‘You’re from Idaho? Oh, Iowa? Whatever. Same thing, right?’
Travel Blog • Eva Holland • 01.24.11 | 3:18 PM ET
Over at The Atlantic, Midwesterner Ann Friedman contemplates an adult life spent mostly on the coasts:
In New York, San Francisco, and D.C. I got used to hearing, “You’re from Idaho? Oh, Iowa? Whatever. Same thing, right?” This is perhaps why I love to visit cities and parts of the country not typically defined as tourist destinations. Pittsburgh. Peoria. Milwaukee. Wichita. Reno. When I told friends who had only lived on the coasts that I was about to embark on a month-long road trip, most were jealous. They’ve always wanted to do a cross-country drive! To face their fears of the limited menu at Country Kitchen, the bleakness of the Nebraska landscape, sexist good ol’ boys and racist yokels. Maybe to assuage a low-level guilt that they have been to rural India but never rural Indiana.
Ouch.
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Nancy 01.26.11 | 2:35 AM ET
It seems somewhat strange how people would travel afar to different countries and yet have seen 50 states.I would think an American would want to explore their home country first before exploring the rest of the world. More than ten years ago, I decided to travel from west to east alone (in my old truck) then a friend joined me going back to the west. It was a great trip for me. I am very glad I did it and yes, I want to do it again someday.
aaronsinger 01.27.11 | 12:17 AM ET
Agreed with Nancy.
Mostly because of my parents when I was young, and thanks to them, I have been lucky enough to see most of this country. 40 states in all, I am missing VT, NH, ME, I look forward to a trip to that corner of New England one fall; ND, SD, MT, ID, WA and OR, and dream of a summer road trip from my Chicago home to Seattle, Portland and back some time; and AK, and am crazy enough to want to drive there some day. As I am only 26 years old, I look at those as definite events that have just yet to actually occur. ;)
I feel sad at several college friends who had been to Europe, but not west of the Hudson or the Mississippi, or east of the Sierras, or something to that effect. There is a lot to be seen in this country, and feel lucky as an American in the diversity of geography, people and culture that we have amongst our 300 million and 50 states.
Emme 01.27.11 | 11:32 AM ET
I feel like I have plenty of time to see in the interior of the US, which is a great place for travel when you are an older American and using familiar currency, language, road systems, etc. I won’t always be physically able to travel to India and if I do it will be much more arduous than a trip to Reno.
GypsyGirl 01.30.11 | 12:29 AM ET
Gosh, I’ve traveled bunches across the US, mostly diving and still can’t say I’ve seen it all. Right now in fact, I’m on a eight month road trip (five months in) and keep discovering new, wonderful places!
It’s kinda sad people can’t tell the difference between Iowa and Idaho…there’s way more corn in Iowa!
Laura 01.31.11 | 4:35 PM ET
Hm….I think the other commenters have raised some interesting points. Is it worth driving across the US? To me, totally. We rented an RV one summer and drive to a number of different places, stopping to examine parks and historical landmarks. I loved that trip. However, I think Emme has a point about there being plenty of time to stay in country, but when you’re young or single travel abroad might be more doable.
Ekua 02.04.11 | 6:55 PM ET
I don’t understand the “see your own country before you see the world” mindset. If someone wants to travel, they should go wherever they want to go. Who cares? As a first generation American, I actually think it makes sense for me to go abroad and explore the country my parents immigrated from before taking a road trip around the States. And I agree with Emme, there are places that become more challenging to visit as you age.
That being said, even though I’ve always lived on the coasts and in or around big cities, I really do think that the more unlikely destinations in the States are under appreciated by coastal folks. Exploring places like Detroit, Little Rock, Charleston, and even some more remote areas of my own city has really helped me understand how vast America is and how varied the landscape and the culture can be.
Robert Reid 02.09.11 | 5:32 PM ET
Anyone who actually says ‘same difference’ about Iowa or Idaho can expect this from me:
‘Get back to me when [New York or California] legalizes gay marriage.’
Iowa is my hero.
Deborah-Eve 02.24.11 | 2:29 AM ET
LOL! I remember working in Iowa and taking phone calls from New York with people who could never keep those “I” states straight. They would me in Iowa and then ask questions like, “What’s it like in Idaho?” I always felt like I should say, “Hang on I just have to go and milk the cow—I’ll be right back!” I’m with RR. Having lived in Iowa (and now living at a distance), Iowa can really grow on you and it really isn’t exactly like any other state—even if it starts with an “I”!
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