what new york taught me

only the best lessons of my life and more

I moved to New York from Los Angeles to start a career in crypto. I had no idea what I wanted, and my investment in Bitcoin in early 2016 was the only experience I had getting into this industry. On the phone with the recruiter, probably my 100th job interview, I told her that I “understand crypto but also understand the Kardashians.” She gave me the job on the spot. I packed my bags and moved to New York.

It was the summer after Covid, and I was battling a flu. I stayed at a shitty hotel in the Financial District while I apartment hunted. The “shitty hotel” was actually a 4-star Sheraton, and it was the first reality check for how my life will look like now. A New Yorker. I was so sick that I picked the first apartment I found. I didn’t know New York very well back then, and thus did not consider the neighborhood during my hunt. I only found out when my realtor emailed me saying that he’s sure I’m going to have the time of my life in Chelsea. I now live in Chelsea, I guess.

My first job was at a crypto PR agency. I quickly became friends with everyone there. I quickly made friends in New York. As the fall came by I started being more comfortable in the city. I would go to bars and restaurants and museums and pretend to be someone I’m not, in the best way possible. I loved to dine alone, sit at the bar, order everything, and talk to the bartenders and neighboring patrons. I loved telling people I was Saudi. New Yorkers got excited when they found out that I was Saudi. There weren’t many Saudis in New York.