Reflection: The Country Mouse Goes to New York

The country mouse goes to New York

You probably know the fable. The country mouse goes to the city, expects the good life, and finds it loud, overwhelming, and full of surprises. After a few years among the Illinois cornfields, I thought I understood that mouse pretty well. I did not expect to become him on a trip to New York for the LIFEPLUS conference. The city had plans for me: cold weather, expensive food, and enough mishaps for a short stand-up set.

The cornfield mindset

Champaign is, let’s say, “charmingly slow-paced.” Life here is Walmart runs, the occasional Target splurge, and more corn than anyone needs. I’ve spent a lot of time wishing for more: more to do, more energy, more… life. So when I got invited to LIFEPLUS in New York City, I thought this was it. My big moment.

I pictured myself slipping right into the hustle, soaking up the glamor like I’d lived there for years. What I got was a string of reminders that I am a country mouse through and through.

My wallet vs. the city

First, the pizza. I wanted the classic New York slice: greasy, floppy, eaten standing on a sidewalk. I’d seen enough Spider-Man movies to know pizza was a requirement for being a real New Yorker, right up there with complaining about the weather and pretending to enjoy a packed bar. Was the real thing as glamorous as the movies? I honestly can’t tell you.

I squeezed through the crowd and ended up at Joe G Pizza (not to be confused with Joe’s Pizza), staring at a $30 menu and the mustache of a nice old Italian man, also named Joe. The pizza was 80% crust and 20% financial regret. If you’ve ever stood in an aisle debating two loaves of bread over a six-cent difference, you know the kind of heartbreak I mean.

Then there were the buses. I got off at the wrong stop twice. The first time, I waited over an hour in the freezing cold before I realized I was at the stop for buses going the other way. The second time was the same story, with extra frostbite. The only thing keeping the city from swallowing me whole was an EDM Buddhist mantra I found myself singing(?) along to as it got dark and my patience ran out. Om mani padme hum indeed.

The LIFEPLUS conference

Even with all the hiccups, the conference was everything I’d hoped for. Hanwha knows how to throw a party: live performances, endless trays of finger food, and an open bar that made me feel like I’d wandered into the VIP section of life. I took a bite of some caviar hors d’oeuvre (French for “the good stuff”) and for a second I swear my net worth went up. It was the kind of taste that makes you rethink every budget meal you’ve ever eaten.

But the best part (really!) was seeing people from my internship again. It reminded me that the world is mostly good, and that maybe I should trust it a bit more. I met new people too, from all kinds of backgrounds, and the conversations felt easy and warm. I’ve been to enough meetups where everyone stays in their own little huddle to know how rare that is. Here, talking to strangers just felt natural.

Did I overdo it? Absolutely. Four cocktails, two glasses of wine, and half a bottle of beer later, my face was starting to swell (thanks, alcohol intolerance). To be fair, the half-bottle of beer had already maxed out my alcohol meter. Everything after that went toward my social battery. Even through the haze of bad decisions, I couldn’t stop smiling. It was a really good night, especially with two midterms and a final project behind me.

The squirrels of Champaign

Still, as much as I loved the conference, I felt more at home walking the quiet streets of Champaign. I like watching two squirrels chase each other up a tree. I like the crunch of gravel under my shoes.

New York is bright and exciting, and it wore me out. I get excited about the weekly Aldi Finds. I hesitate before splurging on eggs. I’m happiest under open sky with empty fields around me. For someone like that, home is where life moves a little slower.

I left my comfort zone, and I came back liking what I have a lot more. The country mouse in me is staying put.