People are generally very good at picking up that we are not from Around Here. They start by asking what we’re doing here (husband’s job) and where we’re from (Oregon, just north of California).
The next question, invariably, is why would you want to live here?
At first we didn’t really understand this: to us it’s an adventure! It’s like a totally different country over here! We don’t care which part we’re in!
Then I was talking to a tram conductor the other day who was telling me about how he has family in Ohio and how one of his cousins lives in Cleveland proper.
And I couldn’t help thinking why would anyone want to live there?
I mean, no offense, Ohio in general and Cleveland specifically: I know nothing about you and I have never visited you except for maybe passing through on the train that one time, but I have no desire to ever do so.
I’m sure it’s a lovely place, but, with the possible exception of the Corn Palace, I really have no use for most of the Midwest. This probably means that I’m a horrible person, but at least I can identify with the bafflement of the English.
