I’ve lived in Jordan for two full years now (my second-year anniversary at this wonderful job is Thursday, July 5). In that time, I’ve slowly made the transition from living in a small Wisconsin town to living in a small Minnesota town. The only main difference, really, in my lifestyle here is that I am a more mobile person – I travel more often to meet friends, shop, and attend church.

It’s what I hear when I’m not in Jordan that surprises me most about the people of the Twin Cities metro region – most people don’t know what I’m talking about when I say I live in Jordan.

I can’t even count how many times I’ve had to explain to people exactly where Jordan is. And even then, they look at me like I’m from a foreign country. The most common response is that my drive must be awfully long. It isn’t. I’m pretty much 30 minutes from anywhere I’d ever really want to go.

One friend even asked me if Jordan was south of Le Sueur! How do you know where Le Sueur is, but not Jordan?

And then this weekend I was at a wedding reception. One of my friends from high school has applied for a few jobs in the Cities. He, who also grew up in the same small Wisconsin town, knew exactly where to find Jordan and how he might get there from his potential job sites.

For shame, Minnesotans! If my Wisconsin friend knows more about your state’s geography than you do, you have to get out of your suburbs more often.