Things I'm Learning in New York

This is more or less a list of the observations I've had here in my first couple days:

• I think I've heard at least 20 languages since I stepped off the plane, and I haven't recognized any of them, not even Spanish.
• I've heard people are rude here, but I haven't had that experience...yet.
• It doesn't take long to walk to places. I assumed that since I had to walk everywhere it would take a long time to get from place to place, but it really doesn't at all.
• Blocks and blocks of buildings make emergency vehicle sirens soooooo loud!
• I find myself amazed by how many "normal" shops I see here. On my street alone I have a Walgreens, Best Buy, DSW, Chipotle, Subway, Trader Joe's, and those are just the ones off the top of my head.
• The NYU students seem different. Not different in a bad way, and there are some who remind me of regular college students, but maybe it's in the way they carry themselves - I don't know, they just seem different.
• Security is tight as nails here. Each hall has a Resource Center (front desk) as well as a round-the-clock staffed public safety desk. Each resident must present their ID card each time they enter the building, and if they don't have the sticker for that building, they are not allowed in.
• I find myself continuously astounded by the architecture here, and if I actually knew anything about architecture and all the different kinds, I'm sure I'd be more amazed
• Everything is more expensive. $5.39 for a box of honey nut cheerio's is kind of ridiculous.
• Many of my pre-conceptions about this place are turning out to be incorrect - and this is a good thing. For example, I heard the subway was dirty and gross. It certainly isn't as pristine at the Metro in DC, but it actually wasn't bad at all.
• I realized I don't know how to ask strangers for help. I haven't needed to yet, but this could be a problem later.
• I cannot seem to adjust to this new time zone thing. I still want primetime tv to start at 7, and I am not doing well with it starting at 8!
• Lines are something I'm going to need to get used to. I walked into a Starbucks where 15 people who had already paid were waiting for their drinks, and ten people were waiting to pay. I hate lines. So. Much.

I think that's all for now, I'm sure I'll remember more later, and I'll post them as they come!