Is Santa Ana dangerous for an European exchange student? PLEASE HELP!! I'm freaking out... (Laguna: insurance, neighborhood)

[Raelyn28]

This is what I am talking about. The first sentence is totally an interpretation of what you think I have said. I don't have a disgust for Orange County and in all my posts I have NEVER said that. I have never said anyone was unintelligent nor have I judged anyone for liking it in OC. I believe I have brought balance to a forum that was completely lopsided before I started my thread. If you look and read through all the various threads I have helped and said many positive things about the area along with my contribution to Dana Point pics. Nobody mentions the good things that I have said but why does everyone get so defensive when I talk about the bad. Geez excuse me for livin!!!!

The person who made the comment about Anaheim being trashy is correct in his perception. Much of it is and to deny that is being deceptive to those who have never been there.

What is your observation??? That Anaheim is mostly beautiful and nice? I think Disneyland adds to the area along with a few nice restaurants and the Angel Stadium but besides that what is there? Just wondering. Wow!! Take it easy and chill out.

Originally Posted by LivinginOC

So, are you saying that anyone who does not share your disgust about OC is unintelligent and unbalanced?

I think this is also the same person who said "Most of Anaheim is trash." Not a balanced view at all!

[Raelyn28]

DevilDoll,

First of all my name is spelled with only one "n". Secondly, I appreciate your ability to remain civil with your response but let me explain something here.

I will say this again and have said it many times. Read some of the other threads... I have said positive things about OC and have contributed to the pic thread and helped a couple of people. Maybe you haven't read all my posts on various threads. What does it mean when you say that I am allowing people to love OC? That is ridiculous, how could I not allow people to love OC? This is a RELOCATION forum and it is expensive to move. Nobody told me the negatives of OC and I moved there with an unbalanced understanding and false expections of the area. Fortunately there are forums like this to help people make better choices.

Additionally, I never said I knew everything about the area... because I don't.. but what I do know I can share...right??? Free country, I have a right to bring my perspective as much as anyone else does.

And lastly, people are attacking when they call me names. I have been accused of never living there along with various rude name calling. Yes, I have been attacked. And I will keep speaking up... I have LOTS of friends and relatives living in the places that you call nice. I hear it on a weekly basis.. on how the traffic is worse, how they wish they could move, how expensive it is..blah, blah, blah.. I know it has changed in seven years and for the worse...

You are welcome to start your own thread. By all means nobody is stopping you.

Originally Posted by DevilDoll

Raelynn I think maybe you are trying to be helpful but you must realise that since you dislike OC so much that your perspective is not well balanced, just like what you accuse the people who love OC. You seem to revel in other people disliking the place, and that's fine but allow the people who love the place to speak on that.
Yes, this is an open forum, but for you to say it doesn't matter that you haven't lived somewhere in the last seven years and yet you still know all about it is a bit off kilter. People who come on here looking for answers may need a full perspective of an area but current living situations are the best opportunity to learn from. Places, neighborhoods, & people change alot in seven years. I'm not being rude to you I just think maybe you should step back a bit and understand what some of the people on here are trying to say to you, they're not attacking you.

[LivinginOC]

Originally Posted by Raelyn28

This is a RELOCATION forum and it is expensive to move. Nobody told me the negatives of OC and I moved there with an unbalanced understanding and false expections of the area. Fortunately there are forums like this to help people make better choices.

Additionally, I never said I knew everything about the area... because I don't.. but what I do know I can share...right??? Free country, I have a right to bring my perspective as much as anyone else does.

Can I ask you something? How old are you? Because, if you lived in OC for 22 years and you've been gone for at least 7, how could anyone have even warned you what it was like? I was assuming you were fairly young but all that would have to put you at at least 47-50?

Also, when did you actually leave OC? Because in most places I've seen you say 2001 but in at least one other thread you said you left in 1999.

I haven't seen anyone calling you names but you do come across like you think you know everything about the area including telling people who actually live here that you know more than they do.

It is much more helpful to people contemplating relocation to hear from people who live in the area.

[LivinginOC]

Originally Posted by Raelyn28

I have never said anyone was unintelligent nor have I judged anyone for liking it in OC. I believe I have brought balance to a forum that was completely lopsided before I started my thread. If you look and read through all the various threads I have helped and said many positive things about the area along with my contribution to Dana Point pics. Nobody mentions the good things that I have said but why does everyone get so defensive when I talk about the bad. Geez excuse me for livin!!!!

