Because I decided that my life was too calm, I started my master's program at UNBC this semester. Part of the joy of starting a new program is that you get to take part in orientation events with all of the other keeners who are starting new programs.
At my table were a number of exceptionally nice people and two of the new students were in Prince George for the first time.One woman was from Ontario and one was from New Jersey. When I asked how they were both liking Prince George so far, the woman from New Jersey told me that it was surprisingly nice.She had met someone in Vancouver who, upon learning her final destination was B.C.'s Northern Capital, told her that she would "see some stuff in Prince George."
To which I replied, "Like what, trees?"
The impression that this student was given by this uninformed fellow in Vancouver was that Prince George was a wild and scary frontier filled with crazy people and killers. She told me that if you are out of town and trying to find out more about Prince George, Google comes back with page after page of crime statistics, serial killers and bad headlines. She looked at me and told me that it seemed pretty good so far.
I am annoyed at the dude from Vancouver.He had prefaced his statement by saying that he had only been to Prince George once, over twenty years ago. I wonder how old he was and whether or not he had been downtown partying to see whatever stuff he was talking about. Regardless, it irks me when Vancouverites, most of whom have never driven past Kamloops, act so knowledgeable about what Prince George is like. It makes me mad because they are usually wrong and that they have no idea what it is like to live somewhere and never have to worry about traffic.
Provincial radio talk shows have people from the Lower Mainland complain about being stuck in traffic for over two or three hours. To me, being trapped in a car, in the city, for that long seems like torture.Do people with kids have to install mini-fridges and porta potties in their vehicles in order to avoid the inevitable screams of hunger and the need to pee?
I can't get from the Hart Highway to the Four Seasons Leisure Pool without my kids "needing" a snack. How on earth do they manage three hours? "See some stuff," ha! See the scenery flying by as I drive from place to place rather than sit in traffic for hours on end.See that stuff, Vancouver.
Prince George, like any community, is filled with all different types of people, families, businesses and neighbourhoods. Like any city, there are a few areas that I wouldn't walk through with my kids at night. Largely, that's because I have no urge to walk with my kids anywhere at night because I am tired and love to sleep.
You can't tell me, Vancouver, that anywhere in Prince George is even close to as scary as East Hastings is in the daytime. Stop judging us and rather than sit in the Lower Mainland for three hour traffic, you could be a third of the way up to Prince George instead.
The traffic is mild and the people are sweet.
