MOSCOW – I wasn’t born there and I’ve visited a lot of other cities, but that green town in Washington state holds a special place in my heart, and I consider it my hometown.
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Seattle is also known as Emerald City because forests cover a large part of the area and stay in an emerald color all year. It is a city where I made the happiest memories of my childhood, starting with the first time I was there, at my sister’s wedding.
I remember how I woke up earlier than others in my family and was able to see the waking city through panoramic windows in our apartment. I usually just took my coloring book and drew there all morning.
I remember how I saw the gigantic octopus in the Seattle Aquarium, how I rode the Ferris wheel at Miner’s Landing on Pier 57. It offered views of Seattle, including the iconic Space Needle tower, and how I was afraid of Hammering Man – a kinetic sculpture in black silhouette of a man swinging a hammer – because of its size.
I have memories of how we bought seafood in the popular Pike Place Market. In the 20th century, farmers were forced to sell their crops through middlemen, which deprived them of profits, so Thomas Revell, a Seattle city councilman, proposed building a marketplace where farmers could sell goods directly to city residents.
I would call Seattle the true “maritime city.” There are bays and reservoirs at every step. We were given the opportunity to spend some days on the yacht and see some seals.
But in contrast with the nature-side of Seattle, lots of people call this city the biggest technology and coffee hub. It’s home to both Starbucks and Amazon.
For a while, we stayed outside the city, almost in the forest. In the Pacific Northwest part of the United States and neighboring Canada, this is a very popular cultural tradition called “cottage country.”
The recently released television series “Sterling Point” perfectly captures the atmosphere. We went boating on the river, cooked mussels and had the yummiest barbecue for dinner.
Seattle made a huge impression on me, and I madly want to visit this city again, which is why I’m considering applying to universities in Washington and neighboring states.
Also, I really miss my sister.
Seattle shaped my love for the atmosphere of quiet towns like Twin Peaks and fall rains. I appreciate its culture of celebrating freedom of speech, tolerance, and mutual respect.
Yana Dashchinskaya is a Junior Reporter with Youth Journalism International.
