I saw life in the suburbs as mundane. I wanted every night to be different and an adventure. Living in suburbia my entire life made me desire that city life that was romanticized in movies and books. You know, the kind where someone in their 20s living in an amazing apartment in a city like LA or New York where she has an amazing group of friends, who she spent time with in indie cafés, and having the time of her life in the city. I also wanted to be exposed to new things and have the sense of freedom every teenager wants.
Growing up south of Seattle my entire life made me wish that I could live in the Emerald City. I didn’t spend much time there as a kid and when I did get the chance to go to Seattle, it was always the same old thing; going to the tourist hot spots. Going back home after an eventful day in Seattle was always hard for me. I would look back from my seat in the car as the skyline would slowly grow smaller as my mom was driving south on I-5. I wanted to explore the various neighborhoods, which I saw as different worlds that have various vibes to them. I knew that college would be my ticket to city life and I made it my dream to attend a school in an urban area.
When the end of my senior year came around, I decided to attend Seattle University, located in the hip Capitol Hill neighborhood. I was looking forward to spending every weekend exploring parts of Seattle with the new friends I would make, seeing the city lights outside my window and everything else that made city life exciting for me. I couldn’t wait to experience that sense of freedom that came with living in Seattle.
It wasn’t until I moved into my dorm that I realized how noisy it can be. With all of the airplanes flying over the campus on their way to SeaTac International Airport or Boeing Field to the constant ambulance and police sirens that I heard every single day, I was soon missing the quietness of the suburbs. A few months later, a construction project started outside my window. Over the months, I got (somewhat) used to it and it became white noise of sorts. I got irritated with having to pay for bus fare and for Lyfts to get to places and constantly getting stuck in traffic.
Towards the end of winter quarter, I realized that I missed falling asleep to the sound of frogs in my backyard instead of sirens. Actually being able to see stars; a rare site in cities with all of the light pollution. Being able to drive a car and that sense of freedom that I got from doing so. Getting away from the Seattle Freeze. Living closer to trails that I rode my bike on or hiked. Just being able to relax back home in my room after a long, fast-paced day in the city.
I fought with myself about this for months and the younger me would hate me for saying this, but I’m not a city girl. I decided that city life and I weren’t meant to be. I knew that the way I pictured it was not the real thing and was partially just a girl’s fantasy, but it wasn't what I expected. Maybe the way I was raised and with my type of introverted personality, I need to live in an area where the pace of life is slower. Or I could have the soul of a 35 year-old.
While there are the things that I disliked about city life, I learned a lot about Seattle, which helped shape my views today. I learned the rich histories of various neighborhoods, like Pioneer Square and the International District. How homelessness became a state of emergency in the city of Seattle and is rapidly growing. Working in an elementary school with children from low socioeconomic classes showed me the inequalities in public education are alive and well.
Who knows, maybe things will change and I’ll end up living in the city, or in the outskirts of the city in my mid-20s how I originally planned years ago. I don’t know what will happen or where I’ll end up living years from now. I can't predict the future.
Starting next year, I’ll be commuting to school until I graduate. My bank account will thank me for not spending all of my money at the dozens of bookstores I discovered and for eating a lot of Dick’s and Molly Moon’s ice cream; all within a few blocks away from me. Oh, and saving money from not paying for room and board. You can’t forget that!
I will miss living close to parks and other places that I would go to when I needed time to myself and seeing incredible views, but I’m happy that I was able to live a year in Seattle. Thank you, Seattle, for giving me an experience that I wouldn’t forget and teaching me that the city isn’t for everyone. Also, thank you all of the hills on campus and around Seattle for turning my calves into cows.
