Being born and raised in New York City is something to be proud of. From the city that never sleeps and one of the largest cities in the world, New Yorkers can often take NYC for granted resulting in many negative stereotypes against us. We’re described as rude and how we walk super fast with no regards to other pedestrians. (I mean…it’s rush hour and I’m trying to get home.)

So…what does it necessarily mean to be a New Yorker?

1. You’ve never been to the Statue of Liberty.

The Statue of Liberty represents freedom and hope- at least that’s what the approximate 12 million immigrants who came to the United States through Ellis Island during the late 1800s-early 1900s believed. But what do current New Yorkers believe? We believe that the Statue of Liberty will always be there, so we can visit it whenever. We also don’t feel like taking a ferry to get there, but we’ll probably go to a boat party and take pictures of the statue from there. Besides, we probably already passed the statue during our high school prom which most likely took place on a boat.

2. You’ve never went to Times Square to watch the ball drop on New Year’s Eve.

“Ball drop?! I’m going to spend NYE with my family and/or friends and then I’m going clubbing after,” is pretty much what true New Yorkers think when New Year’s Eve is approaching. It’s way too cold and crowded for us to bring in the new year in Times Square. We want to have a few cocktails and be in our sparkly outfits on NYE…so Times Square? Yeah, you’re not an option for us.

3. You are determined to get to your destination as fast as you can, even if that means pushing people.

Especially if you’re just getting out the subway or walking around downtown Manhattan during rush hour- oh boy. It’s like you almost have to prepare yourself for a war to be able to walk in these mean streets. I’ve had an older lady (looked like she was in her late 50s) literally extend her arm and purposely push me out the way. Of course I didn’t retaliate- not because she was old, but because the train doors closed right after. When you’re in a rush and there’s nothing but slow people in your way, it’s safe to say you’re bound to bump into a few people and probably get a few death stares. If they’re from NY, they’ll understand why.

4. The words “deadass” and “facts” are in your daily vocabulary.

“I can’t believe that just happened, like deadass?” “facts.” Us New Yorkers use the word “deadass” as a confirmation or a question waiting for a confirmation; we use “facts” when someone hits us with the truth and we have to agree. Check out Donald Trump in last week’s presidential debate- he hit us with the “facts” after being in Hempstead for a few hours. Too bad he’s actually deadass about running for president.

5. Hearing “Ladies and gentlemen, we are being held momentarily by the train’s dispatcher” while riding a MTA subway drives you insane.

Let’s be real here- although the Metrocard fares have gone up within the past few years, you’re pretty much paying $2.75 to travel within all 5 boroughs. So in reality, you get what you pay for. But when time is money, the MTA can be really frustrating to deal with. I remember many times where I was in a rush to get somewhere and the subway was continuously “held momentarily by the train’s dispatcher” and I was freaked out internally. You can also see everyone else’s pokerface when they hear this message- not something you want to go through when you have somewhere to be at a certain time.

6. Hearing “Showtime!” on the train is your cue to plug in your earphones.

“Of course we appreciate you showing us your cool dance moves, but we’re trying to get from point A to point B in the most peaceful way possible. We’ll probably donate a dollar or two, but please don’t get too close as you might kick me in the face.” -New Yorkers as train passengers. An MTA campaign recently directed a message to subway dancers which reads, “Poles Are For Your Safety, Not Your Latest Routine. Hold the pole, not our attention. A subway car is no place for showtime.” Obviously this message is not taken seriously because we still see subway dancers during our commutes. We’ll be fine, though. These performances usually last from one stop to the next. Let’s just hope you don’t encounter subway dancers on the A train on 125th street…59th street is so close, yet so far away…

7. As much as you complain about New York City, it will always be home.

New York City is the second largest city in the world, following Tokyo. If you ask me, I feel very blessed to be from here. Despite the rude people, the annoying tourists, the rats, the inconvenient train changes and the harsh weather during the winter, we often take our city for granted. We have so many resources that we are not aware of because we are too stuck in our own ways. There are also lot of things to do for free in NYC, for those who think it’s completely unaffordable. I’ve deadass been able to survive and have lots of fun while being on a budget. Lastly, there’s nothing more beautiful and breathtaking than reaching NYC on a plane at night and seeing all the beautiful lights. Man, I love my city and that’s nothing but facts.