is iowa boring?

[Not Iowa]

Originally Posted by UW Badgers

Hubby and I moved to CR 3 years ago from the Milwaukee area. This city is a total bore. It is so far behind times, it isn't even funny.

The whole town shuts down the minute a snowflake falls. I couldn't believe the first winter we were here and schools were closing BEFORE it even began to snow. Being from Milwaukee, we are tough winter people and you would need a blizzard for a school to close. I'm glad we don't have kids, they would never be in school in the winter. The plowing here stinks!

I consider this town a town you would have to be born in to love. Don't even get me started on Westdale Mall, what a joke. Moving here, I didn't realize that the nearby towns would have NOTHING.
Example:
If Cedar Rapids were Milwaukee, Ely would have just as much shopping, food and schools as Cedar Rapids.

I understand that Milwaukee is bigger then CR, but if CR actually had money, this town could be something. I for one wouldn't mind my taxes being raised a bit if it meant it would go to something new here.

I find it funny to read how "nice" everyone is in Iowa. I do see a difference here and there, but yet when we moved into our house, no one came and welcomed us. We live in a nice looking neighborhood and the one person I've talked to the most, is the guy flipping the house next door to us.

We can't stand the way people take care of their homes/yards. People must think we are crazy by the way we treat our grass, we have the nicest on the block. That stems from being in Wisconsin. Is it so hard to cut your grass, rake your leaves, shovel your snow? I've never seen so many yards that have weeds for grass, what a shame. We don't know why you would invest in a house and not take care of it.

When I discovered I would have to pay for parking at the library, I knew this town had some serious issues.

We moved for a job promotion for my husband. If we had to do it all over again, it would never have happened. We will not retire here(long ways from that), and are counting the days for when we move back.

I agree for the most part. I've been in CR for two years...
1. I would love to have gone to school here. It is a snow day/late start heaven. I was in school from 7th grade up in Minnesota, and only ONE day did the school close - and that was because the State Gov. mandated it.

2. You do have to be born here to love it - or to be part of it. This is a closed circle type of town. It's difficult to meet people. There's next to nothing going on. The people aren't welcoming to newcomers.

3. Iowa City is a lot like Milwaukee. Coralville has decent shopping. Other than that...nothing.

4. I can't figure out or get a good answer to why CR is broke. Davenport is building up their downtown. Des Moines & Iowa City are doing the same. They are attracting newcomers. Cedar Rapids tends to reject the idea.

5. I don't see the niceness in Cedar Rapids either. I have not yet decided though if I am "Not Iowa" or just "Not Cedar Rapids". I've had good experiences in Iowa City & Des Moines.

Good luck on the rest of your stay!

[zz4guy]

Originally Posted by UW Badgers

Hubby and I moved to CR 3 years ago from the Milwaukee area. This city is a total bore. It is so far behind times, it isn't even funny.

The whole town shuts down the minute a snowflake falls. I couldn't believe the first winter we were here and schools were closing BEFORE it even began to snow. Being from Milwaukee, we are tough winter people and you would need a blizzard for a school to close. I'm glad we don't have kids, they would never be in school in the winter. The plowing here stinks!

I consider this town a town you would have to be born in to love. Don't even get me started on Westdale Mall, what a joke. Moving here, I didn't realize that the nearby towns would have NOTHING.
Example:
If Cedar Rapids were Milwaukee, Ely would have just as much shopping, food and schools as Cedar Rapids.

I understand that Milwaukee is bigger then CR, but if CR actually had money, this town could be something. I for one wouldn't mind my taxes being raised a bit if it meant it would go to something new here.

I find it funny to read how "nice" everyone is in Iowa. I do see a difference here and there, but yet when we moved into our house, no one came and welcomed us. We live in a nice looking neighborhood and the one person I've talked to the most, is the guy flipping the house next door to us.

We can't stand the way people take care of their homes/yards. People must think we are crazy by the way we treat our grass, we have the nicest on the block. That stems from being in Wisconsin. Is it so hard to cut your grass, rake your leaves, shovel your snow? I've never seen so many yards that have weeds for grass, what a shame. We don't know why you would invest in a house and not take care of it.

When I discovered I would have to pay for parking at the library, I knew this town had some serious issues.

We moved for a job promotion for my husband. If we had to do it all over again, it would never have happened. We will not retire here(long ways from that), and are counting the days for when we move back.

So true. You can apply that description to the entire state as well.

The schools didn't use to shut down for nothing though. In the 90s they all started shutting down for rediculous reasons. They shut down a ton yesterday because we had that little storm over the weekend. It is embarassing. If I had kids I'd start wondering when they were going to learn anything. But as we all know it isn't about the kids, it's about how much money, power, and relaxation that the teachers' union in this state can squeeze from people.

[WoodwardGirl]

Originally Posted by zz4guy

They shut down a ton yesterday because we had that little storm over the weekend. It is embarassing. If I had kids I'd start wondering when they were going to learn anything.

As a teacher, I'd just like to say that when I got to school yesterday for a 10:00 late start, every maintenance person they could find and then some were out trying to chip an inch of glare ice off all the horizontal surfaces, such as sidewalks and parking lots. Personally, I'm thinking I'd rather have my child safe at home than cracking his head open on ice-covered walks, but that's just me.

[Not Iowa]

Originally Posted by zz4guy

So true. You can apply that description to the entire state as well.

The schools didn't use to shut down for nothing though. In the 90s they all started shutting down for rediculous reasons. They shut down a ton yesterday because we had that little storm over the weekend. It is embarassing. If I had kids I'd start wondering when they were going to learn anything. But as we all know it isn't about the kids, it's about how much money, power, and relaxation that the teachers' union in this state can squeeze from people.

I disagree just a bit here - I don't think it's the teachers union looking for any of those things. It's fact in stone that IA teachers are paid ridicously low so I don't see correlation there. The State itself needs to put de-icing and snow removal of public propery, such as schools & hospitals, at the top of the list. Plowing is horrible everywhere I've ever been in an IA winter - they need to prioritize more than a bit.

I was in school in IA until 92 and don't remember many closures at that time. I notice them all over the place now. What's the real change that occurred to make this the case?