Non-mormon in Saratoga Springs. Am I the only one?

[Coffeequeen]

I think you are will do what you do. Loads of ex pats etc live all over the valley and I am sure you will get plenty of good advice. I still say don't go south or west. Where do the friends you already know here actually live? Where do their kids go to school?

[Montygirl]

They are all around South Jordan and Sandy /riverton
.some have kids, some don't and seem to be settling in fine from what I hear.

[michelleleigh]

Montygirl, can you live in SLC? You might like it there, I agree you need to do a trip to get a feel for the place. You can always move to my street in Saratoga Springs it is a very good mix of pretty much everyone.

[Montygirl]

Hiya, we don't have a chance to do a trip as relocating in January and hubby has accepted the job. I think I can, as I say we have lived overseas before and not had problems although kids/schooling was not an issue as was just the hubby and I.We knew no one and a lot of socialising was done at peoples houses not out in pubs etc like here but we put ourselves out there with an open mind and had a blast and there were some cultural differences although religion did not come into it and we mixed with everyone and have frinds for life who have visited us when they are in the UK. I have heard only positive things about the place from the staff who have visited there (although different to living there) Saratoga maybe a bit far for us as work is in South Jordan . Tbh moving is stressful and tough even within your own country when you don't know anyone and have to start again. Will look round schools when arrive and then see as if do SALTA or ALPS in end then go out of catchment anyway possibly.Thanks Michelleleigh. Also as lots of people moving to the area for my husbands company with hopefully have an avenue socially to begin with as office staff all in the same situation and think some have families but as I say we do have an open mind I just want the kids to be happy more than anything and have a few mates to hang with

[Coffeequeen]

MG, your real issue is where your kids go to school. That will be the major factor for your address requirements. You will have missed the SALTA (Canyons only though, dunno about Jordan, Granite etc) testing in January anyway so you won't have that option until testing takes place the following november. If your kids qualify your address won't matter. If your oldest is middle school age she won't need to test into SALTA anyway as (Canyons) magnet schooling is self driven at that point (Only middle school is Midvale).

[Montygirl]

Hiya have enquired about SALTA and doesn't matter in Canyons if we miss deadline said can apply when we arrive,and sent me the forms. Jordan has Alps they said which is similar but just called ALPS instead of SALTA.so many mixed opinions from different people about areas and culture that will see what works when we arrive. When a work collegue visited from the UK a week or so ago spoke to those who relocated from out of state, said alot of company staff that relocated are living in South Jordan and seem to be enjoying although unsure how many have school age children around same ages as ours but all feedback from them has been positive about people in SL whether LDS or not and not an issue as all people seem so friendly and those who moved from out of state and not LDS have not encountered this so called separation. Have already established a social scene in and around the South Jordan area .

[Coffeequeen]

That is really interesting that you have been told SALTA (canyons) testing time won't matter, do you know who you spoke to? I would get that in writing. That is the total opposite of my experience. You can get all the application forms you like, but you will sit the test the next session (next nov?) and then not be admitted until the following august. Again, none of this applies to a child who is of middle school age (your older kid by the time it applies).
If you arrive in Jan 15, sit in Nov15 then get accepted for August 16 you are looking at a real time gap. Just make sure you are getting the real picture.
Again, most people will just arrive and then suck it and see. If you have academic children there are different aspects to consider, many parents don't have to worry about such issues. Have you been looking at charter schools BTW?

[Montygirl]

Yes have got it via email. Have sent the forms back to apply for testing. I was looking at Earlylight at Daybreak as this goes all the way through from K to Grade 9 which may work.Any thoughts? Not looked at any other charter schools as yet as limited on what can look at as cant access all sites from here. My oldest will only be grade 5 at the moment and youngest grade 3. Been advised Magnet schools are Wittier and Hawthorn . Also advised Salta through Canyons is Peruvian Park or Sunrise Elementary which has Salta classes alongside classes for regular kids. So hard when only Greatschools for reference and people say this is not a good site and cant access all info on the school regions site. Here we have Ofstead which although not 100% accurate is done by aprofessional body and gives you a good insight into what a school and its children and teaching is like.

