Month: October 2016

EUROPE

Nancy

Macedonia, Republic of

Kriva Palanka, Republic of Macedonia – January 2018 — I will write about my town and his name is Kriva Palanka, it is a small town in Republic of Macedonia, Eastern Europa. Kriva Palanka has a 16.000-17.000 population and it is border town between Macedonia and Bulgaria. I grow up here and this town totally changed on worst. This mountain town once surrounded with nature and trees clean river now become so polluted, air smells like chemicals, rivers are full with plastic trash and chemicals and there is no fish. People cut almost every tree to heat, sell etc. There are too many cars, people are so uneducated that is like primitive colony. When i grew up things were very different, not so much people, and those that were living there were polite educated they respected nature and others but now is like horror movie. This town have very old monastery called St. Joakim Osogovski located in the mountain not far from the town, and it is the only thing now that give good light to the town.

Transition, wars, poverty all this thing left marks on this place and stupidity reach maximum level. When i was kid the water was so clean and healthy, now if you drink you will became sick. There are like 100 street homeless dogs that starve and [content moderated to remove information that might identify writer]. Town is poisoning them, they mix poison with raw meat and they put it all over town, it is horror dead dogs everywhere near schools and kindergartens, they rot in alleys and dumpsters it is so so sad! I hate that all i wrote are bad things but that is the harsh reality that i’m living in, my bad luck is that i’m stuck here and all i want to do is leave this place, i tried to change it but it cannot be changed. So sad writing this but some places are good and some are like this town. Regards

 

Kriva Palanka, Republic of Macedonia – January 2018 — I will write about my town and his name is Kriva Palanka, it is a small town in Republic of Macedonia, Eastern Europa. Kriva Palanka has a 16.000-17.000 population and it is border town between Macedonia and Bulgaria. I grow up here and this town totally changed on worst. This mountain town once surrounded with nature and trees clean river now become so polluted, air smells like chemicals, rivers are full with plastic trash and chemicals and there is no fish. People cut almost every tree to heat, sell etc. There are too many cars, people are so uneducated that is like primitive colony. When i grew up things were very different, not so much people, and those that were living there were polite educated they respected nature and others but now is like horror movie. This town have very old monastery called St. Joakim Osogovski located in the mountain not far from the town, and it is the only thing now that give good light to the town.

Transition, wars, poverty all this thing left marks on this place and stupidity reach maximum level. When i was kid the water was so clean and healthy, now if you drink you will became sick. There are like 100 street homeless dogs that starve and [content moderated to remove information that might identify writer]. Town is poisoning them, they mix poison with raw meat and they put it all over town, it is horror dead dogs everywhere near schools and kindergartens, they rot in alleys and dumpsters it is so so sad! I hate that all i wrote are bad things but that is the harsh reality that i’m living in, my bad luck is that i’m stuck here and all i want to do is leave this place, i tried to change it but it cannot be changed. So sad writing this but some places are good and some are like this town. Regards

Paddock Wood, ENGLAND (UNITED KINGDOM) — January 17, 2018 — I grew up in rural South East England. I was born in 1965 in the tiny town of Paddock Wood. My father took a train to London every afternoon and worked overnight, coming home in the morning. My mother used to joke that the town looked like a wild west town. It had one main street that terminated in an ornate train station. All the shops were one story high and independent. There were few people. She said that all it was missing was the tumbleweed and the music. Beyond the town the fields stretched for miles. My mother used to push me around the countryside in a stroller. We covered miles. The first words I learned were “sheep” and “duck”. When I was a bit older I started to explore on my own. I got a bicycle when I was seven and I used to explore the meandering country roads and the big apple orchards. I attended the local elementary school and made some friends. I became obsessed with pop music by age eight and would sing hits by David Bowie and Slade on my way to school each morning.

In 1975 my parents moved to another small local town but I got to go back to Paddock Wood a lot in the eighties. When my grandfather passed away my grandmother moved into a senior home in …. Paddock Wood, and as a newly registered driver I got the job of picking her up on a Sunday morning and taking her home in the evening. When my father got a new car in 1982 that had a radio in it I was so happy because I could play loud music on the way home after dropping her off. I have only been back to Paddock Wood once or twice in the last twenty years. A lot has changed. There are a lot more people but it feels empty without my grandmother. Many of the fields are gone, given over to new development but at night it is still at heart a tiny rural town and after the last train has left the station you can almost see the tumbleweed drift past.

Samokov, BULGARIA — January 16, 2018 — The name of the town I grew up in is Samokov. Samokov is a small town in Bulgaria, about 40 miles outside the capital city of Sofia. It is situated in the basin of Rila Mountain which is the highest mountain on the Balkan peninsula. We are about a 20 min drive to one of the biggest winter resorts in Bulgaria. The biggest Bulgarian river flows through our beautiful town also. But the most famous thing about our town is the potatoes. The town of Samokov is the biggest potato producer in Bulgaria.

I loved living there from the time I was born until I was 25. Oh those were the best years. Even though some of them were during turbulent times in history in other parts of the world. I lived there while Bulgaria was under the communist reign of the Soviet Union, some even considered us a part of the USSR, we technically weren’t, but we did have the same president for 45 years! I remember going on vacation to Germany when I was 10 and my dad telling me about what’s on the other side of the wall. I remember that wall falling down some years later and the new beginning for all the Eastern European countries. All of a sudden there wasn’t enough food in the stores, almost overnight. We had to get up at 5am and go line up in front of the grocery store, waiting for hours before they open, just to buy milk and bread. Rations were imposed, there wasn’t enough to go around, people that came late didn’t get any. It was hard times for a couple of years.

