Being from New Hampshire, I grew up thinking I lived in the middle of nowhere. And a lot of people I have met in college would say that, too. I grew up 45 minutes from a major city, but when people think of New Hampshire, they think of rural ski towns, moose and farms. A lot of people would say that I left the middle of nowhere to go to college further in the middle of nowhere. So while I might be used to being in the rural setting, there are still some sure things that everyone who goes to school in the middle of nowhere experiences.
1. Deer.
Everywhere you go, you are bound to see some form of wildlife, but in upstate New York, it is usually deer. The first couple times you see them on campus are exciting, but after a while, they become a normal part of your walk or view out the window.
2. Seeing a dog is a bigger deal than seeing a farm animal.
If you're leaving, or coming back to Colgate, your route is almost guaranteed to be filled with cows, horses, and other farm animals. They are just normal fixtures on the side of the road. But when a dog wanders on to campus or downtown, it is the best, most surprising thing ever.
3. There's no easy way to get there.
Unless you're from upstate New York, there is absolutely no easy way to get here. Whether you are flying or driving, your route will involve some or many rural roads lined with farms.
4. It is impossible to get people to visit you.
My friends always say they will come to visit, but here we are, over a year later, and still none of my friends have come to visit. A part of me doesn't blame them. I mean, why would you go visit someone in upstate New York when you could visit someone in Boston or New York City?
5. No restaurant chains.
We have Subway, Dunkins, and a McDonald's a couple miles down the road, if those count.
6. You become friends with the townies.
Going to school in a small town, you are bound to run into the same townies over and over again either just out and about, at the farmers market, or through various clubs. You eventually learn to love some of them, and some of them learn to love you.
7. You can only navigate about a square mile.
You can get yourself to your classes, the dinging hall, maybe the gym, and downtown. Anything past that is basically no man's land. If for some reason, you need to leave the campus or the little town, you will most likely be traveling with a GPS.
8. You have a different definition of city than most people.
I never really thought of Syracuse as a big city, but now that I am at Colgate, a trip to Syracuse is like a trip to Boston. When someone says "I'm going to Syracuse," it's kind of a big deal. It's a chance to shop at brand-name stores, eat real food, and just get out of the small town.
9. You get offended when people say you go to school in the middle of nowhere.
Whenever one of my friends feels the need to remind me that I go to school in the middle of nowhere, a part of me gets really defensive. While Hamilton, NY might be the middle of nowhere to most people, it does not always feel like it. I always find something to do, so it never really feels like the middle of nowhere.
10. You get excited to leave.
Everyone gets excited for breaks, even if they are only a few days long. And let's be real, there's something really exciting and refreshing about returning to civilization.
11. You get more excited to come back.
As good as breaks are, you always find yourself wanting to come back. You can never really leave the middle of nowhere without missing it, even a little. The middle of nowhere will always be in the middle of your heart.
