Moving to Denver (fit in, home, maintenance)

[Dragas1200]

Hi everyone,
I am seriously considering moving to Denver. I just visited it once and fell in love with the climate and the mountains. My main concern is that if it is a provincial town.
I am from a somewhat international background and living in some of the US cities has been real painful for me. People look at you weird, and always consider you as an outsider. Worse, some people even thought I was a high-maintenance snob just because I visit my family every year in London! All my close friends know that I am pretty laid-back and it just bothers when people just judge you without even trying to get to know you.
I really want to move to a city where people can accept me for who I am.
How is Denver in regards to diversity?
Thanks!

[EscapeCalifornia]

What time of year did you visit? Where do you live now, so we can know what you'll be comparing Denver to?

[Dragas1200]

I visited Denver in October. Just stayed there for a few days. Currently, I am staying with a friend in Philadelphia. But before, I was living in Pittsburgh and felt miserable there.

[ColoWeb]

What do you mean by an international background? Are you from Mars?

I'd say that Denver is very diversified and I am not sure what may have happened to you that you think otherwise. Maybe its me but I am not seeing anything that can cause people to react negatively to the fact that you fly to London to see family.

I have no family in London but wish I did so that I can go and visit London (and the whole europe for that matter)!

The hard part is finding a job in this economy, other than that, if Denver is where you wan to be I would not see a problem with having an international background.

Good luck!

[DannyBanany]

I'd find someone with an international background very interesting. Maybe people are just jealous of you.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Denver is "provincial" compared to eastern, more cosmopolitan cities. If you go to the symphony or opera, you will see people in cut-offs and flip-flops. So what? It doesn't diminish the experience!

That doesn't mean that no-one in all of Denver has ever travelled to London or Europe. I have and a lot of my friends have. I have co-workers who take vacations all over the world.

Next time visit Denver for more than a couple of days and meet a wider range of people. After all there are several million people who live and work here!

[denverian]

People in Denver are from all over. I have British neighbors and they fit in fine here. It seems like Colorado natives are the minority here - probably not, but many people here are from the East and West coast. I think you'd fit in fine.

[chilaili]

Originally Posted by Dragas1200

Hi everyone,
I am from a somewhat international background and living in some of the US cities has been real painful for me. People look at you weird, and always consider you as an outsider. Worse, some people even thought I was a high-maintenance snob just because I visit my family every year in London! All my close friends know that I am pretty laid-back and it just bothers when people just judge you without even trying to get to know you.

Thanks!

REALLY?! Where have you been living? I've been here since 1995 (from Oxford, UK) and thankfully never encountered any weirdness or attitude. Mostly I've encountered curiosity about why I moved here (bored with England), do I like it here (been here 13 years so yes) and how often do I go back (every other year)? Even in Minnesota, which some would say is even more "provincial" than Colorado, I never had any issues. Perhaps I'm just oblivious but I think you would find Colorado quite welcoming and genuinely interested in who you are and where you come from. Of course we are outsiders, but I think it all depends on how you handle that: I chose to exploit it and my friends think it's hilarious when I drag out my Union Jack on 4th of July.

And if my recent naturalization ceremony is anything to go by, there are a LOT of immigrants here from all over the world, not just other states!

[vegaspilgrim]

What the hell does "provincial" mean? Someone please explain this.

[Dragas1200]

Thanks for these reassuring comments.
I am a Turkish girl by ethnicity, and grew up in different parts of Europe (mostly big cities like Berlin and London). I travelled the States extensively, and found out that some cities (like Miami or Santa Barbara) are more welcoming of foreign people than others (like Gainesville Georgia or Pittsburgh). It's not that they were mean to me or anything, but it was hard finding a niche or a close friend in these cities.
I just felt that people kept me at a distance and didn't really 'include me'. Whenever I would have a conversation with them, they would keep referring to my 'diverse background', as if it's weird or something. But, I never had that experience in California or Miami.
I really like to be in a city where I can feel at home and not like some outsider who comes from 'Mars', as one of the thread responders put it.
Based on your comments, it seems that Denver can provide me with this.