You may know about Oregon’s vastly diverse climates, which range from very dry in Southern and Eastern Oregon to incredibly wet in the Willamette Valley. You might even know about the hipsters you have seen on Portlandia. However, there is so much more that you should know if you are going to be living here during your college years.
1. We take our coffee very seriously.
There are five Dutch Bros. locations, three Allan Bros. locations, and three Coffee Culture shops in Corvallis alone[ES1] . If you aren’t a coffee person, or even if you’ve only sworn by Starbucks your entire life, now is the time to start branching out and trying new things.
2. We appreciate alternative forms of transportation.
We bike, walk, skateboard and use our free local bus system regularly, and we even have a bike rental program for students here at OSU.
3. We love a good concert.
Whether it is the Dam Jam Music Festival right here on campus, a concert at the Roseland Theater in Portland, a rave at the Cuthbert Amphitheater in Eugene, or a show at any number of other great concert venues around the state, we love to dance, let loose, and have a good time[ES2] . If you’re eager to jump on the party boat with us, head out to Eugene for Life In Color on October 4th!
4. We support our sports teams through thick and thin.
We show our school pride boldly no matter how our teams perform. During football games at OSU, we show our Beaver spirit as dedicated fans, marching band members, cheerleaders, dancers and alumni.
5. We enjoy finding new places to camp, hike and explore rain or shine.
Either by ourselves or with our human or pet companions, we love finding berries to eat, places to backpack, and views that we can admire for hours[ES3] . Ready for an adventure? Grab your friends and take a hike up Mary’s Peak to watch the sunrise!
6. We enjoy thrifting, shopping locally and finding great deals.
Not only is it good for the environment, but thrift shopping can also be tons of fun! If you spend enough time looking through other people’s “junk,” you might just find some treasures to call your own.
7. We like to explore what makes our state unique.
We read about our history, find weird tourist attractions to explore (even though we live here), go to unique festivals, and partake in special traditions that Oregonians and visitors alike can enjoy year round.
8. We devote ourselves to the causes we believe in
We volunteer our time, donate money, and participate in charity events. There are a large number of fun events you can join in with friends or by yourself, from 5K races to citywide bike rides.
9. We eat organic foods and buy locally when possible.
At our neighborhood farmers markets and in our grocery stores, we seek to benefit our local farmers and store owners.
10. We enjoy a good food cart
Here in Corvallis we basically only have Cheesy Stuffed Burgers on Monroe, but if you go into Portland you can explore thousands of cuisines in Portland’s famous pods of carts, of which there are more than 600!
11. We are accepting of diverse forms of life and expression
No matter who you are or where you’ve come from, you are welcome here in Oregon! Our state offers an incredible amount of programs for all genders, ethnicities and sexualities, so don’t be afraid to express who you really are!
By now I hope you’ve realized we are more than hippies and hipsters. We as Oregonians are proud of who we are and we encourage the same in all those who enter our beautiful and incredibly green state. We welcome newcomers with open arms, so don’t be nervous if this will be your first year in Oregon! Instead, be ready to embrace all that makes Oregon a great place to live and learn in.