In Vermont, Nice Guys Finish First

Our refrigerator is full of leftovers. Football has been playing for the past 30 hours. And I think I am just now not feeling completely full to the brim with food (though that will change in a few hours when we go out for dinner). It must be Thanksgiving! And, as such, it is time to acknowledge all of the many things we are thankful for. Clint and I both have jobs, we have wonderful and supportive friends and family (and an adorable dog), and we love our new beautiful home state. I could list the multitude of things that we are thankful for in Vermont, but it seems as though what we seem to be almost endlessly admiring here in Burlington are the people. Contrary to the cold New England stiffness I was expecting, we have encountered, almost exclusively, just the nicest people. Here is a list of some of the many reasons we think Vermonters are pretty neat:

1. They are so darn FRIENDLY. The Midwest is known for its friendliness, but really, that reputation should be going to the people here in Vermont (sorry, Iowa). Clint and I have both worked as cashiers while living here, Clint at Guild and myself at the UVM bookstore. And we have both been blown away with just how nice and polite people are. At the bookstore, it was very common for me to be greeted with "How are you today?" before I even had a chance to say hello. And almost without fail, everyone always left with a smile and a "Have a great day!" I almost want to say, "That's my job to greet YOU" but most of the time just shook my head in disbelief. I consider myself a pretty friendly person, but I had to wonder, Did I ever ask cashiers how they were before they asked me first? How are these people so nice?

2. And speaking of nice, one setting that this personality trait seems to be the most noticeable is with Vermont drivers. Both endearing and aggravating, Vermonters are the most considerate drivers we've ever encountered. While walking Norm, we have often reached an intersection at the same time as a car that has no one behind them. Most of the time, they wave for us to cross first. And again, I shake my head. "It takes me so much longer to cross than you! Please just go!" I want to yell at them. But I instead I offer them my thankful wave, and pray that I don't trip or Norm doesn't decide to stop and roll around on the ground. While that can be endearing, driving behind such polite drivers can often be very frustrating. At four way stops, there is often a long battle of hands waving, insisting that the other driver go first. Clint has created a wonderful voice for such occasions, imagining that in the car, the driver is saying "No, really, after you! Please, you have every right to go" in a sweet, dopey voice. Drivers will actually stop in the middle of roads where there are no lights or stop signs to wave drivers in from side streets or parking lots. At lights when someone is trying to turn left, drivers will stop and wave them through, despite the line of cars behind them. Isn't driving supposed to bring out the most aggressive version of most people? Here in Vermont, it seems to be where people are trying to fulfill all of their good deeds for that day.

3. Burlington has, without a doubt, the best customer service I've ever seen. I noticed this when I first visited in March with my aunt Jeanette, and was actually one of the reasons that solidified my decision to move here. At every restaurant, bar, coffee shop or store we've ever been to, we have been helped by just the NICEST people. Servers could be very annoyed by the endless questions from tourists or newbies like us about what they should order on the menu. Instead, they seem to really consider each question with true concern over making sure we order or buy the very best thing. Most servers or retail workers we've met genuinely seem to love their job, and want to make sure that every customer that comes in has the most positive experience. And truly, without exception, we have only had the nicest encounters with anyone that's been in a position to help us out.

4. Burlingtonians are so GREEN! Back in Iowa, I often felt frustrated at the ignorance of those around us who would fill endless plastic bags with their groceries (and then throw them away) or at our neighbors who would almost never put out their recycling bin, but each week their garbage bin would be overflowing. Moving here has been incredibly humbling. The idea of sustainability is as deeply ingrained in the culture here as their passion for skiing or Ben and Jerry's. Lining the city streets next to each garbage bin is a recycling bin. Most schools not only enforce recycling with their students, but also composting, a practice I knew nothing about until I went to college. At the grocery store nearest our apartment, it is very rare to see someone use something besides their reusable bag to carry their groceries. And when they don't, they use a paper bag that will most likely be recycled or reused once they get home. Honestly, I'm not even sure they offer plastic bags as an option. Reusing, reducing and recycling is just a common sense practice here, while in other places in the country some cities struggle with offering recycling services. And while, of course, there have been some exceptions (there have been several times where our neighbors or passersby have placed food or wrappers in our recycling bins), it seems like we are surrounded by individuals who recognize environmentalism not as some tedious task, but rather as a way of life.

5. Even young college kids are nice! We found out after we moved into our apartment that our street is FULL of students. We dreaded the rude neighbors we were sure to have in our building who would keep us up with their loud parties and have no interest in getting to know a couple of thirty year olds who might as well be friends of their parents. And though there have been several days that we've been woken up by drunk kids stumbling home from the bar or setting off fireworks down the street, for the most part, it really isn't as bad as we expected. This is due mostly to the fact that our neighbors are, again, so darn FRIENDLY! They always say hi, hold open the door, and treat Norm like he is a celebrity. I just want to say, Aren't you too cool for us? We are ten years older than you!, but again, I just smile and keep that friendliness in mind those rare times we are woken up by them. (They are college kids, after all).

6. WICKED. I have decided to save the best for last. The people of Vermont could be rude, wasteful, aggressively-driving jerks, but I would adore them anyway because of their almost caricature-like use of the word "wicked". Just like you think the Minnesotan accent is exaggerated until you actually visit, so I also thought the word "wicked" was portrayed in shows and movies that take place in New England. But it is no exaggeration, I assure you. Phrases have ranged from, "I was wicked drunk" to "That school is wicked expensive" to, my favorite, "That ice is wicked slick" (the latter was said by a teacher to her students) and I will smile and feel my heart flutter with dialectal phrase love. I've yet to throw out a wicked myself, because instinctually I know that I will sound like a fraud, but just like I started saying "Uff-da" after four years in Decorah, I have a feeling a genuine "wicked" just might slip out before our time here is done.

Vermont's people, no matter how nice, could never replace the people that we love back in Iowa. But at least while we are here, we are feeling pretty thankful that the people around us are pretty 'wicked' awesome.