State of the Union

[bubosquared]

So. Facts re: emigration to NYC:

• I'm young, I'm fairly presentable, I'm adaptable, I'm bilingual, I have a European high school diploma. I have a good chance of finding a decent job.
• It is quite possibly cheaper to have my stuff shipped over there, so I don't have to worry about buying furniture. (Will, however, need new tv and video. But that's okay.)
• While living inside the city is expensive, the suburbs are supposedly not that expensive. It's not like I've not been commuting all my life anyway.
• If worst comes to worst, there are a number of people in/near NYC I could crash with.
• I will need to contact the US embassy this week to find out how soon I would be able to get a visa.
• I will need to cut down on all expenses and save money. Lots.
• I am quite possibly insane. AUGUST?

Comments

OK.

[apetslife.livejournal.com]

As a 7-year inhabitant of NYC, I feel obliged to point a few things out, here. :-) And this is not meant to discourage you, because I'm gonna be moving back there just as soon as I can, myself. I love that city.

Anyway.

Suburbs? Not terribly cheap, unless you get REALLY far out into the ass-end of Queens and certain undesireable parts of New Jersey. You can expect to pay no less than $1300 a month (US)for livable space in Manhattan, decent areas of the boroughs, and so on. Your best bet is to contact some kind of association for people from your country, and see if there are folks who need roommates. That probably won't cost more than $700 a month, though you may not get great space.

The job market right now? Bad. Very bad. I advise you to lock down a position before you come, if you can. Sometimes companies will help with relocation expenses as well.

You probably don't want to ship your furniture. It will be MUCH cheaper to either buy new or get a sublet on a furnished apartment. Also, shipping delivery is bad in NY, unless you have some means by which to move the furniture yourself once it arrives. Otherwise, your bureau etc. will remain sitting outside your door.

So. Come! Please! But be sure you're really solid before you do, because as wonderful and gorgeous and fabulous as NYC is, it's not terribly merciful.

:-)

Pet

Re: OK.

[larean.livejournal.com]

You know, the job market is plentiful in Nashville (with fields you should find work easily in, considering you have experience and are willing to work full-time year-round), and it's much cheaper to live here, if you're willing to "start out" elsewhere ...

:D

no!

[apetslife.livejournal.com]

NO! She should come to NY!

All I'm sayin' is that it's a bit of a pain. TOTALLY worth it, though.

Don't you steal her away!

*grin*

Re: no!

[larean.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't wish Nashville on someone for the long-term, anyway. :)

Re: OK.

[bubosquared.livejournal.com]

Well, no offense to Tenessee, hun, but I need the sea relatively nearby in order to be able to live somewhere. The sheer size of the damn country scares me enough as it is. I wanna be near the exit, y'know? ;D

Re: OK.

[larean.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah. I know all about that ... (if NYC doesn't work out, try Boston).

The exit! LOL! :D

Re: OK.

[bubosquared.livejournal.com]

The thing is, if I'mna be living with someone, I'd actually rather they not be Belgian, I think. Can't pinpoint why, but mostly because I don't want to do what I see a lot of (UK) expats do here and clutter together in near-ghetto's. I want to at least try to "blend in."

Locking down a position won't be easy considering I can't really afford to go there on interview-"vacation", but yes, making sure I at least have some highly probable prospects was part of the plan.

As for shipping, I've decided to cross that bridge when I come to it. If I ship, it'll be mostly because it's cheaper, because all I really want to take with me would be my clothes (one suitcase worth's), my computer, and my cat.

And trust me, I know NYC (and the States) wouldn't/won't be merciful for the jobless. Especially compared to my nivce, safe, socialist Belgium. Lack of social/medical security is one of the (big) downsides to this.