Toronto to...Memphis?! (Germantown, Collierville, Walnut Grove: extended stay, renting, where to live)

[defiepilex]

i would think so. ive driven in canada with an american license. renting a car may be different, though.

[Pearlbob]

People from the UK and everywhere in Europe come over here ALL the time and rent cars. I post on another forum where there are a ton of european people and they talk about renting cars here everytime they come to visit Graceland. So it doesn't matter where you are from, you can rent a car. the only exception MIGHT be if you are under 25, but even then, I think you'd just have to pay more.

[Pearlbob]

And I can't think of any hotels in Collierville. Besides...if you don't rent a car, what are you going to do for 4 days here exploring the city? This isn't a cab town....there aren't cabs driving around picking people up. Especially way out in Collierville...just taking a cab from there to downtown alone would be $100 or so (round trip).

[sliverbox]

Let me try to put this as plain and simple to you and all the other people from cities considered to be progressive. I myself grew up in the sticks outside of Knoxville. I have since lived in NY, MA, and now CA. So I have lived in both what is considered very conservative to very liberal places.

What's the comparisons? Quite honestly, not as severe as many who've only lived in places like NYC and SF probably imagine them being. To me, the similarities run in the same vein.The contrasts are often the smaller things like accents, food, weather, and so forth. I was NEVER haggled by people, attempting to make me join their church. Was there a lot of religious people? Sure. There were lots of churches and billboards with advertisements for them. But on Sunday, everyone did their own thing and if you went to the flea market Sunday morning instead of church... big deal. That was your business.

What I'm getting at is that out of all the people who come to Southern City forums, this weird fear of being forced to do something- like become a Christian- or something take the cake as the most heavily focussed topic of all. It's almost like people think the South is in a foreign, 3rd world country. That's not how it is, and nobody is going to make you do something you don't want to do. But even if someone mentioned something like that, just be polite about it and be on your way. Big deal. Lastly, despite not being a heavily religious person myself, there is an interesting culture behind Southern Christianity. You might find it interesting that Elvis grew up in a Black Southern Baptist church, singing in the choir, which explains his somewhat wavering singing style. Perhaps if people stopped demonizing Southern Christianity, they might see that it actually serves as a community cornerstone for many smaller communities and has elements of American culture that perhaps has the same merits as any other revered tradition.

All in all, Memphis is a major metro city that you'll likely find lacks a great deal of the Southern... rural qualities many assume exist there. It could be any major city anywhere, and as long as you stay in the immediate confines, you can pretend that it doesn't exist. But I would encourage actually going out and experiencing things as they are. As I've learned from my travels, awareness of various cultures is highly educational- even if it might not have the same panache' as what you find ideal.

As far as Hotels, Pearlbob would probably know better. Try Hotels.com or some other hotel site. They'll let you know if you can get a shuttle from the airport to the hotel.

[Pearlbob]

Definitely agree with silverbox...so many of my friends and relatives have visited thinking that they are going to see people in cowboy hats, country western bars, ridiculous things like that. Memphis is URBAN. Memphis, NOLA, Atlanta, Detroit. I think those cities are fairly similar in terms of population (a large black presense). What I mean by that, is that it's urban, not country western. Not backwoods and redneck. Yes, people have southern accents, but other than that, we're an actual, real, big city

It's like saying everyone in NYC is an annoying, loud, italian person. Or that everyone in San Fran is gay. Or everyone in Florida is either latin or geriatric. There is so much more to every town than it's stereotypes.

[Kabluey]

Originally Posted by AznTO

Alright -- so for some reason my company wants to relocate me to Memphis (so I can work with the Fed Ex account) - and my first thought was - H*LL NO. I'm from Toronto, Canada (similar to NYC but more multicultural and relaxed), so it will be a BIG change and even right now I am very hesitant to make the move. I am also a female Asian and I know that Memphis isn't the most multi-cultural city...is there even a China Town in Memphis?

Anyhow -- I've been reading the posts on areas to relocate to -- but only a few people have mentioned downtown Memphis (which is where I'd like to be) and how it is the new "hip" area to be. So I guess my question is -- are there specific d/t Condos that are recommended? I read some bad reviews about 10 Main Condos and others as well...any help would be appreciated...

Midtown condos would be alright too -- but I heard that each street is different from the next (can go from good to bad to good quickly).

What about life in Memphis -- I was told that I shouldn't go out at night ...

1st. Welcome to Memphis. There are Asians around. I used to joke though that everywhere my family went, we were a walking Chinatown. And there were 4 of us. But it's a joke. There are a number of Asians. There are a number of Asian companies with major ops in Memphis, and then there are the hospitals (i.e. St. Jude).

2nd. Downtown and midtown are the most multicultural places in the city.