The weather in our town was perfect growing up, not too hot and not too cold. Summer only lasted about 2 months, and most of the time temperature didn’t go above 85 F. Winter was the longest. It started snowing in October and there was almost always snow still on the ground in April. But they were mild winters, where everything was covered in snow, looked like winter wonderland, and everyone enjoyed it. Especially kids. We went sledding and skiing every chance we got. We built snow forts and had snowball fights. But the longest season of all was Fall. With it’s many sunny days it was my favorite time of the year. And now, 20 years later, if I could I would return and raise my children there. Sadly it’s been more than 10 years since I’ve been able to visit.

Kriva Palanka, Republic of Macedonia – January 2018 — I will write about my town and his name is Kriva Palanka, it is a small town in Republic of Macedonia, Eastern Europa. Kriva Palanka has a 16.000-17.000 population and it is border town between Macedonia and Bulgaria. I grow up here and this town totally changed on worst. This mountain town once surrounded with nature and trees clean river now become so polluted, air smells like chemicals, rivers are full with plastic trash and chemicals and there is no fish. People cut almost every tree to heat, sell etc. There are too many cars, people are so uneducated that is like primitive colony. When i grew up things were very different, not so much people, and those that were living there were polite educated they respected nature and others but now is like horror movie. This town have very old monastery called St. Joakim Osogovski located in the mountain not far from the town, and it is the only thing now that give good light to the town.

Transition, wars, poverty all this thing left marks on this place and stupidity reach maximum level. When i was kid the water was so clean and healthy, now if you drink you will became sick. There are like 100 street homeless dogs that starve and [content moderated to remove information that might identify writer]. Town is poisoning them, they mix poison with raw meat and they put it all over town, it is horror dead dogs everywhere near schools and kindergartens, they rot in alleys and dumpsters it is so so sad! I hate that all i wrote are bad things but that is the harsh reality that i’m living in, my bad luck is that i’m stuck here and all i want to do is leave this place, i tried to change it but it cannot be changed. So sad writing this but some places are good and some are like this town. Regards

Paddock Wood, ENGLAND (UNITED KINGDOM) — January 17, 2018 — I grew up in rural South East England. I was born in 1965 in the tiny town of Paddock Wood. My father took a train to London every afternoon and worked overnight, coming home in the morning. My mother used to joke that the town looked like a wild west town. It had one main street that terminated in an ornate train station. All the shops were one story high and independent. There were few people. She said that all it was missing was the tumbleweed and the music. Beyond the town the fields stretched for miles. My mother used to push me around the countryside in a stroller. We covered miles. The first words I learned were “sheep” and “duck”. When I was a bit older I started to explore on my own. I got a bicycle when I was seven and I used to explore the meandering country roads and the big apple orchards. I attended the local elementary school and made some friends. I became obsessed with pop music by age eight and would sing hits by David Bowie and Slade on my way to school each morning.

In 1975 my parents moved to another small local town but I got to go back to Paddock Wood a lot in the eighties. When my grandfather passed away my grandmother moved into a senior home in …. Paddock Wood, and as a newly registered driver I got the job of picking her up on a Sunday morning and taking her home in the evening. When my father got a new car in 1982 that had a radio in it I was so happy because I could play loud music on the way home after dropping her off. I have only been back to Paddock Wood once or twice in the last twenty years. A lot has changed. There are a lot more people but it feels empty without my grandmother. Many of the fields are gone, given over to new development but at night it is still at heart a tiny rural town and after the last train has left the station you can almost see the tumbleweed drift past.

Samokov, BULGARIA — January 16, 2018 — The name of the town I grew up in is Samokov. Samokov is a small town in Bulgaria, about 40 miles outside the capital city of Sofia. It is situated in the basin of Rila Mountain which is the highest mountain on the Balkan peninsula. We are about a 20 min drive to one of the biggest winter resorts in Bulgaria. The biggest Bulgarian river flows through our beautiful town also. But the most famous thing about our town is the potatoes. The town of Samokov is the biggest potato producer in Bulgaria.

I loved living there from the time I was born until I was 25. Oh those were the best years. Even though some of them were during turbulent times in history in other parts of the world. I lived there while Bulgaria was under the communist reign of the Soviet Union, some even considered us a part of the USSR, we technically weren’t, but we did have the same president for 45 years! I remember going on vacation to Germany when I was 10 and my dad telling me about what’s on the other side of the wall. I remember that wall falling down some years later and the new beginning for all the Eastern European countries. All of a sudden there wasn’t enough food in the stores, almost overnight. We had to get up at 5am and go line up in front of the grocery store, waiting for hours before they open, just to buy milk and bread. Rations were imposed, there wasn’t enough to go around, people that came late didn’t get any. It was hard times for a couple of years.

