Advcie for a southerner looking to relocate and get a job in Chicago (Decatur: public school, living)

[Aleking]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

Uptown is large enough with some bad parts and really good parts.

That's fine and been rehashed a hundred times. My point was simply that I don't live in some fantastic paradise hood and have found people much more friendly and neighborly than one of the above posters. Frankly i found the Chicagoans only strike up a conversation if in preperation to mug someone as insulting.

[knitgirl]

Originally Posted by Aleking

In my experience, there isn't much truth to this, people strike up conversations with me all the time while out walking the dog and I doubt they're sizing me up. I was also welcomed with cookies on my last move.

It's been my general experience that people are MUCH more likely to talk to you if you are walking a dog.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by Aleking

Frankly i found the Chicagoans only strike up a conversation if in preperation to mug someone as insulting.

Insulting and completely false.

[knitgirl]

But there were some definite points that are relevant. I have not spent a lot of time in the South, but my impression is that there is a lot more superficial friendliness there than here. Unless you are a regular at a store, most Chicagoans are not going to be chatting with the cashier at Jewel for example. It's my impression that that type of thing is considered good manners in the south and if you don't you're rude. I also think it's quite true that most people are a lot more straightforward up here, and you know where you stand with them. I also don't think you'll get people asking you where you go to church, which I have heard is a very common question people ask when meeting in the South. I could be ALL wrong about the south, but if true, those are some obvious differences.

[Aleking]

Originally Posted by knitgirl

It's been my general experience that people are MUCH more likely to talk to you if you are walking a dog.

True, a cute puppy would go a long ways towards meeting people in a new city.

[jwaiter]

Originally Posted by knitgirl

It's been my general experience that people are MUCH more likely to talk to you if you are walking a dog.

Being female helps, too.

[j_cat]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

Insulting and completely false.

Especially for someone coming from Atlanta! Muggings are not going to be any more common here, unless you choose a terrible neighborhood.

[Los Guys]

Are you OK with the cold, cold winter?

The unfriendliness aspect is overblown. No, people will not be as cordial and chatty as in the south, but its 100x better than the east coast (NY, BOS, PHL). There are very open minded people here, and if you are too it will be easy to fall in with a good crowd.

As for cost of living, you will make more, but you will be paying more for just about everything. Especially if you live in the city proper.

There are good opportunities for health sciences related professions, as Abbott is here (albeit a bit far north). You should check out Careerbuilder or Indeed or SimplyHired to get a handle on the possibilities.

I am actually thinking about moving my family down to Atlanta next year. It was awesome being young and single in Chicago, but within the city, public schools are rough and housing is expensive. Now with two kids, I want to move to Decatur and raise some chickens and enjoy some above zero temps in February.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by Los Guys

I am actually thinking about moving my family down to Atlanta next year. It was awesome being young and single in Chicago, but within the city, public schools are rough and housing is expensive. Now with two kids, I want to move to Decatur and raise some chickens and enjoy some above zero temps in February.

Unless you have a good job opportunity, Atlanta is doing worse than Chicago. They have year over year job loss down there.

[j_cat]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

Unless you have a good job opportunity, Atlanta is doing worse than Chicago. They have year over year job loss down there.

The downside of a positive reputation, I suppose. Too many people showing up without a plan. Maybe it's good that people think Chicago is dangerous, corrupt and hopeless.