When I moved to Eugene in August of 2015 I was excited about the opportunities surrounding me, while also being apprehensive to the new area. This place was bigger than any other place I lived prior. I didn’t know anybody here, and the homeless people downtown all smelt the same (I later learned that was the scent of Patchouli oil). Everyone here seemed to drive a little more aggressively than people in my quaint hometown and I didn’t see a pickup truck for weeks.
Have Your Voice Heard: Become an Odyssey Creator
Eugene is the exact opposite of the environment I grew up in. Now after being here for over a year, I have found myself falling more in love with this city each and every day. It took a while for this to happen, but I’m glad that it finally did.
The first year of my education at the University of Oregon was all consuming. I had a part time job and an internship with a local magazine, but I was still very much in the university bubble. My life, conversations, and relationships all had the same thing at the center of them: education.
I have never been a person who is content in complacency. I want to be moving around, educating myself on things that aren’t going to be found in a textbook. I craved getting out into the community that I was now living in.
With this yearning I found myself exploring the city more as the school year progressed. Solo adventures are something that makes my introvert heart happiest. I love to explore new places, meet random people and have conversations with them. I did this quite often when I was growing up in the McMinnville area. It wasn’t uncommon for me to go to a concert by myself in Portland (My dad still isn’t happy about that). However, I didn’t make that same effort when I first moved to Eugene.
Through my adventures around town, I discovered places and people who have come to mean the most to me. My favorite hideout place that I don’t get to nearly enough is the Wandering Goat. The coffee is delicious and the people are interesting and knowledgeable about things that span beyond espresso makers and fair-trade coffee beans.
I have been introduced to trails along the water front that inspire creativity when I feel writer’s block.
But my favorite part about this community is the people. I have learned more about being an open minded individual in this last year than I have at any other time in my life. Eugene offers a unique perspective on the human existence. I know there are the cliché’s about what a person from Eugene is like. The main one being a hippie. While there is that “peace and love” spirit that fills the air, there is also a passion for education, equality, and college athletics (I’ll never understand that one).
The people of Eugene represent all different walks of life. I have experienced different cultures, different spiritual backgrounds and upbringings. All of these things create an atmosphere for genuine questions and conversations that lead to understanding.
The city of Eugene offers many different attractions. Autzen stadium, craft beers, local food. However, if you live in Eugene or you’re planning a visit, I urge you to see all the things you’ve wanted to see while here. Be a tourist, take the picture with the bronze duck on campus. Those are great things. But while doing them, slow down, look around, and start a conversation with a local. We could all use some genuine conversation right about now.
