It has been said that New York City is the greatest city in the world. That’s the archetype that resided in my mind, at least, as I graduated from college and planned my big move to the Big Apple. Yet, as I spent my Memorial Day unpacking boxes in an un-air conditioned apartment, I began to realize that there are many aspects of relocating to New York that aren’t as alluring as the rest of the city.

The process of moving was filled with many obstacles. Commuting three hours into Manhattan from my Connecticut home to hunt for the perfect apartment consumed my life for the past three months. I sat on crammed trains for hours on end, all the while believing that once the apartment was found, the rest of the process would be simple.

Oh, how wrong I was.

View of the Hudson from my new home off Riverside Dr.

After signing the lease comes picking a moving company, packing boxes efficiently, hauling mattresses up four flights of stairs and unloading my life into a 10’ x 12’ bedroom. Soon, I’m looking for a gym that’s equidistant between VP+C and my West Harlem apartment that I don’t have to sacrifice my savings account to join. I then had to decipher the Manhattan subway map, which left me standing on a platform for 45 minutes before I realized my train was out of service. I fall asleep at night to the soothing sounds of car alarms and people screaming from the street.

The entire relocation experience has been a far cry from the glamorous Manhattan life I imagined, yet I am consumed with excitement for my future in this city. Lying on the grass in Riverside Park, I can’t help but smile. The hurdles that I’ve overcome to get here are nothing compared to the hurdles I will face while living in New York, but to me, they’re all worth it. After all, I’m lucky enough to live in the greatest city in the world.