What is wrong with everybody? (day care, find a job, price)

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by athousandlogins

I don't know about Greenville or NY. But, as one of NoVA's much-maligned SAHMs, I spend a lot of time at parks and play areas. And I cannot tell you how many times other parents have lent me a hand. Like if my 3 year old wants to be pushed on the swing but my baby needs to be fed? (I can't believe how often this happens, LOL). I can guarantee you that if there is another parent nearby, I'll get some offers of help. And I do the same when I see other parents struggling with too many kids and not enough hands.

I don't think NoVA is the absolutely friendliest place in the world (in day-to-day terms, Nebraska was definitely friendlier, though they had some hang-ups about newcomers), but people do help each other out. The need just has to be kind of obvious - like juggling kids - because otherwise people aren't going to want to intrude into your business.

I've noticed the same thing here. I think you're absolutely right about people not wanting to intrude. But when a helping hand is needed, they're there.

I remember how people rallied after 9/11. It was amazing how quickly we figured out who might have been at the Pentagon. Every neighbor was checked on. The boy scouts got a little food drive going and we made sandwiches to feed the rescue workers. And as I've pointed out in other threads, when my neighbor went into labor during a blizzard we got her to the hospital. When the kid down the street fell out of a tree, the neighbors took care of that situation, too. And lots of the kids in my cul de sac have gotten their first job from a neighbor. In fact, as most of you know, when I moved her I got my first job in Nova from normie. That's why we're such good friends.

[bs13690]

I know exactly what the OP means, I moved from NOVA to NC and found that people are definitely friendlier in general here. At first, we thought it was weird when people said hello and that the the fast food people speak English.

[steviez]

hey, try Connecticut. We're moving from CT to NoVA after 10 years and we won't even have a goodbye gathering. I've already been struck by how much MORE friendly people are in NoVA (stores etc only)

I'm going to get a dog.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by bs13690

I know exactly what the OP means, I moved from NOVA to NC and found that people are definitely friendlier in general here. At first, we thought it was weird when people said hello and that the the fast food people speak English.

Make that a trio who thinks Northern Virginians have something wrong with them. I went back to my native Hampton Roads, VA in June and after 5 years in Northern VA it was weird to have fast food joints that spoke English and starting up conversations with folks at the park and fishing hole.

I just hope I don't carry my bad NoVA habits to Louisville with me.

[dlumpen]

Almost my favorite part about it is that you can talk to maids, workmen, or whatever who will just open up. One time a guy repairing my stove told me how he talked to God one time when he almost drowned, and a nice conversation I had with a lady who was changing the trash at a rest area. Very different.

[Nancy in Nokomis]

And you know what - I do talk to "service" people and they are friendlier than most...not as stuck up as the rest

and dont give me that "they dont want to intrude" crap - they are stuck up or too busy or dont care - that is why people are unfriendly

[dlumpen]

Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom

And you know what - I do talk to "service" people and they are friendlier than most...not as stuck up as the rest

and dont give me that "they dont want to intrude" crap - they are stuck up or too busy or dont care - that is why people are unfriendly

Great point. I meant to comment on the "they don't want to intrude" comment myself. We're supposed to live in this isolated box in the middle of a group of people. We're not supposed to make "small talk" because it's intrusive. It actually has a very real purpose to establish your friendly intent and to also "read" the other person. Most people don't trust folks who don't make eye contact. This goes the same for people who don't talk. So we're all supposed to go around withdrawn and distrustful. Real nice. Great custom that someone established, although I don't think that it's native to Virginia.

[springfieldva]

Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom

And you know what - I do talk to "service" people and they are friendlier than most...not as stuck up as the rest

and dont give me that "they dont want to intrude" crap - they are stuck up or too busy or dont care - that is why people are unfriendly

Where do you meet all these snooty, unfriendly people? I'm not denying that they're out there, they are. But it seems unusual that this is the only type of person you run into.

[dlumpen]

Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom

And you know what - I do talk to "service" people and they are friendlier than most...not as stuck up as the rest

and dont give me that "they dont want to intrude" crap - they are stuck up or too busy or dont care - that is why people are unfriendly

This reminds me that I could be a better person. Last year, we had a massive project on our building that involved people climbing up ladders five stories high (dangerous). One of my resident friends would go out and bring them lemonade. He learned so much about what they were doing on our building, how much they made ($12/hr for a six man crew on a $1 M project), and met with the project manager. For me, I just saw material sitting around and some people who may not speak my language. In reality, you could cross the yellow line, and many of them did speak English. I learned that you can cross lines if you have a little courage and heart. I'm really going to work on connecting with these types of folks.

[michgc]

I think a lot depends on the area of DC as well. I thought many people were stuck up and snobby in Bethesda but in Vienna I find the people to be very down to earth, for the most part. People smile at you when you walk by. Most are friendly. I've definitely had the same experience at the park as athousandlogins. If I'm pushing my child on one swing, someone else will push my other child. Most moms sitting around the sandbox start conversations.