A Bite of the Big Apple – NYC Survival Guide

I would like to set the record straight. New Yorkers are not rude; people just fail to follow the rules of the city. For instance, in certain areas of Los Angeles, one must know when it is appropriate to wear red or blue; and in Washington D.C., shouting words or phrases like "bomb", "I love Bin Laden" or "I hate America" will more than likely cause you to be kidnapped in the middle of the night by men dressed in all black. So please, if you're going to visit, if you're thinking about visiting, or if you're simply watching something related to New York life on television, take a minute to read these rules - its essential to your survival in the city.

1. DO NOT stop in the middle of the sidewalk to take a picture of a famous site or

yourselves - most New Yorkers are usually on a mission to get somewhere and YOU

ARE IN THE WAY!

2. DO NOT walk four by four down the sidewalk - again, YOU ARE IN THE WAY!

3. Stay to the right - this is a universal rule in most major cities. If you're walking down the street, walk up or down stairs, or riding on an escalator, stay to the right because it allows people to pass you on the left...otherwise, YOU ARE STILL IN THE WAY!

4. Allow at least one step of space between you and the person in front of you when riding the escalator - no one wants to feel your breath on the back of their neck. This is also great for escape purposes in case of a pile up. Trust me, this alone saved me from a 12 person pile up that occurred when an old man fell at the bottom of the escalator at the 42nd Street AMC Theaters.

5. When entering the subway, move towards the center of the car - doing such allows the flow of traffic, in and out of the subway car, to occur more fluidly. But, if you like profanities being spewed at you or you enjoy being trampled, by all means, stand at the first bar closest to the door.

6. DO NOT stand in front of the car doors on the subway - do I really have to explain that you are in the way yet again.

7. When you go to sit down on the train - especially on an older subway with yellow and orange seats that have been molded to fit a particular body type - please do not do the sumo wrestler squat and assume there is enough space for you to take a seat. Say, "Excuse me," and wait for the non-verbal confirmation; otherwise, it's just rude and uncomfortable for everyone.

8. Be considerate when listening to your iPod, mp3 player, or phone - if you look around the subway, most people are reading and would prefer not to hear Gangster Rap, Heavy Metal, or Reggaeton while doing such.

9. Starring is NEVER appropriate.

10. DO NOT get offended when we New Yorkers roll our eyes when you say you want to go to Time Square. Its not you, we just know 9 times out of 10 there are tourist there breaking the above rules.

I'll be honest, I didn't realize how important these rules were until I moved here. It became even clearer after we had an influx of visitors during the holidays. So, consider yourself warned. And in the event you are here in New York and someone shoots you a crazy look, bumps into you, or shares a few choice words with you, take a minute to think if you've broken one of the rules.

♥ J'aime Bianca