I grew up in a small suburb of New York City. This enabled me to take the quick and easy train ride into the city whenever I wanted, whether it was to go shopping or go out with my friends. I spent many weekends going into the city with my parents for brunch or dim sum, followed by a trip to one of the museums or interesting art exhibitions.
Although the town I grew up in, Hastings-on-Hudson, is rather small and quiet, my proximity to the greatest city in the world lent an excitement and vibrant quality to my hometown. I was just a half an hour outside of endless restaurants, stores, museums, clubs, and the wonderful experience and feeling of being in a city among millions of diverse people.
I now go to Colby College, which is located in Waterville, Maine. In contrast to New York City and its massive population, Waterville has a population of 15,722 people, including two college campuses. The town consists of one main street and a series of shops and restaurants downtown, flanked by two highway exits packed with fast food chain restaurants and gas stations.
According to a study by MSN, Waterville is the poorest town in Maine, "based on median household income." Living in a town that has little prosperity has made me think about how I spend money and the importance of saving. Additionally, it has made me look harder into a town that I had originally cast off as being unexciting and quiet, and I have found the silver linings and hidden gems throughout the city.
When I first got to Colby, I didn't expect much from Waterville. That may sound privileged, but I was coming from a place where I went into New York City often more than once a week. However, living in such a small place has made me appreciate to the fullest what is here. I have a surprising amount of fun with my friends every time we go to the huge Walmart here, and we love exploring the shops in downtown Waterville as well as those in the nearby towns.
The restaurants in town -- the real restaurants, not the myriad McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts -- are actually quite wonderful. My friends and I are obsessed with the local sushi place and one (of the two!) Thai restaurants, both of which have seriously extensive and delicious menus.
Not only are the restaurants and stores fun to frequent, but, being in Maine, Colby is naturally beautiful. The school is surrounded by wooded areas; we are enveloped by the Perkins Arboretum, which spans 128 acres of our campus, and there are running and hiking trails just off campus and even more just a short drive away. Maine is absolutely gorgeous, and there are wonderful things to do in every season.
There's great skiing at Sugarloaf, beautifully scenic hikes and trails all over the state, and the coast is breathtaking throughout the year. Colby has made me appreciate nature and the natural world even more than I did already, and I try to give myself time away from friends and work to walk on the trails as often as I can.
Though I thought I would be living somewhat in the middle of nowhere, which I kind of am, that is part of what has made my time at Colby really enjoyable. Being able to go outside and find the beauty in everything, whether it's in the introspective walks in the Arboretum, or in the friendly people at Pad Thai Too, or in Acadia National Park (a quick two-hour drive from school), turns a small city like Waterville into a wonderful breath of fresh air (literally) and makes it really unique. When we really make an effort to engage with the community, through our patronage of small shops and restaurants and involvement with local schools, living in such a removed place is really wonderful.
At least for me, it has made me more conscious of responsibilities, hardship, and community. I love coming back to Colby after time away, and reentering my routine of hanging out with friends, either driving or walking around to explore, and being in Maine. I think it's important to embrace it, and really live the small-town experience!
