Being "rural" doesn't make us hicks
Stephanie Liden
Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: Opinion
For the most part, I consider myself just as aware of my surroundings as someone who lives in the twin cites. This was something that a few of my high-school friends began to disagree with after one year of college.
Last summer, four of my friends and I ventured up to Canada for what would be a memorable trip. Even though most of the trip consisted of dancing and partying, there was an instance in which my friends (who currently attend school in the twin cities) and myself did not see eye to eye.
Downtown Winnipeg can be a scary place for anyone. I was warned by my older sister to be cautious when walking at night. She advised me to stay away from people I didn't know and remain within my group of friends. When sharing this advice with my friends, they laughed and shook their heads-as if there was nothing to worry about.
They each had their "big city" stories involving police, gunshots, tasers and convicts. I couldn't help but feel like they pitied me for going to school at UND, and not experiencing life outside of the upper Midwest.
After pondering the conversation I came to two conclusions: First of all, it would be unwise for anyone visiting a city, even Grand Forks, to trust or interact with shady people on street corners, and secondly, if the life my friends lead in the city does involve gunshots and tasers, I should consider myself lucky to live and study in a community in which I feel at least a little safe.
I honestly don't believe that being used to the sound of gunshots and sirens makes people more refined than anyone I have grown up with in rural Minnesota and North Dakota.
My (newly-developed) city-girl friends failed to recognize that I, and many of the friends that I have met here, have been outside of this area many times before. This may come as a shocker to many big-city students here at UND. I have met a few people that treat me (a Thief River Falls, Min. native) as if I am part of some bizarre sub-species that has not quite evolved to their advanced level.
Last summer, four of my friends and I ventured up to Canada for what would be a memorable trip. Even though most of the trip consisted of dancing and partying, there was an instance in which my friends (who currently attend school in the twin cities) and myself did not see eye to eye.
Downtown Winnipeg can be a scary place for anyone. I was warned by my older sister to be cautious when walking at night. She advised me to stay away from people I didn't know and remain within my group of friends. When sharing this advice with my friends, they laughed and shook their heads-as if there was nothing to worry about.
They each had their "big city" stories involving police, gunshots, tasers and convicts. I couldn't help but feel like they pitied me for going to school at UND, and not experiencing life outside of the upper Midwest.
After pondering the conversation I came to two conclusions: First of all, it would be unwise for anyone visiting a city, even Grand Forks, to trust or interact with shady people on street corners, and secondly, if the life my friends lead in the city does involve gunshots and tasers, I should consider myself lucky to live and study in a community in which I feel at least a little safe.
I honestly don't believe that being used to the sound of gunshots and sirens makes people more refined than anyone I have grown up with in rural Minnesota and North Dakota.
My (newly-developed) city-girl friends failed to recognize that I, and many of the friends that I have met here, have been outside of this area many times before. This may come as a shocker to many big-city students here at UND. I have met a few people that treat me (a Thief River Falls, Min. native) as if I am part of some bizarre sub-species that has not quite evolved to their advanced level.
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