Why, after two years in New York, I am NOT returning to Kiev

Internet has flown around article Ukrainian woman about how she did not fit New York. My answer.
What I had in Kyiv: status, good job, 2 apartments, etc., but I wanted new challenges. I tried to work in Moscow (also an international company, good package) - not my thing at all. Next was New York, which I fell in love with at first sight, and we are still in a bouquet-and-candy period.

PROS

JOB. There really is a dime a dozen here, even if you don’t have documents: a lot of construction and a lot of work for cash ($100-150 per day); and if you want to freelance; and if you are an average person (it’s a little more difficult, because there are a lot of average analysts, managers, etc., but it’s realistic and possible to get involved); and if you are a star (it’s mentally difficult to start over, like me, but again you can first get a job in a medium-sized company, get “experience in New York” for your CV, and then move to another better company).

When I was looking for a job, simply by virtue of a well-written cover letter, I got interviews in the best companies. Both those who work “through connections” and those who simply “come from the street” work here. I recommend sending out at least 20-30 resumes per day. There is more work than talent, so it’s all about “full-time,” and everything depends on the ability to sell yourself. Earning $70-80K you can feel average, but at $120K you’re already fine. In general, let me remind you that every 21st person here is a millionaire.

The possibility of acquiring real estate is not affected. My 26-year-old colleague did not sell a single building in New York, found a good one for sale at the West Village after a cold call, hung a banner, and one day Sarah Jessica Parker phoned him and bought $ 34M for her residence.

Such accessibility of famous and wealthy people is only in New York, no “cubes” with security for you. Here this is treated much more simply. Therefore, you calmly call investment funds, ask for investments, and develop projects. All capitalism works on cold calls, this is the norm here.

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS. If you are interesting and not a bore, then you can make friends with any progressive and wealthy people. This is very motivating and stimulating. The “quality” of people in New York is the highest; the most daring people come here in pursuit of their dreams. That’s why there is a feeling that some soft drugs are being sprayed into the air here, everything is so positive. I made friends quickly and well. Even in Kyiv, at an advanced age, you can have problems with friends, but this is not a problem in New York.
FOOD. For every taste and color, my diet and lifestyle have become much healthier here. Most people go to the gym like they brush their teeth. The corporate culture of Ukraine, and indeed Russia, is cappuccinos and cookies with cakes every day. Here, advanced Americans still take care of their health. Massage therapists and yoga instructors come to the office, everyone drinks green smoothies, fresh juices, eats their own salads, etc. Only in New York, sometimes cooking at home is more expensive than buying it in a good grocery store, because there is always a variety there (I I’m not talking about those Chinese stinking places where you’re scared to go), it costs $8-9 per pound. Yes, I miss cheesecakes, but you can find that here too. There are Russian stores where any goods from the former USSR are available.

Russian stores sell any goods from the former USSR, and in Brighton Beach you can get any information in Russian. Photo: Pavel Terekhov

DOING BUSINESS. You register an LLC online for $800 in a couple of hours. No OBOP, racketeering, hit-ups, business loans over $50K - 5.75% per annum, mortgage 3.5% and higher. Raising investments for a good project is also relatively easy; there is more money than good ideas.
LEISURE. This is my favorite. New York itself is like 5-6 separate towns, in the first year I wore out 4 pairs of shoes - I walked everywhere! It's such a constant festival, there's so much going on, I sometimes get lost in the dates and events: balls for the aristocracy ($150-$1+ tickets), theme parties (Gatsby, 500's, 80's, Mexican, Jazz on the Lawn style 90s - whatever you want, for every taste) - from $30-30. Cinemas. Museums - METT (admission for at least $80), MoMA $1, Natural History, Guggenheim, Contemporary Art, art galleries are countless. Restaurants: from Thailand, Mexico, France - to American steaks, etc. Main course from $25 and up. My sister and her husband are foodies, and they come from Toronto to New York several times a year to go to restaurants and shop, because everything is cheaper here. Parades: costumed dog parade for Halloween, gay parades dedicated to different countries, you name it, they constantly block 15th Avenue for parades and festivals: Coffee festivals, oysters, films, street food, organic farm food, etc. Parks in New York itself: the chic Brooklyn Garden, the Bronx, Central Park - beautiful in any season, you never get tired of it, children are delighted with zoos. Parks near New York: famous apple picking trips in the fall, vineyards, the Hamptons - such a local Concha Zaspa 5 hours from New York, where everyone spends the summer, various lakes and mountains with hiking trails in summer and autumn (hiking is popular here tourism), peony parks, a separate lavender park where everyone goes to take pictures, farms to pick pumpkins. New York is surrounded by ocean and bays, so there are many beautiful beaches for the summer (except Brighton, believe me). There are countless clubs for any lover of acid, 3s music, jazz. Rooftops are a purely New York thing; because of the beautiful views of New York, everyone here loves to relax on rooftops in the summer. Within an hour or two or three drive, new horizons open up: new beautiful parks and museums, and everything is nearby.

TRAVELS. From New York you can fly for $220 round trip to San Francisco, Miami or decent Florida, for $300 plus - to any Caribbean island. Cruises that take you to several islands at once are very popular.

THINGS. Anything and cheap, outlets (Woodbury Commonet etc), Century 21. For both adults and children - whatever you want. The cherished word clearance is when minus 85% on the previous sale.
MEN. A lot, and most of them rock :)) The fact that they have their own cockroaches in their heads is a separate issue.

MINUSS

— Taxes: very painful, but not like in Europe.
— Rent: yes, expensive. From $600 per room in Brooklyn. For $2 you can rent a nice apartment on the Upper East Side. The apartments are old and small with low ceilings. But if you follow point 200 (work), then everything is ok. I'm not going to buy housing in Manhattan - I'm going to feed these old landlords :).
— Disgusting subway and rats.
— Insurance and medicine: if your job doesn’t pay, please pay at least $300 a month out of pocket for insurance. Obama introduced a fine a year ago if you don't have insurance. Medicine is not very good, which is why the medical travel industry is developing this way, when people go to have their teeth/breasts done/cancer treatment in Mexico, Poland, etc.
— Schools: $40-60 thousand per year for a good school. This is why so many people live in the suburbs, where there are good public schools, and then take the train to work, the standard routine.
— Mentality: yes, it takes a year and a half to get used to American lies (they prefer not to tell the bitter truth, but to maintain the appearance that everything is fine).
- They get married late. There are a lot of young mothers over 45 years old.

About the Author:

Natalia Stelmakh - Investment Sales director in Eastern consolidated, the leading commercial real estate company in Manhattan, with the volume of transactions top Manhattan $ 2-4 billion annually. Natalya, her partner and a team of Ukrainian engineers also invented the world's smallest GPS tracker, Polaris, for family and valuables, which they are launching on global markets in December 2016.

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See also:

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