[BoneZo]

First of all, I live at The Cove at Jordan River, townhomes, condos, apartments, and I would guess that the LDS/non-LDS not-living-LDS is about 50/50 in this development.

Next, when I lived in SLC (our family is very LDS, my wife was very, very catholic until 18) our neighbors were Kuwaiti next door and Russian one house up. Yes, my Muslim neighbor enjoyed his Coors Light, which I figure is only sort of a violation of the "no beer" rules since I don't really consider Utah Coors a beer. Further, my best friend is from Brazil, my wife and her family are Cuban (she grew up in NYC), I grew up mostly in Boston and Atlanta and many of our friends are from various parts of the glove outside of Utah.

Finally, someone who doesn't drink wine, in my book, is no more unapproachable than someone who does. As a matter of fact I just read that the adult obesity rate in Saratoga Springs is 25% and if you look at any collection of Mormons you will notice lots of men who can't see their feet standing up. That is probably a lot more unhealthy than a glass of wine (well, it's not really a glass Mormons had trouble with in the early days of the LDS Church, it was bottles, kegs and barrels). Would you want your neighbors to think poorly of you because of your spiritual connections? Should you think poorly of them because of theirs? Is religious affiliation really a factor for extending friendship? Pick the neighbor that seems to be closest to your demographic (married/not, children/not, etc. - or just whomever is closest geographically) and invite them over for a glass of whatever. Ask them to provide the cookies while you provide the milk, juice or even simply ice water while you take an opportunity to say, "Hello! This is who we are." and ask, "Who are you?" Checking the city-data for Saratoga Srings it would be impossible for your NOT to have something in common.

Certainly many Mormons seem to have problems talking about anything outside of their congregation. This is usually because the church activities keep them pretty busy with each other, but according to our faith you are a member of that LDS ward regardless of your religious affiliation or lack thereof. The Mormons around you have as much responsibility to offer you friendship, companionship, help, support and unconditional love as they have for each other. Having access to the women's organization (the Relief Society) is priceless for your home. You can ask them to assign "visiting teachers" to your home and specifically request that they not discuss faith issues. This is a program where two women are assigned to visit several families in the ward each month and provide a reliable, discreet and confidential link to any resources you may need. This includes good baby sitters, someone to watch your house when you're away, help when someone is ill, who to call when you find water in the basement, and on and on. They are not "assigned" to become your friends, but they will. They should make you feel 100% welcome without making you feel at all inferior, strange or excluded because of your chosen faith or lack of affiliation. They can also be a great peephole into the goings on of the LDS members of the community. You can ask them anything about LDS beliefs or practices that you've always wanted to know from someone within the faith with embarrassment while specifying that you want answers, not proselyting.

I am a 58 yo white male that has lived most of my years in places that did not have a significant LDS population, much less a dominant one. I have had great neighbors in every place I've lived. I hope I have been a great neighbor to them. Since I grew up where I was distinct minority (1 of 6 Mormons in a High School of 3500) I think I can relate to feelings of awkwardness or exclusion, but most of the friends I made then and have kept until this day are not LDS. In high school I was the "designated driver" long before that title was created nationally. Everyone knew that I would get them home safely no matter what and our relationship was always of mutual admiration. I learned a lot about alcohol, tobacco and pot that most LDS are ignorant of, while after the initial teasing, there was universal appreciation that we wouldn't be the kids busted because of erratic driving or in the hospital or morgue because of a little partying.

I say, "Go for it!" While you might find help understanding your neighbors and the majority of people in the state of Utah, they will get to know more by asking you questions none of their church friends can answer. Knowledge is the best antidote to prejudice and bigotry!