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What is the typical Bostonian attitude towards Californians?
I'm 22 years old and I currently live in San Diego. Lately, I've been seriously considering moving to Boston in the next two years.
I know Bostonians are sometimes thought of as cold and rude, but I think they're just feisty.
How can I expect to be treated, coming to Boston as a Southern California girl? Unfortunately, my valley-girl accent does slip out from time to time but I can't help it
All my friends are discouraging me from moving to the east coast, saying that those mean Bostonians will eat me alive basically.
I know this is kind of a silly question, but all feedback is appreciated.
Boston is a city and runs like one. I wouldn't classify the people as rude, but I certainly would classify them as overly friendly, either. Especially in driving and commuting, people can be very pushy, but mostly people will leave you alone if you leave them alone. If you come looking to be best friends with everyone you meet you'll be sadly disappointed, but people aren't going to "eat you alive".
If you can't handle crowds, though, or need 68 +/- 4 degree weather to be happy, Boston may not be for you. It is crowded and a bit dirty and can get quite cold in the winter and occasionally hot and muggy. It doesn't help that San Diego has the best weather in the US--anywhere you go will be worse.
As for your accent, I don't think people will care too much, except that it generally makes you sound stupid. If you can't give the accent up, it will just take you that much longer to convince people that you have any intelligence. I don't think that is specific to Boston, though. Some accents, like "The Queen's English", make people sound smart, and others, like "Valley Girl" make them sound stupid.
Finally, as a 22 year old you will fit in to the key demographic of Boston which is college aged kids. This means there will be plenty of other young people around for socializing and other assorted mayhem. The downside is that the older people in the city may sometimes be annoyed at others in your age group and transfer that annoyance to you. For the most part, though, if you don't annoy others they will mostly leave you alone.
I agree with the above. Especially the Valley Girl thing. Try to nix it. Not for Boston, but for your own sake. You already have age against you in so far as how people perceive you. The Valley girl thing won't do you any favors.
That being said, I'm an east coast girl, but my husband is California born and raised. We moved to Boston a few weeks ago and he seems ok. The people he works with are from all-over because, as the previous poster noted, it's a city and runs like one. A lot of people aren't from Boston originally.
What are you reasons for picking Boston? I think it's fantastic, but I'm biased because I live here :-)
I'm 23 and I made the reverse move and I've been in SD for almost a year, so I guess my perspective might be useful.
People in Boston aren't feisty, they're just extremely reserved. It's generally the attitude you're going to find in something city-ish, and in all probability if you stay there long enough you'll become more reserved as well. It's not so much large things, it's more like if I'm sitting at a bar everyone will be a lot more hesitant to spark a conversation, or in line at a store it's the same thing.
I'm not sure about being eaten alive, the only thing I can think of is it might be difficult to meet new people. I think breaking into groups of new people and making friends in Boston is the hardest part, you just need to be pro-active. People are less casual out here. Like a lot of my friends back home are people I've known for a while, and honestly a lot of people I met turned into really good friends. Out west meeting people is way easier, I've met a lot of acquantainces, but as far as real solid friendships I've formed maybe 4 or 5. I actually kind of like having a lot of casual acquantainces but to each their own. I think in general, the attitude towards friendship is just different in both regions.
Personally I wouldn't worry about the Valley Girl thing or whatever, Boston accents aren't really a sign of intelligence either. Although to be fair I got rid of my Boston accent because I'm pretty sure most of my opinions in the workplace would be swiftly ignored. Although, this occurred when I started college so who knows.
If you can't handle crowds, though, or need 68 +/- 4 degree weather to be happy, Boston may not be for you. It is crowded and a bit dirty and can get quite cold in the winter and occasionally hot and muggy. It doesn't help that San Diego has the best weather in the US--anywhere you go will be worse.
Actually, I find San Diego's weather to be incredibly boring. I want to experience seasons.
I agree with the above. Especially the Valley Girl thing. Try to nix it. Not for Boston, but for your own sake. You already have age against you in so far as how people perceive you. The Valley girl thing won't do you any favors.
That being said, I'm an east coast girl, but my husband is California born and raised. We moved to Boston a few weeks ago and he seems ok. The people he works with are from all-over because, as the previous poster noted, it's a city and runs like one. A lot of people aren't from Boston originally.
What are you reasons for picking Boston? I think it's fantastic, but I'm biased because I live here :-)
Well, I've lived in "laid back" southern california my entire life. I'm ready to experience a real city, with hustle and bustle and new people. I swear, living out here is like living inside a bubble. I want diversity and character and history. I feel like Boston has all the things I want in a city. Granted, I've only visited once, but I just really enjoyed the city.
Regional bias shouldn't be a concern. Boston is "the world's largest college town." There are now so many native African, Asian, etc students here - or they were born to immigrants - that no one bats an eye at appearances or accents in the city areas or in most of the suburbs. What you'll run into most is forgivable and innocent ignorance. I grew up in southwestern Ohio, and after nearly three decades here my regional twang has been watered down but far from obliterated. New acquaintances still routinely ask what part of the South I'm from, lol. As for the "Val" speech, kill it if only for its obnoxiousness. When I'm anywhere in public and hear a gaggle of people (usually an all-female group) throwing "like" in at every third word and inflecting each sentence as a question it DRIVES ME UP THE FRICKEN WALL. Granted, this is the viewpoint of a balding guy pushing 50, lol. But that's how most adults over 25 and many of your peers feel. Most importantly, when you like talk that way? It like makes you like sound like you're like stupid? Okye?
Bostonians are definitely cut from different cloth socially than people from SoCal. They typically will not speak to a stranger, or even a neighbor not known well, when passing on the street. Perpetual traffic congestion and motorist aggression, the crumbling transit system, and the unpredictable and often terrible weather here have spawned a survivor mentality in a lot of people. Someone has to warm to you, which can take a considerable amount of time, before drawing you completely into their social circle.
I wouldn't live anyplace else.
You should sign on with Yelp.com and jump in on the message boards there. I'd characterize their typical denizen as a 20-something non-native who loves to follow and create all the latest trends. The site is ostensibly one for people to contribute their reviews of restaurants, stores, etc to. But it has lots of lively discussions going on in its forums all the time, about all sorts of things. Many new or potential area residents take part. Not only that, there are also regular Yelp.com "meetup" parties in town - great way to meet people regardless of what your motive might be.
Hey, if you wind up not liking it here, you can always go back home or find another place to land. You have no spouse or kids (I assume), no mortgage, no established career. And you're still young. Throw caution to the winds and make the move. "When I was your age" (I know, I know) that's what I did.
Last edited by goyguy; 06-18-2008 at 12:20 AM..
Reason: Added content
I think I gave you guys the wrong impression about the valley girl thing. I don't sound like a dumbass. It's more of a slight twang and only comes out when casually conversing with friends.
I'm 22 years old and I currently live in San Diego. Lately, I've been seriously considering moving to Boston in the next two years.
I know Bostonians are sometimes thought of as cold and rude, but I think they're just feisty.
How can I expect to be treated, coming to Boston as a Southern California girl? Unfortunately, my valley-girl accent does slip out from time to time but I can't help it
All my friends are discouraging me from moving to the east coast, saying that those mean Bostonians will eat me alive basically.
I know this is kind of a silly question, but all feedback is appreciated.
Thanks!
lol.
If your friendly and don't take yourself too seriously you will like Boston. Your valley girl accent IS kind of adorable, but try to ditch it in job interviews. :-)
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