Hi-possible relocation from PA (Birmingham, Mobile: housing, rent, high school)

[njjsmom]

Hello everyone--we are quite possibly (almost 100%) relocating to south Alabama, near Mobile from Pennsylvania--coal region none the less. I have been looking into small towns and cities and school disctricts. Can I ask what kind of welcome can we expect? It's going to be hard on my two teenage sons, 17 & 16, especially entering a new school district, possibly during January '07. I've been really looking into the Citronelle area since it seems to be a lot like the town we are living in now. As a native Pennsylvanian and having never lived anywhere else I'm, as are my boys, nervous about fitting in and being accepted. Do I need to be worried? Thanks in advance......

Wanda

[Criss1956]

Originally Posted by njjsmom

Hello everyone--we are quite possibly (almost 100%) relocating to south Alabama, near Mobile from Pennsylvania--coal region none the less. I have been looking into small towns and cities and school disctricts. Can I ask what kind of welcome can we expect? It's going to be hard on my two teenage sons, 17 & 16, especially entering a new school district, possibly during January '07. I've been really looking into the Citronelle area since it seems to be a lot like the town we are living in now. As a native Pennsylvanian and having never lived anywhere else I'm, as are my boys, nervous about fitting in and being accepted. Do I need to be worried? Thanks in advance......

Wanda

Worried? No, I wouldn't worry. However, I wouldn't walk into a beer joint and ask for a bottle of pop. Be sure to be polite and say yes Ma'am and yes Sir. Learn to love grits and most importantly, speak pleasantly; kinda sing your words, sugahpie.
I live in Panama City Beach, FL which is about 2 1/2 or 3 hours from Mobile. I grew up in Birmingham. I don't know that much about the Mobile area.
If I can be of any help, feel free to write: criss719@wmconnect.

[southtonorth]

in 1999, we moved from Satsuma, AL (not far from Citronelle) to the Harrisburg, PA area. We live in Perry County where there isn't even a red light. it took me a while to get to know the people and i imagine you will have the same reverse problems when you get down south-- with the exception that the people in the south are lots, lots more FRIENDLY. Southern people do not know what the word "stowick" means(i am not sure that is how it is spelled) but it means -uptight- i think. ha
The high school in Satsuma is a very good one. Good teachers, Good football team for the county, but then again, i believe Citronelle also has a good team. If you like Alabama red necks--then move to Citronelle. ha but if you want your teenagers to be close to things they can do - movies, both city & school sports-football, baseball - no soccer as far as i know, but we left in 99 and a lot probably has changed.
i don't know what your budget is for housing but if you want nice reasonable housing try Vaughns in Satsuma. or check out the older homes around the high school on Orange Dr. they are nice also.

also, if you do move to citronelle, satsuma or saraland---Celeste Road is a good place to look for housing.

as far as i know citronelle is a quiet community that i would associate being like---larger than new bloomsfield, smaller than Sellingrove, smaller than Camp Hill, Citronelle doesn't have a Wal-Mart! ha

YOU HAVE NO NEED TO WORRY!! Whereever you go in ALABAMA i assure you that you will be made welcome and your sons will love the southern girls because we have been raised to love, honor and cherish our loved ones.

Good luck!!

Originally Posted by njjsmom

Hello everyone--we are quite possibly (almost 100%) relocating to south Alabama, near Mobile from Pennsylvania--coal region none the less. I have been looking into small towns and cities and school disctricts. Can I ask what kind of welcome can we expect? It's going to be hard on my two teenage sons, 17 & 16, especially entering a new school district, possibly during January '07. I've been really looking into the Citronelle area since it seems to be a lot like the town we are living in now. As a native Pennsylvanian and having never lived anywhere else I'm, as are my boys, nervous about fitting in and being accepted. Do I need to be worried? Thanks in advance......

Wanda

[paintswithcolorsofthewind]

Hi, I moved to Alabama from the mountians of Virginia, I have lived in the North all my life. I am 46.I was born in maine so I am no stranger to the cold weather. Coming to Alabama was a culture shock. Everything to me is differant. The weather the vegetation, the people and the way things are done and handled. The first year was the hardest. Ilive in Dothan Alabama which is about 90 miles from Panama city beach. 12 miles from the Fla line 13 miles from Ga line give or take. I hate the taxes here. And to me it feels like most of the people who have been here all or most of their lives have a hard time with racial issues. But I have seen that alot of new comers are moving here from differant places so its almost forcing those people to try and get along. The Churches to me was overwhelming. But we since have found a wonderful church with a church family of all colors and nationalitys. I can not say to much about the schools because my children are grown and married and did not move here. But I do see alot of people "set" in their ways.
It was very very hard to get used to the HOT weather. I am so used to the cold my blood was thick. I am going on my second year now and I am starting to get used to the HOT. what I do like is being able to enjoy less clothes. And swim longer. Now honestly, I have moved all my life and as old as I am you would think I could adjust better. But this has been the hardest place I have ever moved to, too be able to adjust. Now I am speaking for this area. I do not know how the rest of Bama is.

