Three Places To Call Home

You know Arizona is your home when you find 70-degree days chilly, you count rain as a blessing, or if you own more swimsuits than long sleeve shirts. Arizona is definitely my home. While I consider Tempe my hometown, I am also deeply connected to other areas of Arizona. The valley is my first home, the forests of Northern Arizona are my playgrounds, and the University in Tucson is my home away from home.

Just because I was born and raised in Tempe, does not make it my hometown, I consider Tempe home for many different reasons. One of the major aspects that have made this town so familiar and welcoming is my school experience. Through my twelve years of schooling in Tempe, I learned firsthand what makes this city so special. Tempe has many traditions that create a sense of community and caring. In elementary school, my favorite tradition was the Turkey Trot. Around Thanksgiving time, each class would collect canned food to donate to local food banks, then on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving the entire school would participate in the Trot and run/walk around the neighborhood, and eventually celebrate with a Thanksgiving feast. This tradition continues on today, and is a great way to give back to the community, as well as connect with other citizens. Traditions like this bring a large population together, thus renovating a large city building into a home. Tempe has wonderful public schools that are clearly very important to the city; they have provided me with so much knowledge, as well a friendly community.

I also feel strongly connected to the city of Tempe because I was chosen as a student delegate in 2002 to represent our city. I participated in an exchange with our sister city, Regensburg. Through this process, I learned the history of Tempe, interacted with members of our city government, and showed a foreign exchange student all around Arizona. This is a wonderful way for students to learn about their home, as well as share the positive aspects with others. I am so grateful to Tempe for providing me with this opportunity because I learned so much and gained great pride in where I am from.

The landscape may be different, but Williams, Arizona is also like a home to me. My family shared a cabin in this quaint town outside of Flagstaff and gave us the chance to escape from the norm. With the forest as our entertainment, my siblings and other children in the neighborhood would create our own make-believe worlds. The beautiful landscape offered us so much fun and sparked our imaginations. We were able to experience snow and take ski lessons, without being burdened by harsh winters. It was ideal. When we were not being getting dirty outdoors, we would take a drive into town, which in a way was like taking a trip back in time. On Friday nights, we could attend a reenactment of an old western gunfight, or shop in the little stores that sell Arizona souvenirs and learn all about the history of this land. This town is the epitome of keeping old time traditions alive and has taught me so much about my home state. I benefited a great deal from Williams, Arizona being my home.

If I consider Williams, Arizona a childhood home, than Tucson Arizona is definitely another home to me. I am a senior at the University of Arizona and love attending Arizona’s first university. My favorite part about going to college here is the large sense of community and living in a college town. Everywhere I go there is Wildcat pride. Tucson has made me feel welcome as a college student by supporting my school in local stores, restaurants, and other businesses. I can tell that other people love Tucson Arizona as well when I go to the football and basketball games. The entire community is dressed up and supporting their local team. I am studying to be an elementary teacher and have worked in the Tucson Unified School District as a volunteer. Through this experience, I have realized that the Tucson community is there for one another. Local churches donate clothes and food to the schools for families in need and many people volunteer their time as well.

Arizona is a great state and I am proud to call it my home. I am blessed to have three different places feel like home, which I believe all of Arizona is like. Populated by amazing people who come together to celebrate the past, present and future of Arizona.

My Escape

How do you make anyone understand what makes Arizona so special among states? Maybe one can begin by extolling the benefits of dry, arid heat that attracts so many for health reasons. We can praise the spectacular views, standing at a precipice of the Grand Canyon, sensing the immensity of creation. Hiking along the trails of the red rocks in Sedona, one can feel a transcendental spirituality, calmness, and at once be one with nature. The native peoples knew this about the land. Wise were the Apache Indians who called the magnificent White Mountains their own. The beauty that abounds here is mine for I am an Arizonan in my heart.

It is remarkable to me that I get to live in one of the best places I have ever known. I was born in San Bernardino, California, today considered one of the 18th deadliest cities, a dangerous place to live. When I was very young, however, my family moved from there to California's high desert. We lived in a location just south of Death Valley, a small town named Newberry Springs. Newberry has what I call three seasons: hot, cold, and windy. It is extremely isolated and desolate; not a day goes by I thank the Lord for my escape east to Kingman, Arizona.

