City Changes

Shawn and I have come to think of ourselves as city people. What ever that means - city people. But, one night we realized we were dressed in 'city clothes' and we had developed 'city habits.' Living without a car and riding public transportation has really made an impact on our experience here in Portland. Just the act of walking everywhere and riding public transportation makes me aware of a human connection I had never experienced when I owned a car. Zipping from here to there inside my personal box gave me a feeling of independence, but also shields me from really connecting with people. It's true, I don't have in-depth conversations with people, but I am intensely observant and enjoy watching people. Everyday is an education on the human condition.

I see people from all walks of life and it's fascinating to see how they interact. I hear different languages everyday and see situations that often pull at my heart strings and inspire. Dare I say it? I feel am becoming more socially active, aware of social conditions and ways to make a change.

Growing up I was a very shy person, rarely conversing with people I didn't know and even distant relatives who I wasn't familiar with. Since we moved to Portland I noticed how I am more tolerant, more adventurous, talking to people who might normally give me an uneasy feeling. And I learn so much!

We moved just across the river, a stones-throw from downtown, but it is definitely a different vibe over here. It even feels more diverse. We've been in our apartment now for 6 days and I know we have Indian, Chinese, and Arabian neighbors just on our floor. The building we used to live in was primarily caucasian.

I'm not really sure what the point of this post is, but I just wanted to express how the last few years have continued to shape my viewpoints. You may notice that Shawn and I are becoming a bit more political, a bit more opinionated, and it's an interesting process. Two years ago, I rarely expressed my opinions because I didn't want to be told I was wrong. I felt like I didn't have the statistics or the experience to explain why I felt that way. I kept my thoughts to myself and listened while people talked - evaluating their ideas and internally deciding whether I agreed or disagreed. I still prefer to listen than speak, but I think I am reaching a point where I want to start acting on my opinions by volunteering, voting and generally becoming involved in the community.

Hooray!