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Wow! roadpony, from what you posted, folks in the Triad area sure have changed since we lived there! Either that, or things are VERY different in Winston Salem than the greater Greensboro area.
We moved to Guilford County back in 1992, and finally moved back north (to DE) about 1-1/2 years ago. In all that time, we were pretty much those "damn yankees" (oh no, not MORE of them!). Even our kids had trouble being accepted, as they were not born and bred there.
Perhaps things would have been different if we'd lived in Greensboro, not in the country. But IMHO, the "natives" may turn on the southern charm, but behind the scenes, most would really rather we outsiders NOT continue flocking to their state.
Mary
I was speaking from the perspective of living IN Winston-Salem. The OP did not specify country vs. city living. Obviously, transplants can be viewed differently in a rural setting vs. urban or suburban. Also, the "Triad" is a diverse region. It's difficult, if not impossible, to make generalizations that will apply to all parts of the region when speaking of the natives' attitudes.
Your experience would likely have been different if you'd lived IN Greensboro, rather than in the country.
Cruikshl has good advice for any transplant, wherever you are from.
I know this is an old post, but if anyone has any new info on this info, I'd love to hear. I'm an expat living in Asia and in the coming years need to move back to the U.S. Originally from Jersey, I have had employment experience with a company in Greensboro (in their Asia company though) where I felt there was always this group that I was never apart of because I was a Yank and they we're all from the south (Mostly local Greensboro guys and other NC/SC guys). Has anyone experienced this as a northerner recently moving to NC? Is it better in larger cities like Charlotte and Raleigh?
JakinChina - I can speak to Winston Salem...we just moved here from Syracuse NY and I haven't experienced any "us vs them" mentality at all. In fact, people have generally been nicer than upstate NYers (not meant as a criticism of upstate NY, which we quite enjoyed, but people seem to have a sunnier disposition here). I suspect this won't be an issue for you in Gboro.
Thanks CNY....I think if your friendly and nice to people, they'll be the same back to you no matter where you're from. My main concern is with employment. I think were planning on Charlotte, but I'd be open to settling down in other NC cities as well.
North Carolina, as a whole, is very transplant-friendly. There are exceptions, of course, but the Triad isn't one of them. Lots of transplants in both Winston and Greensboro. At least half of the people I know there aren't from NC. There are over a million people in the combined Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point area, with nationally recognized hospitals, several good-sized universities, major companies (Hanes, RJ Reynolds, Lorillard, VF, BB&T and more all hq-ed in the Triad, with major presence there from Volvo, Honda(jet), etc.) and other draws for people from all over. So no, I don't think you'll have a problem as a transplant. Now, having said that, it's tough to recommend that anyone move anywhere without employment prospects lined up. So no matter what the area, caveat emptor.
It really comes down to attitude more than where you are from. I'm sure you know the NY/NJ stereotype of loud, rude, in-your-face types who complain about everything and say how much better things were where they came from. Unfortunately, while most from the North are not like that, natives have had enough encounters with some who are, to have a tendency to judge someone from that area, especially if they have the telltale NYC area accent, as an "obnoxious New Yorker/Joisey type". Make sure right off the bat that you dispel that stereotype and you should do fine, and you might even teach people about stereotypes by example. Urban areas in NC are used to transplants from everywhere, but again, it's not the "where" but the (presumed) attitude, so just be the exception to the stereotype and you'll have no problem.
Thanks CNY....I think if your friendly and nice to people, they'll be the same back to you no matter where you're from. My main concern is with employment. I think were planning on Charlotte, but I'd be open to settling down in other NC cities as well.
If you move here and an have attitude like the poster below, you indeed will have a difficult time adjusting:
Quote:
Originally Posted by emily724
I have found Greensboro to be exurban Jesusland. In other words, yes, very boring--and more. Like many parts of the SE, it's INSULAR. A Bible Belt city with a stagnant economy. Italians are considered exotic outsiders. If you don't belong to a "faith group" of some sort or are an atheist, it's that much harder to find work, make friends, feel at home. People here definitely "hang" and hire within their faith groups.
The public schools are mediocre at best. Primary and secondary education is not up to par with other parts of the country. They set lower standards here, have lower expectations for students and have dropout rates. The spending per pupil is pitiful. The area also has a low proportion of college graduates.
If you have children and send them to private schools here, you'll find the teacher quality wanting. Teachers are not paid well in this "right to work" state and it is not a sought after profession.
There is little culture to speak of and no major city within easy driving distance.
Sure, you can pay to dine well at one of a handful of fine restaurants, but the city's overall food culture is bleh at best. Good, affordable takeout and moderately priced dining doesn't exist. Of course, there are plenty of corporate dining chains.
Sure, it's quite green where they haven't blacktopped it for another Walmart, but still very difficult to escape to the natural world and go for a hike without getting in your car and driving a distance. There is no topography and no natural bodies of water or flowing rivers. We drink our storm runoff.
The city is not convenient to the beach and the mountains--4+ hours to the beach.
The far right wing now controls the state legislature, which is in the midst of slashing education spending and further ruining what was once the best part of this state--it's university system.
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