Yep, she said “Chip Ottle”

I am not the most worldly or sophisticated person I know. Yes, I know a lot about wine, but I also love Costco hotdog dates with my fiancé and I am really good at drinking cheap beer. It might even be considered a talent.

What I still find fascinating about living in Wyoming, even after five years here, is that many people have never traveled outside the state. Laramie and Cheyenne are only two hours from the Denver city center. But for many students here, Laramie is the largest “city” they have ever been to. I giggle a bit when people refer to Laramie as a “city.” It has fewer than thirty thousand people and the tallest building is a dorm.

Recently, I was at a campus eatery during lunchtime, waiting to order coffee, when a girl behind the counter yelled, “Southwestern Chicken Salad with Chip-Ottle Dressing!"

Candi: “Huh?”

Crowd of students: Looking at each other

Her: Louder this time, “Southwestern Chicken Salad with Chip Ottle Dressing!”

Crowd of students: Looking dumbfounded

Candi: “OH! Chipotle!!!”

...Like the restaurant.

Yes, its likely the adorable co-ed behind the counter has never been outside of Wyoming. Its also very likely Laramie is the largest “city” she has ever been in. My first instinct was to feel bad for her, she doesn’t even know what a chain pseudo-Mexican fast food restaurant is. Then I realized… she’s lucky! She doesn’t know what a chain pseudo-Mexican fast food restaurant is. This Wyo co-ed has yet to be sucked in by mass marketing and community homogenization.

Wyoming is quite a unique place. I think those little things are going to be what I miss most as I'm preparing to move back to Salt Lake City.