I started my sophomore year of high school in Kingman not knowing a soul. It was a little scary at first, I must admit. Mother helped keep my spirits up by buying me a trick BMX bike and rode with me all around the streets of Kingman. We would travel Andy Devine Road down the steep grade of Beale Street into old downtown Kingman, Mohave County's seat, like tourists we would gape at the old courthouse, the Santa Fe Steam Engine, and the wagon trails from pioneer days. Sometimes late at night, at midnight, with the full moon shining incandescent light, she would wake me from a sound sleep. Excited about the wonderful magic that was outside slipping away, she would wake me to join her in a bike ride--just the two of us. Anyone would have thought she lost her mind, but I arose from my bed, shrugging off the sleep to enter the cool desert night.

Now when I think of it, I think something inside of me will always anticipate the thrill of a quiet desert night. Let me tell you how glorious the stillness and the quiet are of an Arizona desert night. How exquisite it all seems as the full moon casts light and shadow over the awesome mountains, projecting their silhouette against the skyline, their distinct outline as majestic as they stand guard over the town. How the moon plays among the ghostly clouds, sometimes hiding, and then peeking out from beneath, how the starry diamonds twinkle in the inky darkness while the streets of the neighborhood take on mysterious shades of whites and grays.

Pedaling along the avenues in these weary morning hours, the cool crisp air whistles past our cheeks. We are conscious that others sleep while we frolic. Traveling along, we listen to the winding rubber wheels crunch along the asphalt. We hear the rooster’s crow; tricked by the moonlight they think it is morning. Dogs’ blocks away are barking and crickets in the grass are chirping, filling the nightly emptiness with sound. Cycling along, feeling the wonder of strength in our muscles, blasts of fragrant aromas--honeysuckle and jasmine--suddenly assault our senses. Off in the distance, the sound of a long, whistle blow from a freight train rumbling through town is on its way to Winslow. This magic is my Arizona.

As time went by, I began to make friends at school. They told me about a park called Fireman’s Park that was made of smooth poured concrete with jumps for skateboards and bicycles. I began to ride over there and learned how to do tricks on my bike. Riding into kidney shapes of unfilled swimming pools, I would exit the other side doing 360-degree spins. It was exhilarating! I was able to show off a little, attracting friends at the park who invited me to play baseball. Kingman has ten ball fields--they really like their ball. At last, I got a taste of competitive sports in an uncontrolled environment, just us teens, and it was fun!

I took a job at Safeway the summer of 2003, and was learning from my managers and coworkers about the many changes occurring around town. It started first on Northern Avenue with the reinforcement and widening of the wash. It spread quickly to Stockton Hill. Business was moving in at lightening speed. I remember thinking that they were ruining this beautiful mountain town. That all this open land, surrounded by these mountain ranges, was a sleeping giant, awakening to the pace of the 21st century. It distressed many who witnessed the growth. Construction was ubiquitous, disrupting the flow of daily living. Broad boulevards narrowed into traffic lanes governed by concrete islands, new signals popped up in unseeming places, intersections became right turn only lanes. Traffic congestion was so chaotic that locals would avoid driving into town.

As fast as it had happened, however, I discovered that it impressed me. The efficiency with which the engineers and the construction crews worked at expediting their vision was impressive. Kingman is a town subject to flashfloods since it is a basin situated between three mountain ranges: The Walapais', The Cerbats' and The Peacocks'. When the monsoons hit, the streets flood within hours of the rainfall. Streets could be navigated by kayak or canoe. Thunderstorms in Arizona are a remarkable sight. The electrified air crackles as bolts and volts crisscross throughout the sky. It is truly a marvel to observe how the engineers and construction workers step in to tame that energy. This is something I admire deep in my core being; it is something I want to learn and be a part.

Observing the development of Kingman has influenced me greatly. It has motivated me to seek higher education at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. My desire to be involved in the process of building structures with aesthetic value propels me in that direction. At the university in Flagstaff, we boast of an Olympic size swimming pool that athletes from all over the world come to for high altitude training. We have professional ball teams such as the Phoenix Cardinals train on our campus. We have a World Class Observatory, and I have the San Franciscan Peaks for gliding down, weather permitting.

