I grew up in a big city. Sydney, to be precise. So whenever I go to a town, or a place that called themselves a city, I hold them to the standards of Sydney. That is, perhaps, unfair of me to compare one city to another, but for me, a city holds my memories for when I was a young child to my teenage years. And it doesn't matter what city I go to, I always relive the best and worst of those memories. So when I enter a city that isn't the same as Sydney, or a small town, I question my existence. I question my memories and my past. Which is why I love cities so much. But, there are, of course, other reasons that I love cities.
City vs. small towns? Go!
1. Anonymity.
I currently attend a small liberal arts college, and I'm not going to sugar coat it, but EVERYONE KNOWS EVERYONE. I hate that. I absolutely dislike it. It feels like I'm constantly surrounded and every two steps I take I will meet someone who already knows my life story before I can even introduce myself. I mean, it's great to not have to go through the boring formalities of asking where you are from, what classes you're taking, what's your major etc. etc., but I would like to have the option.
I am a person who dislikes a lot of spotlight, so being in the city, where no one gives a damn as to who you are and what you do, is absolutely perfect for me. I can walk around, mind my own business, and if I'm in a big enough city, I will not have to talk to anyone at all (except maybe sales people).
As much as I love my school and all that it offers me, sometimes I just want to run away and pretend I don't know half the people in my year (most of them through social media).
2. Options.
When I first moved to Seattle, I thought "this is NOT a city." Then I moved to Northampton and now I'm really craving that city life (no sarcastic quotations or anything!) Back in Seattle I could go bowling when I wanted to, I could walk 15 minutes to my nearest mall and just dose myself in retail therapy, I could run to five different Walgreens to find that specific face wash I preferred.
I could choose between going to a park or going to the beach/lake.
I had options for things to do. I could choose my Friday afternoon activity and not just choose between getting dinner and going to Urban Outfitters for 10 minutes.
3. Alone time is a-OK.
Sometimes it feels like in such a small town, I should always be doing something. I feel antsy, like I need to put myself out there even more. I have that invisible pressure that is just constantly jumping up and down on my shoulders and it's getting heavier and heavier as every day goes by.
But in the city? I can be alone and no one will care. No one cares about your achievements and no one defines you by that either. You don't need to orally tell everyone your resume and they will just let you be.
4. Time efficient.
Cars.
Trains.
Efficient and many buses.
What else is there to say?
This may all seem petty to many considering the bigger problems we are having in our world at the moment. But sometimes, we just need a moment to ourselves, where we do not have to carry the weight and expectations of the world and of politics.
The city is a place to lose yourself, to make yourself small and to realize that the world does not revolve around you. It revolves around all of us and it needs all of us to make the world a better and a safer place.
I really miss the city.
