The “Third World” City I Call Home

Recently I have been reevaluating my life in NYC. It has not been exactly what I would have expected for myself – cut to footage of my Mom driving away in the car, crying. This is not to say that I haven’t found financial stability, cause despite how much I loath my job, I do get paid well above the average compensation. I would not call it financial success, but that is because to live a normal life in NYC you have to make a minimum of 6 figures a year.

One thing that puts things into perspective is the way we heat and cool our homes here in the big apple. I, like most New Yorkers, have radiators in my apartment. Many old buildings (which would about 80% of the housing in NYC) have them. When I first moved here, I didn’t really get the concept. My house had forced air heating and central air conditioning.

So it was cultural shock when I realized that I had to live with these large metal objects in every room of my apartment. They are not only ugly but very dangerous as they get really hot. There is not a thermostat, either. So there are only two settings…Cold or Really, Really Hot!

What is even more unbelievable is that people will actually purchase apartments for ½ Million dollars or more – with radiators.

I live in the most expensive Third World Country. I could be the new poster child one of Sally Struthers causes…except that for in NYC for the price of coffee ($0.25 according to her) you can’t even buy a cup of coffee – let alone feed anyone in this village.