It’s flat, but not as flat as I was expecting.
There are lots and lots of pickup trucks. The ratio of pickup trucks to other vehicles is probably higher here than it is in Utah.
There’s definitely a lot of aggressive drivers, but they all tend to be aggressive in the same ways, so it’s not that bad. Very different from Utah Valley, which has some of the worst driving I’ve ever seen (and I’ve been around!)
Why don’t the roads have suicide lanes or shoulders? Seriously, it would make the driving so much better!
Okay, enough about driving…
The weather can get really windy. On the highway, I’m almost always fighting a headwind or riding a tailwind (so much for no more driving).
Twilight lasts FOREVER. This is definitely big sky country.
The people seem friendly enough. A little self-depreciating, but not overly so. One of the things I hear from them is how “uncultured” or “stuck in the old ways” Iowa is, but I see little free libraries all over the place here.
People tend to have rounder faces or more Irish complexions. Most everyone is white, though there are a fair number of Asians and Hispanics.
I’ll probably get in trouble for saying this, but the young women in Iowa aren’t quite as attractive as the young women in Utah. That’s a very high bar to hurdle, though, and of course there are exceptions.
I’m genuinely surprised how much Mormon stuff there is out here. I thought it was mostly just in Utah. There’s Winter Quarters, Nebraska, which of course has a large historical site, but there’s also a bunch of smaller historical sites in Iowa proper, connected with the Mormon trail. Haven’t even made it out to the east either, which is right next to Nauvoo.
That’s pretty much it for first impressions. I’m looking for part-time work, but haven’t found anything yet, though I have landed a couple of interviews. Hopefully something works out. In the meantime, I’m working hard to build my writing career, especially the publishing side of the equation. I’m not that far off from writing full-time again; I just need to build things up into a sustainable business. More on that some other time.
Why did you move?
To save money, mostly. My landlady was selling her house, and I thought it might be a good idea to buy it, but to do that I need cash. My family offered to let me move in so I could save up some money to do just that. So I’ll be living with them in Iowa for a few months.
Best case scenario: the economy collapses so hard I can buy a house with 100 oz of silver.
Worst case scenario: the economy rebounds, housing prices go up, and I either go back overseas or sit on some cash for a while.
Well, lets hope for a brilliant financial future and good luck on your house hunting quest!