Where We’ve Been

I grew up in Singapore (a city of over five million) and moved to St. Louis from New York City (a city of over eight million). I miss many things about living in cities: the efficient public transportation, the cultural vibrancy, the thrill of brushing shoulders with so many different people from all walks of life. Here in St. Louis, I live on the edge of Forest Park. On Zoom class days, I see more trees than people. It is a quieter existence (in part because of the nature of medical school … so much time spent in study land), but no less joyful and surprising. The city of St. Louis has its own unique history (so worth understanding!), a vibrant theatre and arts scene (especially in the summer), gorgeous green spaces, and culinary diversity. Though the city itself is not very walkable, it’s nice that many of my classmates live within walking distance. At the end of the day, I’m glad to be living in a city that is big enough for unfolding friendships and wide enough for hot air balloons to fill the sky.

I was born and raised on a family farm in rural Iowa and attended a small college not too far from where I grew up. After spending a gap year in Philadelphia before moving to St. Louis, I can say that it is extremely easy to escape from “city life” here and get to a place with a lot more space, and this is even more true if you have a vehicle. St. Louis is certainly still a city, but I feel as if I have more space to myself here than I did during my gap year in Philadelphia. Forest Park is just a short walk away from where I’m living in the Central West End, and it’s a great place to take a quick stroll to decompress. I still have not been able to explore everything it has to offer. Additionally, there are a lot of great nature trails right outside of the city that you can drive to on the weekend that are worth the adventure.

Like many people who grew up in St. Louis, I was raised with a strong sense of city pride. I’ve always been an ardent Cardinals fan and a staunch defender of Provel cheese. I can rattle off a long list of influential people who spent at least some of their formative years in St. Louis. Still, I did not fully appreciate what the city had to offer in terms of lifestyle until I moved back a few months ago. After relocating to Chicago for undergrad and staying during my gap years, I worried about readjusting to life in a smaller city. While I was excited about being closer to my family, I had never fully experienced St. Louis as an adult. Since moving back, however, I have a newfound appreciation for St. Louis’s abundance of free and affordable things to do. I love being able to make plans on a whim without worrying too much about logistics like cost or parking. On any given Saturday, I might go for a bike ride through Forest Park, enjoy a picnic on Art Hill, go out with friends in The Grove, or enjoy some live music on Cherokee Street. It’s been a lot of fun showing my classmates around the city. In the process, I’ve also been rediscovering just what makes St. Louis so great.

I’ve spent my whole life on the East Coast. In true coastal fashion, I was hesitant about moving to the landlocked Midwest. I didn’t have time to visit before committing to WashU Med, and I moved here with little understanding of what St. Louis entailed, other than the Arch. Yet, as I first moved into the Central West End (CWE), where the WashU Med Campus is and where most students live, I remember feeling pleasantly surprised — like I could call this home, easily. The CWE is so incredibly walkable, diverse, and consistently bustling. It reminds me of all the things I loved about the East Coast. Now, as I’m exploring the rest of St. Louis outside of the CWE, I’ve again been pleasantly surprised by how I never run out of things to do — from the countless free museums, to the food scene (as my fellow East Coast classmates and I have brought Beli to St. Louis), to the countless culture festivals that pop up every weekend. The one part of St. Louis that felt most unlike the East Coast was the cost — I appreciate that I can actually go out here without feeling guilty, especially as a student. Finally, if I ever miss home, the St. Louis Lambert International Airport is a Southwest hub and thus has a lot of cheap, cancellable flights!

I spent my childhood on both sides of Missouri, growing up in St. Louis through elementary school and later moving to Kansas City where my family still lives. I then went to college in Philadelphia, and although university provided me many deeply formative experiences in a different part of the country, I’m incredibly excited to be back in Missouri for medical school. One of the greatest advantages of living in the Midwest again is how much easier it is for me to visit my family and vice versa due to the decreased travel time and cost, and I’m so grateful to have such increased accessibility to my support network. St. Louis has all the friendliness of the Midwest combined with a wealth of activities and a rich culture to tap into. Whatever you’re looking for, whether nightlife, sports, concerts, historical sites, or restaurants, you can find all of this and more! I also appreciate that all four seasons are divided equally throughout the year to help mark the passage of time, which I sorely missed in Philadelphia. St. Louis boasts beautiful fall colors, snow in the winter, rainstorms and dogwood blossoms in the spring, and good old Missouri humidity in the summer. I could not be happier to be spending the next four years in what feels like a home away from home!