The weather in our town was perfect growing up, not too hot and not too cold. Summer only lasted about 2 months, and most of the time temperature didn’t go above 85 F. Winter was the longest. It started snowing in October and there was almost always snow still on the ground in April. But they were mild winters, where everything was covered in snow, looked like winter wonderland, and everyone enjoyed it. Especially kids. We went sledding and skiing every chance we got. We built snow forts and had snowball fights. But the longest season of all was Fall. With it’s many sunny days it was my favorite time of the year. And now, 20 years later, if I could I would return and raise my children there. Sadly it’s been more than 10 years since I’ve been able to visit.

Wyoming

Nancy

Have you lived in or visited Wyoming? Tell us about it.

CHEYENNE, Laramie, Wyoming, USA, (North America) — July 2019 —Personally I do not enjoy my town. The weather is only good for around 3 months out of the year and the rest of the year is either snowing, windy, raining or all of the above. Its great if you enjoy hunting, fishing or other outdoor activities and do not mind the wind or cold but for me I do not enjoy the fact that the town itself has not much to do or see besides Cheyenne frontier days. The bars are overpriced, only one good movie theater, few good restaurants that aren’t chains and the good ones usually wind up closing within a few years due to people only going to the chain restaurants. Its nice that we are within driving distance of Fort Collins, CO and Denver CO as there is much more to do down there than up here. Recently the town has gotten worse crime wise due to the influx of oil field workers. We used to have a very low crime rate (albeit high per capita) but the past few years we have had murders, rapes, kidnappings and child-porn related crimes at an alarming rate compared to what we used to have. Drugs have always been a problem due to Cheyenne being a crossroad for two major interstates, I80 and I25 which can take you anywhere in the US.

ROCK SPRINGS, Sweetwater County, Wyoming, USA (North America) –May 2019 — Rock Springs, WY 82901 I really do like my town, and honestly that is not something I thought I would say 25 years ago when I first moved here. Rock Springs grows on you, as do the residents of this semi-small town. It is a city with a small town feel and it boasts around 30,000 residents. The residents are very proud and hard working, supported mostly by energy industries such as the oil and natural gas fields and trona mines. What is trona you might ask? It is a component for not only baking soda but glass. Rock Springs has a rich history and claims 56 nationalities call it home. Around Christmas that really shines are our Christmas Fairs as different groups sell their wares from the Greek Churches or perhaps homemade tamales. Our town is perfect for outdoorsy type activities. We have the Flaming Gorge lake only 30 minutes away for camping, fishing and boating. We also are within 15 minutes from the Green River, where you can float the river on tubes, kayak, or fish. We love our fairs and boast the best fair in Wyoming, often attracting very big name acts like Florida Georgia Line, Old Dominion, Lifehouse, to just name a few, the entry price is kept under $20.00 so more people can come out and enjoy it. One thing I do wish we would get is more businesses investing in our city. Other Wyoming cities similar in size seem to get more attention than we do, and that does not make sense to me. We also have a neighboring town and many smaller communities that would come and shop at their locations so it would make perfect sense to bring Hobby Lobby or Target to our city. Oh well, I guess it is a small price to pay for the nice area I live in. We do put a lot of mileage on our vehicles though, driving to the big city for some decent shopping.

Wisconsin

Nancy

Have you lived in or visited Wisconsin? Tell us about it!

Milwaukee

Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, USA – March 2020 — I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin right now. There are around 26 cases of the Corona virus right now in the surrounding area. I am now fearful. I have to make sure I keep myself clean. I have to make sure to stay away from others too. The only way I can stay safe is to work at home now. I am trying to get work to allow me to work at home. I don’t trust other people and their cleanliness anymore. I am so stressed. I don’t want to catch this virus but I am sure I will. I am afraid of what will happen if I don’t make it out alive. In Milwaukee there are two direct cases since yesterday. I think these people were selfish for returning back form their trip. Now they are going to effect all of us and even the children. Schools have been shut down for a month here in Milwaukee and even some universities have taken action by cancelling classes and doing them online now. My workplace is still slow to accept as to what is happening. They still are scheduling dangerous meet outs on the weekend. I will blame them if I catch it during the meetings.

River Falls

Pierce County, Wisconsin, USA – March 2018 — River Falls is a small town of about 15,000 residents. It straddles Pierce and St. Croix counties in western Wisconsin. The community is best known for being the home of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. It is named for the waterfalls that once were found there along the Kinnickinnic River, which is one of the nicest trout streams in the region. While the city has much to offer, it also is lacking in certain amenities, such as a rich variety of restaurants or first-rate retail (unlike Hudson, which is a few miles to the north). It has lots of bars, like one would expect in a college town, and also a number of used clothing and goods stores. The community is relatively safe, and that’s perhaps what draws some people to it. One of the good things about the city is that it is relatively close to the Twin Cities in Minnesota, where you can be in less than an hour. If living in a small town but having a big city nearby is what you like, then River Falls might be a good choice. Over the years, the community hasn’t changed all that much, and that is both an advantage and a disadvantage. Property values are relatively stable and there definitely is a “small town” feel, especially along Main Street. But compared to a place like Hudson, it seems River Falls is missing out. A lot of well-known retailers and chain restaurants seem to overlook the city.

River Falls

Pierce County, Wisconsin, USA – February 2018 — It is so sad to see what has happened to the River Falls area in Wisconsin, USA. My husband and I lived here from 1959 to 1987. Raised our family and had his [content moderated to remove information that might identify writer]. We left here in 1987, moving to Ladysmith. We are now back in River Falls, due to health issues and to be by family. Looking at what was beautiful farmland is now buildings. Oh yes, a field of solar panels, that’s something to look at. Property values fell. River Falls is now a bedroom community, the EXODUS, every day to the Cities to work. This is now why the liberal socialism abounds here. Plus the media from the Cities.