[mickie]

Hey! I live in Grand Bay, AL which is south of Mobile. I'm not familiar with "north Mobile" but here in "south Mobile" we have a great time! Everyone is friendly. We have good schools. We don't have much in the way of entertainment or shopping (the closest Wal-Mart is 20 minutes away/ theater about 30 minutes) but we are very close to just about anything you could want. In less than 3 hours you can be in New Orleans. It takes about 1 1/2 hours to get to Pensacola, FL (Blue Angels, Beaches). In about an hour you could be at the casinos in the Gulfport/Biloxi area or the the beaches of Gulf Shores. I can be at Dauphin Island in about 30 minutes or Mobile in about 20 minutes. And the best part is when I'm done at any of those places, I get to come back home to where it is quiet and peaceful in the "country."

[NotYourTypicalSoutherner]

Honey, I moved here when I was in 5th grade (I'm 25 now) from the Atlanta area and it was STILL a major culture shock! The kids were so cruel to me...I don't mean to scare you, but try to get your kids in a large school where there are more transplants like them. I think the main problem for me was being the outsider in a (very) small school where everyone had grown up together...they didn't want to make room for the new kid with the funny Atlanta accent. You know how kids are though...the adults were much more understanding! The stereotype of people being very friendly is true (I've been up north, and greeting people with a smile, saying hello to strangers, and just generally being polite gets me strange looks). But it's also true that, in any small town, people are very set in their ways and don't always want to help outsiders feel welcome. So my advice is to try and live somewhere that gets a good supply of outsiders, like near a University. The University of South Alabama is in Mobile, for instance. Just being friendly and personable goes a long way here. People love to talk at the supermarket...for example, my mother was raised here and she gets into long conversations with strangers all the time. Ignoring people when they say hello or try to just chat with you out of nowhere seems rude to us. (We wonder what you're hiding!) Just act the same way and people will see what a nice family you have and you'll do fine!

[vasinger]

Originally Posted by paintswithcolorsofthewind

Hi, I moved to Alabama from the mountians of Virginia, I have lived in the North all my life. I am 46.I was born in maine so I am no stranger to the cold weather. Coming to Alabama was a culture shock. Everything to me is differant. The weather the vegetation, the people and the way things are done and handled. The first year was the hardest. Ilive in Dothan Alabama which is about 90 miles from Panama city beach. 12 miles from the Fla line 13 miles from Ga line give or take. I hate the taxes here. And to me it feels like most of the people who have been here all or most of their lives have a hard time with racial issues. But I have seen that alot of new comers are moving here from differant places so its almost forcing those people to try and get along. The Churches to me was overwhelming. But we since have found a wonderful church with a church family of all colors and nationalitys. I can not say to much about the schools because my children are grown and married and did not move here. But I do see alot of people "set" in their ways.
It was very very hard to get used to the HOT weather. I am so used to the cold my blood was thick. I am going on my second year now and I am starting to get used to the HOT. what I do like is being able to enjoy less clothes. And swim longer. Now honestly, I have moved all my life and as old as I am you would think I could adjust better. But this has been the hardest place I have ever moved to, too be able to adjust. Now I am speaking for this area. I do not know how the rest of Bama is.

If you lived in Virginia, then how can you say you lived in the north all your life? Also, I don't see how it would be that much different. Virginia is known for heat and humidity.

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by vasinger

If you lived in Virginia, then how can you say you lived in the north all your life? Also, I don't see how it would be that much different. Virginia is known for heat and humidity.

A-hem. Notice she stated that she lived in the MOUNTAINS. Not nearly as much heat and humidity there. And WAY less than in Dothan, which is way down in south Alabama (AKA L.A. ... Lower Alabama)

[vasinger]

Originally Posted by Southlander

A-hem. Notice she stated that she lived in the MOUNTAINS. Not nearly as much heat and humidity there. And WAY less than in Dothan, which is way down in south Alabama (AKA L.A. ... Lower Alabama)

Yes the mountains are cooler. I just dont think its that big a cultural difference, though. I have been to the deep south and as a Virginian, I feel right at home.

[beachbabydmg]

Well, we just moved here in 2005 from outside Philadelphia. We live on the Eastern Shore in Spanish Fort. If you haven't moved yet, then move to this side of the bay. Schools are better - most kids over in Mobile area are homeschooled. It is so totally awesome here. Our one daughter is still up in PA going to graduate from Penn State in May. Our other two daughters live here with us. One attends Daphne High School and is going to graduate. We love the weather and there is so much to do. We can get to the beach in 1 hour with water that looks like the Carribean! Just ask me where to go! Contact me if you want more information.