PLEASE HELP. Best place to live in California in your opinion? (Los Angeles: transplants, apartment)

[ryanst530]

^ lol

What are those pictures from?

[ellet87]

You need to check out China Lake or Ridgecrest.

Lots to do

Haha thanks, wow it looks beautiful there, god yeah America just gets more and more appealing by the minute.

Haha

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by ellet87

Dude no need to be snarky. As I said, I am on the other side of the world and have never travelled to the US so I don't have a clue, that is why I am asking.

Would you rather hear realistic answers or be told that everything is easy here and you'll have a job within a week?

[sav858]

Originally Posted by ellet87

Where would be a good area to live that is warm, in close proximity to a beach, reasonable rent, and busy (with things to do)?

San Diego

[ellet87]

Would you rather hear realistic answers or be told that everything is easy here and you'll have a job within a week?

I would like to hear realistic answers, but I am coming regardless of any unemployment issues in the state. That is why I am asking for advice on HOW to make it over there not whether or not I should go?

Things like good places to live, how to go about finding jobs (possibly before I leave New Zealand), and how to find a place to live, would be great to find out.

I am an educated person with a good work ethic looking to find a job, not a drop out with no work skills, and not much of an interest in working. I'm sure there is a job to be found, even if it is something like waitressing.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by ellet87

I am an educated person with a good work ethic looking to find a job, not a drop out with no work skills, and not much of an interest in working. I'm sure there is a job to be found, even if it is something like waitressing.

You and a few million unemployed or underemployed people right now.

[RobE]

Originally Posted by ellet87

Is there a need for teachers over there?

You will need a work visa and some kind of credential that is recognized by the state of California, which means you will have to contact school districts to arrange a job beforehand. However, due to the budget deficit in California, they have been laying teachers off anyway. I don't think the teacher's unions will permit local school districts to hire foreigners at this point. A charter school or a private school could be doable, but California, especially areas near beaches, are very expensive to live in and it will be very tough on a starter salary there.

As other posters have indicated, this is NOT a good time to be thinking about trying to live in California.

Think about teaching english in Japan if you just gotta live overseas. However, the beaches in Japan kinda suck compared to what is in California. Still a great experience living there, though, and if you're near big cities such as Tokyo, Osaka or Fukuoka there is lots of night life. That is not true, though, in the more rural parts.

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by ryanst530

great, more statistics...

Unemployment numbers mean nothing. The effect of unemployment is localized to certain areas, down to the town level. Many areas and sectors of california are actually thriving. The town where I live for example is seeing unemployment of 4.5%, mass hiring of engineers right now, and a cost of living below the national average.

Bwahahahahahaha.

Ridgecrest has an unemployment rate of 4.5%? You've got to be flippin' kidding me. You really need to cite your source on that. You're telling me all those welfare collectors out there have jobs now? Hahahahaha. NAWS can't be hiring that many people. Has the Wal-Mart Supercenter been built yet? I heard La Mirage got foreclosed on, that should help the city some. BTW, another statistic for ya, Kern's unemployment rate is 14.8%.

Ridgecrest is cheap because no one wants to fry themselves in 110 degree heat 85 miles from anything. It's always been cheap. You can fry yourself much closer in.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by ellet87

Dude no need to be snarky. As I said, I am on the other side of the world and have never travelled to the US so I don't have a clue, that is why I am asking.

Really, that wasn't snarky at all. It's true; in fact, it's probably true even in a good economy. Good jobs just don't appear overnight. It takes time. The more you make, the longer it takes to find a new job - even in a pretty good economy.

[Pfhtex]

Pics = Greatest Post of All Time.

So, New Zealand, that's like a suburb of Australia, right?