The great culture shock (Memphis, Knoxville: rent, crimes, mortgage)

[TnHilltopper]

This piece is not meant to be specific to Tennessee, but applies to anyone who wishes to move to a location that is culturally different from the one they currently reside in. I am writing this after reading the various postings on how some people love their new move and how others have come to regret it.

You have to first ask yourself with as much objectivity as you can muster, what do I really want in a place to live. Convenience of shopping, schools, the serenity of rural living, jobs that fit your skills, etc… Then when you do move to such a place that fits your needs you must expect and prepare for the fact that things will simply be different. I suspect this difference is greater for those wishing to move to rural locations as each rural area has its own clique of people who have often resided in that location for generations and are not as exposed to the influx of new people as easily as say a large metro area.

Ask yourself if you are prepared to accept the differences in customs, dialect of language, views of politics or religion, or even styles of cooking. Once a person has moved to such a new location, it pays to listen more than to speak as the nuances of that local culture will be self evident when you do so. How you approach living in your new location will make all the difference on how well you succeed as becoming a member of that community.

That being said, the number one worse thing a person must refrain from is, “back home we use to…” because I suspect the reaction many will give is one of wonder why you are here then. When moving into an area of greater cultural difference you must be prepared to assimilate into that culture at least to some degree in order to find welcome from the residents who already live there. From my own experiences of traveling, most people are generally warm and inviting when you wish to experience life as they live it, after all it is you who are moving into their world and you who is making changes.

Attitude is everything and will be the difference between not only how you see a new area, and how the residents there will see you as well.

-two cents

[missymomof3]

That was well said. Thank you!

[leavingcali]

Yes, I think your post is very accurate and informative. I think sometimes what happens is that people tend to underscore what a cultural change moving to a brand new state, region, etc. can actually be, and they underscore their own strong connections to the culture they are trying to leave behind.

[TnHilltopper]

Leavingcali,

It is very much a two way street, as often when people from outside a given cultural area move into another, they are often viewed with apprehension, but they also bring in a wealth of new ideas and views. This is why I stress the importance of attitude and keeping an open mind when moving into a new area as it can be difficult as much as it can be rewarding.

As far as Tennessee is concerned (and greater Appalachia in general), it has been an area overlooked for many years because it was usually seen as backwards and maybe not as progressive as other areas of the country. As it seems today, there is a great migration to places like this because a good many folks are looking for a more relaxed style of life that is not dominated by keeping up with the Joneses and instead focuses more on family and community. There is a good mix between metro and rural here and Tennessee offers a wide range of jobs as well as living conditions, I guess the secret is out. :-)

[hiknapster]

Baloney. People are coming here because they think it is cheaper. If they find that it is different, then think they can change it to what they want.

There are not a wide range of jobs. Actually there are very few jobs.

But it is a very nice essay.

[john t]

East TN is not cheap anymore. That's long gone...

Friends in the Port Charlotte, FL area bought a home early into the craze. Now the prices are declining to the point where not only would they take a huge loss if they could sell, they can't even get enough for it to buy an equivalent home here.

[TnHilltopper]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

Baloney. People are coming here because they think it is cheaper. If they find that it is different, then think they can change it to what they want.

There are not a wide range of jobs. Actually there are very few jobs.

But it is a very nice essay.

I never made any statements as to why people come here as people come for a variety of reasons. I certainly won't dispute that many do come to Tennessee because they think it is cheaper, well in fact it is cheaper. Some will even come here with the intent of making the place more like the place they just left, and often those folks are met with a kind of Amish practice known as shunning. I can't speak for metro areas as they in general are more progressive due to the sheer volume of people.

As far as diversity of jobs is concerned, well I have to look at tech areas like Oak Ridge or the top notch medical of Vanderbilt or UT medical center, or Fed Ex in Memphis, or Toyota, Nissan, Denzo and a multitude of other manufacturing and service sector jobs that are available. If you move to some place like Fentress county that is very rural in nature, don't expect to find a job as an engineer designing rocket motors, but as a whole, the state is quite diverse.

All the same, glad you enjoyed it, thank you.

[hiknapster]

Well, I'll speak about Denso, since I'm familiar with it. It's very difficult to get in there. A local, with a college degree, said you really have to know someone there, and even then it's hard.

There was someone on this forum whose husband had applied there. I forget the particulars, but she said the same thing, I believe.

I just don't want people moving here thinking the area is full of jobs. At least in the Knoxville area I know that it is very difficult finding a good paying job. There just aren't a lot of them.

In other parts of the state it may be very different.

I believe that the man that sits next to me at work use to work at Nissan. I'll find out. The guy that sits on the other side of me is a graphic designer, or something like that. I'll find out from them, both natives, what they think of the job market.

[WOWAddict]

Originally Posted by john t

East TN is not cheap anymore. That's long gone...

Cheap is relative. I look at realty prices in different parts of TN and they are still cheaper than South Florida. I have to agree with hik people are moving there because it is cheaper than where they live. I am sure there are other reasons but this is the first reason and by far the biggest I hear from people moving out of FL. "Its cheaper up there" not schools, culture, laid back lifestyle

I have to admit I got greedy and was hoping my house would have hit $450,000 so I could move and not have a mortgage payment and use my salary to enjoy life instead of paying for a mortgage. Came close, if the market would have held out another 6 months I am pretty sure it would have hit it. But oh well everything does not go as planned.

I still want to move up there even paying a mortgage But my biggest reason now is change. Have lived in FL all my life and certain juvenile crimes have happened down here that just given me nightmares when I think my babies could go to school some day with people like that.

[hiknapster]

TnHilltopper. I just want you to know that I think you are absolutely right.

I have some new neighbors from Massachusetts. The other day, another neighbor asked if she could bring her child to church, and the Massachusetts woman went ballistic on her. This all took place in my front yard. I was really embarrassed.

This new neighbor is constantly complaining about the area. She did no research before moving here. It's really bizarre.

I asked her why she moved here. She picked here because she heard it was cheap.

They're not doing very well, either. She refuses to work, and her husband is only working a few hours a day. I've tried to explain to her that this is not Massachusetts. Just because she has a child, it doesn't mean she shouldn't work. My other neighbor, a native, had a baby and ran right out and found a job. Her husband is laid off for the summer, so he ran right out and found another job to hold them over.

I told this Massachusetts woman that it not the same here. If she doesn't pay her rent they put her out on the street pretty quick. I've seen them do it. Where we come from (I'm from Massachusetts, too.) it is very tough to evict someone with a child. It takes many months, to do it.

It's a different way of life here. I just don't see them making it here.