Years ago at a meeting I said River Falls needs industry. I was told “don’t need industry, we have the ‘U.'” So how’s that going? Always asking for more money. I haven’t seen that growing on trees. Speaking of trees, you people [content moderated to remove information that might identify specific people] The area now has a growing drug problem. Having to put children in foster care. So more money needed to be found (taxpayers). Feeling sorry for the children. Ending on a high note, having met some very caring people from Interim healthcare hospice of Hudson, also the staff at Our House senior living here in River Falls.

Kenosha

Kenosha County, Wisconsin — January 2018 — Kenosha, Wisconsin in the 60s and 70s was very much a factory town. School children would go on field trips and tour the American Motors and Snap-On Tool factories, and when either factory laid people off for a time, or there was a labor strike, the economy there would be severely affected until the workers were recalled to work or the strike was resolved. Kenosha is located on the shore of Lake Michigan, so water sports were common there. There is also a port, and viewing ships from all over the world is a past time that most people from this time period engaged in. There are also many parks along the lake shore, and on a hot day, they would be crowded with people having picnics and playing games like football or baseball. On the Fourth of July the fireworks were shot off over the lake, and they were spectacular. To the north of town was a beautiful park called Petrifying Springs, known as “Pets” to the locals. We would go there often to hike the paths, including one to an old shack that the kids all called “Hermit’s Cabin”, inhabited by a mythical hermit that might cast spells on you if you annoyed him enough. I’d never heard of him actually being spotted by anyone, however it made for fun stories and we enjoyed the hike into ‘the backwoods’. Though I no longer live in Kenosha, I visit relatives there often. American Motors left the city in the 80s, and that hit the local economy very hard, but it recovered and other manufacturers moved in and filled the void. Being located between Chicago and Milwaukee makes it easy to get to either location for entertainment or travel from the airports located there.

West Virginia

Nancy

Have you lived in or visited West Virginia? Tell us about it!

Saint Marys

Pleasants County, West Virginia, USA (North America) – July 2018 — Saint Marys, Pleasants County, West Virginia, was a wonderful place to grow up. With 3000 residents, the small town community is made up of generations of local families. Saint Marys is located along the Ohio River and was a haven for industry in the 70’s and 80’s. This translated to large amounts of money for the city being generated through taxes that funded education, sports, and the community. I never had to pay for extra-curricular activities, uniforms, books, or tuition. Folks had good paying jobs and opportunities for long term employment were available. Most families owned their homes, which set them up for greater wealth over time. Prosperity was palpable in Pleasants County.

Washington

Nancy

Have you lived in or visited the state of Washington? Tell us about it!

 

Burien

King County, Washington, USA (North America) — March 2019 — I grew up in Burien, Washington suburb right outside of Seattle in the King County district in the 2000’s. Although I’ve visited many other suburbs throughout my life, Burien has an authentic charm which sets it apart. Perhaps I’m seeing the city through rose-colored glasses, but the various events put on by the city are often met with genuine enthusiasm. Burien’s diverse population created a community focused around diversity and inclusion. Burien often takes pride in its downtown area, known as “Olde Burien”, in which various independent shops are located. There was no place I would rather study than in the coffee shops or the library located in Olde Burien. While walking around downtown Burien, I was always guaranteed to be met with smiles by other pedestrians. My most fond memories of the city takes place within downtown Burien, where many of the events were held. The two day Strawberry Festival, for example, filled the air with the smell of kettle corn and sounds of children playing. The event allowed community members to set up arts and crafts booths, farmer market stands, food vendors, and other miscellaneous projects. It is during these two days, right in the middle of a pleasant summer, that Burien’s zany, diverse, and friendly character truly shines. My favorite event takes place towards the end of the Summer, known as the Lantern Festival; the festival took place at the end of August or beginning of September and was always a perfect way to reflect on the Summer before the next year of school. At this event, everyone would bring tiny LED lights or lanterns and wait until the sun went down before parading around town the marching band. There’s something very powerful and empowering about walking around town like this, it always reminded me that I am not alone in my struggles.

Seattle

King County, Washington, USA (North America) — April 2018 — I live in Seattle, Washington. The city that I’ve settled down in gives me lots of mix feelings but I also really enjoy living here. There’s no other place like Seattle because it is very diverse. The big three companies are here (Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon) so there are many people moving here for work. Our city is becoming more modernized and gentrified over the years but still has it’s own little touches to make Seattle unique. To travel around Seattle is pretty easy because our city is pushing for our people to go more green to help the environment. Taking public transportation in Seattle is very easy and it’s efficient. If it’s a nice day out, you can even rent a bike out if you see one of them just laying around on the streets. It’s easy traveling in Seattle. Seattle has a little bit of everything, urban and non urban areas. For instance, Broadway, downtown Seattle, and the area around University of Washington has a lot of new high rises that were built over the last couple of years. Even the suburbs looks very different from how it did when I was growing up as a kid. It’s kind of sad because it feels like my childhood is being erased from the city. For a person who never been to Seattle, must dos are mostly in downtown. Pike Place Market is a historic area that everyone has to visit. There are many restaurants to eat and lots of places you can take photos at. For instance, the gum wall, the pig, and the waterfront are great places to take photos to post onto Facebook, Instagram and etc. Many states don’t have it’s own China town but in Seattle there’s International District where you can come try many different Asian cuisines. There’s many different places to explore.

