Growing up in Richmond, Virginia, I always felt like I was living in a small town, which is strange since the population is somewhere around 58,000! But both sets of grandparents lived down the street from us, and I could walk or ride my bike to all of my friends homes. It wasn't unusual for people to "sit awhile" on our front porch, and you waved or said hello to everyone who passed, even if you didn't exactly know them.

Another thing about growing up in Richmond is that I was surrounded by all this history. There were people who talked about the Civil War at the dinner table like it happened yesterday (ok, that's an extreme case!) and many Richmonders claimed to be direct descendants of Thomas Jefferson. Still, despite all the airs, I can't help but be proud to be a part of that rich history. The house my grandmother grew up in the Depression is a historic landmark on Church Hill near the church where Patrick Henry gave his famous "Give me Liberty or Give me Death!" speech.

It's good to go home and see how that old neighborhood has been revitalized (much like sections of New York City over the years). When I visit Richmond now people always ask me why I choose to live in such a crowded, big city, but I think New York is a lot like Richmond. People have such pride in this city much like my "old" hometown.

-Anne, from New York City