To Phoenix, With Love

by Crystal Coons
Jul 9, 2003

I remember the day I walked out of Sky Harbor and set foot on Phoenician ground. It was like I had walked into another world. Being 3000 miles away from home, I wasn't all that far off.

When I woke up that morning in my hometown of Montreal, I walked through mountains of snow and slush to call a cab to get to my destination of Dorval International Airport, where I boarded my 5am flight to Phoenix. The long flight was filled with anticipation of exploring a new city, and finally meeting the man I was going to marry. I had been to the United States before but I wasn't prepared for what I was about to see. I collected my luggage and went outside to wait for him to pick me up.

I was shocked to see the palm trees. I was shocked to see that Phoenix was a huge, metropolitan area. I had been expecting the stereotypes to be true. Sand dunes, bull heads on the side of the road, many a cactus waiting to prick you. I expected something like Yuma, perhaps a little more desolate.

I stood there in awe, and took in what I had to admit was probably the most beautiful and appealing scenery I had ever seen. The mountains stood tall, and the palm trees waved gently in the breeze. A breeze, combined with the temperature, made for a perfect Montreal summer day. And yet, here I was, the 18th day of December, the middle of winter, and my coat was too heavy.

He pulled up in his white Celica, and we had a tearful meeting. I climbed into his car, like something out of a movie, and we drove off into the city. I soon discovered that Phoenix was a huge city, with many surrounding areas. We drove through the streets, and I took in all the diversity from the green grass and pine trees to the desert landscaped front yards, with stones, cactus and bushes. I had never even imagined such a thing existed. Everything was so unique, right down to the paintings on the sides of buildings to the designs carved into the walls along the freeway.

Our drive to the northern part of the state was especially attention-getting, as we left this world of pastels and geckos and entered the world of thick forests, red mountains, creeks and canyons. The more I saw of Arizona

Arizona	(air-i'-ZON-u')
The State of Arizona comprises the extreme south-western portion of the United States. It is bounded on the north by Utah, on the east by New Mexico, on the south by Mexico, and on the west by California and Nevada.

, the more I wanted to stay. Then the thought crossed my mind; "What DOESN'T this place have?!"

My eyes saw everything in a new light. Everything seemed brighter, interesting and different. To this day, I walk down the street and gaze up at the palm trees and stop. It's still amazing to me that I'm here. So far away from where I come from, and still amazed at the beauty this state holds.