[Gohan1990]

I'm a Catholic of Sri Lankan descent who has lived in Britain his whole life. I absolutely hate London due to bad influences, lack of moral values etc, so I would like to move to a moral, religious and conservative area like Alabama. I recently watched a progamme on the BBC called 'The World's Strictest Parents,' which saw two rebelious teenagers from Britain (a girl who is half black and a boy who is openly gay) being parented in a conservative Alabamian household in the suburbs of Birmingham. What was represented by the teenagers is exactly what I'd like to get away from, but the moral, kind, religious parents and their family represented what I believe is the American dream, a far cry from broken Britain. I would very much like to at least visit AL but there is the issue of racism...would anyone reccommend safe, moral areas that are home to friendly, welcoming people like those I mentioned? (I know that no where is absolutely perfect.) Many thanks.

[downtowndoll]

Originally Posted by Gohan1990

I'm a Catholic of Sri Lankan descent who has lived in Britain his whole life. I absolutely hate London due to bad influences, lack of moral values etc, so I would like to move to a moral, religious and conservative area like Alabama. I recently watched a progamme on the BBC called 'The World's Strictest Parents,' which saw two rebelious teenagers from Britain (a girl who is half black and a boy who is openly gay) being parented in a conservative Alabamian household in the suburbs of Birmingham. What was represented by the teenagers is exactly what I'd like to get away from, but the moral, kind, religious parents and their family represented what I believe is the American dream, a far cry from broken Britain. I would very much like to at least visit AL but there is the issue of racism...would anyone reccommend safe, moral areas that are home to friendly, welcoming people like those I mentioned? (I know that no where is absolutely perfect.) Many thanks.

I hope you will consider the Mobile, AL area because it has a long-time Catholic background here (Former French colony since 1702) and a lovely warm semi-tropical climate on the Gulf of Mexico.

Mobile is considered a small city of over 200,000 people in the immediate city; many more in the nearby suburbs. Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. Mobile used to be the
2nd largest but now we are behind Montgomery because they go by the amount in the city proper, not the whole suburban area too. It's just right to me.

There are several international communities to the south of Mobile in Bayou La Batre, such as Laotians and Vietnamese, to name just a few. Mobile is a pretty conservative town.

Although I'm not Catholic, I have many friends who are and I've been impressed by their dedication. There are many Catholic private schools for lower elementary through 8th grade(13 years old) all over. Even a high school, McGill-Toolen for 14 years through 18 years.

You can check out beautiful photos of Mobile under the Mobile city forum and here is a link to their beautiful cathedral, Welcome to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception - Mobile, AL
and to their archdioceses website: Archdiocese of Mobile

There are also other areas that have large Catholic populations: Mississippi Gulf Coast( many Eastern Europeans and Vietnamese settled here) and New Orleans. I really think you will like Mobile best. I grew up on the MS Gulf Coast and I like Mobile better.

Good luck! With how the dollar is doing so poorly compared to the British pound, you should do really well with all that!!

[Gohan1990]

Well thanks very much. At the moment I'm still at school (I'm 17) so it will be some time before I make a move. Is the centre of Mobile as bad as Birmingham? Apparently people get murdered there everyday.. How are the suburbs- do the crimes get there as well?

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by Gohan1990

Well thanks very much. At the moment I'm still at school (I'm 17) so it will be some time before I make a move. Is the centre of Mobile as bad as Birmingham? Apparently people get murdered there everyday.. How are the suburbs- do the crimes get there as well?

Hold on. Birmingham's crime is really isolated and involves rival drug gangs shooting one another. Throughout most of the city, there's not much crime at all. And Mobile has similar problems in certain parts of town. It's really the story in any American city.

[Gohan1990]

So the suburbs are fine then? Are there any in particular worth looking at in Mobile or Birmingham?

[sign4cal]

If it was me, I would go toward Mobile area. I live in the surrounding area of Birmingham now. The FBI put Birmingham, AL in the top ten cities with violent crimes. We are moving south next month to Dothan and can't wait to get out of this area.

[cpg35223]

Originally Posted by sign4cal

If it was me, I would go toward Mobile area. I live in the surrounding area of Birmingham now. The FBI put Birmingham, AL in the top ten cities with violent crimes. We are moving south next month to Dothan and can't wait to get out of this area.

Where on earth are you in town? Huge parts of Birmingham are perfectly safe.

Oh, and by the way, large stretches of Mobile are not.

As in any city, it's where you live.

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by downtowndoll

I hope you will consider the Mobile, AL area because it has a long-time Catholic background here (Former French colony since 1702) and a lovely warm semi-tropical climate on the Gulf of Mexico.

Although I'm not Catholic, I have many friends who are and I've been impressed by their dedication. There are many Catholic private schools for lower elementary through 8th grade(13 years old) all over. Even a high school, McGill-Toolen for 14 years through 18 years.

You can check out beautiful photos of Mobile under the Mobile city forum and here is a link to their beautiful cathedral, Welcome to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception - Mobile, AL
and to their archdioceses website: Archdiocese of Mobile

There are also other areas that have large Catholic populations: Mississippi Gulf Coast( many Eastern Europeans and Vietnamese settled here) and New Orleans. I really think you will like Mobile best. I grew up on the MS Gulf Coast and I like Mobile better.

And even a Catholic college called Spring Hill College in Mobile. Plus, you are near beautiful Pensacola, which is the closest Gulf beach if one is coming from metro Atlanta where I used to live.

[Guntersville Boomer]

Go, I hope you find what you are looking for. America is "the land of the free and the home of the brave" and I can assure you, we are a real melting pot of all kinds of political, moral and religious beliefs, I am not at all sure there is any place in America where everyone hold the same values. Our outgoing Vice President of the United States has an openly gay daughter and the female Vice Presidential Candidate for our Republican Party has a pregnant teenage daughter. The U.S. population is rapidly changing and by I think 2040 (look at the Census projections) our hispanic population will be the majority. This being the case we need to all try to accept diversity because we sure can't stop the changes that are underway no matter whether you live in Alabama or elsewhere.

[Gohan1990]

Well, Guntersville Boomer, I know there are changes going on, but what I want is a just a contrast from the secular and depressing society I live in now. There are many problems with London and Britain in general and I hope to go to the 'land of opportunity' to live a happier life. I was attracted to Alabama because of the famous Southern Hospitality etc, and family and religion-orientated lifestyle. Oh and other trivial stuff like: I love the accent, I enjoy Southern music... and Forrest Gump lol.
Btw, cpg35223, what parts of Birmingham would you recommend?