In anticipation of move-in day, I giddily perused the Google Maps Street View of Providence. By the time I carried my suitcases into Andrews Hall, I had a full itinerary of Providence attractions — coffee shops, running paths, stores and parks.
My first trip was to East Providence. I crossed the Seekonk and hurried down the East Bay Bike Path. I grinned as I looked back towards downtown Providence — I was living in a city! The novelty was most exciting: the abandoned factories across the water, the Superman peering over Kennedy Plaza, the Sciences Library slicing through College Hill’s silhouette. There was so much to get to know.
I realized that my enthusiasm towards Providence is somewhat unique. The “Brown Bubble” stereotype proved to be true: students rarely wander beyond College Hill. For me, the transition from rural Pennsylvania to any metropolitan area was thrilling enough to transcend this isolation.
But my excitement goes beyond my — what some would call — lower standards. The intimate experience of a small town upbringing has encouraged me to fully appreciate everywhere I live, a mindset we should all adopt in college. It’s worth it to be Providence citizens, not merely Brown students.
Upon moving in, my sense of disconnect irked me. As much as I enjoyed the newness of a charming campus, I immediately felt the need to expand my radius. My goal became to live here as a resident, not a visitor. I steadily ventured further past campus: Fox Point, Downtown, Federal Hill and The Jewelry District. Eventually, local businesses and public spaces became parts of my weekly routine. Every Sunday, I chat over breakfast at Dave’s Coffee with my friend Vivian. After Spanish on Tuesdays, I run along Blackstone Boulevard. On the way back from tutoring, I take the scenic route across the pedestrian bridge.
Eventually, these routines converged into a sense of belonging, but my knowledge of Providence was incomplete. It lacked an especially important dimension: time! So, second semester, I tasked myself with mastering Providence history.
I must admit, my small town ambition isn’t entirely responsible for my proficiency in Providence history. This semester, I had the advantage of URBN 0230: “Urban Life In Providence: An Introduction,” a First Year Seminar that equipped me with the full canon of Providence’s development. I often flex my knowledge to anyone who accompanies me on a walk — perhaps somewhat ironically, but there’s a real sense of joy in knowing the details of your surroundings. It makes the city dynamic and intriguing while unlocking new aspects of Providence.
During one of my field excursions for class, I took the RIPTA to the West End: a post-industrial neighborhood on the other side of I-95. I hopped out onto Dexter Field and strolled through blocks of colorful houses and renovated mills as I made my way to Federal Hill. Between two of these blocks, I could just make out the top half of downtown. I recalled the excitement of my first trip down the bike path. But my new east-facing view prompted a different emotion: pride. I regained my homey sense of familiarity; I felt like I really knew my college city.
The triumph of small town living is the personal knowledge of your surroundings — it is an unconscious side-effect of daily life. In Providence, I was able to form the same personal connection that I enjoyed back home. Every Brown student can do the same, but, in a city, it is a choice that requires effort.
During an antsy transition like college, it is easy to close ourselves off to what is around us. But our college experience doesn’t have to end at the Van Wickle Gates — we’re surrounded by opportunities to enrich our day-to-day lives and contribute to the larger community that’s hosted us for centuries. Our hill-top bubble is comfortable, but, in order to make Providence our home, it’s up to us to venture beyond it.
CJ Lair ’28 can be reached at craig_lair @brown.edu. Please send responses to this column to letters@browndailyherald.com and other opinions to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
CJ Lair is a staff columnist at the Brown Daily Herald. He is from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and plans to study Political Science at Brown. This is his first year writing for a publication, and is especially interested in political developments and their impacts on the Brown community.
