How to become a Maine-iac.
- owenferguson995
- Nov 16, 2022
- 3 min read
In March, I moved to Maine, USA for a few months and wasn't sure how I would fit in. Far up north, bitterly cold, and full of strange characters? Sounds like Aberdeen actually...
Pictured: Myself and Jackie Majerus, who hosted me in Maine in the Spring of 2022. Photo credit: Mary Majerus-Collins.
In all (light) seriousness, here's how I learnt to love Maine, and how my amazing host family incorporated me into life in the Pine Tree State.
#1 Get your Bear-ings.
It's hard to resist a pun when it's right there. But solid advice anyway. While grounding yourself in your new habitat, make sure you are aware of what wildlife exists in your new home. Maine is home to wild coyotes, turkeys , moose and the largest population of black bears in the eastern United States.
While the locals are very at peace with this, the most dangerous predator back in Aberdeen is the seagull (they are actually very dangerous). So while you're unlikely to find yourself in any dangerous fauna encounters in most of Maine, including Lewiston-Auburn where I moved, getting to know what kinds of creatures you can run into in the woods will only benefit you.
#2 Throw some axes with an up and coming politician.
It may sound unorthodox, but an axe-throwing bar is the perfect way to unwind for many residents in Lewiston-Auburn. While the idea of fast flying sharp weapons and (optional!) alcohol mixing might not sound like a great idea, it is definitely an adrenaline filled experience. And a great way to test how much you and your new friends trust each other.
Not too shabby for a newbie. Blame it on that Braveheart blood.
I tried it out in my first week in Maine with two of my host family, Mary & Kiernan, and also Mana Abdi, who was running at the time to be a Democratic State House representative in her local district, becoming a lawmaker in the state. Since our time throwing axes, she has won, and is now the first ever Somali-American elected to the Maine Legislature! Congrats Mana!
#3 Be Thankful, a few months early.
The American tradition of Black Friday has sadly made it's way across the pond to us, and now we get bombarded with deals that aren't actually deals at the end of each November.
I don't know why we didn't get to have the amazing winter feast that precedes Black Friday; Thanksgiving!
As a real welcome into the American way of life, I was treated to a Thanksgiving feast by my gracious host Jackie, the rest of her family and some local friends.
The food was amazing, I became a convert to cranberry sauce and pecan pie , and there was an alarming amount of journalists at the table, so the conversation was inevitably interesting.
I, for one, am incredibly thankful for that experience.
# 4 Get out and about!
Maine is one of the least populous states, with the most nature. It's a bit like the Scotland of America. So even when it's covered in snow or sleet, it's absolutely worth getting your gloves and boots on to go and explore.
Soak in the beauty of Acadia National Park, take a trip to Portland or a nearby maple syrup farm or just keep it local with a trusty Rough Collie like Frankie, and get out into nature.
# 5 Get the culture shock out of your system.
What you may realise about living somewhere foreign and new longer than a few weeks, is that even the things that seemed crazy or shocking at the start become the new normal. We are great at adapting. So have fun with it. Do a taste test of American candy and see if anything can compare to back home (it does, it really does).
Visit a nearby British store and get educated on apparent customs you'd never heard of that are apparently very common in your own home country. Clotted cream on toast? Still waiting for anyone from the UK to corroborate that one. Suit up in some newly acquired warm attire and pad out a running route. Getting to settle down in a new place is a whole new experience than just visiting, so take advantage of getting to discover a second home.
Bonus: Get all your vaccines before you go, so you don't end up getting caught on the news!
Not much else to be said about that one.
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