I've lost hope in the human race.
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8/14/2018
I don't like to be negative. I've lived here for 4 years. At the risk of sounding dramatic (because this city really is), it's possibly the worst place in the great midwest that you can ever think about planting your roots. You must watch your back. The folks in this general area (Omaha, Papillion, Bellevue, La Vista) will take advantage of you, your family, and your career first chance they get. Everyone secretly hates each other and are at war with one another but they will *NEVER* admit it. About once a week I get visited by the police for some complaint that surfaced out of thin air about "you had your music too loud for 10 minutes after 10pm", "your car was parked on the street for more than 12 hours", "you are not wearing enough clothes when you mow your lawn" (I am a guy and I wear jogging shorts and no shirt when it's 90+ degrees out, is that a crime?).
These same people will see you in the supermarket and act like they aren't behind it. "Nebraska Nice" I think is the term the locals nonchalantly call it. Basically it means "we are nice to your face but will destroy or muddle your reputation the first chance we get...just because". It's incredibly evil.
People are unhappy here. They won't admit it. Road rage is sky high. Sit at a light for 2 seconds, then see what happens. The general attitude is insouciant. They don't care about you, your children, or your well-being. I have made no lasting friendships here in four years. Out of the 10 or so people I've befriended, a good five or so befriended me just to get details on my life to snitch to their other friends. I've become untrusting. I can't tell you how terrible that feels. Never in my life have I ever encountered such cowardliness. The other "friends" simply faded away or moved away without any notice.
Petty crimes and theft happen more than the neighbors like to admit. Mail thieves, fuel thieves, lawn vandalism, and kids getting smacked (and run) by cars happen weekly here. I've had seven packages stolen in the last 6 months. Neighbor across the street had their mailbox destroyed. My next door neighbor had his van siphoned the other night. Why people paint this town up to be something it's not puzzles me.
On a personal level, I'm not that hard to get along with. I don't care what race you are, or religion, or orientation. We can always talk about that if you want, but if you're a decent person, then we will get along. Nobody values friendship here, only gossip.
People move here in hopes of a quieter, easier life. You will enjoy it your first 6-12 months. Then you will soon realize you moved to evil Mayberry. I have never lost as much hope in the human race as I have since I moved to Bellevue/Papillion. Once my contract is up, I'm gone.
As a smart journalist said (about Omaha), "the smart ones move away. the ones who don't know any better tend to stick around."
Jared | Bellevue, NE