3rd. You can go out at night. Just be smart and use common sense. Check out blogs such as Paul Ryburn's Journal: Daily thoughts of a Downtown Memphis resident and links to other blogs. There are other transplants in Memphis, such as Angie's Adventures. Depending on what you like to do and your age; I liked hitting the Flying Saucer on Monday nights, lots of college-age and young professionals hanging out. I also participated in MPact, a diverse organization for young professionals, one of the more successful ones in the nation. During the summers, the Dixon Gallery had concerts. On the last week of every month there's a trolley art tour as well (forgot which day . . . Monday? Might want to check out the area called South Main). Memphis is just a different city. Don't go in with any preconceived notions if you've never visited before. It's more than Graceland. It's more than a traditional southern town b/c of the racial mix. It's small enough that an ambitious young professional can be a part of changing the future of the region, if that's something you're interested in, but it's big enough to have most major cultural amenities -- noteworthy ballet and opera, two symphonies, a couple of theater troupes, major zoo with pandas, and a number of museums (civil rights museum, Smithsonian rock and soul museum, Asian art museum at Peabody Place, Egyptian art museum at the University of Memphis, Brooks Museum of Art, Dixon Galleries, Pink Palace, etc). There are a number of entertainment districts -- South Main, Pinch, Beale, Cooper-Young, the Edge (I think that's the name of the area near Sun Records), Overton Square. Most of them are small compared to Toronto.

Memphis is a city with all the potential in the world that could use a lot of fresh ideas that I'm sure you could offer.

[Kabluey]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

Re-reading my own post, I apologize if I sounded rude. The reality is, you talk to any young adult who lives in downtown or midtown, and they HATE the burbs. They never drive out there. They refuse to drive past the UM area. The burbs, especially Collierville, are for people who have a dog, 2 cats, and 2.3 kids with a big yard, riding lawn mower, and a picket fence.

I've known a few younger people who have moved here, gotten a place in the burbs, and within a couple months are already looking to move downtown. And that's Cordova, not even Collierville which is much further away. At least Cordova has a ton of chain restaurants and bars.

Yeah, there's a surprising number of young professionals out in Cordova. Like you said, at least there's something to do there. The mall, there's a Flying Saucer and now King Biscuit out that way, tons of chain restaurants, etc. It's just aesthetically repugnant b/c it's your stereotypical sprawling development. But I was surprised how many folks were at the Saucer out there...

[Kabluey]

Originally Posted by AznTO

The person who owns it is renting it 800/month, parking included.

I have time to think it over, I won't be moving to Memphis until September anyway, and by that time, if another company offers me a better job - I might just as well stay in Toronto

It will be tough to adjust to Memphis I think - I will miss Little Italy, Little Portugal, Greek Town, China Town etc --- Afterall, Toronto is the most diverse city in the world ... p.s Chinese/Buddists don't go to Churches...we go to Temples...and you probably don't have one there...?

Someone mentioned good Chinese/Japanese/Vietnamese food -- *sigh* is it "Americanized"? Sushi is probably good there seeing as u have so much water around you

BTW - you guys sure answer these posts quickly...you must be bored at your jobs...haha. As for me, I'm on vacation now...

My parents only like authentic Asian places. Sekisui is great for Sushi, and is now a chain. Asian Palace is authentic. If you like roast duck, theirs is pretty succulent. I'm trying to remember some of the other places my family used to go to. There used to be a place called Nam King for Chinese, I don't know if it still exists. Send me a PM and I'll check out from my family where they go.

[Kabluey]

Originally Posted by sliverbox

con:
1. Crime! Crime! Crime! one death every other day.
2. school system sucks,worst in Tennessee, and Tennessee is the worst in the country
3. Southern accent is terrible, I really don't want my kids to speak like that, that's the reason I am looking for a new job
4. Chinese food is horrible here, and all americanized
5. not many place to go in driving distance, no big city around, NO is destroyed, SL is boring, just like memphis, zoo is too small, only amusement park (not a good one) was shutdown last year

7. Heart of Jesusland, or maybe it is Texas, anyway

Wow. I wasn't sure if you were kidding.

Also- I take high offense to your remark about southern accents. We have one of the last existing original, regional dialects left in the country that hasn't been totally annihilated by suburban assimilation.

Oh- and before I forget- A Buddhist person would probably find it very offensive if we were to refer to a heavily Buddhist region as "Buddaland". I don't get how people like yourself, whom I assume must consider themselves educated, smart, and- enlightened( I couldn't resist the pun) can assume that it is perfectly A-OK to poke fun of another religion just because it happens to be the predominant one in the area. Look at yourself in the mirror next time and think about it.

Oh- and before I forget- When was the last time you heard Americans wanting to move to Canada? Oh boy! I So want to live in Canada! Not.

I'm an Asian with a southern accent in Arizona. You won't believe the kind of prejudices I've witnessed from people I've met in California and New York as a result. And I mean other Asians. It just shows though that we all need to be careful that we don't portray ourselves as ultra-tolerant if we are in reality selectively so. Most of the folks I met were just shocked, and to be honest it doesn't hurt with the ladies to have a southern accent if you have some intellect and humor to back it up.

One thing to be prepared for is that southerners can be judgmental, but so can transplants as well. It's important to promote open-mindedness across the board. And this is the most important thing -- be aware of the personalities and mindsets of the folks you are around. Take their perspectives with a grain of salt. There may be valid criticisms of the region. But there are valid benefits as well.

[Pearlbob]

There probably is, but there is no point in staying a hotel in Collierville if she doesn't have a car. It would be impossible to pay for a cab back and forth for 4 days (even if the company paid for cab fare, I can't imagine a bigger headache). If she rents a car, it would be okay to stay out there, but there is nothing to do in Collierville and that would not be a good representation of Memphis.