Any Southerners in Minnesota?? (Minneapolis, Fergus Falls: how much, homes, high school)

[Minnehahapolitan]

Originally Posted by BlackOut

That is some sick growth.

Atlanta's metro population in 1980 was 2,233,236. The 2007 estimate was 5,122,983.

That won't be so impressive when oil goes bust.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by BlackOut

That is some sick growth.

Atlanta's metro population in 1980 was 2,233,236. The 2007 estimate was 5,122,983.

Wow. 107,027 and 2/3 people per year. If I did that right.

I feel sorry for the partial people. I think one of them is mayor right now, tho...

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Minnehahapolitan

That won't be so impressive when oil goes bust.

We'll all have 'lectric cars by then... I hope!

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

We'll all have 'lectric cars by then... I hope!

I have seen 2 electric cars around our town this summer. Boy are they small but a good option if you only have one or two people for a commute.

[mngirl1]

Totally, agree! It takes a while to "make friends", but when you do...they are keepers! However, to be honest, the ones we have made are not really from here. I'm from Oklahoma! I do miss the Southern Hospitality. Just the tone in a person's voice when driving through a "drive through restaurant" is different here. I try to be "friendly" to everyone I meet, but sometimes you feel you are only "bothering" people. Wish it was different, because I like almost everything else about it, except the cold weather. However, in Oklahoma it's ice and tornados. Still, I would rather have warm people, if I have to deal with cold weather!

[beachmommy19]

I am so glad I'm not alone! I have lived here for 3 years, and it has been the loneliest 3 years of my life! I married a Minnesotan, who I met while I was living in FL. We moved up here after the wedding, with high hopes! We are now planning on moving back south, to TN next summer. People here don't necessarily mean to be rude or cold, but I find that they are all from here, so they have their established family and friends and they will be nice to you, but they don't invite you over, they don't call, they don't do anything! And by the way, this goes for the twin cities as well as the small towns. We live in the burbs, and my in-laws live up in Fergus Falls, small town. It's all the same. They are the nicest people as long as they don't have to actually get to know you. Very sad. I have been so disappointed, but I can't function in this environment anymore. I am so thankful to be moving south! And by the way, I have lived all over the world in 5 different countries, and the culture shock and loneliness I have felt here has been by far the worst. Please take it to heart if you are from here! Invite someone other than your brother's family over for dinner!
Thanks,
Beachmommy19

[Kamsack]

Hi

I live up in far northwest MN....actually have lived in Grand Forks ND and now East Grand Forks MN and have been in this area for 10 years now. It was due to job relocation for me (I am a meteorologist) and because I am one of the few but proud that actually likes the cold and snow (I love the subzero days) and I dislike heat and humidity of where I grew up in western Kentucky. My wife is from Minot ND. I do have a nephew and his wife in Chaska and he is from Kentucky and she is from the Dallas area orginially and they have been here for 10+ years too.

I am a very outgoing person and my wife who fits the German from Russia stoicness to a "T" is much more reserved. While I would invite others over and maybe a bit more "nosy" up here people tend to themselves a lot more. Now if you need help they will help you and certainly if you get stuck in winter they do look out for you...but I have found many people in our area dont want to bother you and will stick with who they know more than reach out and get to know another. This is very generalized of course....but I always have to make the first effort to get to know someone and almost plead with them to invite us over...then once that happens it breaks the door down at least.

But I always wanted to move north and got teased a lot in Kentucky because my accent wasnt southern enough for where I grew up.

Dan

[whatever]

Originally Posted by georgiagirl1

I'm a Georgia native who has been in the Twin Cities for 6 years. I still haven't met anyone here who is a Southerner! Is there anyone out there from the South?

I think this is a beautiful area; but it has been incredibly difficult to make friends with Minnesotans. Does anyone feel this way?

Lived in CT, then AL, then FL. It's not you. It's MN. Friendly enough, but not "open" in the way you're used to. I've heard this from others (even other midwesterners) off the board too.

[akronbball]

Originally Posted by beachmommy19

I am so glad I'm not alone! I have lived here for 3 years, and it has been the loneliest 3 years of my life! I married a Minnesotan, who I met while I was living in FL. We moved up here after the wedding, with high hopes! We are now planning on moving back south, to TN next summer. People here don't necessarily mean to be rude or cold, but I find that they are all from here, so they have their established family and friends and they will be nice to you, but they don't invite you over, they don't call, they don't do anything! And by the way, this goes for the twin cities as well as the small towns. We live in the burbs, and my in-laws live up in Fergus Falls, small town. It's all the same. They are the nicest people as long as they don't have to actually get to know you. Very sad. I have been so disappointed, but I can't function in this environment anymore. I am so thankful to be moving south! And by the way, I have lived all over the world in 5 different countries, and the culture shock and loneliness I have felt here has been by far the worst. Please take it to heart if you are from here! Invite someone other than your brother's family over for dinner!
Thanks,
Beachmommy19

I am finding comments like this pretty ridiculous. I have lived quite a few places in the US and lived in Europe too and never had a problem making friends, even when I didn’t speak the native tongue. I’m sure that the people in MN have more in common with people from other states than I did with my friends in Europe. My family is also not from MN and most of my family doesn’t live here. The family that does live here chooses to because they enjoy it here. I also just moved back to MN and live in a part of the state I don’t know anyone and haven’t had too much of a problem meeting anyone.

I think sometimes it just comes down to how hard you try to make friends and if you put yourself out there to build these meaningful friendships no one seems to be able to find.

[heather~excellimos]

I moved up here from Kentucky in 1991 to go to college. The adjustment was hard in the beginning, and when people ask me now why I don't have an accent anymore, I tell them that I had to learn my, "Ya, Sure, You Betcha's" right away to try to fit in. There was definately a negative stereotype associated with being from the South. They felt that because I was from there my IQ must be lower.

I do love MN and decided to stay here after college. My husband's family is here and we never talk of moving anywhere else. The schools are much better and there is a wide variety of entertainment and culture.

As far as the friendliness of Minnesotans ~ I definately notice a difference whenever I travel down South. I am always amazed how friendly and personable most people are down there. It seems that here sometimes people go out of their way to not look you in the eye or talk to you unless necessary. For example, go into an elevator with people you don't know. 9 out of 10 times here, there is silence during your trip. In the South, someone always seems to break the silence with a witty comment, compliment, or other form of small talk. I've learned to ignor the so-called "snobbiness", and don't usually notice it anymore until I go South for a trip... then it really stands out.