Moving from Sydney, Australia to Racine WI. (Milwaukee, Pulaski: high crime, tech jobs)

[Mia jade]

Hey guys,
I joined this forum last night in the hope to find some information on Racine. I did find some interesting things like how Racine is known to be a cheaper area with a high crime rate.

Well, i am leaving Sydney Australia in 2 mths to live in Racine to be with my bf. I have been to america 4 times before including the east coast twice, west coast and hawaii, so i have a general understanding of the american culture and ppl, but im thinking its going to be very different in the midwest.
I would like some opinions or advice on how it may be for me trying to settle in as a white female with an african american bf.

At first ill only be there on a holiday as i am not entitled to a working visa, nor a student visa, but i would like to get a company to sponsor me for work while im there so i can stay longer. The only other option is to get married, but i dont want to be forced into marriage this soon, plus after the 3mth holiday is over, i will need money to support myself financially.

Also, while i am there, i will be studying, as my collage in Australia is by correspondance, but from what i understand, u can only get a student visa if u r going to study at an american institute, which i am not interested in doing.

Also, i love to play basketball and i have interest in art, painting and photography, and was thinking about doing some volenteer work in these fields while im there, but not sure where to start looking.

Anyway, any opinions and advice would be greatly appreicated.
Thank you.
MIA

[CivicMinded]

I can possibly relate to you a little bit--I grew up in Wisconsin, but I attended Macquarie Uni in Sydney for a while. Now I'm back in Wisconsin, and I love it here, though I have a lot of good memories of Sydney.

As I'm sure you've been told, you're in for some changes when you move to Wisconsin. You'll have to be willing to adapt to those changes. Good thing you're moving here in our summer so that you aren't totally shocked by winter. THis way you can use our autumn to transition yourself a little and slowly adapt to the winter.

You'll have lots of opportunities in or near Racine to explore your hobbies & activities. You'll be right inbetween Chicago and Milwaukee where there are lots of art museums and those sorts of places. Chicago is a very cosmopolitan city, as is Sydney. Your bi-racial relationship shouldn't be a big deal either, the area you're moving to is diverse and generally accepting.

I did have a little bit of culture shock, especially moving back to Wisconsin from Sydney, even though I was a native of Wisconsin. That feeling goes away with time, it's important to keep yourself from being too critical of the diffferences and just accept people for who they are. You know. Good on ya

[AussieMale]

Hi Mia jade

I have left you a pvt msg to read.

cheers

[Mia jade]

Hey guys, thanks so much for the replys. U both have given me lots to think about. I guess my main concern now is the financial aspect of it all. Maybe i should start playing the lotto so i wont have to worry about working over there... lol
Nah for real, its going to be a challenge for the both of us, esp myself and the cold weather. Not sure how im going to handle that, but ur right about coming over in the summer time, i can get use to the cold later on.
Better run for now, off to work, but hope to hear some more opinions soon.
MIA

[MKEGal]

I also agree w/ CivicMinded that you won't have a problem w/ your relationship there. However, I think the only thing Racine has going for it is it's proximity to Chicago. My husband grew up there and my ILs still live there and I think it's a hellhole. Sorry. Just my .02.

[NeciFiX]

Australia eh?

Don't worry about the white female settling down with a African American male. It's fairly common in the US, not so much in SOME parts of Wisconsin.

You have to be aware of -40C temps, it can get about 10C warmer, but is usually a -40C at lowest. However, there is still the commoner -35C and -30C to be aware of for about 2 months, November and December isn't so bad anymore due to Global Warming. Expect tons of snow in January and February, usually, at least. We got like 2 feet where I live! It is warmer in March, but then cold will destroy your hope over and over, in the middle of April, it happens more, winter beats the crap out of all warmth until May, thats when the Doombringer is gone, but it still is a little chilly now and then and in the mornings. June is very warm and then hot towards the end, July is very hot so is August, September and October are pretty warm as well. Our summers are a bit more intense than Australian summers, I'm not too sure why, but in the more populated areas in Australia, it tends to be slightly less hot on average than up here. You will be surprised by the vast evergreen trees we got up here! I have a forest in my backyard! Make sure to buy heavy coats and learn how to put snowpants on! !

[Mia jade]

LOL, i hate to sound stupid, but what are snow pants?? lol.

There are soo many things ill have to learn about, but at least this one is fashion, so i can handle that part. Yeh, im so suprised that it gets so cold, then so hot. Strange to me, but something ill get use to i hope. I will be there in summer time, so i can ease into the winter.

WOW, im so excited to be leaving soon... cant wait to c all the lovely green trees... im very much a nature lover. I love photography and have been trying to sell my work of late, so thats going to be cool, new environment, lots of lovely things to photograph.

Actually, is there such a thing as a photographers club over there where ppl get togheter and snap up pics or anything??? Or how about painting clubs? where would i look to find such things?

Thanks heaps for all the advice i have been getting, its very helpful.
Keep the comments coming.. i love hearing others opinions... even the bad ones, but, if ur going to leave a bad coment about a place, can u back it up? just so i know what bad things ur refering to. Thanks guys!!

[Nausikaa]

You won't be able to move to USA by looking for a company to sponsor you, you have to do that before you come. They only sponsor a certain amount of immigrants per year. Applications are betw Apr and Oct. They are snapped up in days. Also, it costs the co at least $5,000 to sponsor you. They are usually hi-tech jobs, nursing, doctors, scientists, etc. Even if you apply for visa by marriage or fiancee, you will have to leave the country for 6 months, and then prove your relationship. it is extremely hard to get into the US legally.

Go to Google and Resarch: Pulaski's Ways. It will tell you the legal ways to get into the USA.

When your visitor's via expires in 3 months, you will have to leave regardless of anything else.

[Mississippienne]

Do not overstay your visa! You will eventually get caught and then you can be barred from entering the USA again for up to ten years, if you overstay a year or more! If you're going to immigrate, do it legally if you can.

[MKERock]

If you're going to overstay your visa (or let's call it extend with creativity), if you visit another country (not sure if Canadia counts for this anymore, but I've seen it used) and get your passport stamped, you'll start a new 3 months, as I understand it. I know an aussie or six who've used the technique. Make sure you have a ticket for travel back to Oz though, or they can be sticklers about it (open-ended ticket looks like you don't intend to leave or some such). Good luck. Ever play footy? Milwaukee's womens team is ALWAYS recruiting.

Rock