Culture Shock? (Portland, Bend: fit in, transplants, live in)

[mollie0401]

My husband and I and our 2 small children have been considering a move to Bend from Alabama. He has an interview in Bend with the police department there in July and if offered a job, we will move. Everyone I talk to talks about this HUGE culture shock that we will encounter, but then they can't really give us examples. If you have any experience moving from the south to Oregon, help me out. Thanks!

[skinem]

I moved from a Tennessee county bordering Alabama to eastern Oregon.
Not a lot of so called "culture shock" as I had lived in eastern Washington before. But, there are some differences.
You will run across the occasional knucklehead who will give you a hard time about your accent, (as if they don't have one). Most people who do are doing so in jest, but every now and then...well, I can count on one hand the number of times anyone was truly obnoxious or ignorant about it in the 8 years the last I lived there.
Some knucklehead will make comments about racism, how bad the south is, something. I promise, it will happen. They're just displaying their ignorance.
You will find, depending upon where you are, that what you probably thought was "the country" in Alabama, really wasn't. You'll find that in time, when you go back to visit Alabama, that it suddenly seems much more crowded, claustrophobic, the sky less blue, the humidity oppressive, the pace of life much too fast. You'll find areas of Oregon that are truly remote and empty. You'll find that perhaps some things aren't as convenient as perhaps you're used to. You'll find in time, that you won't think anything about driving what you once thought was a great distance to do something or go somewhere. Bend is the biggest place in central Oregon so that may not be that much of an issue for you.
You'll find that in general people aren't quite as up-front friendly as they are in the south...more reserved is probably more accurate. People might not speak to you as you pass on the road, meet on the sidewalk, etc. BUT, in time, sure. The above doesn't mean to imply that it isn't friendly, and that people aren't nice, it's just more, well, reserved. But, I've found, too, that most people in Oregon are more open and frank than what you see in Alabama, sometimes painfully so. More laid back as well. Most folks, like anywhere, if you ask for help or need it, you'll get it.
You'll find that in general, not near as many people are church goers, and far more seem to believe that it isn't necessary, or is, in fact useless, than in Alabama. You'll find more people, if they must be labeled, that are liberal, politically and socially than Alabama.

None of the above is meant to be a criticism of either place, just some observations and generalities from one who's family is from both Alabama/Tennessee and Oregon, and who has lived in for many years and loves both places.

Any other specific questions you have, please feel free to ask either here or through DM. If I don't have answers, I have opinions...and the advice is worth what you pay for it!

Good luck in your move. I hope it's smooth and that y'all love it! I'm jealous.

[Cornerguy1]

One word: SNOW

[h8n]

OK so you are moving to Bend so it won't be as bad, but I'll tell you what it was like moving from Louisiana to Portland...

In the south, people are very nice so long as you are what they consider normal (straight, christian, married, no piercings / tattoos, etc). If you do not match this persona, you are looked at odd & talked about ugly. Portland is exactly the same thing except the opposite political field. If you are gay, interracial, pierced, tattooed, Buddhist, Taoist, Muslim, etc, you are all good. If you are christian, married, white, straight man but not metrosexual then you are condemned.

Just as those in the south condemn all religions beyond Christianity even though they have never read a single book about them, those in Portland do the same condemning Christianity, conservatism, etc. People are exactly the same in Portland vs the south only on opposite ends of the spectrum. They (not everyone, but the vast majority) will condemn anything conservative without ever lifting a book to read.

What you will find in more rural areas: Those who are country folk are more inclined to be accepting of alternative lifestyles than those in the south. I have known many small town cowboys who did not look at me funny when I spoke of my gay friends. They did not think that all gays are out to convert straight people as many of the Southern Baptists in the south feel.

So moving to Bend will not be as bad as a shock as I saw moving to Portland, but it will be different. I must admit that it is the best move I ever made. Being away from the family with children was difficult but the lack of humidity & having skiing & the ocean so close is wonderful.

To be honest with you, as long as you are not one of the many closed minded conservative Southern Baptists in the south, you will love Oregon. My wife, myself, and our 3 kids LOVE it. It is wonderful and we would not trade it for anything.

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by h8n

If you are christian, married, white, straight man but not metrosexual then you are condemned.

They (not everyone, but the vast majority) will condemn anything conservative without ever lifting a book to read.
.

Pure BOLOGNEY

[sandlinjames]

Originally Posted by nanannie

Pure BOLOGNEY

You must have never walked around Lloyd or Pearl district with your family where everyone else is either single, metrosexual, or gay.

[h8n]

Originally Posted by sandlinjames

You must have never walked around Lloyd or Pearl district with your family where everyone else is either single, metrosexual, or gay.

Let me rephrase that.... you must be a member of one of the groups I mentioned who judges others (metrosexual, single, gay, or female).

[John Shaft]

Originally Posted by h8n

OK so you are moving to Bend so it won't be as bad, but I'll tell you what it was like moving from Louisiana to Portland...

In the south, people are very nice so long as you are what they consider normal (straight, christian, married, no piercings / tattoos, etc). If you do not match this persona, you are looked at odd & talked about ugly. Portland is exactly the same thing except the opposite political field. If you are gay, interracial, pierced, tattooed, Buddhist, Taoist, Muslim, etc, you are all good. If you are christian, married, white, straight man but not metrosexual then you are condemned.

Just as those in the south condemn all religions beyond Christianity even though they have never read a single book about them, those in Portland do the same condemning Christianity, conservatism, etc. People are exactly the same in Portland vs the south only on opposite ends of the spectrum. They (not everyone, but the vast majority) will condemn anything conservative without ever lifting a book to read.

What you will find in more rural areas: Those who are country folk are more inclined to be accepting of alternative lifestyles than those in the south. I have known many small town cowboys who did not look at me funny when I spoke of my gay friends. They did not think that all gays are out to convert straight people as many of the Southern Baptists in the south feel.

So moving to Bend will not be as bad as a shock as I saw moving to Portland, but it will be different. I must admit that it is the best move I ever made. Being away from the family with children was difficult but the lack of humidity & having skiing & the ocean so close is wonderful.

To be honest with you, as long as you are not one of the many closed minded conservative Southern Baptists in the south, you will love Oregon. My wife, myself, and our 3 kids LOVE it. It is wonderful and we would not trade it for anything.

This is pretty darn accurate regarding Portland. The rest of Oregon, Bend included, is a little different. You do get some of the "cowboy culture" in Central/Eastern Oregon. There is more of a political mix (probably leaning to the right but not by far) outside of Portland; within Portland you're either a Democrat or Socialist.

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by h8n

Let me rephrase that.... you must be a member of one of the groups I mentioned who judges others (metrosexual, single, gay, or female).

OK, I will try to be more like you and not judge others.

[Neal2009]

Towns like Bend are used to transplants by now. People from all over the country are flocking to towns like Bend and Portland because of the more laid back lifestyle and easy access to the outdoors. Therefore, I would not expect very little culture shock to none at all. I do not live in Bend, I live in Portland, but I meet many many southerners here who absolutely love it and would never leave. I myself come from Texas and fit in right away.

As far as examples of culture shock, I really cannot think of any. I think what will take getting used to is the weather(colder winters) and the landscape as Bend is in the high desert. From my visits there though, the people seemed very normal, tolerating and if I moved there I cannot imagine having any problems whatsoever just because I know even if I dont get along with the natives, there are plenty of transplants I would get along with.

You will enjoy Bend and all the wonderful outdoor activities. I hope your husband gets the job.