Vancouver

Clark County, Washington, USA (North America) – March 2018 —  I’ve lived here since September of 2012, coming from California. The first thing I appreciate about Washington and the Pacific Northwest in general is the huge assortment of trees. I’m a tree lover. They have so many gorgeous varieties and the forests!!!! Just beautiful…. The moss on trees is also something I don’t have in Cali but love immensely. The biome of the forest is so magical to me…. Immensely secretive and enclosed and almost warm, even if it’s cold. The little animals in Vancouver is comforting; you can sometimes hear the frogs in the marsh or the ducks running around. Winters are hard for me.

My biggest complaint for this area is the lack of sun. I mean, sure, we have sun but particularly during the winter, the sun is hidden by a lot of gloom and gray. I tend to start feeling like I have S.A.D. and have started using “happy bulbs” to help with that. They are full-spectrum bulbs to replace that missing sun! I always make a point of getting out when the sun IS out to keep that Vit D up as well. However, spring and summer are awesome, not too hot like the desert. The outdoors here, I mean, besides the trees alone, is an invitation to fun and health. Awesome hikes can be had to little creeks, forests, watering holes or even waterfalls…. stunning!!!!

The people seem average, predominately Caucasian but growing leaps and bounds the last few years, more and more harried drivers, and friendly enough. We are clearly receiving transplants from Portland where the “weird” or eclectic vibe comes across the bridge of late (short drive, ten minutes to PDX from my house) — you can often tell a Portlander from an average ‘Couv resident. Usually it’s the haircuts (or man buns) or clothes but people are usually nice to one another. The HUGE rental increases has been taxing so that may explain some of it – we are less expensive. The economy isn’t great but I am a stay-at-home mom, so, my skills are lacking. The homelessness is another big issue to me and my heart goes out every day – “there but for the grace of God, go I”…. same with Portland (we must get some of those transplants too, maybe). There are few programs I’ve heard of to ease this issue. Drugs, particularly meth, are big too I’ve heard. On a good note, I’ve had assistance paying my electricity before here, which, though based on economic hardship, was a huge aid and offered through a program at the electric company. I’ve seen several food banks and churches and watched good people reach out to others.

So, although Vancouver has its share of problems, like every city, this small city is for me about a 7/10 and as good as any – despite the lack of sun and meth/homeless presence. The prices will keep rising and I may head back to the desert for the sun but I will always remember and love the forests and beauty here.

Spokane

Spokane County, Washington, USA (North America) – March 2018 — t’s great, there isn’t a single thing I don’t like about it. A river runs through it. Urban sprawl. Spokane is an awesome community where you can raise a comfortable family. A small town located east of Seattle, WA with more than 6 colleges within a 100 mile radius. Plenty of open parks and lakes to attend almost everyday of the summer. Traffic is never backed up and you could literally drive anywhere within 20mins of each direction. The downtown atmosphere is very peaceful where rivers and waterfalls create a relaxed and serene environment. In Spokane you can count on; Great outdoor trails riverside, quiet neighborhoods and skiing in the wintertime. And of course my favorite, Hoopfest!

Bellevue

King County, Washington, USA — January 15, 2018 — I grew up in Bellevue, Washington, a small city about 20 minutes east of Seattle. I lived there from 2000-2014, and moved back in 2018 after college. The city of Bellevue is quite affluent, which lots of luxurious high-rises and office buildings downtown. From the time I grew up to now, there have been significant increases in housing, and the housing has also become much more expensive. This is due to the influx of tech companies and tech workers, which is driving up the prices in the Greater Seattle Area. This is definitely one aspect that has changed my perspective toward this city because it used to be a more laid back, and family-friendly area, as compared to the hustle and bustle of a busy city like Seattle. However, now there are more people living here and more companies opening up offices that downtown is becoming busier and busier.

What I did enjoy about growing up in Bellevue, and still enjoy now is the accessibility of amazing nature spots. Just 30 minutes east, one can reach plenty of hiking spots, such as Rattlesnake Lake, Mount Si, etc. To the north, one can reach Mt. Baker and it’s only a 2.5 hour drive to Vancouver, Canada. To the south, one can reach the Mount Rainier National Park, as well as Mount St. Helens, which is still an active volcano after erupting almost 40 years ago. Just 3.5 hours south, Portland is also within reach. West of Bellevue is the city of Seattle, as well as the beautiful Lake Washington, and even further is the Olympic Peninsula, home of the Olympic Mountain range. The beauty and serenity of the Peninsula acts as an amazing escape from city life, and it is amazing that it is only a few hours’ drive away.

Bellevue has definitely been growing a lot over the past decade or so, and it doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. While the influx of crowds and increase in cost of living is frustrating and hard to handle, the temperate climate and accessibility to beautiful nature spots is what has brought me back.

