Twentysomething in Buffalo

Let's Go B-U-F-F-A-L-O!!!

Granted I have quite the bias toward Buffalo and its sports teams, but really, does any other city or team sound as good to the tune of "Let's Go Buf-fa-lo"?

It wasn't until a few years ago I discovered that places other than Buffalo, NY use that chant. But why? Don’t they realize that no other word fits quite like "Buffalo" does?

I suppose "Toronto" works… but the city is so close to Buffalo, they should just let us have it. And it’s in a different country. And "Idaho" works…but that’s an entire state and I don’t think many people cheer for the entire state of Idaho. And if they do, I don’t think they do as often as us die-hard fans cheer for any Buffalo sports team. OK… "Chicago." I know, it’s a very large city with a lot of sports teams and by default maybe they should be able to own the chant. But, I beg to differ. "Buffalo" is so much easier to say than "Chicago"! Say each 10 times fast. I bet your mouth is sore after saying "Chicago." Isn’t it? Well, even if it’s not, I think "Let’s Go Buffalo" is a chant best suited for the fans and teams of Buffalo, NY.

On that note, "LET’S GO BUFFALO!!!"

Hot girls and cheap beer

A friend of mine from out of town recently visited Buffalo for the first time, and I was very surprised when he looked me square in the eyes and proclaimed, "I love Buffalo."

Now, it’s not that I ever thought he wouldn’t like the city I call home, but coming from a much larger East Coast metropolis, I just figured he’d have a great time here, rave about the chicken wings and call it a weekend.

After spending a night in Allentown and Chippewa, getting a lovely driving tour of Buffalo, a trip to Niagara Falls and hearing the many stories that us Buffalonians have to tell, he fell in love. He said he couldn’t believe the "amazing architecture," not to mention the multitudes of "hot girls and cheap beer." He’s already spread the Buffalo buzz to his buddies and is planning a second visit.

It seems that Buffalo is a haven for twentysomething males. However for me the question is, does he like me as much as he likes Buffalo…??? =)

In Limbo

"You can write about how you graduated from a great school in Boston and moved back to Buffalo and how your family expected great things from you, but now you’re just a nanny!"

That’s what an older family member of mine kindly told me when I mentioned I’d be blogging for The Buffalo News. I mean, I suppose that pretty much sums me up at the moment, but I prefer to tell people I’m in "limbo."

A lot of young people are in limbo right now, and I think Buffalo is a fine place to spend this in-between period. Like a lot of my friends, I recently graduated from my undergraduate institution and although right now I’m not doing anything typically phenomenal, I do plan on it.

Like most students, I changed my mind a bunch of times as to what exactly I wanted to do with my life. Then, after four years away at school, I wanted to come back home to be with my family and friends. And yes, right now I am a nanny. But I’ve needed the past year to tweak my plans. Through it I’ve realized that I want to get my master’s degree in Education, and that’s what I plan on starting come fall.

I just don’t want any fellow "limbo" members to get down on themselves or to let anyone make you feel invalid because at the moment you’re not a doctor, lawyer or married with kids. I’m not saying it’s OK to party 24/7, but it is OK to take time after graduation to figure things out. And if you’re doing it in Buffalo, more power to you. We have a lower cost of living than most cities, fine educational institutions and great resources.

Now, I just wish more companies would see Buffalo’s potential…