I spoke with a new friend recently about her adjustment to moving to the Peoria area after having lived in different parts of the U.S., as well as internationally. “Every community has its own ‘culture’—some differences are broader than others. It’s the little things that can get to you,” she said. I agreed.

The past couple of years I’ve listened as friends and even family members have talked about their experiences in adjusting to a new environment. They often expressed their frustration at things we take for granted, like how to get around town and where to find a favorite food, brand, pharmacy, etc.

“Meet me at the Gateway Building,” we might say. Or we’ll advise a friend that what she’s looking for can be found in “the Heights,” “the Shoppes,” “the Metro Centre,” or “the mall.” These are familiar terms we use to explain Peoria locations, but they wouldn’t make sense to a Peoria newcomer. And all of the road closures and one-way streets that Mapquest doesn’t mark would just add to the confusion. It can be irritating for us to go a different route when we know how to navigate a city, but it can be traumatic for those lost at night in an unfamiliar place of any size.

Finding your way to the grocery store or pharmacy by car on unfamiliar roads is one thing. Finding your way by public transportation is more complicated. You can pull off the road and look at a map or drive around a bit in the privacy of your car, but panic sets in if you’re lost on a packed subway in a strange town. And having a driver’s license for 25 years in the U.S. doesn’t mean you’ll ace a driver’s test in England—where both the cars and their positions on the road are opposite what we’re used to.

The reality of city cultures became very apparent recently, as my daughter is spending a few weeks in Washington, D.C. While we had visited many times, she had never joined the hundreds of commuters on the Metro at rush hour to get to and from work. Without a car, advance planning is required for even the most basic of needs, including meals. Is there a computer store within walking distance to help fix a burned-out computer cord? A discount store nearby to purchase a lamp, pillow, blanket, and umbrella? And while she very much enjoys the 9-to-5 workday, adjusting to life outside of work has been challenging.
After a particularly stressful Saturday, my daughter and I discussed the pros and cons of living and working in a large metropolitan city where public transportation and high-rise living is the norm, versus living in a smaller city where people drive to work and return to a garage at night just a few steps from their houses or condominiums. Being able to experience a particular lifestyle for a short time is probably the best preparation for making a future career choice, I suggested.

A change of venue also is valuable for learning other life lessons. “I’ll certainly try to be more helpful and understanding to any newcomers I meet,” my daughter said.

Fortunately, we at least have jobs and money for food, shelter, transportation, and medical care. While we complain about the inconveniences in our lives, millions spend their time thinking about where to find their next meal.

This is a good reminder to all of us that central Illinois is a great place to live. We’re blessed, for sure, and should never take the little things for granted. TPW