Flagstaff is one of the finest cities in the country. It has stretches of pine forests that for the most part are protected by its inhabitants. The whole town has a wonderful bohemian feel and is home to humans as well as mountain lions, elk, deer, bear, beaver, coyote and eagles. One could say I am a very lucky fellow. I am a full-time student, studying mechanical engineering at an Arizona University, making new friends, and working part-time at a Starbucks kiosk in Safeway. Could life be any better than this? I have to say I am quite content; however, money is a short commodity. I could stand a little assistance. Either way, I for one am proud to say, “I would stand on the corner in any town of beautiful Arizona. Arizona is my home.”

My Second Home

With international students who live faraway from their countries, choosing a place to live and study is absolutely an important decision. A place that is beloved and familiar like their home will inspire their studies. Like others, I’m an international student from Vietnam. I searched to look for many colleges in many states of the United States, such as Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, New York, Connecticut, and Kansas…but I ended up with Arizona. For a month living and studying at Arizona Western College of Yuma city in Arizona, life and people here have helped me reduce the distance that is almost a half of the earth. Now I’m confident to say that Arizona became my second family, Arizona is my home.

Arizona should have been called “The Heaven of Natural Beauty.” Besides famous cities such as Phoenix and Tucson where there are many buildings and busy lives, people also can find themselves at the great heritage–the Grand Canyon. I am so lucky that I got a chance to see by my own eyes, the Grand Canyon-such a beautiful natural place. Green plants and trees cover the entire mountain. The color-orange of the stone and rocks under trees makes the scene more splendid. Ditches that worm themselves into the rocks and stones at the bottom create a very specific and private beauty of the Grand Canyon. It is exactly unimaginable. It looks so fake, but it is real. For sure, the Grand Canyon has made Arizona immortal.

The Grand Canyon was my first impression about Arizona before I felt another private thing which is the weather. It is really hot here, but I love it so much. The hotness that hits my face everyday reminds me of the hot weather in Vietnam. It is so lovely and familiar. I don’t feel lonely anymore. It seems that I was in Vietnam-my country right now further more, Arizona also has a lot of green fields and animals. They gather to live here, because they know Arizona is a good place for them. They have been calling Arizona “home.”

Arizona is a flexible state with a developing economy. After Phoenix and Tucson, Yuma, where I’m living, is also accredited as one of the most developing cities of United States. Life here is improving faster and faster. Many companies, factories and shopping centers are in the project to be built in the near future. Yuma is a young city. After English, Spanish is also spoken so widely in Arizona. Many people from different countries have been coming to Arizona to study, work, and live. It is a small world in Arizona. You will find it very easy to communicate and makes friends with people here. If you need help, just come up and ask for it. They are willing to help you. For example, you are new here and you do not have a car when they do, they will be happy to take you to everywhere you want to. Don’t worry to bother them. They love to be “bothered” because Arizona residents are so nice and friendly.

If you have an idea finding a new place to build your future in many aspects, come and do it here. Arizona is my second home, so I’m sure it will be yours too. You will get a chance to find yourselves inside the beautiful place, a flexible and developing state where you’ll never forget. That is our home and you are a member. That is Arizona.

More Than One Reason

Although I was not born in Arizona, I still feel as though I am an Arizona native. I moved here from Florida at five months old. According to my parents, I cried almost the whole road trip here. However, as soon as we arrived into the Phoenix area I stopped crying as much. I concluded that the reason I stopped was that I knew this is where my home is and there is no need to cry. Arizona is my home for more then one reason.

I consider Arizona my home because I grew up here and many of my first experiences have occurred in this wonderful state. We moved from an apartment to a house. It was in that house that I took my very first baby steps starting the first steps of my life here. After my first steps in life came my first birthday, and following my birthday came my first spoken words. My golden birthday was celebrated at the local Peter Piper Pizza. I started school at Sunrise Pre-school, which began the socialization process. It did not take much time for me to meet friends, and to become a part of the ballet class there as well. Finally came kindergarten time, and I was able to move on to bigger and better things.

Along with the next major step in school came friends that I still know through high school, and have had experiences with. Along with these events, are my adolescent firsts: my first kiss, my first boyfriend, my first job, and my first love. My one and only sweet sixteen was celebrated here. Soon I will celebrate my eighteenth birthday, which will allow me to vote, allowing me to make a difference in our community. In May, I will graduate from one of the top high schools in town, with high academic achievements. After graduation, I will hopefully attend a university here in Arizona, considering this is where my whole life is.

