WHAT IS IT LIKE LIVING IN THE MIDWEST ?

When we first relocated to Oklahoma City, I honestly experienced culture shock. Growing up in Houston and coming straight from LA to Oklahoma was a major transition. I spent the first 6 months trying to accept our move and trying to understand why the universe sent us here. I knew when Troy and I got together that we wanted to travel and live different places, but it’s easier said than done. Now that Ive been here a little over two years, I love it.

Oklahoma City is a very quaint place. When I go to target or to the grocery store, I usually see someone I know. Theres no real traffic here and everywhere you need to go is fairly close. Ive fallen in love with the beauty of Oklahoma nature. Theres a lot of lush open land and real seasons. In the fall theres so many colors, real snow in the winters. The sunsets everyday are panoramic and breathtaking. Oklahoma City is big on agriculture, so the farmers markets are bomb. At night you can see the stars, theres no city fog. In the summers, you can hear crickets and nature so loudly.

One time I went to get a pizza and after I ordered I realized I’d left my wallet at home. The owner told me to just pay him next time, small-town charm. When ambulances drive by people pull over WAY BEFORE the ambulance is near, there’s respect for emergency. On Sundays its a quiet ghost town, people are inside with their families. Everything is cheap ! Gas is cheap, cost of living is cheap. OKC has so many thrift stores and thriving family owned businesses. I have a lot of little quaint shops I like to visit. We’ve scouted out the almost city like “artsy-hipster” area. We’ve found our favorite museum and brunch spots.

One major downside is that there is no diversity. Often, we are the only people of color when we go to an establishment. It makes us appreciate home so much more when we visit. It is tough being far removed from your roots, we miss our family a lot. I know being away from instant help has made me grow tremendously, figuring things out on my own. I think everyone should experience moving away from everything you know, so you can get more familiar with yourself. When my friends visit they always say they feel so at peace and relaxed which I love.

In retrospect, this was the perfect place for me to be pregnant, become a mother. Live that slow calm life for a couple of years and give birth to a new me. Being here has allowed me to experience a judgment free life, because no-one knows what i’m doing day to day. Living here gave me an opportunity to nurture my relationship with my partner and raise my toddler without much unsolicited advice. Living in a big city can sometimes distract you from what you feel is true. You can create and live in your own reality while being comfortable in your own nature. I’m a completely different person than I was when we got here. This is the last year we will be here so I’m soaking it all in !

All photos taken by me with SONY A6000 in Goldsby, Oklahoma.