Why did you leave Pittsburgh? (Austin, Portland: hotel, high school, income)

[badguykc]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Compared to what other cities?

I've lived in Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, and while Cincinnati comes the closest to Pittsburgh in the "you're not from here, so go back where you came from" department, people there are more insular than outright rude. One weird thing about Cincinnatians is how they say "Please?" when they want one to repeat oneself. I never got that, just like the whole "n'at" thing Pittsburghers say after 95% of their sentences.

As for Columbus, these days it is so full of college kids and people from other cities/states/countries that one can easily make friends with other transplants or people with similar interests.

[trackstar13]

Originally Posted by badguykc

First off, Erie is NOT Pittsburgh, and Erie is NOT a part of the Pittsburgh metro area, in ANY capacity.

Secondly, there are no lack of higher education options. Erie is home to three universities (Gannon, Mercyhurst, Penn State Behrend), as well as Fortis Institute, LECOM, and various other trade schools. As for"affordable", these days virtually NO higher education option can be considered "affordable". Besides, how far does a CCAC degree REALLY get you outside of Pittsburgh?

A healthy (or non-healthy) Pittsburgh has no bearing on Erie whatsoever. While Pittsburgh (and a few of its' suburbs like Braddock, Wilkinsburg, and McKeesport) totally went down the crapper beginning in the late '70s, Erie for the most part weathered the storm quite well. Only now, with crime on the rise and GE layoffs looming, are Detroit-like clouds starting to gather in the Flagship City. GE's problems notwithstanding, compare Erie's fortunes within the past 30 years to those of Youngstown, Ohio (another major steel manufacturer like your native 'Burgh), and YOU tell ME who came out better.

As for it "paining you" to see in-town jobs go to out-of-town applicants...well, no offense intended, but if people like YOU would stay in Pittsburgh (or Detroit, NYC, or other American cities with high expat populations here), Erie wouldn't have that problem. Just saying. Silly me, perhaps this was a roundabout way of saying that Erie's refugee population are "stealing all the jobs". I personally am not implying that, but one does hear it said around town quite often.

Two things you may have missed or not known about my previous post:

1) My job in Erie would have either likely gone unfilled or to another out of town applicant because of the very specific requirements. Additionally, my job and others like it lead to other spinoff employment opportunities for locals and increased spending in the Erie area because of the increased spending from recruiting students and bringing new young adults to the area.

2) You may not have realized that PA changed the congressional district boundaries recently for district 3 and a good portion of Butler county (Pittsburgh metro) is now part of the same district as Erie. Additionally, Mike Kelly, who is from the Pittsburgh area and resides in Butler is currently our representative. In other words, Erie is now tied to Pittsburgh regardless of opinion because of these changes and the current political representation. I have included the map below and it is nothing personal, but this change is a big thing for Erie politics and forever changes things unless the boundaries are redrawn again. I am not saying Pittsburgh and Erie have the same issues and that I agree with the changes, but it is too late they have already happened.

[badguykc]

Those boundaries look like they could be one HELL of a logistical headache...

[patrick85395]

I left Pittsburgh in '85 because of the cold, miserable climate and never looked back. I grew up in Wilkinsburg in the 70s and 80s and the early years were good; however, as I entered adulthood, I decided that I needed change and diversity in my life. For me everything from the architechture, the streets, downtown, the weather is old and depressing. I get nostalgic the few times that I've returned, but that feeling fades quickly....I'm still a Steelers fan though.

[hinsey86]

Originally Posted by patrick85395

I left Pittsburgh in '85 because of the cold, miserable climate and never looked back. I grew up in Wilkinsburg in the 70s and 80s and the early years were good; however, as I entered adulthood, I decided that I needed change and diversity in my life. For me everything from the architechture, the streets, downtown, the weather is old and depressing. I get nostalgic the few times that I've returned, but that feeling fades quickly....I'm still a Steelers fan though.

My husband ( last name Arrigo) grew up in Wilkinsburg...left in 1978. ( we returned 6 years ago. )

[EveKendall]

Originally Posted by patrick85395

I left Pittsburgh in '85 because of the cold, miserable climate and never looked back. I grew up in Wilkinsburg in the 70s and 80s and the early years were good; however, as I entered adulthood, I decided that I needed change and diversity in my life. For me everything from the architechture, the streets, downtown, the weather is old and depressing. I get nostalgic the few times that I've returned, but that feeling fades quickly....I'm still a Steelers fan though.

You must have looked back a little, because here you are on the Pittsburgh thread...I kid, I kid.
I do not understand the idea of Pittsburgh's architecture being depressing, though. You must be living in Paris or Vienna now.
Anyway, I am in a position where I have been offerend a great job that would require leaving Pittsburgh. I don't want to go. I was actually hoping this thread would provide me with some good reasons to flee the city. No such luck.

[zman63]

Originally Posted by EveKendall

You must have looked back a little, because here you are on the Pittsburgh thread...I kid, I kid.
I do not understand the idea of Pittsburgh's architecture being depressing, though. You must be living in Paris or Vienna now.
Anyway, I am in a position where I have been offerend a great job that would require leaving Pittsburgh. I don't want to go. I was actually hoping this thread would provide me with some good reasons to flee the city. No such luck.

Why not take the job? The experience would be better and why not take a great job somewhere else? It sounds like you may have settled for a job to just live in Pittsburgh. You could always come back if you wanted. Maybe living in a different city would make you appreciate pittsburgh more. It could also have the opposite effect and change your perception that Pittsburgh is in it's own bubble and change is a struggle.

[pghdude28]

Originally Posted by patrick85395

I left Pittsburgh in '85 because of the cold, miserable climate and never looked back. I grew up in Wilkinsburg in the 70s and 80s and the early years were good; however, as I entered adulthood, I decided that I needed change and diversity in my life. For me everything from the architechture, the streets, downtown, the weather is old and depressing. I get nostalgic the few times that I've returned, but that feeling fades quickly....I'm still a Steelers fan though.

Patrick you took the words right out of my mouth. I was born right around the time you left and 28 years later, not much has changed. Downtown is nice during the day but really disappointing at night. There's some nice historical architecture here; however, most of it has been neglected. The culture is the real problem... People just don't give a ****. It is sad. I've seen nicer roads in the Dominican Republic. As for the weather, LOL. Today was one of those highly unusual days when the sky was perfectly clear blue with direct sunlight all day. I couldn't believe I was still in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh overall is parochial, stagnant, and gray.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by pghdude28

Patrick you took the words right out of my mouth. I was born right around the time you left and 28 years later, not much has changed. Downtown is nice during the day but really disappointing at night. There's some nice historical architecture here; however, most of it has been neglected. The culture is the real problem... People just don't give a ****. It is sad. I've seen nicer roads in the Dominican Republic. As for the weather, LOL. Today was one of those highly unusual days when the sky was perfectly clear blue with direct sunlight all day. I couldn't believe I was still in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh overall is parochial, stagnant, and gray.

Where did you live prior to here?

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by chielgirl

I've come and gone over the decades. I've lived in 9 states and 3 foreign countries; Germany 3 times.
Most recently I left to work overseas.
My contract is up and I return to the Pitts in November.

If I have to live in the States, it might as well be Pittsburgh.

I've seen your posts all over the World Forums, Europe Forums, even Asia Forums.

Great that you have a connection with Pittsburgh. As a person who has been living abroad for a long time myself, Pittsburgh seems to have some nice ingredients to it, that certainly appeal to me as well.