5 Things I’ve Learned Since Moving to Iowa City

This is by no means a comprehensive list, but I had to share a little about my first experiences in Iowa City while they’re still fresh in mind!

1. Midwesterners really are that nice. Guys. It’s insane. From random people on the street to the DMV workers — literally everyone is so nice. It took me over an hour to open up a new bank account because I spent so long chatting to the teller about I don’t even remember what. I’ve had deep and meaningful conversations with co-workers I’ve only known for about a month. Even the patients that I see at work are courteous, no matter why they may be in the hospital in the first place.

2. Bikes are more valuable than cars. I purchased Janet (my bike) about two weeks after I got here and I couldn’t have made a better decision. Iowa City is super bike friendly. Drivers seem to be very aware of the amount of cyclists. Almost every major street has a dedicated bike lane or sidewalk. And the best part? There are bike racks all over the city that you can use for free. Why would you ever even attempt to pay for parking when you could just bike? (Until the winter comes, anyway!)

3. Pittsburgh’s doom and gloom was getting me down, and Iowa City sun is the cure. Iowa City has an average of 199 sunny days per year, which is over a month more than Pittsburgh’s measly 160. The sunrises and sunsets here have also been spectacular, and you can see so many more stars at night without the light leaking from a huge city. I always thought that I was a city girl growing up, but I’m definitely starting to understand the appeal of midwestern life.

4. Cheese curds are amazing (and so is the rest of the food). I really don’t think that anything could be better than fried cheese. My favorite cheese curds so far were the ones I tried at Saint Burch Tavern downtown, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop exploring new places! I’ve also found home at Big Grove Brewery and Marquee Pizzeria. Case in point: I’ve only been in Iowa City a little over a month, and I’ve been to either or both of them at least 5 times. Considering I’ve also been cooking and creating new recipes, this is an impressive, my attachment to these places is an intense, quick love that I have no intention of stopping. The quality of the food here is also astounding to me. I have tons of organic and local options, and I’ve definitely been exploring and experimenting with them!

5. Adjusting to a new place and life takes time. I’m definitely happy that I made the move to Iowa City. However, not all parts have been super easy breezy. I’ve had to adjust to a lot of new stimuli over the last few weeks. I have a more active job, a less structured work schedule, and less downtime. I don’t get to spend as much time at home, and the time I have spent was packed with unpacking and turning my new apartment into a home.

I’ve also been struggling with how to move forward in what I want my career to be. I finally have the freedom to do whatever I want, and that’s super scary but also super exciting. Communicating health and wellness information to you guys is my number one priority, and I’m going to try my damndest to do it in the best way possible!

No matter what, I’m really happy to call Iowa City my home. So stay tuned, because I plan on making the most of it!