[bluebird39]

Hi there!

I was born in Baton Rouge, and lived there for my first 15 years, moved to KY for 3, then back to N.O. for college (5 years), then to Oregon, now in Northern Michigan. I still have family in New Orleans, but some moved to Dallas after Katrina, and more are following.

That said, I think the winters were the most pleasant surprise for me. I LOVE the snow, and would take it any day over the endless HOT summer nights down South! We had snow in Oregon, but it also didn't last too long on the ground, but you could drive to the mountains to see and play in it easily.

I agree with the poster about Spring being hard. Spring was my favorite season down South, but now it's my least favorite here. Fall up here though is INCREDIBLE! You'll have to let other people drive so you won't do what I do and run off the road not because of ice, but from staring at the incredible fall colors! We didn't have those in LA or OR. We did have to invest in a lot of GOOD winter clothes. Flannel lined jeans have become my favorite staple, but I recently sold my super-nice river-rafting sandals on eBay because I never use them. I don't ever wear tank tops, even though most people do up here. I think I do miss SOME heat in the summer. I'll still be in pants and a jacket long after everyone else is in shorts and T-shirts. Brings to mind a quote about "the coldest winter I ever felt was a summer in Michigan" (or somewhere equally as mild). I miss swimming all summer, but have taken up skiing, which is a total JOKE, but very fun! My kids are already so much better than I am after 3 winters!

If you have kids, you'll be very impressed with the schools up here compared to Louisiana. I did public schools there, and looking back makes me sad.

As to the people, I notice that as soon as I tell people I'm from Louisiana, they immediately start asking questions about racism, ya'll, accents, rednecks, etc... It's frustrating! I just don't' tell them anymore, or just tell them I'm from Oregon, which I am... I pretty much lost my accent in Oregon because people made fun of it there.

It'll help a lot that your husband is from Michigan. My DH is from Chicago, I'm from LA, and I find that people really haven't accepted us fully into any social circle, mainly because everyone IS from MI, especially up here. Part of it I'm sure is because they do have so much family that they typically spend time with, but I'd say that Michigan is the least friendliest place I've ever lived. But Louisiana was also a deep-rooted place. I rarely met anyone there who wasn't from LA, and rarely meet people FROM Louisiana, outside Louisiana.

You'll miss the food the most! Michigan isn't known for it's food, and oh my goodness, the food in Louisiana is the most incredible food in the entire world! I learned to cook all of those yummy things after moving away, but miss being able to get many of the ingredients, like real French bread, fresh shrimp, and okra! OK.... NOW I'm getting hungry! Luckily, I've always had family to visit and get my fix, but soon my family will all be in Texas (sigh). I also refuse to say pop (I got used to saying soda instead of coke in Oregon). You'll have to learn to say county or even township, instead of parish, punchky (I have no idea how to spell it) instead of king cake, making dinner, instead of fixin' supper (I still can't get that one straight). And people still correct me when I say "Don" ("DON, not dawn"). I get back by making fun of them when they say something nasally that sounds equally as foreign.

Good luck and feel free to ask any questions.

As to driving in winter, get good tires, lots of ice scrapers, go slow, and ignore all of the people backing up behind you! :-). You'll have to learn to walk properly on the ice (something I still haven't mastered). But it's not nearly as bad as you think. I LOVE the winters here!

[Coldjensens]

I love the cold - at first. It is crisp and refreshing and the snow is fun. then after three months of it, it is kinda wearying. You just want it to end. But at first it is nice.

The bad times are November and February/March when it is dreary all the time, cold and rainy. You either have mud or ice but rarely have snow. IN freezing rain, there is nothing you can do to stay warm if you go outside. At elast when it snows, you can bundle up and be comfortable. Mud is unpleasant. I owuld rather have the ground frozen than muddy.

Later spring, summer and fall however are marvelous. After 18 years in California, we find that the change in season makes you appreaciate weather more. You really notice the first warm days of spring and when the trees and plants begin to bud and the early flowers pop out it is just a wonderful feeling. Everyone gets a little bit giddy, especially the dog.

Late spring and fall are absolutely the best times. You cannot beat them. Take a canoe trip down the huron (or another river) in the fall. You will be floored.

If you ahve kids, pick up winter clothing at garage sales and/or salvation army stores. It does nto get much use before they outgrow it, so there is no sense in buying new. Beside if you come here with no coats or sweaters (as we did) it can cost a bloody fortune to buy all that winter clothing. If it were not for my sister's penchant for shopping second hand stores and garage sales, we would have gone broke buying a complete winter wardrobe for 7 people.

[tuebor]

Since you have kids, you might want to consider moving to Kalamazoo instead of Portage so they can get the Kalamazoo Promise scholarship.
Details: the Kalamazoo Promise


Michiganders are not outgoing to strangers, but by the same token, they mind their own business. As long as you mow your lawn, you can live how you like. And if you ever get your car stuck in the snow, the neighbor who never bothered to introduce himself (or some other stranger) will come right over to help you out without being asked.

Church is a good way to meet people, if you are so inclined, but you'll need to do more than just show up. You'll need to get involved in a ministry, committee, study group or whatever.