Colfax

Whitman County, Washington, USA — January 9, 2018 — I grew up in Colfax, Washington (99111), United States in the 1990s. It’s a small rural farming town in Eastern Washington that sits right in-between two larger areas of Washington, Pullman and Spokane. Unlike many rural country kids, I loved growing up in Colfax. I had a sense of security from an early age. Everywhere I went I ran into someone I was related to, or someone who was a friend of the family. I worried about many things that “city kids” worry about and I had a very carefree existence. For example, even at the age of 8 or 9, my parents would let me wake up in the morning, hop on my horse, and they wouldn’t see me again until supper. Myself and my friends were able to explore acre after acre of the Palouse region with nothing but a lunch sack and a pocket knife. I wouldn’t change growing up in that area or in that way for anything. I believe it instilled a deep sense of appreciation for my roots that isn’t very common anymore.

Vermont

Nancy

Have you lived in or visited Vermont? Tell us about it!

Burlington

Chittenden County, Vermont, USA (North America) — May 2019 — Burlington is a beautiful city. It sits on the edge of Lake Champlain, so even on the hottest summer days there is usually a cool breeze blowing through. It thrives on culture, with countless different bands, clubs, and venues putting on events every night. A plethora of restaurants serving every style of cuisine you can imagine waft savory smells into the air. The highlight of the city is Church Street, downtown. In the winter, it is decorated with brilliant Christmas lights and a giant tree, with music playing softly around the main thoroughfare. In the summer, it comes alive with street musicians and performers, vendors selling their foods and wares, and throngs of tourists mingling with the locals. Vermont is a politically liberal state, and Burlington is a prime expression of that mentality. Its residents regularly engage in public protests, marches for different causes, and a variety of other forms of social activism. Cultural diversity is prized here, as the cultural center of one of the most racially homogeneous states in the country. A core part of the city’s culture is welcoming any and all who may feel marginalized or unwelcome in other places. It is a college town, with the University of Vermont and Champlain College nestled around the downtown area. Events like commencement and convocation processions are accommodated by the city, rerouting traffic around the streets that are used and providing additional security if necessary. Responsible neighborhood is an expectation in Burlington, and something the people there pride themselves on.

South Dakota

Nancy

Have you lived in or visited South Dakota? Tell us about it!

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota, USA (North America) — July 2019 — I live in Sioux Falls a town of about 170.00 people, It is mostly working class people. Bars,music and motorcycle riding are main pasttimes here.We have many scattered small lakes and the Missouri River is near so there is some recreational fishing and camping here too. People are very friendly here, are talkative and helpful. It has changed a lot in the last 50 years. Our population has tripled so it is a different landscape with many different races and lifestyles. The center of the town is the downtown area. It has changed dramatically and is not our main shopping area. Malls have taken over that but many stores in malls are disappearing now, due to internet shopping. Close to this area is what used to be one of our main employers, John Morelll Packing Plant. Generations worked there and it was once a sense of pride to work there. Also in that area is the Sioux Falls–an area of pink pipe stone rock with many waterfalls. It is an outpouching of the Sioux River that runs thru town and right by the Morrells Packing Plant-also not far from all this is the city sewer–and up on the hill overlooking it all is the state penitentiary–Ive always found this dichotomy interesting and illustrative of this town . Though Sioux Falls has grown, it remains pretty non-progressive and South Dakota itself is a Republican state.

 Minnehaha, County, South Dakota, USA (North America) — May 2019 — 57033. I love living in Hartford. I have lived here almost my entire life and it is my home. It’s a relatively small town, of only about 2,500 people. There’s not a lot to do here, but there are a few different restaurants including a sports bar, a steak house, and a fine dining establishment. The town of Hartford always has fun activities to do, such as the yearly town garage sale, street dances, and different things as well. The high school, West Central, has a long history of excellence in athletics and has tons of fan interest in town. Hartford is only a short drive of twenty minutes from the biggest city in the state, Sioux Falls where you can get anything you need. Overall, Hartford is a very beautiful and relaxing town that is continuing to grow and thrive. It is a great place to live.

Rhode Island

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Have you lived in or visited Rhode Island? Tell us about it!

Looking for a real estate agent in Rhode Island? Contact BRINLEY FOLEY

CITIES AND TOWNS: Barrington — Bristol – – Burriville – – Central Falls – – Charlestown – – Coventry — Cranston – – Cumberland – –

Providence

Providence County, Rhode Island, USA (North America) — March 2020 –I am a student living in Providence, Rhode Island. Right now in Rhode Island we have 20 confirmed cases, but I’m sure the actual number is much higher than this. There simply is not enough testing to know what the actual numbers are. Students are concerned for their safety and the safety of their parents and families. My school has cancelled classes for the next week, and everyone is being asked to leave campus within the next few days. There are rumors that a student who is living on campus was diagnosed with Coronavirus, and people are rightfully worried about that. I think our governor has been doing a good job of keeping the city updated about new cases and steps that the local government is taking. However, the news from the federal government has been lacking, and I do not know if I can trust the information coming out of the White House right now. I feel that more drastic measures should be taken to prevent the spread of illness to those who are most vulnerable. Personally, I am very worried for the health and safety of myself and my loved ones. I do not think my university has done a good job of handling this crisis or communicating next steps to students.

Providence

Providence County, Rhode Island, USA (North America) — April 2018 – Providence RI USA This is a friendly city – almost anyone you stop on the street will answer a question for you or strike up a conversation. The traffic is bad because of one-way streets and narrow streets, not built to handle the amount of cars on the road now (as opposed to when the roads were built). Traveling North-South is easy but there are fewer roads heading East-West. As a result people do not enjoy driving more than about 10 miles from home.

