New data reveals coronavirus hotspots brewing across the south, where the pandemic is set to 'hit hard'

[laylalex 7,300]

I'm a city girl.  I grew up in a suburb on the edge of a huge city, and to me it seemed every type of everything could be had there. There are green lungs and gray buildings and glorious sunsets and museums and film palaces and beaches and mountains and more tacos than anyone could ever want and all of humanity, good and bad, to observe.

 

And then I went to college in a small city, but big enough, and full of history and quaint buildings and theatres and tons and tons of music and weirdos and posh people and so, so much to do. Ditto for the year I spent in the UK -- if anything, there was more music and more weirdos there!

 

Next a sort of city-suburb which had much of the best of both types of locale, but always there was that great, hulking behemoth of a city by the ocean just over the hill which had so much more. The placidity of where I lived was, well, a little boring. I thrive on knowing that right out the door there is something to do, even if I'm not actually doing anything.

 

Then up north to another small city of oddballs, VERY odd oddballs, a city of food and street art and lectures and book clubs and bookshops and long walks and another, larger, great and weird city on the other side of a bridge. I loved it, felt more at home there than anywhere else in the world, and leaving was a strain on me. I left only after a lot of careful thought.

 

And now I am here, another small city, surrounded on three sides by that behemoth of a metropolis, and yet very much its own -- buzzy and nutty yet relaxed, with a Ferris wheel and a rollercoaster and the great swell of the sea hemming it in. I'd only just started to explore the place when we were all ordered inside. 

 

I like the country but it's not for me. Not for more than a couple of weeks at a time. I'm not comfortable -- I get antsy. We are all different in our tastes and preferences, and while I know some people think that rural life is better, that's just not me.  

[Orangesapples 1,954]

58 minutes ago, Burnt Reynolds said:

The ability to go anywhere and do anything at any time is very appealing to people especially those not strapped down by relationships. Even for me, who suffers from periodic insomnia, it's great to have things to do at any time (but I'm also a city person), or places to go at any time.

 

Normally Vegas had no appeal to me in CA (things were open quite late in the Bay Area, plenty of things to do, places to be, things to see, etc.), but having lived in Canada for the last decade where everything closes at 5-8pm on the weekends (with significant closures on Sundays) and 7-9 on the weekdays, Vegas is a godsend.

 

Like any big city, it has crime, especially downtown. And one of the biggest misunderstandings about American cities, Vegas most of all, is that you can randomly go and be at good parties as a random visitor, or that somehow the streets are supposed to look great and party-like or fun. Sounds naive. It's not like that at all, anywhere. You need to know people, or have connections, or lots of money. Fun times don't look for you, it's vice versa. It's that most of the time when you see people talking up Vegas, they know how it is, so they've got all that figured out already. 

I mean, if you compare Vegas to some sleepy small town, it sure is more exciting. I just compare it with other cities in the US and around the world where I've been and where I've lived, so it's just meh. I was excited to relive some college fun years in Vegas, it certainly didn't live up to my expectations. 

 

[Burnt Reynolds 5,058]

2 minutes ago, Orangesapples said:

I mean, if you compare Vegas to some sleepy small town, it sure is more exciting. I just compare it with other cities in the US and around the world where I've been and where I've lived, so it's just meh. I was excited to relive some college fun years in Vegas, it certainly didn't live up to my expectations. 

 

Those sleepy small towns were Toronto and Calgary, cities way larger and more populated than Vegas. In small towns, those hours are worse.

Edited April 9, 2020 by Burnt Reynolds

[Orangesapples 1,954]

2 minutes ago, Burnt Reynolds said:

Those sleepy small towns were Toronto and Calgary, cities way larger and more populated than Vegas.

Really? My desire to visit Toronto just went way down, lol

[Dashinka 24,741]

7 minutes ago, Orangesapples said:

Really? My desire to visit Toronto just went way down, lol

Seoul is way nicer than NYC, much better food and much cleaner.

[Orangesapples 1,954]

6 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

Seoul is way nicer than NYC, much better food and much cleaner.

