Most students at Central don’t consider Hunterdon County the “countryside.” Anytime I even put the words “Flemington” and “country” in the same sentence, I’m immediately interrupted and corrected. Somehow, there’s no way those two could coincide. Instead, people consider Flemington and the surrounding towns a step further than the suburbs. While the proper definition of a suburb is “an outlying district of a city, especially a residential one,” I feel like our county is different from that. “Suburbs,” as I imagine them, are several houses lined up in perfectly straight rows on every block with a coordinating tree and tiny patch of grass right in front. Basically, my version of Levittown, New York (US history II, anyone?).
But our area isn’t exactly like that. There’s vast areas of land and open space. Yes, there are stores and restaurants, but also the occasional corn field. (which I hardly noticed until an out-of-town relative commented). My point is, I consider Flemington, Readington, and any other nearby town ending in “ton” to be considered part of the countryside. I mean, how many pickup trucks do you see driving down the streets of a city like New York? Coming from someone who grew up in Brooklyn, I can tell you for a fact that the answer is zero. What you will see, though, are black trash bags lining every curb and grey pigeons who have the same amount of brain cells put together as the rodent scurrying by with a month’s old cheese. I’m not saying the city is all bad, but I can say with no doubt in mind that I prefer where we live.
I love living here because growing up in a city was, contrary to popular belief, boring. I’d have to wait for my parents to get home if I wanted to go to the park, and I couldn’t even go out in the streets for a bike ride due to the large crowds and safety concerns. But when I moved here six years ago, my cousins and I got to go on bike rides to 5 Below whenever we were bored. My first summer here was ten times better than any of the previous ones. Life is just different here, and my parents agree too. They still work in the city, and anytime my dad gets out of the car after driving home, the first thing he does is take a deep breath and rant about the difference in the quality of air. The air here is much cleaner than in any city, and you can immediately feel it. The same goes for the noise level. The first night after we moved, I was shocked by how quiet it was outside. At night in Brooklyn, you hear the cars driving by, but here all you hear is the trees swaying and birds chirping. Speaking of, there are also lots of animals out here that you wouldn’t find in a city. I mean, where would you most expect to see a herd of deer? Your Raritan backyard or your favorite deli on East Twelve?
I will admit there are tons of nearby places a city has to offer, like the delis I mentioned, fancy restaurants, museums and exhibits, unique stores, and constant convenient public transportation. Yet even if it’s a farther distance, we have all those too. However, traveling in the city takes about thirty minutes, based on traffic, to drive 2 miles. That’s just with having a car alone. In our area, you drive thirty minutes and end up in another town. Any place you go to in the city will also guarantee you being surrounded by people with a much more negative attitude than here. Being polite and well-mannered here is expected more than it is in a city. Sure, it’s not like everyone is sunshine incarnate, , but the difference is noticeable.
I do also think that where someone prefers to live depends on what they need in an area for their personality. I’m definitely biased, but having lived in both, I believe I have a better grasp on this concept than most. I think if you prefer fast-paced, busy, and packed areas, then city life makes sense for you. Personally, I like my nights quiet, my days peaceful, and my people friendly. So, whether you like our towns or can’t wait to get out, consider what you like about where you live and why, especially if you’re applying to colleges and deciding where life will take you next. Trust me, it does matter.
