Congrats! You made it to the big—er, still relatively small—city! Of course, if you’re a college student, cities are the place to be. Back in July, Citylab reporter Eric Jaffe rightly observed, based on a three-decade study of urban migration and intelligence, “Smart young people often seek education and higher-paying jobs, both of which tend to be found in cities.”
Here, we have it especially good. One of Portland State’s defining features is the way the classrooms and programs fit, albeit sometimes ad-hoc, into the fabric of the small city blocks and blend in with the bustling high density of human activity. This great immersion into urban life is not without its own particular problems, and even some hidden bonuses. Some exploration into this city is needed, and highly recommended, to explain.
People experiencing homelessness. Yes, they annoy, sadden and induce discomfort—all valuable firsthand lessons in the failure of our economic and government systems to provide for the most vulnerable. They will not be going anywhere anytime soon, as they have been integral characters of cities worldwide for a long time. However, it’s entirely up to you to decide whether it is worth giving them, or one of the many benefitting charities and social organizations in town, your pocket money.
Temporary autonomous zones (to borrow some big words from a post-anarchist writer). I mean to reference small parcels tucked away on the waterfront, near freeways, in abandoned industrial areas and in general, wherever you find a bit of free space to play and hang out. These are the hidden spaces where the normal rules of public space–don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t go naked, etc.–fall to the wayside. Enjoy them while you can. The quickening pace of new urban development and the influx of money in the last few years will erase them from the dense city center.
The food carts. Sometimes cash only, cheap and everywhere, they offer just about every cuisine and culinary tradition you can imagine, from sushi to injera bread. Don’t be afraid to venture out of your comfort zone and order something different from time to time, but avoid the generic sounding ones (Asian Station, Sheish Kabob, A Taste of Greek), because you can surely do better a block or two away. When the weather sucks, be sure to have a strategy for staying dry and warm. If anything, the owners will shower you with love for your courage.
Bicycles. Downtown, contrary to many beliefs, is actually one of the safest areas of Portland to bike in. Dedicated lanes are everywhere, and the lights are timed so that you can keep pace with auto traffic. Pet peeve: biking on the sidewalk. Don’t do it. Watch out for car doors opening by surprise on Broadway (it hurts) and bike thieves, who abound in high numbers in downtown. They will snatch anything easily detachable like lights, so take them with you. Spend some extra dough and get a Kryptonite or comparably solid bike lock. Better to have it than to regret later.
