Growing up in Portland is a wonderful thing. Ever-lasting summer days, cool nights, and kids playing on every block are just some of the great memories. But with great things, come some unexpected side effects like:
- Choosing Sides Early
Rivalry Clash Race Series / Flickr It is hard to make it out of elementary school in Portland without taking sides between University of Oregon and Oregon State University.
- Learning Proper Couch Pronunciation
Andy Nystrom / Flickr Once you have this pronunciation in your head (cooch), you may never go back.
- Getting Used to This View
Peter Roome / Flickr When we look east, this is what we see. While it is completely normal to us, when you leave and you don’t have these beautiful mountains you realize how lucky we are in Portland.
- “Regular” Ice Cream is Just Not A Thing
aehdeschaine / Flickr Green tea, peanut butter and jelly, lavender, Thai iced tea, and olive oil ice cream are perfectly normal flavors…until you leave Portland.
- Greenspace Is Your Friend
Robert Tuck / Flickr You are surrounded by green space and it is a daily part of life in Oregon and Portland.
- You Become A Friendly Driver
Ian Sane / Flickr We are known for our calm and collected drivers. Sure, we have plenty of traffic and headaches, but Portlanders are infamously friendly when driving, so much so that it can be hard getting anyone to take the right-of-way at a 4-way stop. You stop for pedestrians, whether they are at a cross walk or not and give friendly waves often.
- Speaking of Driving…
ClaraDon / Flickr Unless you spend a lot time out of the state, you may be kind of perplexed about pumping your own gas once you cross state lines.
- You Know The Best Swimming Spots
Bureau of Land Management / Flick When you live in Portland, not only do you have access to loads of city pools, but paradise is just a short drive away. It’s hard to live in the city and not have at least one special swimming spot in nature.
- You Are Proud To Be From Portland
Hubert Figuiere / Flickr Sure, we have our fair share of problems, but at the end of the day, we are happy to be here living in such an amazingly beautiful place.
- No Matter Where You Roam, Portland Is Always Home
Ian Ransley / Flickr Whether you leave for a job, school, or a new start, it is hard to leave Portland behind, and chances are, the city will call you back at some point.
What are some other side effects of growing up in Portland? Let us know below!
Rivalry Clash Race Series / Flickr
It is hard to make it out of elementary school in Portland without taking sides between University of Oregon and Oregon State University.
Andy Nystrom / Flickr
Once you have this pronunciation in your head (cooch), you may never go back.
Peter Roome / Flickr
When we look east, this is what we see. While it is completely normal to us, when you leave and you don’t have these beautiful mountains you realize how lucky we are in Portland.
aehdeschaine / Flickr
Green tea, peanut butter and jelly, lavender, Thai iced tea, and olive oil ice cream are perfectly normal flavors…until you leave Portland.
Robert Tuck / Flickr
You are surrounded by green space and it is a daily part of life in Oregon and Portland.
Ian Sane / Flickr
We are known for our calm and collected drivers. Sure, we have plenty of traffic and headaches, but Portlanders are infamously friendly when driving, so much so that it can be hard getting anyone to take the right-of-way at a 4-way stop. You stop for pedestrians, whether they are at a cross walk or not and give friendly waves often.
ClaraDon / Flickr
Unless you spend a lot time out of the state, you may be kind of perplexed about pumping your own gas once you cross state lines.
Bureau of Land Management / Flick
When you live in Portland, not only do you have access to loads of city pools, but paradise is just a short drive away. It’s hard to live in the city and not have at least one special swimming spot in nature.
Hubert Figuiere / Flickr
Sure, we have our fair share of problems, but at the end of the day, we are happy to be here living in such an amazingly beautiful place.
Ian Ransley / Flickr
Whether you leave for a job, school, or a new start, it is hard to leave Portland behind, and chances are, the city will call you back at some point.
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