It's a new concept to get used to, the idea that I'm not as separated from nature as I once was back in Vegas. Visiting the riverwalk was an exciting and enlightening new experience for me as I was able to see firsthand the integration between the city of Reno and its natural surroundings. Honestly, I still have this child-like amazement by the fact that there's this much water flowing through and it's only a few minutes' walk away. And yet, I noticed that numerous people- even people within my own group- were all too eager to simply walk by and move on with their lives. How do people just pass through without giving in to the urge to just sit down for a bit, wet your feet, and contemplate your place in the world? The people who just continue on with their lives, without even pausing to appreciate the beauty of nature that they're privileged to possess in their own backyard, are part of the reason why the city of Reno has a reputation as a, "Mini-Vegas," or alternatively, a small town in the middle of nowhere where the only thing that new undergraduate students can do for recreation is party, party, and party. This was the image I was receiving from my friends when I first told them that I was choosing to study up here and thus, I fully expected that I was going to have to entertain myself indoors, safe from all the seedy and close-minded people. And yet, everyday I'm finding out that this is not the case- not in the slightest. Reno has so much more to offer, especially in terms of nature and the outdoors- which city officials should be advertising more if they wish to rid their city of their grossly inaccurate reputation. In this sense, the riverwalk is worth the finances spent in its construction, for it allows visitors to see for themselves a taste of what Reno can offer. The facets of nature present in the city is what every citizen, especially the students of UNR, should be pushing when talking about Reno. For myself, I know that my role in this city is to improve its image and to contribute to its economy, both as a resident and a student of the university. Civic service is an important part of being involved with my new community as well- as such, I will gladly be participating in the Truckee River Cleanup this Saturday with a large amount of members from Circle K (the collegiate version of Kiwanis International, not the gas station) picking up trash and beaver-proofing trees.
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