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I keep reading on some of these posts that people from California should be ready for serious culture shock if moving to Charleston, SC. I'm originally from Boston, but have lived in San Diego for 10 years. My husband and I love the laid-back lifestyle and warm weather of San Diego, however, the cost of living and lack of affordable family living areas makes Charleston, SC seem like a great east coast option.
Can you go into more detail about culture shock? As an original east coaster will I be that shocked? I certainly am not expecting the SoCal lifestyle in the south. Personally I think the greatest shock for me would be moving from an urban area to more suburban area (but that would happen to me even in San Diego).
Ultimately we want good schools, friendly people, quick access to a city for culture/diverse things to do.
for what it's worth in general, we came to SC 5 years ago from spending our entire lives prior to that point in WI. I cant call it a culture shock for us, as we noticed folks were for the most part more friendly then back home, the pace seemed a bit slower, and if anything the religious atmosphere is much stronger here. That's to be expected moving into the bible belt. Differernt in some themes, but not a culture shock.
Now maybe if someone is used to fast tempo big city life and then moves south, perhaps there could be more differences to get used to. But anything we found, were seen as positives.
"as we noticed folks were for the most part more friendly then back home, the pace seemed a bit slower, and if anything the religious atmosphere is much stronger here. That's to be expected moving into the bible belt."
"as we noticed folks were for the most part more friendly then back home, the pace seemed a bit slower, and if anything the religious atmosphere is much stronger here. That's to be expected moving into the bible belt."
That about sums it up.
Agreed. As someone who has lived on the East Coast, West Coast, and the Midwest, there are some differences with people and pace here. However, its not particularly jarring.
This sounds ridiculous now, but one of the "oddest" things I had to get used to was people trying to make full-on conversations at the store checkouts. Up North and out West, this doesn't happen lol.
I personally, don't see Charleston as being overly and strongly religious. It might be on the tail end of the Bible belt, and there might be a lot of churches here, but its not as strong as say, Eastern Tennessee or Kentucky.
Agreed. As someone who has lived on the East Coast, West Coast, and the Midwest, there are some differences with people and pace here. However, its not particularly jarring.
This sounds ridiculous now, but one of the "oddest" things I had to get used to was people trying to make full-on conversations at the store checkouts. Up North and out West, this doesn't happen lol.
I personally, don't see Charleston as being overly and strongly religious. It might be on the tail end of the Bible belt, and there might be a lot of churches here, but its not as strong as say, Eastern Tennessee or Kentucky.
I moved her from Lexington, KY where there is a church on every street corner
I moved her from Lexington, KY where there is a church on every street corner
Up north religion and church is more of a private matter (even if a church is on every corner). It would be highly unusual to talk about church or your religion unless you were at church or with family. To ask someone where they attended church would be somewhat offensive. It would be like asking someone how much money they earn. I don't think I've been asked much in the Charleston area but in the Charlotte area it is "small talk". People only mean well and it isn't an act of judgment....it is just a conversation opener and a welcoming invitation.
This sounds ridiculous now, but one of the "oddest" things I had to get used to was people trying to make full-on conversations at the store checkouts. Up North and out West, this doesn't happen lol.
I agree. In fact, while it was annoying at first, I've now come to enjoy it. On my frequent trips back to the Midwest, I occasionally engage a checkout person in conversation, and they seem to like it too.
I experienced some culture shock when I moved here from Boulder 30 years ago but I didn't find that it spoiled anything for me.
I have friends, a couple in their young 30's who grew up here and just moved to San Diego. They love it here and they love it there. I think the culture shock moving between the two is likely to be less now than in the past.
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