Will my Canadian son fit in at school? (Conway, Benton: environment, real estate)

[lindata]

Hi, we may be moving to Arkansas, and being a 'northerner' from Canada I was wondering how we would fit in, especially my son. I don't want him to be teased or bullied. I hope this doesn't offend anyone, but this is very important to me that there is not going to be this problem, and we will not be moving if it will be a problem. He is 2.5 years old now, so he would be entering Kindergarten in a few years. Until my friend mentioned this might be a problem, I had not considered it. I was looking forward to a new experience and, from pictures, Arkansas looks absolutely breathtaking!

The other thing is where is the nicest place to live in terms of natural beauty, lots of outdoorsy things to do, lots of local things to do with my son such as Kindermusic or Gymboree or playgroup programs?

Thank you!
Linda

[kitty71]

I hope someone from Arkansas honestly answers this question.

It is thanks to me reading some posts on this board that my friend is worried... I hated to think of her and especially her son getting ostracized for being "Yankees".

I do believe this is a real concern as I have read several posts on other boards about northerners moving south and not having good experiences.

[MoMark]

Originally Posted by lindata

Hi, we may be moving to Arkansas, and being a 'northerner' from Canada I was wondering how we would fit in, especially my son. I don't want him to be teased or bullied. I hope this doesn't offend anyone, but this is very important to me that there is not going to be this problem, and we will not be moving if it will be a problem. He is 2.5 years old now, so he would be entering Kindergarten in a few years. Until my friend mentioned this might be a problem, I had not considered it. I was looking forward to a new experience and, from pictures, Arkansas looks absolutely breathtaking!

The other thing is where is the nicest place to live in terms of natural beauty, lots of outdoorsy things to do, lots of local things to do with my son such as Kindermusic or Gymboree or playgroup programs?

Thank you!
Linda

Linda, I honestly don't think it's an issue. I live fairly close to the Arkansas line in southwest Missouri. Your son is only 2.5 years old. By the time he reaches school, he's going to be talking like an American in Arkansas and probably pick up the local accent with ease and without being even aware of having done so. You and your husband are likely too old to pick up the accent to any great degree, and people will always notice that lilt and rhythm Canadians speak with, but a Canadian accent is different from a Yankee accent and I don't think people would care. People in the South are very friendly, just be friendly too. My guess is that your son will sound like a native within a year or two if he's around other children his age and exposed to the Arkansas kids. By the time he reaches school no one will be able to hear any difference from them in how he speaks and only if he invites his friends home for lunch or whatever will they hear the "foreign" sound in your accent and your husbands.
If anything, if you go back to Canada at some point, your son will sound thoroughly American with a decidely southern accent and that might cause him issues in Canada. I think he'll be just fine.
Kitty, if I had to guess, I would say that the majority of postings which have the Yankee bashing are in North Carolina and Georgia and both states are currently major draws to people from New York and New Jersey, and also northward from Florida where certain areas in South Florida sound decidely "yankee" from all the New York migration. The influx in those states is so huge, much like Oregon and Idaho and Nevada are experiencing from California, that there seems to be native resentment to the fact that such massive numbers inflate the real estate values and change the environment to accommodate the growth. I don't think that's an issue in Arkansas. It's a beautiful state and it has incredibly friendly folks.

[woopig_sooie]

Originally Posted by MoMark

Linda, I honestly don't think it's an issue. I live fairly close to the Arkansas line in southwest Missouri. Your son is only 2.5 years old. By the time he reaches school, he's going to be talking like an American in Arkansas and probably pick up the local accent with ease and without being even aware of having done so. You and your husband are likely too old to pick up the accent to any great degree, and people will always notice that lilt and rhythm Canadians speak with, but a Canadian accent is different from a Yankee accent and I don't think people would care. People in the South are very friendly, just be friendly too. My guess is that your son will sound like a native within a year or two if he's around other children his age and exposed to the Arkansas kids. By the time he reaches school no one will be able to hear any difference from them in how he speaks and only if he invites his friends home for lunch or whatever will they hear the "foreign" sound in your accent and your husbands.
If anything, if you go back to Canada at some point, your son will sound thoroughly American with a decidely southern accent and that might cause him issues in Canada. I think he'll be just fine.
Kitty, if I had to guess, I would say that the majority of postings which have the Yankee bashing are in North Carolina and Georgia and both states are currently major draws to people from New York and New Jersey, and also northward from Florida where certain areas in South Florida sound decidely "yankee" from all the New York migration. The influx in those states is so huge, much like Oregon and Idaho and Nevada are experiencing from California, that there seems to be native resentment to the fact that such massive numbers inflate the real estate values and change the environment to accommodate the growth. I don't think that's an issue in Arkansas. It's a beautiful state and it has incredibly friendly folks.

I concur. We'll have your boy saying "ya'll" and "ain't" and all those other good-ole-boy words in no time. If your looking for outdoor beauty and recreation check out the Ozark Mountains. Just determine what size town you want to live and go from there. The ozarks are wonderful and I would only leave them for the Colorado Rocky's.

[lindata]

Thank you very much for responding! It was a huge concern for me, thanks to a very, very caring friend who is looking out for me. My son is just such a great little guy, well, I'm sure all parents will understand. My husband has worked in Arkansas this summer and had very positive experiences, said the people were very friendly and the scenery was really pretty, but I haven't had a chance to see for myself. But I just had to be sure for my son. So thanks again! And if we do move down, you'll probably know who I am from my Canadian accent, eh?
Linda

[Stormcrow73]

If you're moving the Benton/Washington County area, you'll be happy to know they do have a hockey program!

[lindata]

Oh, good. We weren't going to buy skates if we were moving but now we can!
Linda

[undertheironsea]

People get teased for things, whether it's being northern in a southern place, southern in a northern place (which I got in Nebraska, I'm a native Mississippian), they dress different, act different, etc, etc.

People are going to be stupid and small minded everywhere, that's just the nature of people, no matter where you go. We have our share of rednecks here, just as any other state has their share of idiots.

There are a lot of people from out of state that live in the Northwest Arkansas area, a lot from California. Stay in a bigger town, and you'll be fine.

[kh501]

Your son will fit right in in NWA. That area is full of transplants.

[lindata]

Thank you everyone for responding! "Transplants" - I had to laugh at that expression, but I guess that's what we'll be. We're thinking of Conway to settle in. So see y'all down there. (See, I'm fitting in already)
Linda