Flagstaff is a city that is situate in the northern part of the State of Arizona within the Southwest region of the United States. My initial experience in Flagstaff having come from Kuwait is one to behold. The city has various features that are rare to come across and which I have never experienced before in my native country of Kuwait. Some of the features present in Flagstaff include a pine forest that to the West of the city, significantly different weather from that of Kuwait, the attitude of the Flagstaff community, the seemingly superior resources and economic trends. These features along with my early experiences in the University of Arizona, particularly the college of business are things that I will cherish always.
First, one cannot help but notice that there are many pine trees within and outside the city and this aspect gives the city a serene feeling. This is especially because of the sweet smell that comes from the pine trees. Being in a city that is in the midst of a forest is something that I only came to experience in Flagstaff and it is an experience that I am willing to go through again and again. The presence of many trees and open spaces within the city and the community at large is a welcome aspect for anyone who would like to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. One can easily find a calm place to go for a hike or picnic for relaxation while enjoying fresh air and spectacular views. The calmness that the city of Flagstaff provides, especially to a student, is unlike in Kuwait where I grew up and where towns and cities seems to be right next to each other and forest lands are scarce. In Flagstaff, it was comforting to learn that even though there are many people and traffic seems endless there is always a countryside that is a walk way where one can go and unwind.
It was also enlightening to know that some of the historic scenery such as the Grand Canyon, which I had only read in books, was just nearby and I could visit them some day and watch with my two eyes. The mountains that I could already see from the Flagstaff city created some wonderful memories that I would never forget and one that I will narrate to people every time I would talk about my first time experience in the Flagstaff city. I still get mesmerized about the setting of the city and the marvelous environment that surrounds it.
A different yet amazing experience in my first days in Flagstaff is the aspect of the active cultural sense that one immediately encounters around the city. There are museums, festivals, and fairs that enable one to Lear more about the local community. Some of the festivals that I heard about and was attracted to include the Chino Valley’s festival that incorporates the wild west Flair, the Annual Hopi Festival that incorporates the arts and cultures of the Hopi, a native American tribe, and the Grand Canyon Music Festival that has a succession of evening concerts where musicians from various parts of the country display their creativity (Miller). Such, festivals are not present in my native country therefore they would provide me with new experiences.
As a student I was thrilled that I would be able to wander around the city and its outskirts in a bid to experience various cultural activities, sporting events, as well as extracurricular activities that allow one to get more opportunities to learn things other than what is offered in the university curriculum. Within the city and the institution, some of the cultural aspects that one can see from the outset is the various appearances in several places including the parks that reflect the special events and contra dancing that illustrate what I later learned are native American cultures. I felt such experiences were an important step that would otherwise not be available in my native land.
With regard to climate in Flagstaff, it is so much different from that of Kuwait. It is much colder in Flagstaff as compared to Kuwait. When I first heard about skiing I knew that there are months that are very cold and I could not wait to experience snowing for my first time. As such, the difference in climate was also an exciting aspect to me as an outsider. I had never seen snow falling before I moved to Flagstaff given that in my native country of Kuwait the weather is mostly sunny.
I also marveled at the infrastructure in Flagstaff, which is much better than in Kuwait. Something that was as unbelievable at first as I felt like I was in a different planet. As I walked around the city, I could notice the nice restaurants located in strategic places where one could witness the lovely forest-covered mountainous sceneries within the outskirts of the city. The city seemed much more organized than anywhere I had been (“Flagstaff Urban Trails System”).
My initial interactions with the people in Flagstaff caused me to conclude that they are so welcoming. As such, making friends was something that I did without much effort. Every time I ran into a person, it was so easy to start a conversation and once they learned that I was a stranger to the city, they were so welcoming and while I was eager to learn more about this new land, they were also eager to know more about Kuwait. Ultimately, wherever I went realized that the community in Flagstaff is close-knit (“Flagstaff community Profile”), in the sense that everyone tended to care about the other more than I could say about the community back in Kuwait. This experience was unlike what I had learned from the media and other sources while in Kuwait, which suggested that the Americans in general are more interested in their own interests in disregard of others as everyone strives to achieve the American dream.
Regarding my first impression at the University of Northern Arizona were its appearance and the learning environment, especially in the college of business. The resources that I encountered in the college were by far superior than I had expected. Accordingly, from the onset the professors appeared to care about the education of each and every student. This aspect made me realize that the work ethic that the professors and the university at large adhere to is unlike anything I had experienced back in Kuwait. Seeing the environment so conducive provided me with so much encouragement that this was a place where I would be successful, it is no wonder that the college of business has an incredible reputation. Accordingly, learning about the presence of a students’ forum where one can interact with other students from around the world was something that excited me because I knew I would Learn even more from other students like me (“Student Experiences”). As such, my first days in the college were unlike any other experience.
With reference to the foregoing, various aspects including the environment, the community, and the city itself made it easy for me to integrate flawlessly into the society and particularly into the faculty of business. Thus far, I have no regret about my coming to the college of business in the University of Northern Arizona because there are lots of resources for me as a student and it is a wonderful place to be. My first experiences in Flagstaff are something that I will hold on to for a long time to come, if not forever, because thus far I do not believe there is any feeling that will surpass my first days in Flagstaff.
Work Cited
“Flagstaff community Profile.” Official City Website. N.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.
http://www.flagstaff.az.gov/index.aspx?NID=2
“Flagstaff Urban Trails System (FUTS).” City of Flagstaff Website. N.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.
http://www.flagstaff.az.gov/index.aspx?nid=1379
Miller, Cindy. "Summer's worth of festival fun." The Arizona Republic. 18 Jun. 2006. Web. 26
Jan. 2017. http://archive.azcentral.com/travel/visitor/attractions/articles/0616festivalsonline.html
“Student Experiences”. Arizona Board of Regents. 2017. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.
https://nau.edu/student-support-services/student-experiences/