Raelyn, you're really over reacting. You did say, "I have read his other posts and he seems to be very intelligent and balanced unlike a lot of other people on this forum. " That definitely implies that you find people on the forum to be unintelligent and unbalanced.

Originally Posted by Raelyn28

The person who made the comment about Anaheim being trashy is correct in his perception. Much of it is and to deny that is being deceptive to those who have never been there.

What is your observation??? That Anaheim is mostly beautiful and nice? I think Disneyland adds to the area along with a few nice restaurants and the Angel Stadium but besides that what is there? Just wondering. Wow!! Take it easy and chill out.

Chill out? Me? LOL!! That's funny. Anyway, as far as Anaheim goes, for starters anywhere in zip codes 92807and 92808 is pretty nice!

[Raelyn28]

What does age have to do with anything, just curious? I was 24 when I moved to North San Diego County and moved to Orange County five years later. I moved to Oregon in 2001. I thought it was 1999 when I moved but it wasn't. So as you can see I lived the majority of my 20's, 30's and the early part of my 40's in the OC area. I was single there, was married there and then had children there. So I have experienced OC in different phases of life. I didn't like it any better in my 20's being single then in my 40's with children or for that matter anywhere in between.

I did like North San Diego County better then Orange (more affordable, less crowded, nicer beaches and less traffic (at the time).

I couldn't have been warned because there wasn't internet at the time I moved there but I did know a couple of people there. I guess I was just stupid and naive to not try and do some sort of research.

I disagree about the statement that you made saying it is better for someone to give relocation advice that lives there presently. Maybe in some ways it is better because I realize the economy changes, etc. but I am sure the traffic isn't better but probably worse which I can verify with my friends. And I imagine the smog hasn't went away or the cities haven't changed a whole lot because I have been reading other threads on this forum as well and I don't comment but just read.

You are right though perhaps you are more in touch with the area since you live there but I don't think that takes away from my own experience or reasons why I left. And do you forget that I have two older kids that currently live there and one of my best friends as well? I think the thing about OC that bothers me so much is the cost of living. It is so hard to live there especially with kids and the housing is ridiculous. Maybe things will change and the housing will become more affordable. I just hate to think of nice families and people struggling to live in a decent home while both mom and dad work all day and sit in bumper to bumper traffic, get home at 7PM, spend a couple of hours with their families and have to go to bed. And I know for a fact that LOTS of people live that way. Some even live in Corona and Riverside to get away from the OC rat race. It is sad and I feel for them. That's all... If I can spare one family the misery of that kind of life my posting here is worth it.

Please show me the comments of where I said I knew more about the area than someone else. I can't find that comment and I would like to see it. Just let me know what post number it is and on what thread. I will apologize if I have made an irresponsible statement. And yes people have called me names. I won't repeat them but they haven't been nice one.

LivinginOC, I am sorry if I have come across as being a know-it-all.. Not my intention at all.

Originally Posted by LivinginOC

Can I ask you something? How old are you? Because, if you lived in OC for 22 years and you've been gone for at least 7, how could anyone have even warned you what it was like? I was assuming you were fairly young but all that would have to put you at at least 47-50?

Also, when did you actually leave OC? Because in most places I've seen you say 2001 but in at least one other thread you said you left in 1999.

I haven't seen anyone calling you names but you do come across like you think you know everything about the area including telling people who actually live here that you know more than they do.

It is much more helpful to people contemplating relocation to hear from people who live in the area.

[LivinginOC]

Originally Posted by Raelyn28

What does age have to do with anything, just curious?

It doesn't really have anything to do with it. Things just weren't adding up in my mind because I was picturing you much younger. I do appreciate the history, though. I think it can always help us better understand each other.

Originally Posted by Raelynn28

And do you forget that I have two older kids that currently live there and one of my best friends as well?

See, since had you pegged in your 30's, I did not know that your kids were grown and living away from home.

Originally Posted by Raelyn28

I think the thing about OC that bothers me so much is the cost of living. It is so hard to live there especially with kids and the housing is ridiculous. Maybe things will change and the housing will become more affordable. I just hate to think of nice families and people struggling to live in a decent home while both mom and dad work all day and sit in bumper to bumper traffic, get home at 7PM, spend a couple of hours with their families and have to go to bed. And I know for a fact that LOTS of people live that way. Some even live in Corona and Riverside to get away from the OC rat race. It is sad and I feel for them. That's all... If I can spare one family the misery of that kind of life my posting here is worth it.

