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Life As A Region Rat

What it means to be from 'Da Region

Becky Benninghoff
Nov 07, 2016
Ball State University
37
Life As A Region Rat
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To those who live outside of The Region,

What is The Region?

Great question! The Region is a set of two counties in Indiana: Lake and Porter. However, Lake County is what is more referenced toward The Region. That's where you'll find much of Northwest Indiana's population.

What can be found in The Region?

Though there is some corn in The Region, there isn't nearly as much as the rest of Indiana. The Region is a mostly post-industrial area. There are drugs (yes, even meth), businesses, suburban living, lots of public schools, and a shit ton of Mattress Firms. We are not much like the rest of Indiana, at times the rest of the state doesn't even claim us! I have heard on numerous occasions ever since coming down to Muncie, Indiana is that I'm really from Chicago. There is only one problem with this logic, Chicago doesn't want us either. This is where we get this idea that we are our own community.

In all honesty, we are our own community. The Region truly sticks together. There are many tragedies that happen everyday, and we are able to look for one another for assistance or just a friend. I have met many people from other parts of the county, and most are good people. There is n greater bond than a community like ours.

Though we are still Indiana and not ridiculously populated, we are still so large that there are always unfamiliar faces. We all have an accent, so what I've heard, and we all have the 219 area code.

219

Besides it being an area code, it is also a recent "holiday." On February 19th, everyone (specifically 21 and up) goes out and celebrates The Region.

Though I have always felt that I needed to leave the 219, I will always call it home. Being three and a half hours away from school has really made me appreciate where I was raised. I was raised in a community like no other, and the only way someone would understand what it is like is to live there themselves.

One day I will live somewhere else, and it most likely won't be in Indiana. When I am gone and on my own, I will come back to where I am from. It probably won't look the same, but it will always be home. I will always remember the moments I lived there, both good and bad, and I will never claim I'm from anywhere else but The Region.

Sincerely,

A Region Rat

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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