First, Second, third impressions (St. Paul, Grant: work, health, housing)

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by garth

. . . and "Ish Da" and "Fi Da."

It would also help to try and engage in some things culturally Minnesotan, like skiing, ice skating, fishing, and other things. Never have tried skiing, but I'm open to it. Not a good ice skater, but willing to learn. Being open to the nnew culture can help.

[Auntie Bob]

Originally Posted by LonghornPaul

Not sure if "Minnesota Nice" is a euphesim for rude or standoffish, but that has kind of been a disappointment.

Minnesota Nice is....if you get stuck in the snow this winter, someone will probably stop and help push.
If you ask directions, someone will probably take the time to explain...in detail.
If you are having trouble meeting people, find a non-profit agency to volunteer for. It's a great way to meet people and get acquainted with the community.

[kuan]

You can always go down to the Medina ballroom and polka with them. That's a good way of meeting people, if you don't mind that they're 74 years old.

[mitst]

Yyyooouuu Betchya! We don't talk to no one. Ever. It's easier this way. We don't have to help people move. We don't have to drive people to the airport. We don't have to get dressed and go eat dinner with people. We don't have to jump start peoples cars.

Now that's what Minnesota nice has become.

[NurmMN]

Originally Posted by LonghornPaul

esp. when it comes to the singles scene...no prodding necessary down there. The aloofness has been a huge disappointment. Even when you attempt start a conversation, if you have a southern accent, as I do, break out the flak jackets, because you are going to be shot down!

Anyone else from Texas considering moving here, think twice!

I've lived in MN all my life and I love the southern accents. In fact one of my favorite states is TEXAS...............Don't feel bad..........MN loves you.

[MidniteBreeze]

Re: Minnesota Nice

Another poster hit it pretty well...Minnesota Nice is more about politeness than actual "friendliness." Minnesotans will help you get your car unstuck, help old ladies shovel their sidewalks, say "please" and "thank you" to waitresses, that sort of thing. But yes, it may take a while for your neighbor to invite you over for a BBQ.

I also agree that there's much more "minnesota nice" outside of the metro area. Up north some people actually look forward to blizzards so they can drive around in their trucks to pull strangers out of the ditch (and not expect anything in return.) People are more polite in public (you might have a Minnesotan apologize to YOU if you step on their foot at the movie theater, that sort of thing.)

But we are a rather reserved, stoic bunch. We don't get into your business and we like the same courtesy extended to us. This doesn't mean we don't LIKE you (and we'll still happily help you jump start your car), but the last thing we want is to do "intrude" on your life. It's hard to explain, but if I invite you for a BBQ and you really don't want to come, that puts you in an awkward situation. Minnesotans would rather err on the side of "leaving you alone" than making you feel "obligated" to do something.

Give us some time though. Once we're pretty sure we KNOW you want to come over for a BBQ, you'll probably be invited. As mentioned above, you might have to work a little harder in the beginning to "reach out" to us.

The good thing, though, is once you make a friend in Minnesota, you have a REAL friend. This is the type of person who WILL drive you to the airport, help you move, come to your daugher's baby shower, pick you up at 2 AM because your car died outside the bar. In some parts of the country it's pretty easy to make "good time" friends, but they're usually nowhere to be found when you actually NEED something.

Good luck to you and hang in there!

[Li'lBeaver]

You will have to learn to speak carefully lest you offend someones delicate feelings. You must never stand up for your rights even when someone tramples the hell out of them, this applies even to good friends of many years.
Should you talk to them about their transgressions they will lie to your face and then get P.O.'d when you call them on it with the truth.

We moved here several years ago when we retired only to have our friends of over twenty years crap on us, lie about it, and shun us as well as causing many others in the area to do so also. With friends (?) and neighbors like these nobody needs any enemies!

We have learned to say to H*ll with most of the people up here and can not wait to get the chance to sell our moderate "Dream Home" on a small quiet good fishing lake, and let the in-bred rednecks have their "Great State of MinneSOTa" all back to themselves. We will simply take our retirement pensions, Social Security checks and retirement investments and leave. We simply can not tolerate friends (?) who lie to our face and stab us in the back. We are too old to have to have to fight and put up with the snobbish in-bred intellectually challanged up here in MinneSOTa. These comments could be equally applied to the politicians in MinneSOTa also.

[kg1701d]

Originally Posted by MidniteBreeze

Re: Minnesota Nice

Another poster hit it pretty well...Minnesota Nice is more about politeness than actual "friendliness." Minnesotans will help you get your car unstuck, help old ladies shovel their sidewalks, say "please" and "thank you" to waitresses, that sort of thing. But yes, it may take a while for your neighbor to invite you over for a BBQ.

I also agree that there's much more "minnesota nice" outside of the metro area. Up north some people actually look forward to blizzards so they can drive around in their trucks to pull strangers out of the ditch (and not expect anything in return.) People are more polite in public (you might have a Minnesotan apologize to YOU if you step on their foot at the movie theater, that sort of thing.)

But we are a rather reserved, stoic bunch. We don't get into your business and we like the same courtesy extended to us. This doesn't mean we don't LIKE you (and we'll still happily help you jump start your car), but the last thing we want is to do "intrude" on your life. It's hard to explain, but if I invite you for a BBQ and you really don't want to come, that puts you in an awkward situation. Minnesotans would rather err on the side of "leaving you alone" than making you feel "obligated" to do something.

Give us some time though. Once we're pretty sure we KNOW you want to come over for a BBQ, you'll probably be invited. As mentioned above, you might have to work a little harder in the beginning to "reach out" to us.

The good thing, though, is once you make a friend in Minnesota, you have a REAL friend. This is the type of person who WILL drive you to the airport, help you move, come to your daugher's baby shower, pick you up at 2 AM because your car died outside the bar. In some parts of the country it's pretty easy to make "good time" friends, but they're usually nowhere to be found when you actually NEED something.

Good luck to you and hang in there!

EXACTLY thats the best description of MN people i've heard recently

[Minnehahapolitan]

Inbred red-necks? Intellectually challenged? Talk about passive-agressiveness. What do your unfortunate friendships have to do with the political scene here? Our politiciann are generally very good. Even the ones I disagree with are good citizens. This isn't Louisiana. I'm sorry to hear you were treated like that, but don't generalize it to the state as a whole.

[chani29f]

Originally Posted by MidniteBreeze

Re: Minnesota Nice

I also agree that there's much more "minnesota nice" outside of the metro area. Up north some people actually look forward to blizzards so they can drive around in their trucks to pull strangers out of the ditch (and not expect anything in return.) People are more polite in public (you might have a Minnesotan apologize to YOU if you step on their foot at the movie theater, that sort of thing.)

Credit William H Macy on the Fargo DVD featurette "Minnesota Nice": How do you get 4 drunken Minnesotans out of the pool? You say "Excuse me, would you please get out of the pool?"