moving from SanFran to Pittsburgh-culture shock? (Duquesne, California: how much, neighborhoods, top school)

[yakshikiz]

Hi all,

i got the gig and now I'm moving to Pitt. I'm excited. Im wondering what to expect in terms of culture shock..for those of you who know both places, what kinds of cultural differences shoud I be ready for? We Californians have a bad rap in some places-how can I avoid embarrassing myself?

[BrianTH]

I've got lots of relatives in the Bay Area, and the biggest problem I encountered with them was the common assumption, explicit or implicit, that we were basically backwoods hicks (I grew up in the Detroit area, but I think the same lesson applies to Pittsburgh).

So, um, don't do that.

Otherwise, I think you will be fine.

[yakshikiz]

Yeah, where I live we have a lousy state school and a bunch of dumb vineyards....Pittsburgh has three major universities, an incredible library system, and gave birth to Michael Chabon! (although he does live here now) Backwards? You gotta be kidding me! I can't wait to live among people who think there is more to life than knee jerk liberalism and weather.

Thanks for your input.

[fleetiebelle]

A lot of people say that Pittsburgh is kind of a mini-SF, but I don't know that that's really the case. Any cultural differences you'll see are probably more West vs. East kind of things.

[Joshbarblahblah]

Originally Posted by yakshikiz

Pittsburgh has three major universities,

I'm sure that you're talking about Pitt and CMU - but which other university are you talking about? Pittsburgh has several other colleges/universities.


Anyway, I've also heard that Pittsburgh is a mini-SF, but as I've never been there, I don't know. Perhaps it won't be such a culture shock for you.

[groar]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

A lot of people say that Pittsburgh is kind of a mini-SF, but I don't know that that's really the case. Any cultural differences you'll see are probably more West vs. East kind of things.

my mom grew up in sf, and she always goes on about how much pittsburgh reminds her of it (she doesn't live here). she's talking about the topography more than anything though, i think.

pittsburgh is definitely somewhat less cosmopolitan than sf, but it's a lot more cosmopolitan than people from bigger cities seem to think.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by yakshikiz

We Californians have a bad rap in some places-how can I avoid embarrassing myself?

The biggest problem people from all over the country have with Californians is their constant need to tell everyone how much better it is in California.

Needless to say, people would rather those people moved back to California!

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by groar

my mom grew up in sf, and she always goes on about how much pittsburgh reminds her of it (she doesn't live here). she's talking about the topography more than anything though, i think.

pittsburgh is definitely somewhat less cosmopolitan than sf, but it's a lot more cosmopolitan than people from bigger cities seem to think.

I'm a native San Franciscan who is planning to move to Pittsburgh in a few years. I visited there and it does remind me of SF in many ways:

• topography - although Pittsburgh has way more trees. SF's wind isn't kind to outdoor foliage.
• large stock of Victorian era housing, but at a much lower price.
• blue collar roots - Believe it or not, SF was once a blue collar union town.
• small, unique neighborhoods, each with their own distinct character.
• great universities and hospitals
• fairly decent arts and entertainment scene, although not as big as SF's, still not bad considering the image most people have of Pittsburgh.

All these are reasons I think Pittsburgh would be a good fit for me and why I think it has potential for growth.

[bradjl2009]

Originally Posted by Joshbarblahblah

I'm sure that you're talking about Pitt and CMU - but which other university are you talking about? Pittsburgh has several other colleges/universities.


Anyway, I've also heard that Pittsburgh is a mini-SF, but as I've never been there, I don't know. Perhaps it won't be such a culture shock for you.

My school I'm thinking (Duquesne) it was just rated by the US News and World Report it's in the top tier colleges of the USA. While it may not be a research school, it's still a prestigious school. In some ways Pittsburgh is like SF. The way that Pittsburgh is nothing like SF is politically, a lot of people here are moderates and conservative and most of the true liberals are in a few neighborhoods.

[yakshikiz]

I dislike SF style politics-constantly in your face and despite much vaunted "diversity' if you don't believe exactly what they do, you're the devil. I'm looking forward to not being screamed at for being somewhat (not extremely) conservative. A

I heard Duquesne was a top school for various health care professions, that was the third school I mentioned.