I’ve always been drawn to the big city life. There’s always a new place to eat, things to do at night and most importantly, places to shop.
This summer I left the comfort of Moscow to intern in Portland, a city three times the size of my hometown Boise and 24 times the size of Moscow.
I lived the glamorous life. Working in the city and returning to a suburb at night. Experiencing the night life and never feeling frustrated with the lack of selection at Ross and Macy’s.
But with a big city comes big responsibility. I had to commute every morning, and my gas bill tripled. Instead of a 10-minute walk almost anywhere, it’s a 30-minute drive. Yes, I loved the Northwest weather in lieu of a hot Idaho summer, but leaving a place you spend so much time in makes you understand what makes it so great. I experienced this before when I left Boise for college, and again in leaving Moscow for Portland.
I miss walking. Sure, it’s exciting to be surrounded by so much that you need a car or public transit to see anything. But there’s something to be said for an evening walk to the University of Idaho Arboretum or to Main Street for dinner. Everything seems so much calmer than having to rush because traffic made you late and struggling to find a parking spot for what seems like hours.
Living large in Portland costs a lot more than it does in Moscow. I knew this would happen, but it only makes me happier to return to Moscow for my final year of easy living.
Living in the city also removes the sense of community that makes Moscow so great. Running into friends in WinCo or outside La Casa Lopez will never happen with so many occupants. Speaking of Casa, it may not be the best, but so far no Mexican restaurant can compare when it comes to a cheesy chimichanga or two-for-one margaritas.
No matter what I may have to say about how leaving Moscow made me think about it differently, it’s something you can’t understand until you do it. Once you start your first year at UI, you will begin to appreciate Moscow, but you won’t truly comprehend how much it meant until you leave.
Katy Sword can be reached at [email protected]