I like them both in different ways and for different reasons. I couldn't pick a favorite between them. 

[laylalex 7,300]

I've spent time in both. While Seoul is undoubtedly cleaner, I prefer NYC.  I also think there's way more variety in NYC in terms of food, in my own experience. Don't get me wrong -- I loved Seoul and had a great time (I tagged along with Voldy once for a 10 day visit). I'd love to go again at some point and explore some more. However, I wouldn't ever want to live in either!

[Dashinka 24,741]

4 minutes ago, laylalex said:

I've spent time in both. While Seoul is undoubtedly cleaner, I prefer NYC.  I also think there's way more variety in NYC in terms of food, in my own experience. Don't get me wrong -- I loved Seoul and had a great time (I tagged along with Voldy once for a 10 day visit). I'd love to go again at some point and explore some more. However, I wouldn't ever want to live in either!

I like Seoul more for the reasons I mentioned as well as the topography.  I love hiking up to the Namsam Tower, and then down to Iteawon.  When I get tired of Seoul, hop on the KTX and head down to Busan and Haeundae Beach!  This seafood market in Busan is also amazing.

Edited April 9, 2020 by Dashinka

[Burnt Reynolds 5,058]

1 minute ago, Orangesapples said:

Really? My desire to visit Toronto just went way down, lol

Your call obviously, but I don't think it should. Just be aware of the hours of places you want to go to and don't assume it'll be open. Also one of the things in Canada I've found worse is, for large and small businesses (and franchises), Google hours, and even the business' posted hours on their website tend to be off pretty often. Too often I've dealt with businesses where their hours aren't updated as diligently it should be, and it makes no sense.. just a microcosm for the different business dynamic here. So to be even more sure, call ahead.

 

And lastly, on advice, if you're an extrovert, and like to talk to people randomly, be prepared to be the one to approach people. In Canada, they very rarely will do the approaching. It's to be polite, but from people who are from more social backgrounds (especially Europeans I know/worked with or liaised with), it can be interpreted as snobbish or socially isolated behavior.

[Dashinka 24,741]

4 minutes ago, Burnt Reynolds said:

Your call obviously, but I don't think it should. Just be aware of the hours of places you want to go to and don't assume it'll be open. Also one of the things in Canada I've found worse is, for large and small businesses (and franchises), Google hours, and even the business' posted hours on their website tend to be off pretty often. Too often I've dealt with businesses where their hours aren't updated as diligently it should be, and it makes no sense.. just a microcosm for the different business dynamic here. So to be even more sure, call ahead.

 

And lastly, on advice, if you're an extrovert, and like to talk to people randomly, be prepared to be the one to approach people. In Canada, they very rarely will do the approaching. It's to be polite, but from people who are from more social backgrounds (especially Europeans I know/worked with or liaised with), it can be interpreted as snobbish or socially isolated behavior.

That is interesting, it is very similar in the ROK at least with Koreans.

[Orangesapples 1,954]

14 minutes ago, Burnt Reynolds said:

 

And lastly, on advice, if you're an extrovert, and like to talk to people randomly, be prepared to be the one to approach people. In Canada, they very rarely will do the approaching. It's to be polite, but from people who are from more social backgrounds (especially Europeans I know/worked with or liaised with), it can be interpreted as snobbish or socially isolated behavior.

That's interesting, the Canadians I've met outside of Canada were always very quick to randomly chat you up. 

10 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

That is interesting, it is very similar in the ROK at least with Koreans.

Hah, I had the exact opposite experience but I guess gender makes a difference here. 

[Dashinka 24,741]

Since this thread is completely off the rails, it is April 9th and it is snowing in SE Michigan.

[laylalex 7,300]

53F and pouring rain here in Santa Monica. 

[Dashinka 24,741]

1 minute ago, laylalex said:

53F and pouring rain here in Santa Monica. 

I got you beat, it is snowing here and the sun is shining.

[Orangesapples 1,954]

43 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

Since this thread is completely off the rails, it is April 9th and it is snowing in SE Michigan.

It's OK, it's my thread! 

 

Here in SoCal it's raining.