I used to go to UNBC, and now I live in Vancouver. Sometimes, I get to visit my friends who live in Prince George. When I go there, I remember my time at university, and I’m always surprised by how different life is in Prince George. This last visit for a baby shower really highlighted those differences. Here’s what amazed me about life in Prince George.
Houses: When I stayed with a friend, I was shocked when I entered her house. It was so big! I wondered how two people could live in such a spacious place. In Vancouver, I live in a much smaller condo. So, I couldn’t understand what someone would do with all that extra space.
Guest Rooms: Next, I was shown to a guest room. You might think this is normal, but in the city, guest rooms are quite rare. If someone stays over at my place, they sleep on my sofa bed. Having a whole room for guests is a new concept for city folks.
Children: In Vancouver, it’s rare to see children among my friends. But in Prince George, families are growing with many babies. Women my age are having kids and planning for more. Meanwhile, I’m thinking about converting my hallway closet into a baby’s room.
Traffic: Vancouver has terrible traffic during rush hour. Sometimes I can’t stand the crowded buses and trains, even for a short 5-kilometer trip. But in Prince George, there’s hardly any traffic. People up north are lucky to have open roads.
Conversations: In the city, people talk a lot about real estate. It gets boring because it’s always the same topic. Vancouverites are stressed about small expensive homes. But in Prince George, people talk about more interesting things.
Focus on What Matters: What really amazes me about the north is that people are so friendly and down-to-earth. They don’t judge you by your clothes or car. They’re quick to help and smile a lot. It’s refreshing to see that people in the north care about what’s important, and I’m reminded of this every time I visit.
