Knowledge

To be honest, I really didn't know much about Fort McMurray, even it's very existence until I heard about the Syncrude co-op. All I knew was that if I got the job I'd have to move there to work. I figured I'd have to go through this big explanation of where it was, and what industries are there. However, I would find out my conversations would end up like this:

Friend: "Where is your co-op?"
Me: "Syncrude, in Fort McMurray, Alberta."
Friend:"REALLY!? Ouch, good luck man."

At first I thought "Awesome, look what I got into. ". I'd later just brush off all the negativity, and just chuckle and go along with the running joke that I'll be frozen and miserable in the middle of nowhere. I also began getting a lot of negative information about the town and the people there, most second-hand, but I did get some first-hand anecdotes shared with me. Most of it revolved around drug use and prostitution. Basically "lots of lonely people with lots of money and not a whole lot to do."

I figure, and hope, that a lot of what I've heard is grossly exaggerated. I'll be heeding the warnings these informants gave, but I'll pass on some first-hand experience as soon as I get a good grasp of how it really is now.