seven things: rexburg

I just wanted to share a few things about my little town here in Idaho.  Since I've now been here a year, I'm basically an expert.  Just kidding.  But I'm sure by the time we graduate (3-4 years down the road) I will be!

Seven reasons I love it here

1. Its a small town.  Things are close, its hard to get lost, and there's lots of Mom and Pop shops that keep business local!
2. The temple is within 5 minutes of everyone.  Its super close, which makes it super easy to go whenever.  Also, it's on top of the only hill in Rexburg, so you can always see it. Other than the temple, the most remarkable landmark here is the McDonald's "M."  It is the tallest structure in the city, and I can't figure out why they wasted such a tall pole on such a small town.  So if you can't see the temple, look for McDonald's and you'll never be lost.
3. It's green.  Tyler says it's not, because he's from WA.  I say it is, because I'm from NM.  You can see the sky.  It's open and you can see for miles.  When I'm up in the mountains or in big cities I feel suffocated and claustrophobic.  I like being able to see.
4. Variety.  Granted, most of the kids here are white and from America, but they are from all over the country.  It's incredible to have so many sub-cultures in one teeny tiny town.
5. There isn't a drinking/drugs problem from the campus, thanks to the honor system.  Wild parties consist of loud music and, if things are really crazy, caffeinated soda.  The few exceptions to this don't stick around here for long.
6. Nature is close.  I don't really think I'm a city girl, so I like that there's so many places to go and do things outside without driving more than an hour away.  Yellowstone is only an hour and a half away!  Tyler and I are planning to go later this summer, since I've never been.  There's tons of mountains, lakes, rivers.  It's great.  Oh, and the sunsets are so pretty.  Not stunning, like Abq sunsets, but pretty and scenic.
7. There are three kinds of stakes here: single student, married student, and everyone else.  There are 5 stake centers around the town to service non-students and married students.  Basically, it's alot of Mormons.

Seven less wonderful things

1. Its a small town.  Going to Walmart is a big outing.   The only shopping mall is 45 minutes away, and it's probably the smallest mall I've ever seen in my whole  life.  Small town gas prices are higher, too, so we always have to try and fill up when we make a trip to Idaho Falls.
2. The weather is ridiculous.  I walk into a class warm and cozy, when I walk out its rainy and freezing.  Because of the elevation, it's freezing cold in the winter and baking hot in the summer with about 6 days of moderate temperature in between, in April and September. 
3. Construction.  Always.  The campus is expanding, so there is constantly a project going on.  When there is a break, the city decides to revamp a road.
4. Snow doesn't melt.  Once it falls, it's there until July the next year. 
5. Jobs are super scarce and pay is usually low, just because there's a huge supply of labor and a relatively small demand for work.
6. In the spring, when everyone fertilizes their fields, that's all you smell for weeks.
7. Campus is on a hill, which means at any given time you are walking downhill or up, and uphill is pretty steep.  I'm always winded when I get to my classes up by the temple.   

But really?  I love it here.