When I first moved to the dry, boring land of North Dakota from my sweet, southern state of North Carolina, I admit I did not think I would ever accept North Dakota as home. There were no waterparks, the land was bare, and all I could do was look at the trees being blown around by the cool summer breeze. I missed the diversity, and of course, the beach. Then, winter came and I developed a small hatred for North Dakota and everything in it.
It seemed like North Dakota was hopeless- that I was living someplace not meant to be inhabited. However, once I traveled to other places after moving here, I realized that most places are overrated and North Dakota has mostly the same events, but it is cleaner, less crowded and wealthier.
It is true North Dakota has no Mall of America, no Broadway, and no San Diego Zoo, but not all other states have that either. Somehow, our state is the one that gets picked on, seemingly the most. At least in North Dakota, people can walk around in stores without being scared they will get jumped.
It takes a while to warm up to North Dakota, but once people find the good in it, they sometimes forget how deathly cold it makes them, or how angry they get when it is blizzarding and they still have to go to school.
After almost four years in North Dakota, I have learned to love this state almost as much as the sunny state of North Carolina. It did not hit me in full until I recently headed to Las Vegas and the craziness around me drove me insane. After I got over the initial ‘wow factor’ that Vegas possesses, all I wanted was some peace and quiet, which I knew was waiting for me back home in North Dakota.
My first thought was, “I’m turning into a North Dakotan. I hate myself.” But my outlook has definitely changed since then, because it is not bad being a bit North Dakotan. Living on the edge in a crazy state is thrilling, but being in a calmer place fits me, mostly.
I could mourn all I want about the state I live in being a bit dull, but it makes up for it. We should all get it straight in our heads that North Dakota is not that bad. We do not have much to do but hunt and look at the buffalos, but we are safe every day. Our air and surroundings are clean, people are nice, and we have easy living standards.
Sometimes it seems better when we go somewhere else, but that is vacation, it is not living. Take a look at Vegas one day. I know you will want to ask, “How can anyone live here?” In North Dakota, no one has to question this.