Have you ever experienced culture shock in the same state you have lived your entire life? I have, and it is crazy how different a place you have known and visited your whole life is when you move there. I have learned so many things that I didn’t even know that I needed to know, and these things have taught me how to navigate a big city. The town I grew up in is very small, so Austin is a huge change for me, and I have never experienced anything like it. The first piece of advice I remember learning was to know where you are. Austin is big, and there are a lot of different places where you can get lost, so always know where you are or have a way to find it out. Next, know where the good restaurants are. Everyone loves to eat, so if you find a hot spot, your friends will appreciate it. Next, there are many one-way streets, so don’t go the wrong way on those, and watch for people; you want to drive around Austin safely. That seems like obvious advice, but I would not give it if I hadn’t made that mistake a time or two.
How to to learn these things:
- Take the advice people give you.
- Don’t overwhelm yourself!
- Do your best to put yourself out there while still being safe.
Lastly, go out whenever you can; there is so much to explore, and Austin truly has so many things to see.
Lillian Hale
Office of State Senator Kelly Hancock
Austin, Texas | Spring 2023