The Kalamazoo-Portage area is not a big city, but it's not the sticks, either. It has two universities, a community college, and a little art school. Where there is higher education, there will be transplants. You probably won't be the only person on your block who is from somewhere else.

[laruefamily_cjjh]

wow, i am really nervous, what are the areas i want to look for houses in, if we moved to Kalamazoo..?

[laruefamily_cjjh]

I have never been anywhere really. I have stayed in Louisiana and only visited Texas and Arkansas. i know i am in for a big change, but i hope it fits me, i never felt like i fit in with anyone down here.

[laruefamily_cjjh]

oh and do you mean people dont smile at you, they just stare or dont even worry about you?

[daddythreepointoh]

Originally Posted by laruefamily_cjjh

oh and do you mean people dont smile at you, they just stare or dont even worry about you?

I'll put it like this...if you are driving or walking around in the south, if you see a stranger or they see you, they are going to smile and wave, more than likely.

Over here north of Detroit, if I try to wave at my neighbors, about half of them stare at me like I've just flipped them off.

However, over near my parents on the west side of the state, people are more likely to initiate the wave, or at the very least wave back and not look at me like I've got a third arm sticking out of my forehead.

Bottom line---don't expect people to be AS friendly as in the south, at least as far as waving and smiling at complete strangers.

On the other hand, people here can and will surprise you in many ways, and some are very friendly and helpful. It just depends.

[bluebird39]

Originally Posted by laruefamily_cjjh

I have never been anywhere really. I have stayed in Louisiana and only visited Texas and Arkansas. i know i am in for a big change, but i hope it fits me, i never felt like i fit in with anyone down here.

I always felt the same way, growing up down there, and that's part of why I left. Honestly, I'd never move back.

As to the other poster, I DID have a complete stranger dig me out of a snow bank this winter, after my kids and I slid into it

I agree that the communities here are top notch... people really pull for each other and help out when times get tough (which they are now). I just miss the frequent social gatherings I grew up with and had in Oregon too. There was always an excuse for a party... pig roasts in LA, pot lucks in OR. I've invited many people over many times up here, and have only gotten invited to other people's homes once or twice. I just don't think people up here do that sort of thing. I also am heavily involved in volunteering my time, which almost burned me out... working many hours a week with kids and getting zero pay, and zero help. Yes, it's rewarding, but exhausting. We're not church going types, so I'm thinking that's a big part of the social life that we just aren't privy to. We also don't hang out at local bars, another big part of the social life up here

But we're in a tiny town. I'm sure if the OP moved to a city "downstate" it'd be much different.

[Coldjensens]

Same thing "downstate" in our experieince. Very hard to get to know people. They are reserved and suspicious. However they would take off their shirt and give it to you if they thought that you needed it.

We got in trouble with a loan problem and a bunch of neighbors, some of whom we barely even met, got together and each loaned us $1000 to $3000 to get us through the problem. One loaned us $7,500. Most refused intrest. Luckily some of them basically said that we can pay them back whever we are able. (We needed $32,000 in two weeks or we would have lost the house and we managed to come up with it with their help. Not too many places that would happen. Get stuck in a ditch and you get non-stop offers for help. I got a flat tire and I had to make a sign saying that I did not need help becuase I was constantly interrupted while trying to change the tire and could not get it done.

It is not uncommon to come home and find your driveway and/or sidewlak shoveled and not know who did it. Or when I was away for an extended business trip, our lawn got mowed soemohow and we never knew by whom.

People are always looking for a way to help other people. If you say no, it is almost an insult. they do not want somethign in return. Usually not even looking for gratitude, just looking to help.

People are friendly once you get to know them. Breaking through that outer barrier is very difficult though. We have lived here for 3.5 years and most of the people we know are parents of our kids friend. We have made maybe a dozen other friends (mostly through church), but it is difficult.

In California, everyone is instantly your friend, at elast for a few weeks, then they move on. Here freidns is friends. It is a committment.

One other caveat. Watch out for the first people who approach you. We found that the eager friendlies tend to be people with issues who see a chance to glom onto the newcomer before they find out that the person is an emotional vampire, bi-polar, alcoholic, or otherwise not the best choice for an early set of freinds. The "normal" people tend to be more reserved and you have to approach them or meet them somehow through a club or church. I am not syaing that youshould not be freinds withthe social outcasts, but when you are busy with the stress of relocating, you do not want to end up dealing with a bunch of other people's problems or emotional outbursts right away.

[Coldjensens]

By the way, when you wave and people sater at you, I think that they are trying to figure out who you are and how they know you. Since strangers normally do nto smile and wave, they assume that they know you from somewhere. By the time they realize that they are being rude and wave back, you have already passed. I have seen that a dozen or so times. It has happened to me as well. A lot of people know who I am, but I have not met them, or only met in passing once. The will wave or even come up and tlak to me and I am left gazing blankly trying to figure out who they are. It happens, Don't be offended. They do nto think that you have a third arm. Perhaps you could wear a name tag and put a sign on your car announcing who you are.