I’m from a suburb of Denver, Colo., and I went to WashU for undergrad and now medical school. In my time in St. Louis, I’ve discovered two truths: first, Missouri is not going to have the same astonishing natural splendor as the Rockies, and second, Missouri is still lovely. It has its own flora, fauna, and lush beauty that are fun to explore. The state is hilly and woodsy. There are things I can see in Missouri that I can’t get in the Rockies (like lots of water!), and there are still areas of forests and green space that make me feel a little more at home. Some of my favorite ways to get outside in Missouri include biking, walking, and running in Forest Park, hiking in Missouri’s many state parks, and finding lakes to swim and boat in when it’s warm. WashU Med also has dedicated groups to help you get outside including a cycling group, hiking group, and rock climbing group. One note about going outside in Missouri: Don’t forget your bug spray!

Whenever I tell people I’m from Hawai’i, they’re absolutely astonished that I left my home to come to the Midwest. And while I do miss the beaches and year-round warmth, what I miss the most is the people. Maui is a small island community — one where everyone looks out for one another and treats each other with kindness and care. And in my short time in St. Louis, I’ve experienced that same kindness and Midwestern charm in many of the people I’ve met thus far. I’m a SUCKER for community and most of my interactions with local St. Louisans, whether it be the front desk people in my apartment or baristas in local coffee shops, have been nothing short of lovely.

Aside from the people, I love experiencing the seasons. Fall is such a foreign concept to me and seeing the leaves turn shades of red and orange all around Forest Park was so beautiful — even my parents frolicked through the fallen leaves when they visited for White Coat weekend. Another foreign concept to me is the cold. Word of advice if you’re also coming from Hawai’i (or anywhere that doesn’t get lower than 55 degrees): learn to layer, get a coat, get some good footwear, maybe invest in some Uniqlo Heattech. Especially since our classrooms are already an arctic tundra.

One thing I do NOT miss about home (and California, where I spent my college and gap years), is the high cost of living. A gallon of gas for less than $3 is unheard of there and my rent here is very affordable given the size of my apartment. This was a big pull for me and knowing I can remain financially stable has alleviated so much mental burden.

Overall, I’m thoroughly enjoying my time in St. Louis, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll learn to find home and foster community regardless of where you are.

I grew up on my family’s flower farm outside of Bowling Green, Kentucky, and attended the University of Mississippi for undergrad (Hotty Toddy!). I’m a life-long southerner, so I was nervous to make the move to the Midwest, but I’ve found that most everything I love about the South I’ve also been able to find here in St. Louis. In the Midwest, the accents are a little different, but the kindness and hospitality that I’ve grown up with are definitely present in St. Louis. There are also several other students that hail from or attended school in the Southeast, so there are plenty of people who share my cultural experiences, interest in SEC football, and can commiserate about the cold weather (I’d recommend buying a hat and gloves). Although I miss my regional southern chains (Zaxbys, Kroger) and southern fare, I’ve loved discovering some of the great restaurants and activities St. Louis has to offer.

The biggest change I experienced in St. Louis was the weather. The winters here are not nearly as bad as Iowa, Minnesota, or any of the Great Lakes states. If you use Chicago as a reference, St. Louis is on average 10-15 degrees warmer. Still, be prepared for days in the 40s and 30s, as it doesn’t feel easy to walk or to bike places in the cold air during this time of year. I invested in a real winter coat, which I shopped for in St. Louis rather than California since they don’t tend to sell those back home. I also try to drive slow if it’s below 38 degrees since St. Louis is notorious for black ice on the roads which is very difficult to see. While smaller in scale, I found that almost all of the fun things I could do in California are in St. Louis except for the beach and the mountains. The difference is that most things to do are indoor in the winter. While being in St. Louis can seem isolating at first compared to the West Coast, I’m confident that the friends and experiences you’ll have here will make this city feel like home in no time!