Columbus

How do I love thee, Columbus? Let me count the ways...

1. I love Ohio State. Not in the scarlet and gray kind of way, either. I love Ohio State in that it brought me out of one world and into another. Don't get me wrong, I love Canfield, and my childhood at home wouldn't be traded for all the wealth in Dubai. But, OSU did something to me permanently. Once I was removed from the plush carpet and home cooked meals of Glenview, and dropped into a sweaty dorm full of strangers, there was no turning back. Over the course of college I began to feel at home here.  You start to become part of the city by the end of 4 years.

An exhibit at the OSU Orton Hall Geology Museum

2. Alpha Chi Omega. Yes I know, this goes hand-in-hand with OSU, but I felt it needed its own category.  How in the world did I end up in a sorority?  Those that know me well know that I am not the most social person.  What started out as accompanying a friend to recruitment week ended in my pledging allegiance to some greek letters and a bunch of "sisters" I'd suddenly gained.  I can't sum up the sorority experience here, but I will say that I met my best good friend Angela, and my other best good friend Stef through the greek system.  AXO played a huge role in my undergrad life.

3. Gahanna.  After graduation, Ang and I moved to the Residences of Christopher Wren.  I loved that apartment.  Vaulted ceilings, fireplace, and my bff!  Moving to Gahanna gave me my first taste of Columbus outside of the immediate campus/downtown area.  I started to feel like a Columbus resident for the first time here.

4. Dublin.  Ryan and I moved to Dublin in part for him to be closer to work. We really like the Sawmill area.  While not the most scenic part of the city, we are very close to dozens of places we go to all the time.  Library, Antrim Park, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Meijer, Sam's Club, Target, Walmart, Giant Eagle, Kroger...all within a mile or so.  Even better, we started to discover all of these ethnic restaurants...which brings me to...

Antrim Park sunrise

5. Culture.  You might not think so, but Columbus is full of culture.  The large populations of Indians, Africans, Mexicans, Asians, and many other groups make for some awesome dining around the city (I'm looking at you, Lac Viet!).  There are festivals, taco trucks, restaurants, and a lot of ethnic grocery stores as well.  We love trying all the different cuisine.  It's not just food, either.  My freshman year at OSU had me trying to find myself in a Palestinian dance/protest show.  Columbus has a very high tolerance for differences.  The Short North hosts a large artist community with some really cool galleries, and monthy "hops" where everyone comes together (and I do mean everyone).

The best taco Truck

An Ecuadorian restaurant

6. Progress (as evidenced by near-constant construction, city wide).  There have been so many changes since I got here.  Ohio State has at lease a dozen new or renovated buildings (the Union and Library- WOW), City Center is now the Columbus Commons, and many other additions and changes.  We got to see Gahanna's Creekside area grow, and a new Handels pop up in Powell.

A modern new building goes up at OSU

7. Jobs.  You win some you lose some.  My first job in Columbus was was Larkins Hall, an old smelly rec center.  The next year I advanced to the RPAC, a state-of-the-art comprehensive physical wellness center.  Next I worked as an intern at the OSU Airport.  I got to meet John Glenn during that one!  After college I worked as a temp at Nationwide in their BetterHealth department.  A few months later I was over the moon to work at Netjets.  That job met its demise and I promptly started nursing school.  I've had a few nursing jobs here, each one interesting in different ways.  When you consider it all, I've really learned a lot in this city.

8. Community.  I feel like I know this town.  The contacts I've made over the past several years are very wide spread.  As I mentioned before I'm not social, so I'm not hitting the town with many of these folks, but from being a member of different gyms, working different jobs, living in different suburbs, I feel like I now this city well.  There is a huge fitness movement happening here.  I've taken dance fitness classes from some of the most amazing instructors.  Dance Jam, Zumba, Hip-Hop, Ballroom...once you've taken a few lessons or classes, you are part of the movement.

Diamond Dance and Fitness Showcase 2012

The Color Run comes to Columbus

 9. Location. Or maybe thats not the word.  Anything you want from the city can be reached in a half hour or less.  At least thats my experience.  The airport, Downtown, Easton, Polaris, Metro Parks, Museums...it's all right here!

10. Food.  I know I mentioned the ethnic restaurants, trucks, and grocery stores, and that is a huge part of Columbus food.  But there are also so many hole-in-the-wall local dives, much like other cities.  Columbus hosts Farmers Markets in different burbs all thru the summer.  Downtown has the North Market, and there are several Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and other alternative grocery stores (like Fresh Market on Henderson).  It's great! 

Pho at Luc's on the West Side.

I think I'm really going to miss this place when we move.  I am finally getting the highways down and navigating the city much easier.  Columbus has been good to us.  I'll miss my work friends, patients, and residents, my personal friends, and the wonderful liberal, large-yet-small city a a whole.