Question about Park River too :) (Grand Forks, Hope: house, neighborhood, high school)

[snoopy329]

I know there is currently a thread about Park River but, my question is somewhat different.

I understand you need to be friendly and get involved in small towns because people don't know you and you need to "prove" yourself to them.

My question is will I have even have the chance to "get involved" and be friendly. I am Spanish. I am not Mexican or of Indian ancestry. I am actually Cuban of Spaniard ancestry. I don't want to offend anyone but, will there be any prejudice against me and my 2 boys in Park River. My boys are half Cuban, half white.

Someone wrote in a thread that he was discriminated against in Park River because he was not of the Norwegian bloodline but, that could mean anything because he didn't say what he was and he said he treated them badly in retaliation. That is pretty much the only bad thing I have read about Park River from that 1 person but, I just want to make sure I don't make a mistake by moving someplace where I will be looked at differently and have my little boys treated badly because we are not white.

Hope to get some replies. Thank you all in advance.

[DaninEGF]

I will take a stab at answering this. Whether one will feel prejudice or not is so hard to answer unless you have been subject to it yourself. I do know my next door neighbors here in my town East Grand Forks MN (right across the river from Grand Forks) are from Central America and South America. The wife has family in Miami but is from El Salvador while the husband has no family and is from Columbia. They have been the states a number of years legally and she is a teacher at a local college and he graduated from college with computer IT degree and is working in that field. He also became a local high school soccer coach. This is in a all white neighborhood and we all treat them just fine go to their house for Halloween...we talk frequently (more so in the summer but even over the hum of snow blowers .

The Red River valley historically saw a number of laborers come north mostly from Texas or Mexico during the harvest in the fall. Some over time stayed and had families who stay in the area. Most went back south after harvest. Now with the advancement in harvesting less and less people are needed and many fewer people come north.

I personally believe that it is how you act and how you treat yourself and your house/home that are most important. Not your race or heritage. If you live in a neighborhood of well kept homes and tidy lawns and you do the same....no one with half a brain would care.

That is my take for what it's worth.

Dan

[nemmert]

In ND... you'll likely get what you give... people will tend to treat you how they think you want to be treated... if you aren't out going, they'll figure you want to be left alone... if you are, they'll tend to be polite, even if they themselves just want to be left alone... what you will find is that you generally have to take the first step... I wouldn't expect a house warming party thrown by the neighborhood the first day you move in.

As for racism... at least when I was there, most racism was directed towards the Native Americans. While there were very few blacks or mexicans (I know you aren't mexican, but it's what I use to classify spanish decent) around to really have cause to be racist against them.

[DaninEGF]

Originally Posted by nemmert

In ND... you'll likely get what you give... people will tend to treat you how they think you want to be treated... if you aren't out going, they'll figure you want to be left alone... if you are, they'll tend to be polite, even if they themselves just want to be left alone... what you will find is that you generally have to take the first step... I wouldn't expect a house warming party thrown by the neighborhood the first day you move in.

As for racism... at least when I was there, most racism was directed towards the Native Americans. While there were very few blacks or mexicans (I know you aren't mexican, but it's what I use to classify spanish decent) around to really have cause to be racist against them.

Very good summarization... based on my experiences as being an outsider from another state.

Dan