Californians in St. Louis (Kansas City, Atlanta: crime, employment, school)

[Sillypups]

We were so spoiled living in CA. Back in the day, early 1980's. We moved to San Diego. We never ever ran out of things to do. We loved it. Everyone was nice & kind, everyone laid back big time. San Diego was a good party town, but then we were quite a bit younger back then.

he move to the LA area in San Fernando Valley... was too hustle bustle, didn't know who you could trust. We didn't care for it. There were a lot of things to do.

Northern CA in San Jose, yet a diffrent way of life. A lot like the midwest MO. Still a lot of things to do.

We would move back to CA (San Diego) if we could.
St. Louis will always be in my heart, but it could never compare to SD.

[Brickmama]

SCB123, that is your opinion which I will repect however it seems as if you are too focused on reliving the past as opposed to trying to make the most of the present and future. Instead of sitting in front of the computer complaining about how much you miss CA get out and explore what the city has to offer. If it still isint your place then MOVE BACK TO CA!!!

There are also certain aspects that CA cannot compare to STL.

[Fishtacos]

Originally Posted by SCB123

The culture in California is different from the culture in St. Louis, and the Midwest. I must say the people here in St. Louis are friendly, but the politics of the place is not socially responsible. There is a lot of racial issues, and women are not treated as well as they are in California. These two things alone cause me to be home sick for California. It also seems that Californians are more health conscious; this includes both emotional and physical health.

Our friends here in St. Louis are transplants from Chicago, the UK, India, the north east and western U.S. Very few, if any, are born and bread St. Louisans. I believe this can be attributed to the political culture, you know values and beliefs one grew up with. That being said, I do see a big change in the Midwest, and the country as a whole, taking place.

Just remember to not paint a whole place with one brush. I'm not sure which part of CA from which you are from.

As a local business owner friend of mine said, after relocating back to St. Louis for the first time since he was 18, (though visited with some frequency), St. Louis has a lot of the people, places, and things to do that he seeks, but sometimes he has to go find them instead of them smacking him in the face everyday. I believe there is some truth and merit to that statement.

Obviously every place has pros and cons, St. Louis included.

[SCB123]

I attend grad school at a local university. One day during a break this black woman started talking about how she was born and raised here, (STL). She moved to Boston shortly after earning her undergrad degree. She moved back to STL, because of the cost of living, so she could continue her education. After she is done with grad school she is moving back to Boston. Most of the class started saying how they do not care to live in STL, and are moving on after their degree is completed. What does this say to you all on this message board?

It's sad that most of the best and brightest are planning to move on and practice their professions else ware, but it speaks strongly to the problems STL has. Many who are advancing their education here in STL feel that they have nothing to offer, and that STL has nothing to offer them. This is far from isolated to this class.

As a new resident of STL it is very clear that this city has some deep rooted issues, and fixing them will not be easy. Every place does have its pros and cons, but STL is just one of those places that the problems have been swept under the rug for so long, that there is no more room under the rug for more dirt.

What does it say to you when a city alderman calls for citizens to conceal and carry a hand gun to fight crime?

[SCB123]

Originally Posted by Brickmama

SCB123, that is your opinion which I will repect however it seems as if you are too focused on reliving the past as opposed to trying to make the most of the present and future. Instead of sitting in front of the computer complaining about how much you miss CA get out and explore what the city has to offer. If it still isint your place then MOVE BACK TO CA!!!

There are also certain aspects that CA cannot compare to STL.

So, as I sit here in front of my computer, living in the past, I'll ask you, what (specifically) does STL have to offer?

[Book Lover 21]

Well, I have been here in St. Louis for a little over a month now. From my personal observation, it seems like St. Louis has a collective low self-esteem. As soon as people find out I moved here from California, they all have the same reaction. "WHAT? WHY? WHY would you leave California to come here??"

Of course, this makes me wonder, 'Why do they react this way, what's so bad about St. Louis?'

I mean, obviously, you have the weather issue. But, duh, I think I knew that before I came and was prepared for that. Other than the weather, why does everybody in St. Louis react this way to my leaving California?

[SCB123]

Originally Posted by Book Lover 21

Well, I have been here in St. Louis for a little over a month now. From my personal observation, it seems like St. Louis has a collective low self-esteem. As soon as people find out I moved here from California, they all have the same reaction. "WHAT? WHY? WHY would you leave California to come here??"

Of course, this makes me wonder, 'Why do they react this way, what's so bad about St. Louis?'

I mean, obviously, you have the weather issue. But, duh, I think I knew that before I came and was prepared for that. Other than the weather, why does everybody in St. Louis react this way to my leaving California?

I've gotten the same reaction as well, or they will look you up and down and say, oh! One thing I've learned about STL is that some bad apples like to put people in a box due to their lack of an open mind. Stay away from these folks, but I'm sure I don't have to tell you that.

We went back home to California over Christmas, and my husband looked at me and said, why did we leave here? We left due to his job transfer, but we can also transfer back in a couple of years, if we don't learn to like it here.

Frankly, I think the weather is great. The winter makes one appreciate the spring, and summer. I would like it if the fall were more colorful, like the east coast. The snow is energizing, but so is the California sun.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

Go East, young man? Californians look for the exit - Yahoo! News

I think part of it just the dream that college students in general seem to have. It's this Sex and the City, 90210 feeling that New York (or the east coast in general) and California are the place to be.

And yes, St. Louis does have a self-esteem problem. It comes from decades of degrading Forbes list and poor leadership, and comparison to Chicago. It maybe comes from the general feeling that most coastal citizens seem to have that the Midwest outside of Chicago is flyover country.

[SCB123]

Originally Posted by STLCardsBlues1989

Go East, young man? Californians look for the exit - Yahoo! News

I think part of it just the dream that college students in general seem to have. It's this Sex and the City, 90210 feeling that New York (or the east coast in general) and California are the place to be.

And yes, St. Louis does have a self-esteem problem. It comes from decades of degrading Forbes list and poor leadership, and comparison to Chicago. It maybe comes from the general feeling that most coastal citizens seem to have that the Midwest outside of Chicago is flyover country.

The college students you are referring to are not young inexperienced freshmen, but older grad students, who have lived in other areas of the country, and who have a wealth of life experience under their belt. So be very careful not to minimize their opinion or power to bring STL down even further, because that is exacility what is being done. Question is, it intentional, or unintentional? It believe it may be both.

Low self-esteem comes from poor leadership, and being powerless to change ones circumstances. This is overwhelming in STL. Pride in STL is not at the forefront of the residents who live here. Referring to the thread, (What you hate about STL), people have a lot to say, and it’s not just isolated to the people who post on this forum.

One can minimize what transplants have to say about STL, but who better to call attention to the issues? We, transplants, have not lived with STL problems until we moved here. If the people don't want to give outsiders a voice, and let us help change what is wrong with STL, then we can move on and let STL become a city like those found in other areas of the country, poor and destitute.

Keep in mind that even the people new to STL pay taxes and vote here, just like you do.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

I'm not saying anything bad about newcomers to St. Louis. I'm glad people are moving to St. Louis.

But I think the low self-esteem comes from a variety of factors:
Poor leadership
Eminent domain/"Urban Renewal"
Corporations moving out
National Media

I think St. Louisans in genearl have a feeling that anybody with money will leave. Why? I'm not completely sure. Some external factors, some internal.