After college, I plan to travel around visiting states, countries and landmarks. I also intend to travel outside the country as well. Yet, still being loyal to my home, I will live here, get married and start a family here knowing this is one of the better environments for children to grow. Phoenix contains schools with high academic expectations for elementary and high school students allowing many options to succeed in life after school.

People who have not been here imagine the Grand Canyon and pure desert with cacti. Living in almost the very center of the state, I have traveled to most of the “touristy” parts of our beautiful state. Different parts of Arizona have different environments. Near the colleges, a younger culture socializes. If you go downtown, it is more of a business environment, with men and women in their work uniforms and briefcases. Weather changes in different parts at different times. In Flagstaff, it is a bit colder with a pine forest landscape, unlike in Tucson where it is purely desert, and always warmer. Tucson contains attractions tourists are drawn to; Kartchner Caverns and Tombstone. Phoenix is similar to Scottsdale, which are larger cities, unlike Sedona, and Prescott. There are malls, theaters, stadiums, amphitheaters and many parks in the larger cities unlike the smaller ones, which are quainter. Yet for being smaller towns, they have their very own beauty. Sedona has the wonderful red rocks, and beautiful pines up in the mountains, which get snow in the winter. Prescott to me seems more of a camping area for those who love the outdoors. Near those areas and further up north are many “touristy” sites which include the following; the one and only Grand Canyon, Slide Rock, Snow Bowl, The Rim, Tonto National Forest, Four Peaks and The Four Corners. All of which bring in our tourists and encourage them to love this flawless state.

Arizona has little to no natural damage factors many of the other states have. Our monsoon season does not even compare to the hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, blizzards, floods, and tsunamis that occur around the world. Our weather is nearly perfect considering. We may get to a high of about 112 degrees, but it is a dry heat. With our temperature being so high, most houses and communities contain a pool, which is a source for all to cool off in, and enjoy the hot weather. In Arizona, most of our activities are inside to keep the Arizonans cool during the days. In the winter, it seems too cold to natives, since most have never lived in the northern states. Those from the north feel as though it was their spring, and that their winter coats with fur, and layers upon layers are useless here. For me, it is the perfect temperature. Nothing is as great as to lie by the pool in the summer and get a nice golden tan.

Living here in Arizona keeps us away from our family in other parts of the country. Yet, living here still keeps us close, considering my fathers job. He is a pilot and did not want to commute everyday on a cargo plane, so he moved his base to Arizona. Since we get travel benefits, we can fly anywhere at anytime for a low price in order to go visit outside family and friends. My dad’s parents live in North Dakota, my moms family lives in Puerto Rico, and my godparents live in Florida.

Arizona is my home. I was raised here, educated here, and I am comfortable here, and do not plan to leave anytime soon. Arizona is not the way some may picture us. We are not just a desert. Instead, we have our own types of forests, national parks, different weather conditions, and living conditions. This state is my one and only home, it is where my life blossomed, and will keep continuing to grow. Arizona is my home, and it is where my life is!

Grand Canyon State

Lois McMaster Bijold once stated, “My home is not a place, it is people.” A setting can only be defined by the people and experiences that take place in it. A hometown becomes one’s dwelling place—one’s place of refuge. One can only call somewhere home if the environment is inviting and a place of comfort for the individual, a feeling of complete ease and peace must be present. Arizona has done this exact thing for me. Moving here seven years ago was the best decision my family ever made because in an environment that appears as a desert to the common outsider, I found something much greater and much deeper: my home.

People, a set of experiences, memories, hopes, and dreams are what constitute a home or residing place. I found all this and more in my hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. When we initially made the move here, I was extremely nervous about having to adjust to a new type of lifestyle. I was forced to find a new beginning. I had to make new changes to my life to adjust to this entirely different setting, and it was stressful at first. With time, however, my perspective changed and I found a comfort and ease in Arizona that I have never known anywhere else. Arizona was the perfect place for me to start my new life. Moreover, I consider it the ideal setting to continue with the rest of my life. The people I met and continue to meet every day of my life are incredible; they are friendly, helpful, and most of all, enjoyable to be around. Without this type of foundation, Arizona wouldn’t be as special of a place to me.

