There comes a time in life where an individual makes a decision to pack-up and move away from their life—family, friends, familiarity. Maybe they are forced to for work, or maybe they need a fresh start. Well, my time came this past winter. I have lived in Maryland majority of my life, right below the Mason Dixon Line, possessing just about the same group of friends for at least half of my life, and one day, that all changed. I made a decision that would change my life forever; I made the decision to trade in my Cecil County lifestyle, and move to the middle of nowhere—Pullman, Washington. This one is for you.

I thought moving here would make me happy—happier than I was back home. I thought I would get here, meet new people, and never want to go back, but I was wrong. Do not get me wrong, you have some good parts to you, starting with the university. Washington State University is a beautiful university, no matter the weather, and is filled with great staff and students. Professors, if approached correctly and a relationship with them is built, do everything in their power to help you succeed, not only academically, but in future careers. The students are friendly, maybe too friendly. Friendships here surface in the oddest of ways, i.e. bumping into one another in the bathroom, or meeting at the bus stop on one of the coldest winter days. Nevertheless, here, friendships are easily made and by the looks of it, last a lifetime.

Pullman, while your winters are frigid, there is beauty to the mini mountains and foothills that surrounds you. Whether you are going downtown, to the local grocery store(s), or headed to the next town over, you are surrounded by green green terrain--at least when it is not covered in snow. And driving anywhere that is not fifteen minutes away, is just the same as driving down backroads--long and empty--which I love.

Unfortunately, it is time for me to leave. You have opened my eyes to a life that I never had, but miss nonetheless. You opened your arms to my East Coast ways of life, and did your best to transform me into a Pullman-girl, but your attempts failed. They say home is where the heart is, and my heart just is not here. My heart has always, and will always belong below the Mason Dixon, and no matter how hard I try, that will never change. Pullman, it is time for me to leave, and go where I have always known that I belong: The South, where the people are sweet, the tea is sweeter, and Sunday’s around town are shut down because Sunday is God’s day.

Thank you for accepting me, and giving me the Pullman experience, but now I must bid you goodbye.

Farewell my friend.