I am a freshman enrolled in the William and Mary Diederich College of Communication here at Marquette University. As a freshman everyone has about the same conversation with many different people for the first few weeks. One common question that always surfaces is the infamous "Where are you from?" Most would respond, "A suburb outside Chicago."

However, I am from Connecticut. I would have to explain where Connecticut was in the United States. It is east of New York state, on the East Coast. My hometown, Fairfield, is about an hour outside New York City, and is not a suburb of anything.

The Midwestern attitude significantly contrasts the Eastern attitude toward life. I'm not trying to say that everyone from the East is an angry New Yorker, but life is different. In the Midwest there is no unspoken line that separates one person from another.

Back east strangers will not smile at one another while passing on the sidewalk. Midwest citizens are much more trustworthy and generous. While back east people will keep to themselves and their close friends. It's complicated to explain, because many people that I have met have not traveled outside the Midwest.

Those people who have not traveled outside the Midwest aren't experiencing the world with open eyes. Some have developed a bias of which they are not even aware. Truthfully, Chicago is not the heart of the United States, Kansas is. There are so many other amazing cities that have parallel importance and stamina to Chicago. I'm sure that a great deal of native Midwesterners might disagree with me, but it is the truth. The world is so much larger than Middle America.

I have been living in the Midwest for several weeks now, and I've realized that I will always possess some of that Eastern attitude. Being from Connecticut, I will always owe my loyalty to the New York Yankees, I will always call a carbonated beverage "soda," not "pop," and I will always speak with a Connecticut accent. No matter how long I find myself in the Midwest I will never forget who I am. I am from the East Coast.

Andres in a freshman in the College of Communication.