I spent the summer last year in Kenai, Alaska, working with youth at a local church. While I was up there, I spent a lot of time talking to the locals about the beauty of Alaska. But if you talk to almost anyone who spent their entire life there, all they seem to talk about is wanting to leave, especially those in the younger generations. As people would say this, I would wonder in amazement at their statements. Why would anyone want to leave a place that was so beautiful? Why would someone want to leave their home?
Then I would think about my own desires to be away from home. In my opinion, Lafayette's natural beauty does not compare to that of Alaska. There are not tall moutains in the horizon, and no rolling hills covered with beautiful trees. Instead, its all flat, low-lying wetlands, and the only thing you can see on the horizon is the clouds. Lafayette had much of its natural beauty tarnished by expansion in the 60s and 70s. If you drive down Johnston St. (between UL campus and Ambassador Caffery), you understand what I mean. Lots of old, run down buildings that are built really close to the road. But at the same time, Lafayette also has a special beauty that transecends anything you can actually "see". There's a lot of rich culture here, and the people are absolutely amazing. I love the people in Lafayette (not their driving ability however). Yet, all I can think about is getting out college and getting married and moving my life elsewhere (like...WAY elsewhere).
I always wonder why people are always so ready to leave the places where they grow up. Personally, I think it has something to do with the desire to create our own memories in a place where we are least influenced by our peers. While I am here, I spend most of my time with my friends and family, constantly being influcenced by their opinions, ideas, and actions. I think so many people get to the point where they just want to go out and try to make things work out on their own.
Others leave home to run away from circumstances that overwhelm them. While I think its never ok to run away from a problem, some problems only go away when you are physically seperated from the source. Maybe its a job, or a certain individual.
Even though I want to leave Lafayette, I think I will always appreciate it. I will always love it. And when I leave it, I will yearn to return to it.
Kyle
Monday, May 25, 2009
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People want to leave the place where they grew up because they have been there for 18 or more years! It's old. It's been the same for awhile. People in Alaska barely notice the beauty after while. Same with Lafayette. You're going to hate something about it. For them it's the cold. For people that live on islands, it's the isolation. For us....it's the blasted heat and humidity! What I think about is people that physically or financially don't have the ability to leave-- African tribal people (or whomever) that have no idea what kind of world is out there. Then again, maybe sometimes, it's not all that bad to not know. I rarely ever give into to this statement, but every so often ignorance really can be bliss.
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