How Do You Like Living In Iowa? (Cedar Rapids, Sioux City: upkeep, property taxes)

[antz2205]

thanks iowegian for the info. Actually I'm thinking of taking master at University of Iowa. I'm now living very far in South East Asia. Hoping for the best treatment while i was there for a couple of years.

[QCAWoman]

Well, Thank God Cactus got out of there. You couldn't be more wrong. Probably spend years sitting in their house not going anywhere because he obviously knows NOTHING about Iowa.

[QCAWoman]

Originally Posted by gypsy77

I lived in Burlington, Iowa for 1 year, and it was the worst year of my life. Boring, LOW paying jobs (if you're lucky enough to even get a job) and to go anywhere with life, takes a half day drive, most of the time, in horrible weather. The people seemed "nice" at first, until they got on the subject of anything they didn't agree with. Being gay is a sin, living together before marriage is a sin, inter-racial relationships are a sin, etc.. I'm originally from CA and now live in AZ. Iowa City is ok, if you've never been anywhere else. I think it's the best town in Iowa to visit if you want to shop or go out to a nice dinner. But all in all, it was like stepping back in time. I know everyone talks about how great the schools are and how it's a safe place to raise children. The teenagers I knew there were so bored they just turned to drugs and alcohol because there was nowhere fun to go and nothing else to do. I'm not sure if I would raise my kids in a place where the whole church turns around and gives dirty looks to the new black family in town that walks through the door. Where I come from, that kind of behavior is unacceptable. It seems the people who are from there are treated much better that outsiders like me. If you ever do move to Iowa, never tell anyone you are from California. They sure don't like the C word around those parts. They assume everyone from CA is either a Baywatch babe, a movie star, gay, or just shallow and conceited. I am none of those. But I was treated as if I was. I've never met a group of more close-minded, hypocritical people in all my life. The West Coast states are very expensive and yes, the schools might not score as high as other places, but let me tell you, at least you can be yourself, and not be judged and shunned because the people in your town don't "approve." I will NEVER move back there, not even if someone gave me a free mansion to live in. Once you step foot outside of your big "affordable" house, you realize, you're still in Iowa. No thanks. That kind of place is not for me.

Gypsy, you fail to see that the cost of living is lower in Iowa so even thought you don't get paid like you would in a big city, you still get more for your dollar. Also, the weather is only bad in Iowa for a few months out of the year - you make it sound like it snows every day all day. If I can get to Chicago in 3 hours, how come it takes you "all day" to get anywhere in Iowa? I have never had anyone be mean to me because we don't agree - quite the opposite actually. Iowa City has many homosexual couples as do many other cities. And interacial marriage? I am in an interacial marriage (and we lived together before marriage as did most of my friends who are now married) - we have a child and never once have I had anyone make a comment to either of us in Iowa. Now, I recently moved to TN and I get it all the time! I grew up in Iowa and never once did I drink before I turned 21 and I have never touched an illegal drug in my life (or even seen one), so I don't know where you are getting that the kids here are so bored that they turn to drugs and alcohol. Last time I checked, kids all over the U.S. drink and many have tried drugs. I've also never seen people give dirty looks to black families in church or anywhere else. I am sure it's happened somethere in Iowa and in every town in the U.S. Iowa has a lot of people from other countries who live there happily. Where I live now, if a black person comes into town they are run out - I just heard from one of my employess that when a black person used to come through town in the past, they would hang them outside the town hall - now THAT is a scary attitude - and one which Iowa does not have.

[QCAWoman]

Originally Posted by goldenbrownsugar

me and my family moved to iowa last year and we hate it here because it is a ***** ass state.one it's to cold in the winter,only white people can have fun and they are boreing,good thing thair is not much crime thank God for that.churches is okay,houseing is bad,dont get d.h.s. in your life they are dirty.sex offerders are not welcomed.what's up with everyone is going crazy over sex offerders what about people who commite other crimes.with all the sex on t.v ,porn,cartoons,half dressed women when you go shopping.it dont make sence.:confused.

