I live in a small town that is surrounded by farms. This weekend I am in Toronto…a big city for anyone who lives under a rock and never heard of Toronto. I’ve noticed some differences and similarities between small towns and big cities and thought I would share them with you.
In a small town, you smell cow manure. In a big city, you smell people urine (seriously…at every alley…ick).
In a small town you smell what all of your neighbours are barbecuing. In a big city, you smell dozens of varieties of foods from the restaurants.
In a small town everyone says hello when you pass. In a big city, everyone avoids eye contact when you pass.
In a small town, you need to be aware of what you do because everyone is watching and will gossip about you. In a big city, it doesn’t matter what you do because no one is watching!
In a small town, everyone walks, just to go for a walk, not because they need to get anywhere. In a big city, everyone walks, with a destination in mind, because it’s easier than driving!
In a small town people drive slow and let each other in when there are 2-3 car traffic jams. In a big city, everyone is driving like crazy and no one wants to allow a car to get in.
Allow me to take a little dusty side road from my original post to tell you about the crazy cab driver I had this morning…
When I came out of the train stations, he jumped out of his car to get my suitcase, which I thought was very nice, and then he proceeded to TOSS it into the cab (my laptop was in it!). He jumped in the car and started down the road, where after a few minutes he laid on the horn and then pulled up next to another cab, rolled down the window and started screaming and swearing at him! I am pretty sure he took advantage of the fact that I didn’t know where I was going and took a very long route to the hotel, all the while honking and yelling at people, and when we arrived at the hotel he did not help me with my suitcaseand he did not give me change (I didn’t think he deserved a tip but apparently he did). I think I will take the subway when it’s time to go home.
In a small town, you can order pizza or get a burger when you want to eat out. In the city, the options are endless.
In a small town you eat supper between 5 and 6pm. In a big city, they eat between 7 and 9pm.
 In a small town like mine, there is no public transportation. Well, we do have one cab, but that’s it. In a city, you can catch a cab (I don’t recommend it), the subway, the Go Train, a street car…and I don’t even know what else!
In my town, there is nowhere to shop. Well, next to nowhere anyway. We have about two shops that carry clothing and they’re not really geared to me…and no places to buy children’s clothing. In the city, it doesn’t matter which way you walk, you will find someplace to shop!
In a small town, when you hear a fire siren you know it either 12pm on Saturday (at least in my town, lol) or there is something going on and everyone comes out to check it out. In the city, the sirens never stop.
In my town, when I feel rumbling under my feet it is the cement plant blasting. In the city, it is the street car going by.
In a small town, when a plane goes over head the kids all look and point (and maybe I do too). In a city, no one seems to notice (except maybe me).
Both cities and towns have their quirks and their benefits, but I’m definitely a small town girl. Where do you fall in the mix?
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