its gonna be one heck of a ride (Pittsburgh, Washington: apartments, rentals)

[Jennyanne]

well hi everyone! i'm new to this website... and well i'm gonna be new to pittsburgh come next june. i'm a 18year old senior in high school & i'm graduating this year and going to pittsburgh to live & work for a year then i'm going to college for nursing. I'm super excited and i've been doing lots of research on the city and so far i'm in love with it! i've been there several times before because i have family that lives there and anyways i just wanted to ask some things:

#1) is it easy to make friends? i'm kind of a shy girl and i'm really small too so people don't typicaly talk to me because i look younger than i am.

#2) are there any really good churches that you guys know about? it doesn't matter the denomination.. i'm just really involved with my church here and i'm looking for one to get involved in in PA.

#3) where are some of the cool places to go? like coffee shops, resurants, movie theaters, ect?

#4) from what i've been reading and hearing from people is that i'm gonna love it even more once i go there... but i'm kinda nervous... how do i kill these nerves?! lol


haha anyways those are just some questions i have.. i would love to hear some of your responces and thank you so much for your time!

[nuwaver88]

Originally Posted by Jennyanne

well hi everyone! i'm new to this website... and well i'm gonna be new to pittsburgh come next june. i'm a 18year old senior in high school & i'm graduating this year and going to pittsburgh to live & work for a year then i'm going to college for nursing. I'm super excited and i've been doing lots of research on the city and so far i'm in love with it! i've been there several times before because i have family that lives there and anyways i just wanted to ask some things:

#1) is it easy to make friends? i'm kind of a shy girl and i'm really small too so people don't typicaly talk to me because i look younger than i am.

#2) are there any really good churches that you guys know about? it doesn't matter the denomination.. i'm just really involved with my church here and i'm looking for one to get involved in in PA.























#3) where are some of the cool places to go? like coffee shops, resurants, movie theaters, ect?

#4) from what i've been reading and hearing from people is that i'm gonna love it even more once i go there... but i'm kinda nervous... how do i kill these nerves?! lol


haha anyways those are just some questions i have.. i would love to hear some of your responces and thank you so much for your time!

What neighborhood will you be living in? Where will your school be? Pittsburgh is full of coffee shops. Pittsburghers drink more coffee per capita than any city in the USA. Pittsburgh is a decent sized metropolitan area so more info would be helpful. Where do you live now Jen?

[Jennyanne]

Well actually thats the thing.. i'm not exactly sure what neighborhood i'm going to move to yet.. :/ my aunt lives about 20minutes or so from down town so honest just the top rated stuff would be all i need to know. I'm willing to drive to decent places.

And I currently live in Ohio... about 40minutes from cinci.

[smlst40]

I'd live with you aunt the first year to get a feel for different areas and decide where to land from there.

#1) I moved here 10 years ago and didn't know anyone. Once you start work/school you'll make friends. I'm naturally shy myself, but once I know people you'd never suspect that at all. One thing that I would do is chit chat with random on people buses, etc. You have to conquer the shyness to meet people, once you meet a couple of people you usual meet their friends, etc... next thing you know your cell phone has 100+ names in it.

#2) I know Shadyside Presbyterian is looking for volunteers ranging from helping out with children to a medical mission to Guatemala (next spring). DM me if you want, My co-worker has all the information.

#3) Can't help you here. Things have changed since I moved here and went through the college days.

#4) Just make a bunch of friends at work, school, online, grocery stores, zoo, etc. The best way is to work in the service industry. It's like a little family, every hangs out after work and does random things together. At least from my experience they did. That's how I made half my friends.

[PeterRabbit]

Pittsburgh people are very friendly so making friends shouldn't be a problem. Just say hi to someone and they'll start talking your head off. When I moved here I met my neighbor who invited me to a bonfire where I met the rest of the neighborhood. (Pgh. people know how to party!)

When I moved here where I used to live the neighbors brought me cookies, cakles, pies... to introduce themselves and welcome me to the neighborhood. You'll be getting involved with a church (Shadyside Presby is a good recommendation) and that's more opportunities to make friends.

Join a crew that sponsors a certain section of raodway to keep clean and I think there's some that go around cleaning up graffiti. Take pictures first and share them with us. You could join a bowling or golf league., a woman's club.

This isn't a good city/suburban area to be driving all around finding the best spots unless the cost of gas, crazy roadways (sometimes with detours) and your time is of no consequence.

Do you have any idea what part of the city or suburbs you'll be living? We tend to stay more local to our own areas here due to the topography/rivers and all have whatever you need to keep you content. Where you'll be living will be the best qualified to answer your questions about a lot of things. I live in the northeast and couldn't tell you much of anything about the South Hills or West End.

Most of the things to do are downtown (South and North Side) and eastward, but good reastaurants, theatres, and coffee shops could be anywhere and depends more specifically what you're looking for.

To subdue your nerves take deep breaths.

Have a look at the suburb of Oakmont. You can walk to all the things you mentioned.
Pop City - Oakmont: Small Town America, Big Time Golf
1BR apts. with pool and alongside the river start at $700. There are cheaper rentals all around the town.
View Oakmont Landing Apartments For Rent in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - ForRent.com

[nuwaver88]

Originally Posted by PeterRabbit

Pittsburgh people are very friendly so making friends shouldn't be a problem. Just say hi to someone and they'll start talking your head off. When I moved here I met my neighbor who invited me to a bonfire where I met the rest of the neighborhood. (Pgh. people know how to party!)

When I moved here where I used to live the neighbors brought me cookies, cakles, pies... to introduce themselves and welcome me to the neighborhood. You'll be getting involved with a church (Shadyside Presby is a good recommendation) and that's more opportunities to make friends.

Join a crew that sponsors a certain section of raodway to keep clean and I think there's some that go around cleaning up graffiti. Take pictures first and share them with us. You could join a bowling or golf league., a woman's club.

This isn't a good city/suburban area to be driving all around finding the best spots unless the cost of gas, crazy roadways (sometimes with detours) and your time is of no consequence.

Do you have any idea what part of the city or suburbs you'll be living? We tend to stay more local to our own areas here due to the topography/rivers and all have whatever you need to keep you content. Where you'll be living will be the best qualified to answer your questions about a lot of things. I live in the northeast and couldn't tell you much of anything about the South Hills or West End.

Most of the things to do are downtown (South and North Side) and eastward, but good reastaurants, theatres, and coffee shops could be anywhere and depends more specifically what you're looking for.

To subdue your nerves take deep breaths.

Have a look at the suburb of Oakmont. You can walk to all the things you mentioned.
Pop City - Oakmont: Small Town America, Big Time Golf
1BR apts. with pool and alongside the river start at $700. There are cheaper rentals all around the town.
View Oakmont Landing Apartments For Rent in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - ForRent.com

Oakmnont is nice, but $700.00 a month plus utilities is a lot if she is living alone. That is not bad for Oakmont, an upscale borough, but it is in a general sense for a young person just starting out and living alone. If she has a roomate, I say live on the South Side or Shadyside. Of course, we have yet to establish where her school will be or what her economic situation is.

[PeterRabbit]

^^^ I agree that $700 is a bit high for the Pittsburgh area, however the quality of life here is super. Has everything she wants and much more with virtually no crime. A nice 1BR in Oakmont for only for $385: Great location!

For a young person and new in the city I agree (like everyone else) with Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, or South Side.

[fleetiebelle]

Mt. Washington might be a decent option, too.