Moving from Chicago to Garden city kansas (Liberal, Plains: salons, amusement parks)

[csmith60624]

Hello, me and my family are planning on moving from big chicago to garden city kansas i know it's going to be a big difference. But i was looking for information about the area and schools we have 2 son that will be beginning the 3 and 4th grade this school year. My husband all ready has a place there so were fine on that part for now. I know theres a Walmart which always make me comfortable. But where and what do you do 4 fun. R there any movie theaters, skating rinks, bowling,amusement parks? I know about the walk/ drive thru zoo... Also i know that the area is highly populated with Hispanics and thats totally fine. But with us being African American i was wondering would my children see any faces like there owns. what type of beauty salons r there and things of that nature. I was reading another forum about gangs i wanted to know a little bit more about that cause as i said before i am raising 2 boys. But i am from Chicago so i dont see how it can get any worse than that.. Sumbody plz keep it real with me i mean im definitly open for change and a piece of mind.. But will i loose my mind?? Really wanna know about the good schools for my children

Thanking you in Advance,
A lost Big City Girl!!!

[leighland]

WOW! That is a HUGE move!! You're From around the Austin area?! Garden City is so tiny and very lily-white compared to that part of Chicago. WOW! God Bless and Good Luck to you! GC is nowhere near as bad as the Projects in your hood. It'll also seem VERY boring to you.

[csmith60624]

Thanks 4 the heads up and keeping it real... I appreciate your honesty

[iskerbibel]

I know it's none of my business, but I have to ask: What brings you to Garden City of all the godforsaken places on earth??

There essentially ARE no black people in Garden City. You'd be hard-pressed to find more than a handfull of black people anywhere within a couple hundred miles of there. Seriously- I'm not joking when I say that there are likely people there who have barely ever SEEN a black person.

I know you're an adult... and I wouldn't try and tell you what to do- but you're in for a MAJOR culture shock. Just giving you fair warning.

Garden City is kindof a nasty little town- lots of crime... due mostly (I'm told) to the sizeable populations of Mexicans and Vietnameze who work in the local packing plants- many of them are here illegally, many don't speak english. But don't count out the white people... there's a huge problem with meth in that area. I really don't know why anybody would live there.

[leighland]

Originally Posted by iskerbibel

Garden City is kindof a nasty little town- lots of crime... due mostly (I'm told) to the sizeable populations of Mexicans and Vietnameze who work in the local packing plants- .

If iskerbibel had checked the city-data stats on your 60624 zip code, she would not have asked why you are moving from there.
You will be much safer and much more bored in GC than near Robert Taylor Homes.

[Jim West]

csmith,

Garden is probably going to be a culture shock to begin with, but if you busy yourself with positive efforts, you wont have any troubles fitting right in. Garden doesnt have a big black community, but Liberal 50 miles south does. That doesnt really make that much difference, because you will be judged on the person that you are, not where you came from.

GC has pretty decent schools. Target, Walmart, Sams, Home Depot--all the franchise names. The main thing is, that Garden City is working very hard on trying to grow and improve when some other areas are shriveling up and dying, so there are some opportunities there if you are looking for work. Yes, there are several packing houses there that provide the jobs for the Mexicans and Vietnamese. However, most of the Southeast Asians got a couple paychecks and moved on.

I would say that your experience in GC will be what you make of it. If you hold your head up you will move on. If you dwell on the projects, people will avoid you. Put on a big smile and move ahead!!!

Afterthough--you probably wont find beauty salons there that will cater to your needs, but I know Liberal does. So, you might have to run down to Liberal if you need special care or products............!!!

[KevK]

Originally Posted by leighland

If iskerbibel had checked the city-data stats on your 60624 zip code, she would not have asked why you are moving from there.
You will be much safer and much more bored in GC than near Robert Taylor Homes.

Robert Taylor is long gone. You haven't been back to Chicago for awhile have you?

[KevK]

Boy! Are you in for culture shock!

[GraniteStater]

Chicago= midwest, huge 24 hour city, diverse job opportunities in all fields, has Lake Michigan, etc.
Garden City= high plains, small, conservative, semi-arid climate, and more limited job opportunities. I read on a different website, however, that it is the San Francisco of the Plains?

[leighland]

Originally Posted by KevK

Robert Taylor is long gone. You haven't been back to Chicago for awhile have you?

Yeah, its been 6 years...