2008 Woodie Awards
Life on 96th
My life in New York
by Stephanie Irvin
Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: Features
When I read the e-mail saying I'd been given an internship with Columbia University Press, my initial reaction was an unintelligible noise sounding like a mix of girly "awww" and impassioned "gahhhhhhhhh." I was going to New York City.
The press is in Manhattan, a densely-populated borough of New York City. The Web page for the Manhattan borough president says the island is under 23 square miles, with over 1.4 million residents. It's a small and busy place. A New York Times article placed the 2005 vacancy rate at below one percent and it continues to worsen.
The ordeal of getting a decent apartment involved credit checks, proof of income, tax returns, and so much back-and-forth I missed the ease of getting an apartment in Habersham. Since many places require you earn much more than your rent, which I don't since my internship is unpaid, my dad agreed to be my guarantor. Thus, he was the unlucky soul who had to deal with most of the paperwork. I'm lucky to have parents who agreed to pay for my education, and without them or a real job, I wouldn't have been able to get as nice an apartment, this close to work.
The initial plan was to cart all my stuff up here, but that would require spending two days driving, and my family driving an additional two days. The minimal move seemed wisest; I filled three suitcases and went to the airport, giving hugs and fond farewells to my friends, dog and DVD collection.
I live in the Upper West Side, a nice, safe neighborhood. From out the window of my high-rise I can see an elementary school and Riverside Park, which borders the Hudson River. I haven't explored much besides visiting various stores to find a place where groceries aren't as expensive. The city has a high cost of living. There's no Wal-Mart on the island to undercut local businesses prices, and if there were, they would probably go the way of McDonalds and raise their prices accordingly.
It's weird to move from where I've lived my whole life to a place I've only visited once, solely for an interview. Until the end of May, I'm living where I know no one. But hey, it's going to be fun. If only I could find Dr. Pepper cheaper than $1.29 per 1.5 liter.
The press is in Manhattan, a densely-populated borough of New York City. The Web page for the Manhattan borough president says the island is under 23 square miles, with over 1.4 million residents. It's a small and busy place. A New York Times article placed the 2005 vacancy rate at below one percent and it continues to worsen.
The ordeal of getting a decent apartment involved credit checks, proof of income, tax returns, and so much back-and-forth I missed the ease of getting an apartment in Habersham. Since many places require you earn much more than your rent, which I don't since my internship is unpaid, my dad agreed to be my guarantor. Thus, he was the unlucky soul who had to deal with most of the paperwork. I'm lucky to have parents who agreed to pay for my education, and without them or a real job, I wouldn't have been able to get as nice an apartment, this close to work.
The initial plan was to cart all my stuff up here, but that would require spending two days driving, and my family driving an additional two days. The minimal move seemed wisest; I filled three suitcases and went to the airport, giving hugs and fond farewells to my friends, dog and DVD collection.
I live in the Upper West Side, a nice, safe neighborhood. From out the window of my high-rise I can see an elementary school and Riverside Park, which borders the Hudson River. I haven't explored much besides visiting various stores to find a place where groceries aren't as expensive. The city has a high cost of living. There's no Wal-Mart on the island to undercut local businesses prices, and if there were, they would probably go the way of McDonalds and raise their prices accordingly.
It's weird to move from where I've lived my whole life to a place I've only visited once, solely for an interview. Until the end of May, I'm living where I know no one. But hey, it's going to be fun. If only I could find Dr. Pepper cheaper than $1.29 per 1.5 liter.
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