What are the people like in Wisconsin? (Milwaukee, Appleton: live in, restaurant)

[yo vanilla]

we are cold. we are all cold and desperately wanting spring!!!!

well really we're just like any other place; with a mix of a few great people and a bunch of idiots, ha. no one pays any attention when they are driving, but for the most part people are mild mannered

[susancruzs]

I moved to Wisconsin 6 months ago from NE Illinois and I've found people to be very friendly and nice. It is a little of a culture shock but not really that drastic for me. Everything is more casual, less intense, more relaxed and laid back, I like it!

Living in NE Illinois, only 11 miles from the state line I've always worked with alot of folks from Wisconsin and traveled in Wisconsin alot. My sister moved from Illinois to Upper Michigan and that is more of a culture shock, I wasn't prepared to go that far!

[tet tea]

The folks I have met are mostly hard working, loud and straight to the point ... love it!

[Wi_Girl]

I was born and raised there and have lived the past 8 years in Va. I dont know about southern hospitality but I have NOT experienced it here!I find people rude, always in a hurry, dont care about you, dont talk to you, dont acknowledge your existance. Not all places in the state but especially where I live. In Wisconsin we knews, our neighbors, talked to them, helped them and they helped us. I dont even know my neighbors last names here! I see them maybe once every few weeks. They are nice but everyone sticks to themselves, which isnt always bad.

Personally I love Wisconsin and the people. I've had people contact me from WI on here and they were very nice. I've had local people on here contact me with specific questions (who a surgeon was, etc) and they never said thanks for the info, nothing. Even the WI people I meet out here are still just as friendly as ever. It makes me really miss home and even my Hubby who was born and raised in VA wants to move to WI just for the fact that our children will be raised in a much better place.

[KateDaum]

If you are coming from the east, the people are a lot friendlier. When we lived in NH people would not talk to you unless you could trace your roots back forever. We never cared. We still would go to church dinners, walked in and no one would talk to us. But my family still had a blast. We would sit and people watch. We could pretty much pick out the women who didn't work and stayed home and knitted. The people who didn't want to be there but they felt obligated. It was our favorite past time out east.
Now we walk in as strangers and people like to talk to us. We have loved seeking out new events just to talk to people.

[escapetacoma]

Originally Posted by KateDaum

If you are coming from the east, the people are a lot friendlier

Coming from the other side of the country I'd say much the same - though out there it wasn't actual unfriendliness as much as it was just keeping their distance. Mostly people just didn't interact.

For us the difference has been amazing! We see our neighbors more - mostly shovelling snow during the winter but still - and when we see them we're likely to spend an hour or more in conversation. Back in Tacoma we'd take around Christmas cookies and hit all of the neighbors in less than an hour. In Waupun we averaged almost 3 hours per delivery because no one would think of accepting them without inviting us in, where we'd talk, eat, watch a football game, etc....

Some people would think that the biggest change we'd have to adapt to was having seasons but that's been child's play compared to culture shock involved in having neighbors that we actually can get to know I love it.

[ekg56]

We have really great neighbors and community too. We are building and our new neighbors are just as nice. They are planning lots of neighborhood activities.

[sunflower53072]

Most people are very friendly and helpful, but if they are born and raised here already have lots of friends and family that keeps them busy. Many love winter and snow. If it doesn't snow enough they complain Women often can and do wear high healed boots in the snow and have the ability not to fall here. They love the Packers to an obsession. Another generalization, almost everyone here has a dog, loves the dog and talks about the dog(which is fine)

[KateDaum]

Coming from the other side of the country I'd say much the same - though out there it wasn't actual unfriendliness as much as it was just keeping their distance. Mostly people just didn't interact.
I agree. Out east they were very wary of anyone new. I still think it comes from the fact that they all stay in the same area from birth to death. I can't imagine never experiencing living in other areas. But some seem to not be able to thrive outside their home area. I can't imagine not experiencing life all over the US. It has really broaden our lives and our childrens. We all appreciate many areas of the US. And I think our kids have great people skills because they know what it takes to come into a new area and reach out to others.

[ekg56]

Very helpful, we cut down a couple of trees on our building lot. Went out there today and the neighbor had cut and stacked it for us.