Hi! My name is Giannina Albines, and you might have already seen me around or in videos. I am in a lot of them! I am from Peru, a country located in South America. I moved to Oklahoma three years ago. I went back to visit Peru once, but since COVID started, I could not go back. During all this time, Oklahoma became my home. There are many reasons why I love Oklahoma, for example, the friendly people, the sky, the BBQ! etc. 
First, let’s talk about how amazing the community is here. Everyone is willing to help you with anything you need. They take the time to get to know you, making you feel taken care of. UCO has a lot of opportunities where you also give back to the community. For example, “Big Event” is one of them. They are volunteering opportunities that say a huge thank you to the residents through service. 
Secondly, we have beautiful landscapes! To be honest, Oklahoma has the best sunrises and sunsets on the entire planet. I could probably say that I have a full photo album of just the sky. If you are like me and love to watch sunsets, this could be your favorite place. My favorite time of the year is the end of summer when it almost falls when the weather is not that warm, and you can be outside appreciating the beautiful view.
Thirdly, let’s talk about food. If you are a meat-eater, you are going to love it here. There are a lot of restaurants that have good burgers or steaks. Also, Oklahoma is insanely famous for its BBQ. What can I say? It’s so yummy! It was hard for me to be vegetarian and try to find a place that would have delicious vegan food. Also, I am lactose and gluten intolerant, making it harder to find these options in restaurants. However, there are so many stores that have options for replacements of dairy or flour. I am so thankful for all these stores. Also, they are close to where I live.
Lastly, I would like to finish this short blog by saying that Oklahoma is a great place to live. Oklahoma may not have a lot of things to visit, but it is undoubtedly one of the best places to stick around. I will always say that I feel safe and happy living here. ❤️