The experiences any person has also influence the overall feel of the hometown. Upon our transition, here from Kansas City, Kansas, I had the stereotypical image of Arizona as many others continue to have. Miles and miles of desert. Endless dry heat. Cacti and wildlife everywhere. It’s not that Arizona isn’t any of these things, for it is a desert, we do experience dry heat during the summers, and there are plenty of cacti in particular areas. In addition, I can never forget the javelina, coyotes, and the visitor bobcat that have appeared in my backyard or near our home before. These images are meaningful to me no matter how stereotypical they may sound. The only difference now is that I’ve learned to love these things that are the essence of this desert land. This state is much more than that. My hometown means much more than that.

Arizona also happens to be a setting of people from different origins and environments who have come together to this expanding and abundant place to start new lives of their own and for their families. These people have helped Arizona to grow and become a more successful state—it has made my hometown the beauty that it is today. Just as Bijold declared, the people are what truly define one’s home. These people coming together are what have made Arizona what it is: a melting pot at its best. Other individuals are increasingly moving to Arizona only to realize how truly remarkable it is—and I encourage others to do the same. It is the perfect hometown. My hometown. My home.

Memories, hopes, and dreams have also made Arizona what is represents to me. My memories of the past seven years are amazing. The past seven years have flown by, yet I cannot differentiate between the time I moved here and present time. Everything has become timeless for me since I made the move here. As the common expression declares, time flies when you’re having fun. Having fun is understating all that Arizona has had to offer me. In today’s perspective, the new experiences and memories I am making everyday at the University of Arizona will stay with me forever. Even in Tucson, Arizona, I have found my home away from home. I suppose Arizona will always be home for me. My hopes to aspire and dreams to succeed are very likely to happen in my hometown. I continue to reap the benefits from living in the marvelous Grand Canyon State.

I am happy to call Arizona my hometown because of what it has come to mean to me. The experiences I have had, the wonderful people I have befriended, the emotions I have felt, and everything else I hold dear in my life have all made Arizona mean something different to me. It has taken a special place in my heart, where it will always remain.

Heart of Kingman

I am a native of Arizona, and from the age of two, grew up in Kingman until graduation from high school in 1982, one-hundred years after the city was founded. The community was a wonderful place to be raised and nurtured and remains that way for families today.

To get to the heart of what makes Kingman special, you have to start with the people and sense of community. My father is still in Rotary and my mother is a lifetime member of Soroptimist and involved in Arizona Town Hall. The Chamber is active and citizens of all ages have an opportunity to be engaged in the community. For people who love to have a voice and see a real impact, Kingman’s size and culture supports this. Decision makers are your friends and colleagues and everyone gains from an improved community so the barriers traditionally experienced in larger metropolitan areas are not as common. While in sixth grade, we wanted to put a time capsule at the city complex. My dad drove me to the local Ford dealer who made one phone call to our State Senator, securing him for our master of ceremonies for the community dedication. This is not just the way of the past, but it continues today. As young people strive to make a difference and learn leadership, there are countless businesses and individuals ready to mentor and assist.

This speaks to a strong tradition of supporting youth. Today, a first-class swim team exists because thirty-three years ago, Paul McCormick got some parents together and organized practices and meets at the downtown city pool. Little League was always great with teams sporting the best uniforms and enjoying strong family and community support. Today, Kingman hosts the Little League All-Star event in July for youth statewide. When the high school band or a student organization has the opportunity to travel, the community continues to come together to support their efforts, providing their local youth with experiences beyond the borders of their hometown.

Community events happen on an annual basis, and rather than fading away with time, have remained relevant. Andy Devine Days, in honor of the late local Hollywood celebrity, includes a top-notch rodeo as well as a parade with entries from local students, service clubs and businesses. The county fairgrounds hosts a huge fourth of July fireworks celebration and the Mohave County Fair, which is a step back in time with everyone welcome to enter artwork, baked goods, or show animals. There are car shows, Easter eggs hunts in Metcalf and Centennial Parks and tons of events for active adults and seniors. My dad enjoys one of the two public golf courses weekly.

