A Small Town Girl in a Big City

Growing up, I lived in a rural town in central Maine with only about 1,000 total residents. I never loved living in the country, and I always knew that I wanted to move to the Boston area for college. It’s perfect that I ended up at Lasell University in Newton, MA! The transition from going to 1,000 residents to 80,000 was way easier than I expected, but it allowed me to realize just how many differences there are between living in the country and the city: 

1. Driving an hour to get anywhere vs walking and riding the T

All throughout high school, I had to drive an hour one way to school, 45 minutes to the studio I danced at, and 30 minutes to the nearest grocery store. Living on campus at Lasell, It’s less than a 15-minute walk to my classes, the grocery store, and the T station. I had never taken the T before moving to the city, but I’ve learned to love it! It makes me feel like a real “city girl” when I can just be with the crowd, headphones on, taking public transportation. I also discovered Uber when I came to the city- I had never used it before because I drove everywhere myself!

2. No Uber Eats or Doordash in the county

Coming to Newton made me realize how often people use food delivery apps! Before coming here, I had never used Uber Eats or Doordash, and now my friends and I get food delivered about once a week. In my tiny town in Maine, I had to drive 30 minutes if I wanted takeout, so typically I just ended up cooking at home. I love having the freedom to get food from anywhere I want to be delivered, but it’s definitely easier to eat healthier when I cook for myself at home!

3. Driving 2 hours to go shopping vs 5 minutes

Where I’m from, the closest shopping mall is 2 hours away. It takes an entire day to drive down, go shopping, eat out, and drive back home. Not to mention, it gets expensive! The only shopping that gets close is the rundown Tj Maxx about 45 minutes away, but it’s a long way to drive for only one store. Here in Newton, the closest mall is about a 5-minute drive, so it’s an easy trip. There are also no designer stores in Maine, so I’ve enjoyed exploring Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, and other places here in Massachusetts! 

4. The Difference in Fashion

One of the biggest differences I noticed between rural Maine and the Boston area is the difference in fashion. In Maine, people dress for comfort in daily life. People wear clothes from L.L. Bean, Carhart, and Mossy Oak, and common styles include camo, flannel, and heavy work boots. The culture in central Maine is very outdoorsy, and people are consistently farming, hunting, fishing, and four-wheeling or snowmobiling. People dress for these occasions. There are also only a few stores to buy clothes at in town, including Walmart, Tractor Supply, and a small thrift shop. Therefore, this is where people buy their clothes out of convenience and at cheap prices. 

In the city, people have much more of a variety of styles. There are many more places to shop, and it seems that people have more time and money to focus on this luxury. Anything goes for fashion here; everyone has unique statement pieces and focuses more on hair, makeup, and nail products as well. The lifestyle is very different, and people dress for a culture where fashion is much more important in daily life. 

Overall, I’m happy I chose to come to the city, and it’s interesting how many differences there are between central Maine and the Boston area. I’m lucky to have been able to experience both places! Is the Boston lifestyle different from where you grew up, too? Let us know in the comments!