Here is the reason people should move to Iowa - education. let me fix this for you.

"My family and I moved to Iowa last year and we hate it here because it is a ***** ass state. (space) One (reason) is it's to cold in the winter, (space) only white people can have fun and they are boreing (boring), (period, not comma). Good thing thair (there) is not much crime (period). Thank God for that. (space) Churches is (are) okay, (space)houseing (housing)is bad, (space) don't get d.h.s. in your life (dash) they are dirty. (space) Sex offerders (offenders) are not welcomed (thank God).(space) What's up with everyone is (remove is) going crazy over sex offerders (?) What about people who commite other crimes. (?) With all the sex on t.v. , (space)porn, (space)cartoons, (space) half-dressed women when you go shopping (sentence not complete) . (space) It dont (doesn't) make (any) sence (sense).:confused."

There you go. All fixed by a moron from Iowa.

[iowegian]

Originally Posted by antz2205

thanks iowegian for the info. Actually I'm thinking of taking master at University of Iowa. I'm now living very far in South East Asia. Hoping for the best treatment while i was there for a couple of years.

I think you would be fine in Iowa City. There are some other Muslim students around. Here is the website for the University's Muslim Students Association, in case you are interested: MSA - University Of Iowa

[Tia 914]

Originally Posted by QCAWoman

Here is the reason people should move to Iowa - education. let me fix this for you.

"My family and I moved to Iowa last year and we hate it here because it is a ***** ass state. (space) One (reason) is it's to cold in the winter, (space) only white people can have fun and they are boreing (boring), (period, not comma). Good thing thair (there) is not much crime (period). Thank God for that. (space) Churches is (are) okay, (space)houseing (housing)is bad, (space) don't get d.h.s. in your life (dash) they are dirty. (space) Sex offerders (offenders) are not welcomed (thank God).(space) What's up with everyone is (remove is) going crazy over sex offerders (?) What about people who commite other crimes. (?) With all the sex on t.v. , (space)porn, (space)cartoons, (space) half-dressed women when you go shopping (sentence not complete) . (space) It dont (doesn't) make (any) sence (sense).:confused."

There you go. All fixed by a moron from Iowa.

lol...

[decomama]

Originally Posted by summer grace

I'd rather be on the East coast.. but NE Iowa comes highly recomended from me!

Do you own property in NE iowa?

[Jim Costello]

The only place that is more liberal; than Iowa City is San Francisco.

If you are liberal you 'll love it! #1 on a percentage basis for racially mixed marriages.. 1st midwest state to approve gay marriages..

Good Luck trying to drive in the winter time.. rarely plow snow, rarely use salt they prefer sand.. If you own a body and fender shop here you'll make a fortune...

Nothing to do unless you can drink yourself to death at a college bar...

[Slanderous]

Originally Posted by Jim Costello

The only place that is more liberal; than Iowa City is San Francisco.

Good Luck trying to drive in the winter time.. rarely plow snow, rarely use salt they prefer sand.. If you own a body and fender shop here you'll make a fortune...

Nothing to do unless you can drink yourself to death at a college bar...

I agree with you on the plowing. I thought it was better this past winter, but I also didn't have to park my car on side streets. I went to middle and high school in Bettendorf and they always plow.

When I first came to the University of Iowa, I felt the same way you did about the bars. However, there is more to do. There are the parks, places to shop downtown, places to see good shows, Coral Ridge Mall, etc. Also, there are some good chill bars. I wouldn't have minded if the 21 ordinance passed last year as it would have made the bar scene more mature.

[countrygirl04]

I think Iowa's an ok place to live. The winters are hard. We get quite a bit of snow, it gets really cold, and it seems to last FOREVER. The summers are nice. People say they are hot and humid, but being from the south they really don't compare. Be prepared to get actively involved in some kind of church/club/organization if you want to make friends. People are nice, but are very reserved and cliquish. I have a couple of friends that moved to a small town in Iowa, and they were told by some neighbors "You don't belong here." It seems like the people that like it here the most are the ones that have family here. When we get the chance, we're moving. :-)