16 Blocks expatriate Veronica Lee discusses what she likes the most and the least about Blacksburg and Fairfax

How long did you spend in Blacksburg? I spent 5 years studying and 2 years being a Blacksburg bum… but I like the expression "Townie". No, actually I did go to Tech for a total of 5 years and spent 2 years on and off working 3 different jobs, some 2 at the same time, to support my living and educational expenses.

What degree (s) did you receive from Virginia Tech? Two majors: Interdisciplinary studies and Business management. Two minors: International Studies and Spanish

Where do you currently reside? I live in Fairfax County, Northern Virginia to be exact. A.K.A. 'NOVA' as they call it in Blacksburg. NOVA is part of the DC metro area.

What brought you to that city? I grew up in 'NOVA'. My family landed on Regan National Airport back in the 90s and decided to stay in the area to start our American dream. I call this place home. It was yesterday and it is today, although I have doubts on it being home tomorrow.

What do you miss the most about Blacksburg? Oh, everything! The weather has its 4 seasons but never reached extremes. The landscape is beautiful. There is so much to do! I miss the laid back summers and the non-monotonous activity that comes with it. I never felt so human before. I miss the loud and rowdy fall and spring semesters brought to you by VA Tech. I miss Tech football bringing together a University and its town. I miss the artsy scene, especially music. Blacksburg truly loves music. It is a fascinating, rhythm creating, phenomenon. I think that the music born here is one of a kind, a subterranean wonder with underground roots, and no room for sell outs. But above all, I miss people the most. Blacksburg is truly a solid community!

What do you miss the least about Blacksburg? Time flies when you are having fun. While living in B'burg, time went by so quickly, I didn't even realize I had been there for 7 years already. One morning, the face on the mirror that stared back at me had lines on it. I had aged in the blink of an eye. Then, I knew that I had to finish what I came out to do in the first place and move on to the next chapter in my life.

Throughout the years in B'burg, I felt the lack of sense of identity. By that I mean confusion over where I belonged. People there tend to circumnavigate. I did just that. But I take it that is Blacksburg's way of guiding people on their search of whom they truly are.

To an extent, I also felt my Blacksburg was built by conservatives realists but it is full of liberal idealists. This can be a confusing affair. Live there long enough and you will see what I mean. By the 6th or 7th year it hits you: upon development, I bet the forefathers never expected for this little town to become potpourri over the years.

What do you like the most about Fairfax? I love the multiculturalism that exists here. It is the Mecca of the American melting pot, red and yellow, black and white. American culture can be found in every corner.

I love that there are plenty of opportunities to make it big. The chances are endless.

I love the fact that it is alive! This place guarantees you that someone is awake at any time of the day, or night for that matter. I see cars rolling down the freeway at 4 in the morning and it is right back to rush hour traffic in a matter of hours which is a major downfall in this area.

What do you like the least about Fairfax? Case in point, its attraction is its curse. I cannot stress enough how much I detest the traffic. It is a dog eat dog world out here. Someone is out to get ya or get above ya, and the Darwinian theory 'survival of the fittest' at work.

Monday to Friday, everything is routine. Wake up, get ready, go to work, stay stuck in traffic, arrive at work, work, eat lunch, work some more, go back home, stay stuck in returning rush hour traffic, arrive home, have dinner, get ready for bed, sleep, and repeat.

The chores are left for weekends. Do laundry, take and pick up dry cleaned clothes, go to the bank, cut out coupons, grocery shop or recreational/eye shopping (this is my exercise), take care of the yard or some other house repair, pay the bills online and dispute account charges or changes over the phone. If I get lucky, I can read the newspaper!

The weekend nights are planned accordingly with your vast array of friends to reminiscence your youth. I try to make some Saturday nights my Hokie-town Main St. bar crawl in D.C.'s Adams Morgan but it is rare due to the high cost of food and beverage here. No wonder we are all willing to sign a petition for adding Friday as a weekend!

Moreover, everything here is so compacted. A cluster of living things on a small piece of land. I dislike how distant the public can be. Perhaps because there is little room giving this place a feeling of privacy deprivation.

Many people tend to be (or become at some point) materialistic, borderline overbearing, and fake. The expression 'keep up with the Joneses' couldn't fit any better! You know, it wasn't like this when I was growing up. Maybe this is why I don't see myself living in this area in the near future.

It is not the place that needs to change but the people who live in it. The D.C. metro area can be an awesome place to live in for those who crave its lifestyle. I am sad to say I feel as though this place doesn't fit me any longer. NOVA has changed a lot since the late 90s and I believe I have changed, too. The question is, "can I change to adapt to the new NOVA?"