Art and culture are easy to find. Dance, theatre, art galleries, music venues and museums are plentiful including national tours. The colleges provide further exposure to culture of various kinds. Residents support Boston sports teams and local college teams. There are four distinct seasons, with winter and summer bringing temperatures as high as 100 and as low as -10. Snow removal is less efficient than one would expect for a city in the Northeast. Everything closes down for a relatively small amount of snow.

Many charter schools are available for those who would like to avoid a public school education for their kids. Many different ethnic backgrounds are represented especially Hispanic, Cape Verdean, Liberian and Laotian (in addition to Caucasian and African descendants typical of the USA). All kinds of diversity are present and appreciated. Neighborhoods vary from downtown lofts to mcmansions, farm houses, closely-spaced single family and multiplexes. Lots are typically small except for the least-populated areas outside the city, and large lots for real mansions. There are community gardens in several locations and many farmers markets.

The southernmost towns are very popular due to their proximity to the ocean. Southbound morning traffic is often backed up for miles during the summer, especially on weekends; and northbound on those evenings. Residents are active on several bike/walking paths throughout the state and a downtown skating rink. Water sports are very popular. Many parks support baseball, football and basketball leagues. Residents flock to the plethora of beaches visit year-round.

Shopping can be less-than-great. A large downtown mall has expensive stores (e.g. Nordstrom’s). Strip malls are sprinkled liberally all over the state; however stores tend to be the smaller versions with limited variety instead of the large versions of the same stores one might see in Boston or New York. Residents like to boast that they can eat at a nationally-rated restaurant after spending a day sailing on the open ocean. The Federal Hill area is known for Italian cuisine and many others are represented around the state. The largest employers are a hospital group, Hasbro and Brown University. Unemployment has been higher than most other states for many years. State government is actively recruiting big tech companies to locate here and a push to train more high-tech workers is ongoing. A significant amount of the state’s income is related to Narragansett Bay, especially the restaurant fish industry, real estate and recreation. The Bay has been cleaned of much of its past pollution so property values have increased. Some residents find housing prices in RI so economical that they live in RI and work in Boston.

Lincoln

Providence County, Rhode Island, USA (North America) — January 2018 — I grew up in Lincoln Rhode Island 02865 starting in the early 1980s. Lincoln is a great small to medium sized town just north of providence Rhode Island and about an hour south of Boston. There was always something to do in Lincoln as the town is full of great restaurants, shops, parks, golf courses and many more. Most of the residents are beyond friendly and it was a fun and easy place to grow up. Not a whole lot has changed in Lincoln over the years except for some updating and I still enjoy visiting my parents there often.

Foster

Providence County, Rhode Island, USA (North America) — 2017 — Not much existed in Foster as far as entertainment for kids. So when my church, St. Paul the Apostle, started holding a carnival each summer, (late 1960s or 1970s) it was a very big deal to me. I was still in elementary school when it started. Out in the “boonies” of Foster, a giant Ferris wheel would rise up on the church grounds a few days before the carnival was to begin.

The church is located on Route 6, and when I saw that Ferris wheel as we drove by, the excitement would start to build. When the day came that my family was actually going to the carnival, I was so excited that my stomach felt funny. The Ferris wheel was just one of many thrilling rides at the festival. One ride that spun people around made my brother sick. There were booths and games and prizes and cotton candy. And it was all out here in Foster, where most of the year….nothing happened. I don’t know how many years the carnival lasted. But I do remember the letter coming in the mail from the church, informing us that a decision had been made to change the event drastically. The church had decided to eliminate the rides! The money spent on the rides was going, the letter said, to the out-of-town operators who owned the rides.

I do not know exactly what the adults were thinking, but as a kid, it was as if someone had let the air out of a giant balloon. I knew right then that the event would never be the same, and it wasn’t. I still went for a couple of summers, but the excitement was gone.

Foster

Providence County, Rhode Island, USA (North America) –2017 — When I recently visited my hometown of Foster, RI, I got a sense of just how “rural” it remains after all these years since I grew up there in the 1960s and 1970s. Deciding to drive around for nostalgia, I turned off Route 6 onto Balcom Road.  The road was so narrow that I wondered what I would  do if another car came in the opposite direction. No lines, no shoulder, and thick woods crept right to the edge of the road.

I passed some large, nice houses, but also some homes with a collection of “stuff” in the yards, including what look to be non-functioning automobiles. I couldn’t remember exactly where Balcom Road leads, but figured I would continue my nostalgia trip by taking the next right turn – until I saw that the next turn was onto a dirt road. There are still dirt roads in Foster? I kept going, and saw another dirt road.  Finally, I got off of Balcom by turning onto North Road. Like Balcom Road, North Road is narrow and encroached upon by woods.
Backward. That is the word that came to mind. Foster is backward. But then again… maybe it is a good thing that Foster remains so undeveloped. Wait…no maybe about it.  It is a good thing. When I  consider the town I live in now, where woods are disappearing to make way for more unnecessary retail.  How many supermarkets, pharmacies, fast food joints, and strip malls does a town need?
 
I don’t know how Foster did it, but its rural character remains intact. It is not entirely the same – I have been told that some of the farms are gone. But the extent to which it has escaped development is remarkable.
 
