Monday, August 29, 2005
The Wizard of Oz. Tornadoes. Kansas City.
Those foreign to Kansas, or even the Midwest, hold a stereotypical view of our great Sunflower state that can be both narrow and ignorant. That doesn’t mean they aren’t willing to learn about the great abyss between Los Angeles and New York City.
This past summer, I lived in New York City as part of a public relations internship. I rode the subway from the Lower East Side to Times Square three days a week to work for a company promoting Broadway shows. Because my internship was unpaid, I also waitressed at a small restaurant in the Lower East Side, Grilled Cheese NYC. Both of these experiences allowed me to live like a genuine New Yorker. Whether it was putting on a professional voice to deal with publications like The New York Times, or making a grilled cheese sandwich dripping with fixings for Lower East Siders, I came to learn more about myself, New York and the way those on the East coast perceive Kansas and the Midwest in general.
Some may think living in New York is moving on to bigger things, but in reality, it’s not better, it’s just different. I have lived in that surreal concrete jungle for the last two summers, and while I love it with all my heart, there is a strong part of me that cannot wait to return to my life in Lawrence and Kansas in general. The more time I spend away from the Midwest, the more grateful I am that I was raised here. It is here that I have been greeted in the morning by a gentle breeze of fresh cut grass and honeysuckle, devoid of any hints of trash. I can stroll carefree by myself down Massachusetts Street without making sure I bring mace. I have seen a sunset fading red to purple to orange, bursting at the edge of the earth with a brilliant pink-yellow hue.
My New York co-workers sometimes would ask me about Kansas, this strange Land of Oz. What happens there? Is it really just all farmland? Is cow tipping the main form of entertainment? I was always more than happy to speak proudly of my home state and clarify any misconceptions. After all, why would I dare to trash the state that had made me the wholesome, midwestern girl that I am?
The Midwest is greatly underrated. We have some of the best beef and freshest produce there is. We have county fairs and the Future Farmers of America. Things that coastal cities may see as trite or behind the times are actual wonderful characteristics that set us apart from the overzealous life in the fast lane. Being from the Midwest may give you a sheltered view of the world, but only if you allow yourself to be close-minded. Midwesterners are a strong breed, capable of thriving in any situation. We have a good idea of who we are and what we stand for, a great combination for fearlessly taking the world on. People are just people, no matter where you go, and they all have a fascinating story or two to share. Experience other cultures, inside and outside of the U.S., but never forget how hard Dorothy fought to get back to Kansas, because “there’s no place like home.”
Prather is a Wichita junior in English and communication studies.New York state of mind
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