PLEASE HELP. Best place to live in California in your opinion? (San Diego: job market, school district)

[Den Mathias]

Originally Posted by ellet87

Me and my boyfriend are planning on going on our OE next year and would love to live in the US for about 6months, we are looking into the California area as we want good weather.
We are both 23yr olds and are fun loving, and adventurous.
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)?

I have a teaching degree and my boyfriend is a qualified machining engineer, will finding jobs be difficult.

Oh yeah, we are moving from little old New Zealand, a very safe country, with a population of around 4million, so this is very daunting.

Any help would be appreciated.

This is a very amusing post! I have friends trying their darnest to get into New Zealand. NZ, unlike the US has very strict standards of who they allow into the country! You must have a job or invest quite a bit of cash in NZ securities. You must speak english, You must pass a health evaluation.
And, there are half a dozen other requirements for you to immigrate.

Far cry from good old U let anyone in S ?

[1AngryTaxPayer]

I had some nice New Zealand years ago. I would have so traded with them for places to live. Sorry about some of the rudeness but our economy is in pretty bad condition right now and it's bleeding over into everyone's life one way or another. My wife has been out of work for months and a good buddy of mine was out of work for 2 years. He ended up taking a sales job just to keep his house.

Anyway, San Diego is a nice laid back City. It might be to your liking. There are several temp agencies that might be able to find something along the lines of work you are looking for. You can contact them before you plan on coming over. Good luck, at least you are educated productive people so you have a good shot.

[jaada]

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.

People need to stop generalizing about unemployment numbers. Stop living by the raw numbers!

Youll be fine applying for a job. Just do some research to find out which area is well known for jobs in your industry and move. Have some money saved up for living expenses. Chances are jobs will hire you faster if you live in the area you are applying for a job in.

what? where is that at?

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by jaada

what? where is that at?

I believe Ryanst530 lives in Ridgecrest, CA, a city in NE Kern County, which has a 14.2% unemployment rate.

[FresnoFacts]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

I believe Ryanst530 lives in Ridgecrest, CA, a city in NE Kern County, which has a 14.2% unemployment rate.

Kern County has a 14.2% unemployment rate but not Ridgecrest, it has a much lower rate.

Ridgecrest is currently at 8.2%, below the state and national levels. Bakersfield is at 10%, also below California's average.
http://www.calmis.ca.gov/file/lfmonth/allsubs.xls

As Ryan said, unemployment is at the city level not county level. It is important to dig for the smaller geographic numbers.

Kern County's overall number is driven upward by unemployment rates like Delano's 34.7% or Arvin's 35.5%.

[David Aguilar]

Wow FresnoFacts!

I had no idea CA tallied unemployment rates for cities. I stand corrected, as a former resident, it's good to know that Ridgecrest is keeping the unemployment rate relatively low, but is still higher than the 4.5% Ryan cited.

[mercedes7]

Try San Diego. It has beautiful weather, beaches and a diverse culture. It is also very expensive to live here, so be forewarned.

I agree that employment especially in the teaching field will be a challenge.

gl

[Den Mathias]

Never been to a hamfest. However, I have been to a Spam fest!

Yummy to say the least!

[matthkd]

Originally Posted by SoOverCali

Please DONT move here. We don't need another transplant.
I have a teaching degree also. LA unified just laid off 3,000 teachers this year, including myself.

New Zealand is beautiful. What are you thinking?

Perhaps you are in LA LA land.. which is perfect for Los Angeles. Another transplant.

Hope you have a car to bring over, oh and learn to speak Spanish fast!

Carry pepper spray and a stun gun everywhere.

I was born here and have been attacked 4 times in my life... and robbed.

Please, please don't move here, seriously....
There are NO teaching jobs. and we HATE transplants....

Hope you have about 500,000 to buy a house.. oh yea that's right.. nobody will give out loans here..so you have to rent at 2,000 a month for a small 2 bedroom apartment.

Practive this " may i take your order " " do you want fries with that " " do you want to supersize your meal" --- Because you will be LUCKY if you get a fast food job.

I'm in the unemployment line with teachers, administrators... people with Masters in Business Admin...

Don't move here... I beg of you

WOW! we aren't all mean and rude like that! and we DON'T hate "transplants". ignore this person and give america a chance. a lot of my friends aren't from america and i couldn't imagine life without them!!!

[digitalscope]

Seems to me the original poster evinced a trace of rudeness with a sense of entitlement to a good job here (teaching), despite the hardship currently visited upon millions of unemployed ...

Must be nice to be able to afford an 'OE'. Most Americans can't , and never will be able to.

And quickly lashes out with the America bashing

Paris Hilton, is that you, lol.