Coming from Pittsburgh, the thing that stuck out the most when coming to Laramie was just how red the area’s politics were. It was easy to quickly judge the town just for having different beliefs than myself. As time went on and I interacted with more locals I began to see the genuine nature of the people here. Everyone from college students, to cowboys, to elderly people are always willing to strike up a friendly conversation with a smile on their face. Each day Wyoming feels more and more like one big small town.
One thing that really stuck out to me, and one of my favorite memories, was our time spent in Rock Creek for the Fourth of July. I played volleyball with local teens, chatted with adults, and raced kids down a slip and slide. I’m sure we stuck out as a group college students from Pittsburgh who dressed, talked, and acted different, but I received nothing but a warm welcome from everybody.
The people here have made it so easy to feel like I belong. There is a sense of pride of the people living here and even I am starting to feel that after staying a couple weeks. Not only does the Laramie River Valley has some of the most beautiful nature I’ve ever seen, but also some of the most down to Earth and genuine people I’ve ever met. I’m so pumped to see what more Laramie has to offer and the awesome people I have yet to meet.