Seattle vs. Miami: a tale of two cities
As a military brat and adult frequent-mover, you might say I'm a professional newcomer. One thing I've noticed about every place I've lived is that native and entrenched inhabitants tend to lack curiosity about where newcomers are from, what their lives might have been like elsewhere, how things might be done differently in another locale. Instead of healthy inquiry and dialogue, we get assumptions.
When I moved to Miami from the Midwest, my students assumed that I had made my way in the world as a pig farmer. If there's one thing that the great Show-Me State of Missouri calls to mind to tropical residents, it's pig farming. While I confess to a certain Charlotte's Web-influenced affection for the little squealers, I have not nor do I know anyone who has farmed pigs. There's also a reluctance to try a new method or process in work environments, as people cling to the way they've always done things. Don't get me wrong; I'm all about lying low, checking out the scene, and doing what I can to fit in, even acquiring a new accent if necessary. But I do think there's value in understanding where someone comes from, both literally and figuratively. Especially here in Seattle, newcomers are regarded as interlopers, part of the problem, as if Seattle had been a perfectly good city until we showed up.
Knowing where someone new in town has been is just as important as learning everything you can about where you've landed. For illustration, I'll compare Miami, where I lived for two years, to Seattle, my home now for three.
| Miami | Seattle |
|---|---|
| Oranges | Apples |
| Everglades | Evergreens |
| Alligators | Orcas |
| Hurricanes | Earthquakes |
| 248 days of sunshine | 136 days of sunshine |
| Umbrellas to block the sun | Bumbershoots are for tourists |
| Days over 90°F: 30 | Days over 90°F: 3 |
| Left turn on red expected | Brake for pedestrians |
| Bicyclists mowed down by cars | Drivers mowed down by bicyclists |
| Everything's disposable | Everything's recyclable |
| The 6th borough of New York | L.A. North |
| Walk up and order a colada | Drive through and order a soy latte |
| 70 miles to Cuba | 125 miles to Canada |
| Art Deco | Craftsman |
| Sand between your toes | Moss on your back |
| Monster yachts | Monster yachts |
| Elián protests | WTO protests |
| McCain | Obama |
Comments:
Posted Wed, Oct 22, 10:21 a.m. inappropriate
I arrived here over 11 years ago from Naples FL with my two kids in a 27-foot truck holding everything we owned at the time. Back then, I marveled at the fact that it took over a week before I actually heard someone honk their horn at another driver. Not so today. Nowadays, I also find myself wondering why newcomers don't try harder to adapt to the Northwest way instead of bringing their bad driving habits with them (among other pet peeves).
But what was more telling was the fact that within a month of arriving here, my kids were referring to Seattle as "home" and I never once recalled them calling Naples "home." Seattle has been a terrific place to come home after a long trip away.
Welcome to Seattle, Lisa!
Posted Wed, Oct 22, 2:38 p.m. inappropriate
Thanks, Robert! I agree with you about the traffic differences and the hope that Seattle doesn't slide into aggressive driver hedonism. I was so relieved to move here and find that people don't fly down I-5 weaving in and out of lanes while watching the TV monitor in their visor, like a driver I witnessed in Miami. As a student once said to me, there's a reason that "Miami" spelled backward is I maim.
Posted Wed, Oct 22, 10:54 p.m. inappropriate
As someone who has spent approx. 20 years each in both places I can attest to the accuracy of this article. Of course I'd like to contribute a few additions of my own to the list.
Miami/roaches, Seattle/slugs; Miami/ dangerous elderly Jewish drivers, Seattle/dangerous elderly Asian drivers; Miami/bagel shops every five feet, Seattle/coffee shops every five feet; Miami/cursed Miami Dolphins, Seattle/cursed Seattle Seahawks; Miami/Chili's Restaurants are very popular and Red Robin couldn't make a go of it, Seattle/Red Robin Restaurants are very popular and Chili's couldn't make a go of it; Miami/vidalia onions, Seattle/Walla Walla onions; Miami/tons of awesome bbq places but you are hard pressed to find decent seafood, Seattle/tons of awesome seafood places but you are hard pressed to find decent bbq; Miami/Florida Keys, Seattle/San Juan Islands; Miami/cruises to the Bahamas, Seattle/cruises to Victoria
Posted Fri, Oct 24, 3:58 p.m. inappropriate
Carla, that is brilliant! Likewise, I can attest to the accuracy of your astute list. Thanks for taking the time.
Posted Mon, Oct 27, 4:54 p.m. inappropriate
RE: DRIVERS from DIFFERENT CITIES
Reading this causes me to think of a conversation I had many years ago (in the early 60's) with a new employee of the company I worked for at the time. She was a new emmigrant to Seattle from London and was very nervous to drive to work in the International District (then referred to as Chinatown) This was in the early 60's and before there was a freeway.
You had to really look out for Asian men, wearing hats who drove taxi cabs
and there were quite a few. I admit the following will probably get me e-mail decrying my prejudices.
Cab drivers at the time seemed to spend a very large percentage of their time behind the wheel and "know" just how sharp a corner they can take and how many seconds are left on the yellow light and that THEY "ruled"
This was particularly true if they wore hats as almost no one at the time did and it showed their adherence to the "old ways" and perhaps more than a bit of stubboness. But it did give them a place to wear the Union buttons. Most of them did as Seattle was much more of a "Union town at that time which was in the early 60's.
Now my question is: Are drivers in Seattle "bad", or just different from where you come from?