I feel like I can adequately call myself a “city girl now” I’ll be honest; when I first moved to Boston from my hometown of Boise, Idaho (which is tiny, mind you), I had no idea if I would adjust to the city life. I definitely had a bit of culture shock initially. But, as my first semester unfolded, I checked off places on my “Places to See” list, I slowly gained the Bostonian status. Here are 5 signs that you have, too.
- You no longer have to check the T maps to know what stop is next on the Green Line Inbound.
Kenmore, Hynes, Copley, Arlington, Boylston, then Park Street. After you take the T enough times, you’ll start to know exactly what stop you’re getting off at and not have to consistently stand next to the map or check the LED sign religiously. An extra bonus: you can give people directions if they look lost! (Also, @MBTA, when are you going to fix the fact that you can’t change directions at Copley and have to go all the way to Arlington?)
Next stop: Boylston. No smoking, please.
2) City Target becomes more impractical than fun.
Now, no hate, because the City Target is the bomb.com, but it’s the worst feeling when you realize you forgot to grab something on the third floor and are heading to the checkout on the second floor. Tip: section off your shopping list by floor so you don’t have to go back to the third floor a second time!
Moment of appreciation for the beautiful lights and luxurious apartment buildings on the way from the BU Campus to Target, though.
3) Jaywalking at Kenmore Square does not phase you.
Crossing the street when the light is actually green? What’s that? Besides mumbling “hit me, I dare you” under your breath half-jokingly, you’ll start to realize that it’s completely irrational to wait to cross because there can either be so much traffic that it is standstill, or no cars at all.
STILL LOOK BEFORE YOU CROSS THOUGH. Both ways, twice! Safety is #1.
4) You begin to venture outside of the city during the weekend.
Obviously, living in Boston is amazing. But eventually, you’ll branch out and explore places outside of Boston– in close proximity like Cambridge or Somerville, and a bit further, like Salem or the Cape. And lucky for us, MBTA offer direct transportation to places like Newburyport and Salem, so there’s almost no excuse to get out of the immediate Boston area.
Make sure you book bus or train tickets in advance if you are planning on going somewhere during three day weekends! Prices may skyrocket.
5) You never leave for the day without packing an umbrella or rain jacket.
Boston can always be unexpectedly hit with downpours, and you don’t want to be left unprepared and drenched on your walk from class to class. Rain jackets are awesome if you don’t want the bulk of an umbrella and take up barely any space in your bag when folded up. However, if you want more full coverage from the rain without wearing a hood, an umbrella is your best option! Lots of stores sell smaller, compact umbrellas perfect for college students!
So, do you think you’ve met the criteria for being a true Bostonian?
If so, congrats! And hey, if not quite yet, no worries. You still got a few years to go, so what’s the rush?
