Buzz
It’s pretty obvious when someone hasn’t quite grasped the rhythms of city living. The city is a wild creature that demands time, observation, and a certain familiarity before you can truly claim mastery over it. For those who navigate it every day, it’s second nature, but for those who still watch with a confused glance, the city can easily draw them into its mysterious grip. To the seasoned urbanite, the awkwardly-tilted heads of the overwhelmed newcomers stand out like a sore thumb. Here are ten signs that scream ‘this person is not from the city’.
10. Pedestrian Signals
Indicator: You’re Waiting for the Pedestrian Signal to Turn Green.
In the peaceful suburbs, everything runs like clockwork. You're used to things like school zones, crossing guards, and well-mannered drivers—whatever those are. In the city, though, it’s survival of the fittest. You’ll witness something like a blind man trying to cross the street alone while cars barely avoid mowing him down as soon as the light turns red (true story). Patience is not just rare in the city—it’s practically a mythical creature. Everyone’s in too much of a rush to care about the chaos of traffic laws.
9. The Eccentric Crowd
Indicator: You Start Noticing the Eccentric Individuals.
After your 800th encounter with a woman shouting at her shopping cart or a middle-aged man yelling for his mom as though they’d lost each other at a Toys R Us, these invisible friend-havers begin to fade from your awareness. Their bizarre ramblings and colorful obscenities turn into a kind of white noise—a reminder that you’ve truly entered the city. But for those accustomed to social order, these characters can be alarming, making the city feel like a circus of oddities. In time, though, you'll grow accustomed to their eccentricities. They’ll help you remember just how alienating—and yet strangely comforting—urban life can be.
8. Skyrocketing Prices
Indicator: You’re Stunned by How Ridiculously Expensive Everything Is.
It may sound completely insane that a bottle of water costs $3, or that a single cup of coffee can set you back twice as much (depending on how fancy you demand it to be). But that’s the reality of the city. If you work there, your salary might help justify the outrageous cost of living, but for any commuter, it feels like you’ve walked into a giant movie theater snack stand. Savvy commuters, though, know better than to pay those sky-high prices; they bring their own lunch and water to survive the day. It’s like sneaking snacks into a movie theater—except what you're sneaking in is sheer practicality.
7. Photographs
Indicator: You Photograph Absolutely Everything.
After walking the same streets enough times, the buildings, signs, and iconic landmarks lose their initial charm. But for the occasional city visitor, stepping off the train feels like Dorothy’s arrival in Oz, with everything instantly transforming into vibrant technicolor. It’s a dazzling experience that absolutely must be documented in a thousand photos, because the tourist believes that capturing the magic will preserve it forever—preserving those memories in a never-ending scrapbook. Unfortunately, this leads to the frustration of anyone and everyone forced to sit through the endless slideshow of pigeons, lampposts, and street signs.
6. Biking
Indicator: You Believe Bikes Should Only Be on Sidewalks and Dedicated Bike Lanes.
If you view biking only as a leisurely activity or a way to stay fit, you’ve missed how much of a claim this two-wheeled juggernaut has made in the city. While driving through urban streets, it’s not uncommon to find yourself stuck behind a bicycle that seems to think it's a car or any other legitimate form of transportation that should be allowed to roam freely. In the city, somehow, high-speed vehicles that can hit 100 MPH share the roads with bikes that only go as fast as their rider’s fitness level allows. Urban bicycles are the exception to the rule in a world that generally frowns upon anything that isn’t fast-paced. Ironically, it’s in the city where bike messengers manage to outpace delivery trucks in efficiency.
5. Urban Wildlife
Indicator: You Feed Squirrels and Pigeons Because They’re Just Too “Adorable.”
In the wild, much like in Disney cartoons, squirrels and birds are the perfect representation of purity, innocent creatures in their natural state. But in the urban jungle, these creatures are far more savage. Who knows what kind of filth and diseases are hidden behind their beady eyes and frantic movements as they scavenge through trash cans, sewers, and piles of city waste? Yet, to some, these creatures still seem endearing as they demand attention with their expectant stares and nipping at your feet for crumbs. What they fail to realize is that fostering dependence on humans for food—rather than allowing these animals to forage for themselves—can be damaging to their ecosystem.
4. Packed Trains
Indicator: You Wait for the Next Subway, Because “This One is Too Full.”
In the city, you quickly adapt to an uncomfortably close proximity with strangers. This is best demonstrated by the subway, where two people can end up just inches away from each other—without a single glance or acknowledgment. Personal space is a luxury only the wealthy or those with cars can afford. In the city, it’s second nature to understand that during rush hour, getting home on time might just involve a bit of uncomfortable, upright intimacy.
3. Indifferent
Sign: You Haven't Become Cynical (Yet).
A defining characteristic of those who dwell in the city is an overwhelming sense of weariness. After wandering the rough and unpredictable urban terrain, nothing seems to surprise you anymore—be it for the better or worse. The initial excitement that tourists carry with them on their first visit fades into an almost alien feeling, replaced by a sense of disillusionment. This detachment also brings a kind of boredom, devoid of the wide-eyed wonder that newcomers often experience. It's tempting to look down on those who struggle to find their way, to navigate the unspoken rules and pressures that suffocate a city. Yet, it's not hard to confuse this superiority complex with a more bitter form of envy.
2. Street Dwellers
Notice: You Do Indeed Offer Spare Change to Homeless Individuals.
Homeless individuals can be quite clever. They frequently set up camp in strategic spots, ensuring they’re in prime locations for receiving donations: right outside coffee shops (where they might even hold the door open for you), on busy intersection medians, near transit stations, and more. It almost becomes a form of harassment. After enough exposure to these persistent fixtures, who always ask for the same thing, it’s easy to start seeing them as just another part of the urban landscape, like mailboxes or parking meters—or even as eccentric characters. Considering that some might use the money for substances, constantly giving would eventually lead to financial strain. However, to the unseasoned traveler or someone less experienced, they only see a person in need, believing a handful of change could make any difference in the vast cycle of global poverty, or help one homeless individual get back on their feet.
1. Fear
Sign: You assume that everyone around you is out to harm, rob, or assault you.
It’s true that major cities statistically experience more murders, robberies, and assaults, but keep in mind that these urban areas also house a large portion of the global population. So, naturally, the higher crime rates reflect this reality. However, don’t let the media’s sensationalized coverage fool you into thinking that cities are overflowing with danger and moral decay. You can easily enjoy a pleasant and safe time in the city without fearing for your life. The key is maintaining a sense of detachment, avoiding anything that feels suspicious, and steering clear of individuals who seem shady. And of course, where else would you find such excellent dining, exciting concert venues, and an abundance of entertaining nightlife?
