Hope you love football
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10/13/2009
I graduated from the University of Nebraska about two years ago and promptly headed west to Las Vegas to work in marketing/PR with a popular hotel chain. Having lived in Lincoln, Nebraska for about two years (I came here for graduate school from Michigan), I can say that Lincoln, Nebraska isn't the worst place in the world, but I was ready to leave when it was time.
Lincoln, Nebraska is important for two reasons: it's where the state capital of Nebraska is based out of and it's where the University of Nebraska is based out of. So, in essence, Lincoln is a college town. However, unlike many college towns, it's really not that liberal. Nebraska in general is known for being a hardcore conservative state, and though myself I am a moderate Republican, the naive nature of most of the people here gets kind of annoying after a while. Most of the people are friendly in that Midwest sort of way, but open minded and free thinking aren't exactly the two things that come to mind when I talk to people around this area.
The town comes alive six Saturdays every year. Of course I would be talking about Husker home football games, when Memorial stadium becomes the 3rd largest city in Nebraska (not joking). Having been to a few games, I will say there certainly is nothing like it in probably all of sports. It's fun, festive and makes the city come alive. However, outside of those six Saturdays... it's very quiet around here.
Aesthetically speaking, Lincoln is not an attractive skyline. The capital building is one of the blandest in the country (compare it to Des Moines and you'll see what I mean). The roads are full of potholes. Outside of Haymarket Park, there aren't many "entertaining" areas. I can only go drinking and talk football for so long before I need another diversion, and that's another problem. Nebraska doesn't have that much to do. Anything worth driving to is at least a four hour drive. And in my opinion, Omaha doesn't count, as I view it as a bigger Lincoln with more restaurants, bars and businesses.
The weather is very unpredictable, with cold winters and hot, humid summers. There aren't many jobs around here besides government or education positions. Even if I wanted to stay in the area, there wasn't much for me to choose from.
Lincoln is a fine place and isn't as bad as some people like to make it. Nice people, good football team, low cost of living are all positive things it offers. However, I crave more and that's why I left after I graduated. It takes a certain kind of person (most of the time a born and bred native) to love living in Nebraska, and I am not that kind of person.
Jeff | ,