Because Kingman’s location is in northwest Arizona along the old Route 66 with the Hualapai, Cerbat and Black Mountains surrounding it, there are many activities to enjoy. Family picnics and cool weather in the Hualapai Mountain Park is a thirty-minute drive from downtown. You can boat and water ski at Lake Mead, ride a donkey in Oatman, enjoy the Colorado River, visit the London Bridge in Lake Havasu, see Hoover Dam and take in the best casinos in Laughlin and Las Vegas, Nevada. There are all sorts of fun Route 66 memorabilia shops, the best being the Powerhouse, which is the result of the community renovating an old dilapidated power plant and making it into a great tourist attraction. The climate in Kingman is moderate with mid-fifty’s in the winter and mid-ninety’s in the summer. There are definitely four seasons, but nothing harsh.

Kingman also has a wonderful Regional Medical Center that includes the Del Webb Wellness and Rehabilitation Center where my father works part-time. There is an airport with well-planned and recruited industrial development, and the main campus of Mohave Community College with extended learning through Northern Arizona University.

Kingman’s population has grown since the 2000 Census to an estimated 26,000+ people, with over 17,000 in the unincorporated areas that border the city. Right now, they are enjoying the benefits of the Hoover Dam Bypass project, which will allow Kingman to be an option for Las Vegas commuters when completed in 2008. The real estate market is healthy as people increasingly chose to reside in Kingman. There is quality housing in diverse high desert settings; some like the charm of the historic downtown, others enjoy living on a golf course, still others desire the serenity of the canyons and desert. There is breathing room, space between homes, lovely architecture and many sidewalks.

Just as important to what Kingman offers, is what it is lacking. There are no mega-malls, no endless rows of chain restaurants and no giant video game mazes with horrible pizza. Time is not spent running to warehouse super stores every other day and clothes shopping can be done at local stores and boutiques or during a shopping trip to a neighboring city. As a youth, my friends from Phoenix would ask me what there was to do in Kingman. My response was the same as young people today; there is a ton to do! The culture invites young people to participate in sports, school clubs and community organizations, enjoy the numerous parks, bike ride and hang out with friends. Truly, it is an asset to the community to have chef owned restaurants and small businesses with the occasional fast food restaurant and large supermarkets.

The twenty-something college student should travel the globe and discover a variety of cultures in Arizona and the United States. However, for those who are ready to enjoy involvement in their community, start and raise a family or retire where activities aren’t limited to crafts and golf, Kingman is the place. It has a soul, a heart, and a rich history. The residents are well traveled, educated and know a good thing when they see it whether they were raised in Kingman or found it in their search for a better life. That is my family story. My father enjoyed corporate success, living in the Midwest, Seattle, Los Angeles and Phoenix before moving our family to a place where he and my mother could make a difference and provide a safe and supportive environment for me and my brother to be raised.

Arizona is my home, and Kingman my hometown. I’m so proud to know the good people there and so thankful for all they have poured into me, giving me the strong foundation needed to live in today’s world.

Come and Explore Kingman

I am proud to call Kingman, Arizona my hometown. It became my home after my mother went on a search for a good town. A distant cousin recommended Kingman, so we visited and explored it. Two months later, it became my home.

At first, the town seemed too remote. Then I started to notice all the beauty that was around me. At night, I could see all the stars and the moon. Early in the morning, the dessert was full of life. I heard the birds singing, saw the rabbits moving about, and sometimes even spotted a cow. Up in the Hualapai Mountains, I would smell the fresh mountain air and see the lush pine trees. Down in town, there was always a breeze blowing, so it never got too warm.

As I would warm up the car in the morning, I thought about what I was going to do the whole day. First, I would go to school and then I would run track after. When the time came to find a job, I went looking. I was taking drafting courses at school, so I had an interest in designing. I went to the local engineer for a job, and then four months later was hired. He took me in and taught me. I learned a lot from that man, and I am thankful for having the opportunity to work there.

Growing up in Kingman, I made good friends. My best friend, Kevin Gormany, showed me the way to the Lord. I found a good church and became a Christian. I made friends there that have helped me through the worst situations and who have encouraged me to do the best I can.

To try to sum it up, Kingman has beautiful scenery, vast opportunities, and great people. I am thankful to have been able to grow up in such a town and I recommend you to come and explore Kingman.