There’s no denying the fact that I am still adjusting to life in North Dakota. Things are very different here compared to California. Of course the most obvious is the weather. And with winter coming, all my family and friends in California are just waiting to see how I handle dealing with the winter weather here. Food. I will admit… That’s been my biggest challenge. There’s no denying that people here in North Dakota LOVE their food. Which is a good thing, I love my food too but sometimes the fact there isn’t a Mexican food restaurant down the street or I can’t get authentic Thai food is hard to deal with. I was born and raised with variety in my palette. I guess I was fortunate to have access to a wide variety of foods. Dad taught me to always try something once because you really never know if you’re going to like it or not. And I will admit, sometimes I am surprised that I end up liking something that sounds utterly disgusting. Anyway, since I can’t readily hop down the street to get my fill of ethnic foods, I am thankful for the advent of the internet because without it, I wouldn’t have access to the things I require to prepare things like Thai curry or authentic Mexican food.
I could go on and on listing the differences but I was doing some comparing, just for the fun of it. Call me a facts geek. I always love looking at statistics. My county back in California, Butte County versus my new county in North Dakota, McIntosh County. Looking at the numbers and the statistics, it’s understandable why it’s so different from where I come from. It’s a totally different demographic which in turns means different culture and different food. And I am learning to embrace that new demographic and all that comes with it. But I am also a little hell bent on maintaining my own identity, my own heritage, and bringing cultural variety to our little house on the prairie. Anyway, without further adieu, a look into Butte County, California versus McIntosh County, North Dakota.
But regardless of what the numbers say.. I love my new home, my new town of Ashley, my new county, and my new state a whole bunch. It’s different, it’s a change, and it will take some getting used to that’s for sure. But there are a few things I’ve learned about living here: the people here are some of the nicest I’ve ever encountered, the pace of life here is much slower than even my “smaller CA town” of Chico, and they live and breathe agriculture. But despite all it’s craziness, I do miss California. Mostly my family, my family friends, my customers, and even my town of Chico. The diversity in people and food, the ability to have access to whatever I need a 10 minute drive away, the Ocean being a mere few hours away, the mountains.
North Dakota living is a different lifestyle, but I wouldn’t change the decisions I’ve made for anything. And I know deep down in my heart that the move I made was the right decision for me. The choice to make a leap for love and to be with my farmer here in North Dakota was what God had planned for my life. So despite this new adaptation to the life of a farmer, despite the frigidly cold winter, despite it all, I will make it through anything life throws at me. But I won’t be alone. I will be right next to my rock and the one I love. The one who gives me support when I need it, the one who makes me laugh on a daily basis, and the one who I can be open and honest with always. I am so blessed to be living this life I live, even if this winter I will be experiencing negative degree temperatures. I guess that just means I’ll have to visit my family in California 😉
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Lol, those Germans & their farming! I think the percentage is about the same here where we live!
Great post. The “glitz and glam” of living near a city is nice, but its not worth being there if it means being away from the one you love. Looks like youve been able to make up a little for what ND is lacking, by learning how to cook those authentic meals, that must be fun!!