Boston

Although this is technically an entertainment blog, I need to regroup for a few posts to discuss not choice amusement, but a recent life decision of my own. Within the last month, I made the leap from New York to Boston. I went from the Upper West Side to Cambridge. I am experiencing the standard culture shock that comes from not only moving, but also moving out of my parents house. There's also the culture shock of the sudden immersion to the greater Boston area. Stay tuned for more observations as I make my transition. Here are my first impressions.

THE ACCENT Alright, we've all mocked the accent at some point. "I pahked the cah in Hah-vahd yahd." Frankly, it happens with all accents--New York's is not excluded from this group. ("I bet the Chinese food is tehrrible.") The Boston accent, however, has really thrown me for a loop. In New York city, the accent basically doesn't cross into Manhattan. Unless you wander around the Bronx or Queens, you're really not going to get much exposure to it. (Side note: in a recent job interview in downtown Manhattan, the interviewer, a New Yorker, commended me--another native New Yorker--for not having an accent. I was thoroughly confused, as I haven't met any native Manhattanite who has spoken with an accent.)

I know I will quickly get accustomed to it, but the Boston accent surprised me because when I think of strong prevailing regional accents in America, I think of the south and the midwest. I never thought that I should throw Boston on that list too.

THE SOX My first visit back to New York, I will keep a tally of all the Yankee gear I see. I think it may have become white noise to me, because the sox paraphernalia I see day in and day out is overwhelming. Part of the shock comes from the fact that I definitely see Yankee baseball hats in the spring, summer and early autumn. I don't really remember seeing Yankee winter gear all over town. Obviously, Boston has a longer winter, so fans are forced to buy winter seasonal fan gear. I am pretty sure that it will take me a year before I grow accustomed to seeing Red Sox stuff everywhere. I'm sure I'll have more on Red Sox culture once the season starts, too.

THE T New York's subway system has many superior characteristics to it than the T. Bostonians love to hate the T. So far, I have found it reliable and clean. Sure, it closes early, is prone to delays, and is basically pointless when it doesn't run underground. But, one aspect almost makes up for all its shortcomings: the Charlie Card. I would say 4 out of 5 days when commuting to work in New York City, I'd get stuck behind some idiot who didn't know how to properly swipe their Metrocard. It requires skill to smoothly execute the Metrocard swipe as you walk through the turnstyle. The Charlie Card, however, allows you to wave it near an electronic sensor and you're on your way. Not only does this allow for a great margin for error because you don't have to get a magnetic strip in just the right spot, but you don't have to remove your Charlie Card from your wallet. I cannot even tell you how great that is. So many times this winter, I had forgotten to properly replace my Metrocard back into my wallet. This usually occurred when a train was in the station and I would quickly put my card in my pocket in order to run to catch my train. I would realize this the next day, when I would be wearing a different coat than the day before. Cursing ensued.

Will I love Boston more than New York? Probably not. My loyalty to New York runs thick. I also think that on a point of pride, I could never admit to liking Boston more. So far, however, Boston has welcomed me warmly and I find myself feeling very much at home.