, I’ve walked its streets, visited its apartments, and explored its landmarks through books, movies, shows, and YouTube. My obsession started at age 4 while watching Home Alone 2 in the Philippines. When Kevin realized he was alone in New York and felt that sudden rush of absolute freedom, I felt something shift in me, too—a deep yearning for something bigger.
My childhood was split between two very different worlds:
Metro Manila: A fast-paced metropolis where commuting by public transit, navigating crowded streets, and living surrounded by millions was normal.
Small-town Western Canada: Where my family moved when I was 8. It was quiet, grounded, and gave me space to dream, but it also made me realize how badly I missed the pulse of a massive city.
Over the years, the obsession only grew. In 3rd grade, I built a 3D foam-and-plastic skyline puzzle of Manhattan and used it as a map whenever I watched Annie, Friends, How I Met Your Mother, Sex and the City, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Gilded Age, or my all-time favorite movie, You've Got Mail.
Now that I'm in university studying business with eyes on law school, NYC has shifted from a childhood fantasy to a serious potential destination. But reading about the reality of the city gives me pause. I’ve broken down the usual warnings people throw around:
Cost: It's notoriously expensive. I'm aiming for a career in corporate law/business, which helps, but I know even high earners compromise on space.
Pace & Ambition: I’m not naturally cutthroat, but I know how to lock in and get things done. Still, I wonder how intense the grind truly feels on the ground.
Cleanliness & Smells: Having spent time in Manila, "New York dirty" doesn't intimidate me. I know what a mega-city smells like in the summer heat and how trash infrastructure works in dense urban areas.
Safety & Crime: I view crime stats through a population lens. A city of 8+ million will naturally have crime; basic street smarts go a long way.
I know I romanticize the city through Architectural Digest videos and pop culture, but I can't shake the feeling that I belong in that kind of energy.
To current New Yorkers, transplants, former residents, or native New Yorkers:
How did the real city compare to the version you had in your head before moving?
For those who moved from small towns or internationally, how was the transition to the daily grind?
What is one piece of advice you’d give to someone who has wanted this for 15 years?
*Also before this spirals, I am not considering just living in Manhattan. I’ve heard many good things about Brooklyn and Queens, and a few about the Staten and the Bronx. It would be nice to just live in this city in general.