Moving from Texas to Minnesota

[gweilo845]

I don't know if there's too many people in Minneapolis/St. Paul "stuck" with Popeye's, since there's only one in the entire state

[cybersense]

I have to say that winters here have gotten warmer in general. With the exception of last winter. We used to have terrible big blizzards when I was growing up. The kind were no one could go to school. We had snowmobiles and used them to get around then.

The summers can get hot and humid. Misquitos are not a blessing, but they don't like garlic. They like perfume though - so keep your favorite fragrance for special occassions. I eat garlic and it's a staple in my house. So, a little sweat when I am outside and they stay away.

University life can be neat. As a college student, money is low - but opps for savings and good food is great. Those little shops with family cuisine are great, and we also have the little restaurants that are more expensive but "urban" flare. The best and most friendly young people are usually those who are kind of the "low cost urban" students. Will show you around and share what they know - and what they have. We do have our share of nasty attitudes with no manners, but you get that everywhere.

Minneapolis has lakes right in the south of the city. That is a popular area called 'uptown". When I lived there - it was cheap, nice and friendly. It's gotten to be a bit more spendy now. NE minneapolis used to be what we called the "blue collar" district, but is now more of what uptown used to be. Lots of neat diversity, and you will not have a problem find good food on a large scope there too. Downtown is like most inner cities that I have been to. Smaller, but the same and good fun life for younger population.

You go out to the burbs and it's the burbs. I now live in one, and it took me almost three years before someone talked to me in my neighborhood. LOL I keep thinking it must have been because they knew I was from the city eh? People in the burbs have a wierd idea of what that means - if they have not experienced it.

There is some good culture and the area's of crime exist, but there are communities within the neighborhoods that are just like small town, but more diverse. I enjoyed the diversity. Lot's of art too. The people who live there are close knit in the way that we watch out for each other. Perhaps that is because we knew there was more to watch out for, but as my daughter grew up - she learned a lot and was involved in so much and it did not cost and arm and a leg. Out here - it's not as diverse and everything costs more.

My daughter used to belong to a park community and went to McPhail Music Center. She had opportunities to see plays and participate in so much. Out here it's sports and not sports -- oh and shopping at the mall. LOL Like I said - "the burbs". You should have a blast at the university.

So much to do! Buy warm clothes for winter. The young crowd grow up to be teenagers and think's it's beneath them, but as soon as they hit college - they get it. A light bulb seems to go on and "Hello - it's cold - dress warm". But - in the early spring when you think it's too cold to be dressing in shorts - you see people walking around in just that.

I know that going to college in your first year away from home you may get home sick. But - if you stick it out here - you will enjoy it even when it does get cold.