Friday, 06 July 2012
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I Love This Place
Where you’re from and where you go has a hold on you. I like to look at it as a love story. I’ve not met anyone who doesn’t glaze over, or get fire in their eyes, when they talk about the city they grew up in, the holiday destination they wish they could go back to, or the place they met the love of their life. Do you have "Hometown Glory" like Adele?Last night I was extolling the wonders of Glasgow, Scotland to my Philadelphian roommate. I didn’t love Glasgow till I moved to the U.S. three years ago for college and field hockey. Now I can’t say enough about the cobbled lanes in the West End of the city, littered with vintage shops, fairy lights and cafes. And the people. Upstate New York can’t even touch the eclecticism of young Brit fashion or the dryness of a Scot’s humor. What wouldn’t I give to be back there just for the day?
My roommate, camped with me in Syracuse while he does geography research over the summer, said he just wanted to be home, where saying “witter” instead of “water” doesn’t merit a stare. Where do you want to live when you grow up I asked. Philli, he said. It’s my home.
But your “place” isn’t always where you were born. People find their place in different countries, alien cultures or a two hour drive away.
I have a friend from home who doesn’t have a place. She works crazy hours in a Glaswegian café for a year, then goes searching for her “place” on a one way plane ticket. Her wanderlust has taken her all over the world. She nearly married in Spain, she taught kids for years in Thailand, and even though she has an amazing boyfriend in Glasgow she’s leaving for Australia in January. She loves him, he doesn’t want to go with her, but she just can’t stay in his place. Because it isn’t hers.
Feeling like you’re in the “right place” can have nothing to do with, or be all about the people. Syracuse has been my home for three years, but this summer, with my best friend back in London, my girlfriend in Barcelona, and a deserted campus, it doesn’t quite feel like my “place” the way it does in the fall and spring.
Where is your place? Is it all about the city or the people?
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About the Author
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- From: lovelife
- Name: Iona
- About Me: I love lots of things, although at the top of my list is Harper Beckham, possibly the best dressed baby ever. Aside from creeping Harper I love Stumbling, running, weight training, and eating chocolate pudding whenever possible. I'm not a relationship expert but I'm happy to throw my two cents in
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Comments (13)
I don't have a "place". I've been a nomad my whole life, moving around at least 12 times, including major moves from my childhood town across the Mekong River in S.E Asia where I spent the first few years of my life, to the Big Apple where I lived until college, and now to the Bay Area for my early adult years. Each place holds memories for different parts of my life and I can't choose just one place that I belong to.
I do wonder what it's like growing up in just one place my entire life though. My friends who were born and raised in NYC are self-identifed as proud New Yorkers. Whereas my bf is from Southern California and he considers himself a true Socal boy. It's probably nice to be able to have a place to identify yourself with, but I probably will get bored if I stay in the same place for more than 5 years.
Upstate NY IS my place. It's where I was born and raised and I miss it with everything that's in me.
Seoul, South Korea is my place! I wish I could move there..maybe I'll marry a Korean man.
I was born in Buffalo, NY, and I have missed it ever since we've moved to Florida. It's a beautiful place, believe me, but after a while, as a teen with barely any cash, it gets boring. There always seems like something to do in New York. I went to California over the summer and that seemed like a pretty fun place to live, too. There always seemed like something to do as well when I visited.
Right now I am on vacation in Florida, my boyfriend lives down here... His friends, family and culture make me love it here as well.... It's an interesting feeling to be here, but I like it.
The land & scenery makes Oregon "my place", but the people make Florida "my place" as well. I've never looked forward to going back home.... I love my family there, but something has always made me dislike where I live. It's not meant for me, but it is where I am right now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Jp20gOwlS4
Melbourne, Australia. I was born there (I moved when I was two), but it still feels like home.
I was born and raised in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, but now that I'm close to emigrating across the world to world to be with my fiance, I'm starting to realize how much I love my hometown and how much I'll miss it; the small streets, everything within a 20 minute bicycle ride, cobble stoned squares, the cafe's, the people. Who knows, maybe one day we'll move back here!
@o0_Gina_0o@xanga - O gosh, I would never leave Amsterdam. I love that city.
I've lived in central Kansas my whole life. Though I really do love the flat terrain and the ability to see extremely long distances to the horizon (I feel claustrophobic around mountains, don't really see the beauty, but that's just my opinion!), I don't think I'll "wind up" here. My great-grandfather on my father's side immigrated here from Scotland, and though I didn't know him I have an extremely strong urge to see it. Settling down-wise? Citizenship might be too much of a burden. I have many friends in the Seattle/Vancouver area, the music and weather are more to my tastes, and it's much more liberal there. I'd like to be able to call that area 'home' someday - but probably further away from the metropolitan area.
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had.
Not trying to be nitpicky but Philly is spelled with a Y not an I. Just an FYI if you ever go there because people from Philly are intense. I live about 50 miles from Philly but I go there a lot and want to move there when I graduate college in May. The city has so much to offer. Afterall it is where America started. It has the most loyal sports fans in the country (seriously, do not start an argument with Philly fans about this. You will lose.) There is so much nightlife and shopping and museums and history. The atmosphere of the city is amazing. Sure it may have rough areas but every big city does. Pennsylvania is the only place I have ever called home and it would take a lot for me to leave this state. Hell it would take a lot for me to even move to western PA. If you go anywhere in the country, you can find a Philly fan and the sports world feels like a family in Philly.
is there a jenny on here?