when i first came out to cali for college many years ago, people would ask things like, "aren't people rude in new york?" and "doesn't it smell bad?" and i used to respond that those were just myths. i said that, no, people really are pretty nice, and the city doesn't smell bad, except places where it should (alleys, etc.). then, when i came back to nyc on visits and when i moved back after graduating, i realized how rude new yorkers are and how smelly nyc is. i had just never known there was a difference.when i moved back to nyc after graduating, often, people would ask me where i'm from. "i'm from here," i'd say. "but you're smiling," they'd respond. "i would've guessed you're from ________," and fill in the blank. that, i thought, was one sign of many that i had to leave.