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Recently I moved from Georgia and accepted a teaching position in a severely rural area in Eastern NC. This move has been quite difficult as I was extremely uninformed (if not ignorant) prior to moving to the area. However, once this school year ends I don't want to abandon all hope for North Carolina - maybe just Eastern NC. I've made an effort to travel around this portion of the state to see if there's anything better and I've been a little disappointed. Is there something I'm missing out this way?
However, I have been to Raleigh and enjoyed its cleanliness for the size of the city but didn't spend enough time to get a real feel for it. Visited Chapel Hill/Carrboro and nearly fell in love but worry about job availability and the cost of living. Played around in Charlotte during a visit while in college and liked the eclectic neighborhoods.
It's not likely that I will continue a career in secondary education and will likely make a move toward something in either higher education or the nonprofit sector. Is there a particular city where this sort of job search will yield the best results? I'd like to live in a place that has a much more open-minded population, is dog friendly, moderately affordable for a recentish grad-school graduate with too many loans, relatively close to places where you can easily get lost in nature, somewhat vegetarian friendly, lively, upbeat, but does not have to meet the standards of a utopia.
If you took the time to read this, thank you.
If you took the time to make a suggestion, double thank you.
Even people that live in NC are often down on the east. But most of the mid-size cities in NC that have a state university in them will have pockets of what you're describing. In other words, there are usually some parks nearby (state/county/city operated) and some kind of arts scene and people who buy organic food.
I think Greensboro has a good balance of all of that by NC standards. The cost of living is a little less than Charlotte and Raleigh, and it's within a reasonable day trip drive of the other major cities.
Durham - tons of teaching jobs because they can't keep teachers.
Charlotte - ditto.
Raleigh - ugh. Wake County Schools. Former teacher here, so I know.
What you're describing sounds like paradise to me too, which of course doesn't exist. But since you mentioned vegetarian friendly, open mindedness and nature, I'd look into Greensboro as well. Also Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Durham is cool in some spots, but secondary teaching from what I hear is a nightmare there.
It's not likely that I will continue a career in secondary education and will likely make a move toward something in either higher education or the nonprofit sector. Is there a particular city where this sort of job search will yield the best results? I'd like to live in a place that has a much more open-minded population, is dog friendly, moderately affordable for a recentish grad-school graduate with too many loans, relatively close to places where you can easily get lost in nature, somewhat vegetarian friendly, lively, upbeat, but does not have to meet the standards of a utopia.
Colorado Spring, CO, Ann Arbor, MI. Asheville in North Carolina meets some of your criteria, but it would be very hard to find a job there.
I'm kind of curious as to why you didn't like teaching in Eastern NC? Also,what didn't you like about that region? I do know that a few years ago, a lot of experienced teachers from NY were flocking to NC to teach because they were in huge demand in cities such as Durham. I'm not sure if the situation has changed or not. I've heard that Carrboro is kind of funky and there's a Farmer's Market there.
When you say higher education do you mean at a university or college? Are you wanting to teach in higher ed or something else?
Certainly Chapel Hill and Carrboro have what you're looking for. Durham is a great city with many vegetarian-friendly and dog-friendly options. Raleigh could work for you, too. Asheville is gorgeous and you'd love it. Harder to find non-service industry work there as the economy is tourism driven.
If you're interested in staying closer to the ocean, Wilmington could be good for you or some of the smaller coastal towns like Beaufort, Morehead City, Southport, or Ocracoke, Nags Head, etc, although the OBX towns are also a tourist driven economy so jobs are more scarce.
I'm kind of curious as to why you didn't like teaching in Eastern NC? Also,what didn't you like about that region? I do know that a few years ago, a lot of experienced teachers from NY were flocking to NC to teach because they were in huge demand in cities such as Durham. I'm not sure if the situation has changed or not. I've heard that Carrboro is kind of funky and there's a Farmer's Market there.
Many of the worst school districts in the state are in Eastern NC. In general its history is of farming, and what other industry was there has largely left. Not generally considered an area where education and higher learning is an aspiration for many, except in the cities such as around Greenville. These are the towns where the kids who do have ambition and education tend to want to move away from as fast as they can.
OP--if your main priority is to get OUT of where you are now, you actually are in a great situation, since there are many places that are not "where you are now"--especially if you are willing to change careers, as well. Just be aware that NC is one of the highest unemployment states, so you may wish to cast a wide net (within and outside of NC) for somewhere that meets your criteria. Good luck!
OP--if your main priority is to get OUT of where you are now, you actually are in a great situation, since there are many places that are not "where you are now"--especially if you are willing to change careers, as well. Just be aware that NC is one of the highest unemployment states, so you may wish to cast a wide net (within and outside of NC) for somewhere that meets your criteria. Good luck!
Good comment. I could not think of anywhere in North Carolina which had a non-profit which was hiring. That's why I mentioned Ann Arbor or Colorado Springs, even if they sounded off-the-wall. Washington DC has plenty of non-profits like AAUW, but it is more urban and less affordable than the OP wanted.
not sure what "severely rural" means, but "...I'd like to live in a place that has a much more open-minded population, is dog friendly, moderately affordable for a recentish grad-school graduate with too many loans, relatively close to places where you can easily get lost in nature, somewhat vegetarian friendly, lively, upbeat, but does not have to meet the standards of a utopia. " can be found in eastern NC. Does loan forgiveness exist in education for teaching in a "severely rural" area?
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