Would it have turned out differently if the plan to run a major highway through Foster had gone through? When I was in elementary school, it seemed everyone in Foster was trying to “Stop I-84”. The signs were everywhere. Interstate 84 in Connecticut would have been extended to run between Hartford and Providence. It was the early 1970s, the ecology movement was strong, and environmental damage was one of the arguments opponents raised against the highway. I-84 would have been an alternative to the treacherous Route 6. A stretch of Route 6  in Connecticut is actually referred to as “Suicide Six” because of the many fatal accidents. I remember my family discussing at the dinner table what we would do if our house was taken by eminent domain to make way for the I-84  project. “Maybe we’d take the money and move somewhere else entirely,” my Dad speculated.
 
Opponents of the project won – the highway was never extended as a direct route between Hartford and Providence. As an adult, when I worked and lived near Hartford and  Western Mass, I discovered how hard it was to drive back to see relatives in Rhode Island. Maybe they should have built that highway, I sometimes thought.
 
But what would have happened to Foster? Would there have been an exit to Foster from the highway, and the typical services springing up near the exit – McDonald’s, etc.? May not seem like a big deal, but it would have been quite a change for Foster. Would Shady Acres, the restaurant that has been on Route 6 in Foster since I was a kid,  have been replaced by a Burger King or a Wendy’s? Would my family have moved “somewhere else entirely”?
 
I finished my nostalgia drive around Foster and headed back to where I now live in northwestern Connecticut, driving a circuitous route to get there.
 
Some pictures of Foster:

 

 

Foster

Providence County, Rhode Island, USA (North America) — January 2017 — “How many people live on that island?” I ran into a number of people in the Midwest who thought Rhode Island really was an ISLAND. They would snicker a little, as if Rhode Island were some kind of joke because it is the smallest state. I grew up in Rhode Island in the 1960s and 1970s, but went to college in Madison, Wisconsin, in the 1980s. Not only were they wrong about Rhode Island being an island, they were wrong in assuming that the smallest state is small in population. In fact, Rhode Island is very densely populated, much more so than Wisconsin. Eight states have smaller populations than Rhode Island, including Alaska, the largest state in land mass, according to 2013 U.S. Census data. “Did you live near the ocean?” I didn’t think so; I was on the other side of the state, in a rural town called Foster.

But some of the people I met in Wisconsin had never seen an ocean – and that blew my mind! Rhode Island does have nice beaches. My favorite was Scarborough Beach in Narragansett because it had big waves. Rhode Island has the ocean; Wisconsin has lakes. In Wisconsin, people annunciate words clearly without, to me, any noticeable accent. People in Rhode Island talk funny. They eat chowda and drink cawfee. The state is never pronounced “Rhode Island,” by natives; instead the two words are slurred together: Ro Diland. The inhabitants are “Rodilandas.” People in Wisconsin had no idea what a “bubbla” was (translation – water fountain). Midwesterners sometimes drive hours to get from one city to another. The land is much flatter, and country roads are surrounded by prairie so you can see far in every direction. Country roads in Rhode Island have lots of curves and hills and are surrounded by woods. Most of Rhode Island is developed; more of the state is city or suburb than country. “Did you live on a farm?” That is what the Wisconsinites always asked me when I told them I grew up in the country. They did not understand the concept of someone living in a rural area and not being a farmer.

We had some farms in Foster, RI, but many people wanted to live there for other reasons: privacy, peace and quiet, to escape from the crime and pollution in the cities. Rhode Island has four seasons. Wisconsin only has two seasons. Unbelievably cold winters in Wisconsin quickly turn into unbearably hot and humid summers. One time it did not go above zero for three weeks. I remember waiting at a bus stop in Madison while the temperature was 11 degrees below zero – that was the high for the day. Really bad cold spells sometimes forced us to stay inside for several days – exposed skin would freeze quickly outside. Coming home for Christmas one year, I left Wisconsin in 14 below weather. I arrived back in Rhode Island to hear family members complaining about the cold when it was in in the 20 degree range. New England winters can be harsh; Wisconsin winters are brutal, and they last six months. Of course, this raises the question: Why the hell would anyone live in Wisconsin? Or, as one of my New England relatives asked me, “HOW can anyone live there?” To survive the cold in Wisconsin, I forgot about fashion, wore a long, heavy down coat and bundled up with hat, scarves and gloves. I enjoyed living in Madison and being a student at the University of Wisconsin. The enormous campus, with 40,000 students, blended into the downtown. After growing up in the rural town of Foster, RI, I was delighted to live in Madison where so much was going on. I never owned and never needed a car in Madison—I walked almost everywhere, occasionally taking a bus. I particularly liked State Street with its shops, coffeehouses, and restaurants.

And people in the Midwest were friendly; Rodilandas are cold and unfriendly, sometimes downright rude, at least with strangers. But after I graduated from the University of Wisconsin, family ties brought me back to New England, and I now live in Connecticut. I appreciate Rhode Island a lot more now than I did when I was 19 and eager to “escape” from it. In fact, I view Rhode Island as a vacation spot – the beautiful beaches, the clamcakes in Narragansett, Waterfire in Providence, the mansions in Newport. Too bad the people I met in the Midwest were so ignorant of its charms. No, Rhode Island is not an island, and it should not be a joke, either.