Five Reasons New York City Made Me Appreciate Concordia, Kansas - Zoe Walsh

5 Reasons Why New York City Made Me Appreciate Concordia, Kansas

By Zoe Walsh

1. Transportation. You thought driving to Salina was took forever? Or you hate the traffic after a Friday night football game? Yeah right. Traffic in New York City is absurd. While a Kansan is driving from here to Salina AND back, the New Yorker is just arriving three blocks from their original destination. That might be an exaggeration but you get the point.  Plus Kansans usually abide by the proper traffic lanes; in New York it’s however many lanes they can squeeze cars into.
2. The Views. In Kansas you can see the clear blue sky above the rolling hills for miles and miles. Beautiful sunsets are painted in the sky. However, in NYC the buildings block out a majority of the sunlight. You get to see giant sky scrapers; don’t get me wrong they are breathtaking, especially at night, but there is just something about the beauty of Kansas’ landscape that keeps me sane.
3. Expenses. Don’t expect to run down to Short Stop and grab a 32 ounce soda for less than two dollars.
4. Constant Hustle and Bustle. New York truly is the city that never sleeps. So if you are one of those people who likes to slowly wake up on your drive to work in the morning as you admire a beautiful Kansas sunrise, take a big swig of coffee. As soon as you step onto the streets of the city everything is moving, with or without you.
5. Small Town Hospitality. Last but not least. In New York City everyone has their own agenda. Everyone has somewhere to be. In Concordia no matter how busy someone else is, you are stopped downtown, in the grocery store, or at a restaurant to talk about your family, your trip to New York City, or how your school year is going. People in the community take an interest in you. They aren’t just another business person fighting their way through the crowded streets to get to work. People in Concordia truly care. Without the community members supporting me, this amazing opportunity and learning experience would have never been possible. I couldn’t ask for a better place to call home!