Missing Manners Desperately & am Looking into the Wonderful Louisiana (New Orleans: lease, home)

[toady1540]

My son and I just moved back to the Pacific Northwest after having been gone for quite some time. Today I came to the harsh realization that after having lived in the Midwest & South before, I am completely ruined as far as tolerance levels go for the lack of common courtesy. Maybe I have just been spoiled!

Anyways, we're not transitioning very well at all and would like to return to the South. We've never been to Louisiana, but I have to admit it looks fantastic and would love to find a place with history.

I could really use come information about the schools, employment opportunities (just the employment situation in general as far as community colleges and universities are concerned). It's tough all over for jobs, but it seems like here I'm running into the barrier of being too far from Seattle and cannot afford to live close enough to justify taking a position there.

As far as our stats go in relation to my aforementioned questions:
My son is 12, enjoys comics, theater (performing as well as watching), archery, & basketball.
I'm 29, have a BA from WSU in Business, Economics, & Psychology with a work history primarily in education & social services operations, not a church going person (not opposed to it, but I'm pagan), am pretty friendly, and recently laid off.

Any about suggestions about cities and parishes would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!!!

[Innotech]

I think you should try Southern Louisiana if you want to live in the state, considering the specifics you mention. Lafayette would be a good choice in terms of keeping a younger person content, although Baton Rouge and New Orleans may be better for the job market considering their size.
Lafayette has a good job market as well that is still growing. I am not familiar with Theater in other cities, but Lafayette has a great Heymann Performing Arts Center in town very close to the University, and several good comics stores. Wherever you might live, you wont find a shortage of interesting places to eat or shop.
The religion down here is heavily Catholic, but there is an increasingly cosmopolitan atmosphere that is developing here, with cultures and religions from around the world being welcomed and even a Scientology Church in town. I am being mostly specific to Lafayette obviously because it is what I know but others will be able to tell you more about the other regions.
Any further questions you might have we are happy to answer.

[annie_himself]

Seems like you would like most if not all of south Louisiana. Jobs, especially in education would be more plentiful in the larger cities like Innotech mentioned, although Lafayette is no slouch in the education department. Theater in Baton Rouge, not too sure because I'm not interested in it per-say but there are the Shaw Center for Arts which have theatrical performances, LSU is always putting on these events and the River Center hosts theatrical plays and events.

Its kind of hard to give you a suggestion for a city/parish without some more information on where you want to live. Do you like urban or quiet and suburban? Do you want the big city or a smaller city?
I believe you cannot go too wrong with the general areas of Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans.

[toady1540]

I just read up on Lafayette on this site and it looks like somewhere we could get very comfortable. My son loves the pictures. We enjoyed being in Missouri, but didn't like being landlocked. Is there a lot to do along the ocean? Sites to see and trails or space along the water where people can walk or picnic? What are the folks like? Out in Missouri and Mississippi, we liked the folks. My son and I never got weird looks for calling everybody ma'am or sir. A few days ago when my son said "excuse me, ma'am" in the grocery store, I ended up getting into an argument about him saying "ma'am." Which is completely stupid. Apparently, him being respectful was frowned upon because it made her feel old and the folks around us seemed to argee. Please, please, please tell me that is not the case there! I know there's always going to be a few people like that, but generally that isn't frowned upon, is it?

[toady1540]

Annie_himself, We love smaller for living, but not too far away from bigger cities so that we can go to events. I enjoy smaller in particular because in other places we have lived (Bethany, MO and Oxford, MS) there was a sense of community among all of us in the same neighborhood and all the kids could get together and play. Or perhaps would there be a parish within the city in which the folks are tight knit and would welcome us?

[annie_himself]

I think Lafayette sounds perfect for you. I can't guarantee your happiness but the people are welcoming and there is one of the most cultured places in the country. Lafayette has plenty of events as its a big tourist attraction for such a small city. Plus, New Orleans and Baton Rouge are a short drive away, even Lake Charles. I don't know much about the coastline relative to Lafayette, I don't think its used for tourism as Avery Island is used for salt mining and I don't know what the Vermilion Bay and Hwy 82 area are like, I have never been close unfortunately.

I believe this is your territory Innotech.

[toady1540]

Are the storms about the same in intensity as Missouri?

[annie_himself]

Storms? If you mean the hurricanes, they impact Lafayette with much less intensity. If you mean tornadoes, they are few and far between in Louisiana, especially this far south in the state. If you mean thunderstorms, I have no idea. They can get very brutal thanks to the Gulf storms that land there, but I have never been to Missouri.

[toady1540]

The thunder storms got pretty intense in Missouri, but we always did alright with them. The tornado activity was off the charts this last year, even in northern Missouri. In southern Missouri they got the worst of it.

What are the winters like? If I'm reading the chart correctly there isn't much snow at all; which is fantastic since I'm not a fan of the snow at all.

I appreciate your help a lot! I'm glad to hear the folks are welcoming. Both of us love to be involved in community activities. Are there any school districts in particular that stand out? If we move once our lease is up here, it will be February and my son will be in the middle of 6th grade.

[annie_himself]

I have no idea about schools in Lafayette Parish.

{ Home : LPSS : Lafayette Parish School System }

Check there for ratings.

Winters are still pretty cold, I never understood why people think we are overly warm down here in January. It has snowed much more consistently the past few years. The humidity makes it feel much colder than it is, but still moderate compared to the bitter NW and anywhere in Missouri.