I can definitely see what you're saying. Although I know lots and lots of OC families who live in nice neighborhoods, who have the mom staying home and who have lots of family times and are very well adjusted.

The traffic is not the best feature of OC that's for sure! But, it's not always as bad as people make it out to be. I drive back and forth between Placentia and Launga (and Irvine as well) and typically sit in one little pocket of traffic. It's 25 miles and never takes more than 45 minutes. Just my own experience.

Originally Posted by Raelyn28

Please show me the comments of where I said I knew more about the area than someone else. I can't find that comment and I would like to see it. Just let me know what post number it is and on what thread. I will apologize if I have made an irresponsible statement. And yes people have called me names. I won't repeat them but they haven't been nice one.

In post #54 of this thread you told me that you probably know more about the area than I do.

Originally Posted by Raelyn28

LivinginOC, I am sorry if I have come across as being a know-it-all.. Not my intention at all.

You don't need to apologize to me. It's nothing personal. I do appreciate the effort, though.

[Raelyn28]

Well then that was stupid of me to say that because I don't know you or how long you have lived there or anything, so I apologize. Why did you think I was younger? I really don't look my age but I sometimes feel it.
It is funny how someone can picture something that is totally different in reality.

Actually, I am getting kind of tired of posting here. I think people just need to be careful. I certainly cannot keep people from making bad mistakes anymore than you can if you know what I mean?

Thanks for the understanding, I will try to back-off and let all you natives direct the newbees. I guess I thought I was trying to help but maybe I have hindered people with my opinions and not-so-good experience. I realize everyone is different and some will like certain areas while others will not. That is what makes us truly unique as individuals.

Sometimes I visit the Portland forum and I am amazed to find people whining about the rain. My gosh Portland is absolutely beautiful, lush and green, affordable, etc. But to some people Portland is depressing and not good for them. Others like Arizona because they love the heat and no winter.

Anyway, hopefully people can take all of our experiences and direction and decide on their own individual personalities. Have a great week...

Thanks for sharing....

Originally Posted by LivinginOC

It doesn't really have anything to do with it. Things just weren't adding up in my mind because I was picturing you much younger. I do appreciate the history, though. I think it can always help us better understand each other.



See, since had you pegged in your 30's, I did not know that your kids were grown and living away from home.



I can definitely see what you're saying. Although I know lots and lots of OC families who live in nice neighborhoods, who have the mom staying home and who have lots of family times and are very well adjusted.

The traffic is not the best feature of OC that's for sure! But, it's not always as bad as people make it out to be. I drive back and forth between Placentia and Launga (and Irvine as well) and typically sit in one little pocket of traffic. It's 25 miles and never takes more than 45 minutes. Just my own experience.



In post #54 of this thread you told me that you probably know more about the area than I do.



You don't need to apologize to me. It's nothing personal. I do appreciate the effort, though.

[tijlover]

Originally Posted by roosevelt

It makes my head swim and very depressing to see all these posts about how safe are California cities; it is like a bad dream. How could the land of oranges and sun deteriorate so fast? Immigration? A succession of power hungry governors? Probably just getting all touchy feely about crime and not enforcing the law.

With creativity and imagination, one can take back one's neighborhoods.
Why did the residents of these areas let this happen? Waiting too long for the police to take back their neighborhoods when they could have done it themselves? Yes, it takes guts to do it, but it can be done.

[TurcoLoco]

Guys, you all can stop arguing!

I found out sugarr has already gone back to her home land because she fell in love with one of the charming, suave Mexican gang members and then got pregnant...










...of course I was only kidding!

[antibes]

Originally Posted by mamma6

why do you spend so much time wondering if this gal is european or not, move on, why would she waste all her time writing questions just to be lying, and does it matter, really?

Actually it does. Clearly the OP is pretending to be someone else. Why? Perhaps to make new contacts through this forum, to conn someone. Why do you feel it would be 'wrong' to make others aware that this person really cannot be who they claim to be?

Prostitutes sometimes pose as someone else to pull these 'poor' me tricks and try to attract unknowing men online, since the web has quite a few men interested to meet foreign women. That's why I was wondering. I have a friend in the police force. You'd be surprised about some of the tricks people use...

But as I already mentioned, its their own business. I just mentioned it for people to be aware that this person clearly is playing games.