Moving from London to RTP area (Raleigh, Cary: 2014, rent, chapel)
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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My company offers me a good position to relocate from London to RTP. I have read many threads about living and relocating to triangle and Cary area. I have 2 small kids (5 and 1), not a real party goer, so I'm focusing more on the quality of family life and education. My package will be pretty good, so financially, I will be better of moving out of London. I was in the process of buying a house here but I put it on hold for that, so still renting.
I have some friends living in Raleigh and Cary, and I was more thinking towards moving to Cary, hoping it will have nice affordable housing and school options. I saw some discussions about education system being changed, lots of complaints etc. What is going on there?
Is Cary a friendly place for foreigners from Europe (non-native English speakers)?
hello & welcome to the boards. the traiangle area (including cary) as a whole is very welcoming to international folks of many regards. to help answer your questions in general, you'll likely want to dig into some links from this thread & then come back with more specific questions. this link will include info on schools & many other general topics of interest:
the school topics are ever-changing so you may wish to read some more recent threads regarding the wake county school system to get a feel for more current happenings.
again, welcome aboard & happy browsing. perhaps if you have a moment you could provide me with some info -- we will have a 9.5 hour layover in london in a few weeks when we are traveling to south africa. any tips for a quick zip out into the city from heathrow during that period? we don't have any belief that we'd get a full london tour, but getting out to stretch our legs & see a bit of it on our long travels would be a nice bonus. info appreciated when/if you have recommendations!
hello & welcome to the boards. the traiangle area (including cary) as a whole is very welcoming to international folks of many regards. to help answer your questions in general, you'll likely want to dig into some links from this thread & then come back with more specific questions. this link will include info on schools & many other general topics of interest:
the school topics are ever-changing so you may wish to read some more recent threads regarding the wake county school system to get a feel for more current happenings.
again, welcome aboard & happy browsing. perhaps if you have a moment you could provide me with some info -- we will have a 9.5 hour layover in london in a few weeks when we are traveling to south africa. any tips for a quick zip out into the city from heathrow during that period? we don't have any belief that we'd get a full london tour, but getting out to stretch our legs & see a bit of it on our long travels would be a nice bonus. info appreciated when/if you have recommendations!
I tried to read some of those topics about education, but didn't really understand much as they were referring to specific curriculum or changes. So, appreciate if someone cam summarise in few sentences.
If you are landing in Heathrow, it takes around an hour to go from there to downtown by Underground, or you can take a Taxi, which can cost you around 100 USD. You can go to Waterloo or Soutbank, where you can see Parliament, Big Ben, and London Eye. Also, it is a nice 20 min walk from Westminster bridge, towards Parliament, via St James Park to Buckingham Palace. If you still have time, it is another hour walking tour from palace to Trafalgar Sq -> Covent Garden -> Leicester Sq -> Piccadilly Sq -> Regent Street -> Oxford Str, then take a taxi or underground back to airport. These will give you enough of touristic feel in around 3 hours total.
I tried to read some of those topics about education, but didn't really understand much as they were referring to specific curriculum or changes. So, appreciate if someone cam summarise in few sentences.
i see. i'm sorry - we don't have kids yet so i don't have any firsthand information. someone with kids could better explain how the wake county system works. do keep in mind that if you were to live in durham or chapel hill area that you could also be involved with durham county, orange county, & chapel hill schools, so there may be more information there.
Quote:
If you are landing in Heathrow, it takes around an hour to go from there to downtown by Underground, or you can take a Taxi, which can cost you around 100 USD. You can go to Waterloo or Soutbank, where you can see Parliament, Big Ben, and London Eye. Also, it is a nice 20 min walk from Westminster bridge, towards Parliament, via St James Park to Buckingham Palace. If you still have time, it is another hour walking tour from palace to Trafalgar Sq -> Covent Garden -> Leicester Sq -> Piccadilly Sq -> Regent Street -> Oxford Str, then take a taxi or underground back to airport. These will give you enough of touristic feel in around 3 hours total.
much obliged for the information. i am gathering info from wherever online in terms of people's thoughts on places to visit for a short layover & appreciate you sharing. thanks!
For anyone moving to the area whose children are not yet school age (and I assume your 5 year old would have 1 more year of preschool), then then "schools situation" is overblown in my opinion.
I would consider the chances of you moving into any neighborhood in the next 3 months, and then your oldest being unable to enroll in the given school for kindergarten the following year (August 2014) very slim.
And even if it does, the VAST majority of schools areas that you would enroll in are still very good schools for the US.
That's enough info. Just wanted to know what side of RTP.
Cary/Morrisville area would be an easy commute. We live in Cary and my husband commutes to that area. Takes about 15 minutes.
Thank you so much, I have many colleagues commuting from Cary, that's why I was thinking more towards there. Otherwise, to be honest, I have no idea where is best to live. Based on things I read, primarily from this forum, Cary seems to be an affordable place with good schools and easy commute.
Being local there, is there a particular part of Cary you suggest that I focus my search or avoid completely?
For anyone moving to the area whose children are not yet school age (and I assume your 5 year old would have 1 more year of preschool), then then "schools situation" is overblown in my opinion.
I would consider the chances of you moving into any neighborhood in the next 3 months, and then your oldest being unable to enroll in the given school for kindergarten the following year (August 2014) very slim.
And even if it does, the VAST majority of schools areas that you would enroll in are still very good schools for the US.
Thank you BoBromhal, my daughter is turning 5, and she is starting compulsory "reception" class in September, in England. I think it falls into Elementary Kindergarten level in US. Please correct me if I'm wrong. She is already going to 5-days a week Nursery, I certainly do not want to keep her out of school. I take your advise as well, I think before committing to permanently moving anywhere, I will rent somewhere in Cary, get to know the neighbourhood and potentially buy something to settle.
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