Country Roads To City Traffic
I grew up in Geneva, Ohio. It is home to just under 6,000 people. I lived here for 18 years before moving to Fullerton in 2018. As you could assume, there’s a big difference between smalltown, rural Ohio and suburban Southern California. A lot of people have no clue what it even means to live in a rural area. This is what it’s like. Story and Photos by Shelby Stancliff Design by Michael Quintero
Slang
Culture
Here are some things that I apparently said wrong and had to change to fit in here in Fullerton.
Well for one, as you could assume, Ohio is primarily white so there’s not much diversity. “Geneva culture” consists of wineries and vineyards (which there are so many), an annual grape festival, covered bridges (which are just bridges with roofs that are apparently interesting to tourists), and something we call Geneva on the Lake, which is just a little strip of restaurants, bars, and arcades along Lake Erie. Just think Downtown Fullerton but it smells like fair food and there are way more drunk bikers.
Freeways.... I say 57 = the 57. I said bookbag = got laughed at now I say backpack. Ohio says pop = I was smart enough to start saying soda before I moved here. Lightning bug = firefly but apparently those aren’t common in CA anyway. 8 | Basement
Nature Yes, Ohio has beaches. I grew up right along Lake Erie and yes we swim in it and yes there’s sand like any other beach. Ohio also has so many trees and just natural greenery. California thinks planting palm trees makes everything more appealing but you’re not fooling anyone California, we know palm trees aren’t indegenous here. Also I’ve never seen a frog or deer in California?
