pumsti goes NYC

Yesterday I made it to the social security office to apply for a social security number where I was surprised that I don’t had to wait in a line because nobody else was there. I just wait strait through, filled out one form, went to the counter and that was it. Now I have to wait several days until they send the social sec card to me via mail. Afterwards I’ve opened a bank account. So now I’m nearly set and I just need an apartment and then I’m ready to rock and roll

Today I got an email from our HR department that my VISA has been approved which means that I have to get back to Austria once and take my passport and go to the US embassy in Vienna for the VISA entry. Then I’m free to enter the US without leaving it for 3 years. What a great day

It is very surprising that it took them only 2 weeks to approve the VISA because originally they have told me that it will last at least 4 to 6 weeks but anyway: I got it!!!

I’ve had my last day for this week in the office here in Downtown. For lunch I’ve been invited by some colleagues who are born and grown up in India but now working and living in the US and of course we went out to an Indian cuisine where I had “chicken tikka masala”. It came with rice and the Indian bread called “naan” and I really enjoyed it. Afterwards my colleagues convinced me to play the lottery as there is a big jackpot here in the US where you can currently 260 mio U$ and so we shared a couple of tickets.

In the evening I brought my stuff I want to leave here already my colleagues’ place in Hoboken and we had some Italian dinner in Hoboken and drank some wine

This evening I will bring all the stuff from Austria I took with me to an apartment of a colleague who is living in Hoboken – the area I will also focus on searching for a housing when I’m finally moving over. Hoboken was originally an Island surrounded by the Hudson river and was mainly populated by German immigrants before the World Wars. During the World Wars this changed from Germans to Italians. But it is cheaper compared to Manhattan and it is very easy to commute from/to Hoboken. Using the path train it takes only around 15 min to be in Manhattan.

After bringing my stuff over there my colleague and I will use this possibility to have some beers there and have some fun. I’m planing to do a little walk over there on the weekend so hopefully I will be able to take some nice pictures there for presenting them here.

Today was an exciting day for me because I met someone from the agency who is supporting me with the search for an apartment. Having this chat was really informative because she told me what I have to expect and what I would need beforehand when searching for housing. I have now a much better picture how the whole process of the relocation will look alike. There were also some weird things she told me: One was how to behave when driving a car and stopped by the police. It is a little bit different compared to Europe which means you have to stay in your car and don’t make any move. Just pull down the window and wait for the officers to tell you what to do. Never ever make any spontaneous moves because that can be understood that you are searching for a weapon. Another one was that whenever you have a car accident you should never say that you are sorry even if someone got hurt because that would mean that you feel yourself guilty and can be sued for it. Yes, that is the American way. You should just exchange personal data and insurance numbers and let the insurance do the rest for you. And the third funny thing was that it takes a while for the human body to get used to the US food because it is different compared to the European food. And if you want organic food than this is extremely expensive. Also natural yogurt (the yogurt you get here normally has sugar added) seems hard to get here in the US but I hope I can get it in some international stores.

What I know from today is that I am not able to really start the search for an apartment right now I first need my VISA, a bank account and my social security number. After having that all I will be able to sign a contract for renting something.

In the evening I was invited to dinner from my current boss – he lives in Hoboken – so we used the path train to get there and he showed me the place where he lives – really nice – and afterwards we had dinner in a Chinese/Japanese restaurant. I had a red snapper fish fillet which was really great. Afterwards I used the chance to walk around a little bit in Hoboken and get a feeling for this area which would be an option for me to live. I think I could imagine to live there.

Finally I arrived in NYC. The flight was a little jumpily so that I had half of the coffee on my trousers afterwards but overall it was a good and uncomplicated trip. Also the immigration and customs at JFK were no problem at all. I also noticed that they have improved the announcements you get inside the airplane so you are pretty good informed which forms you have to fill out and what you have to expect at the airport doing the immigration process.

After exiting the airport I got a cab and went directly to my hotel in downtown, had a quick shower and did a little walk outside afterwards. First I was walking to the building where our office is located (there is currently much construction work going on around ground zero) then I enjoyed a hot chocolate at Starbucks and after one hour outside I decided to go back to my hotel where I felt asleep 5 minutes after getting into the bed.

I’m really looking forward to meeting my colleagues again and will surely have a great day in the office today.

Now this is it. I will start the first BLOG of my life. The fact that I will move to NYC within the next few weeks was reason enough to try it. Here I will try to keep you informed about my adventures, thoughts and experiences while moving and living in NY city. As my first journey startes 25th of Feb (will be there for one week and start looking for housing and also organize stuff with my new boss) I’m currently in the preperation phase.