Wua sie ekj? Where am I?

     Where am I?! This is a question that one generally asks when they are lost when trying to get to a place they have never been to before. Yet in the context that we have been asked to contemplate, it has a different meaning. I think it is where we are right now in the world. The question “Where am I?” seems fairly straight forward so I will attempt to answer by first looking at my state, then school and community and finally my home.

  The Corn husker state or more commonly known as Nebraska is the state I live in. I am very proud to live in this great state. My love of agriculture fits perfectly with the state because one of every three jobs is related to agriculture. Nebraska has such a varied landscape from the fertile farm grounds of the east to the sand hills and almost mountainous regions of the west.  Unfortunately when people started to fulfill manifest destiny, Nebraska became known as the Great American Desert. There are quite a few ignorant people along the east and west coasts of the United States still think Nebraska is stuck in the pioneer days. They will often ask questions like “Do you guys have Internet? Cell phones? Electricity?! Running water?!” They just seem so shocked to hear that people in Nebraska are just as modern as they are. 

Now Nebraska is also known for a couple of other things, tornadoes and Husker football. Nebraska lies in tornado alley which allows us to receive warm air from the gulf and cold air from Canada which is what creates tornadoes. When I was little I remember being terrified of them and now that I am older they fascinate me. Husker football is the one thing that can unite everyone in the state for one day a week during the fall. Everybody remembers the glory of the 90’s and hopes that we can regain that glory. There is just a pure passion for the huskers that runs in every Nebraskan’s blood. 

Chimney Rock is one of the great symbols of our state

The Tunnel Walk is a great tradition of Nebraska football

More specifically I am located within the school and community of Aurora, which I believe to be one of the greatest small towns in the nation. Aurora has so many good things going for it, a great school system, plenty of jobs, excellent recreational facilities, and most importantly, citizens who care about the town. Aurora high school has top notch teachers and administrators who care about their students and those students care about learning. Our athletics and extra-curricular are also amazing. The football team is annually one of the best teams in the state and is known for its physicality, fundamentally sound technique, and class. The band is also one of the best in the state and is known for its pride, class, and dedication to always being the best you possibly can be. The one thing about my school that I do not like is the cafeteria. I am sorry but it is just not good food. 

Aurora High School home of the Huskies

The Marching Huskies perform at Harvest of Harmony

The Hamilton County courthouse  looks a lot like a castle

The Fidelity Building which once stood proudly on the northeast corner of the square

But when I say am from Aurora that just means I have an Aurora address. My family is listed in the Stockham phone book. In all actuality I live on a small farm about twenty minutes south of town, near the clay county border. I live in a real middle of nowhere nestled along the west fork of the big blue river. and I absolutely love it. In the country it is peaceful and relaxing when compared to my daily life. Except when the animals decide to be loud and make noise that is. Sometimes it's the pigs, sometimes the goats, or chickens, but it is almost always the miniature Mediterranean donkeys. Those things are so loud! I guarantee that they can be heard at least a mile away! Good thing our nearest neighbor are two miles away! In all honesty, I really that "old McDonald" song was really made for me, they just took out my name because it wasn't catchy.

My home

A new born litter of piglets snuggling under a heat lamp

Well I am a Nebraskan, An Auroran, and just a plain old country kid who lives on a farm. Each one of these places make up not just where I am from, but also have helped make me who I am. They are so special to me. I am proud to be from here and i wouldn't rather live anywhere else than where I am right now.