Editor’s Note: We received Amy’s column during the break. We wanted to give her a chance to share her final thoughts about New Mexico, even though she has returned home. Enjoy.
A question I have been asked many, many times throughout my stay here is, “Why Albuquerque?” Why, of all the 50 states of America, did I choose the one which, many people have told me, is nothing like America?
When I first arrived, I didn’t have much to say for myself. All I knew was that I wanted an adventure, I wanted to see somewhere I would have never seen otherwise, and I wanted to escape the cold, gray skies of England, which, ironically, seem to have caught up with me over the last week. New Mexico sounded exotic, adventurous and, most of all, hot.
Now that I have been here for four months, I would like to revise my answer somewhat and tell people all the reasons I am glad I came to Albuquerque, and why I would tell anyone back home to come here in a flash.
The first reason is the culture. I had a feeling it would be different, but I had no idea just how vibrant a place New Mexico is. It is full of bright colors: in the foods, in the amazing Mexican artistry throughout the city, and in the sunsets. It shows just how rich a place becomes when cultures interweave. It brings us such wonders as Frontier and Old Town!
I can only hope that places like Albuquerque become a beacon in the future of America. Albuquerque shows that cultural diversity is not always a threat to an old way of life; it can actually improve upon it. I will never forget events such as Zozobra, the Balloon Fiesta, and the covering of UNM campus in luminarias.
These cultural quirks of New Mexico have formed some of my happiest memories here.
Another wonderful feature of New Mexico that I will never forget is the landscape. I can never understand why people call it ugly when to me it is truly astounding. When I was taken off-roading in the desert, I didn’t lament the lack of lush greenery – I marveled at the moonscape the sand dunes created. In the middle of America, it seemed as if I were on another planet.
The Sandias are another part of the incredible landscape that I will sorely miss. They seem to take on a different personality each day: cold and brooding when covered in snow, or soft and inviting when bathed in a bright New Mexican sunset. The way they refuse to blend into the background and sear themselves on the memory of anyone who passes by make them seem to be the geographical embodiment of Albuquerque.
However, the reason I am most glad I came to Albuquerque and will most definitely be returning in the future, is the people. They are some of the most active and willing people I have ever met. I am continually astounded by the amount of friends I have made who are somehow involved in making their community or the world a little better.
The spirit of activism and enthusiasm really is contagious. This positive nature also transfers to the way people treat each other here. Although I have been told Albuquerque is considered a dangerous place to be, any threats here are surely outweighed by the multitudes of people I have met who are always willing to say hi or strike up a conversation. They are some of the most open and friendly souls I have ever had the good fortune to encounter.
No matter how big Albuquerque may seem, I have never felt alone here. The openness of people is one of the main reasons I have been lucky enough to make so many wonderful friends and have so many memorable experiences. You guys truly are some of the best in the world, and if I take one thing away from Albuquerque, it will be the life-long friends I have made here.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Amy Dicketts is a student in London, and was a foreign exchange student at UNM last semester.
