Why did you pick living in Raleigh, NC areas? (Charlotte: sales, crime)
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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If accents bother you, I wouldn't suggest it. Some will tell you it's not that common but maybe because I'm new to the area, I notice it more. I hear it every time I go out and not only do I not mind it, I like it.
As for my reasons... slower pace, more space and nature, friendlier people, better climate, better cost of living.
I think it's better to focus on a new home that gives you quality of life rather than looking to "escape" the negative things of where you live now. When you focus on the bad things, anywhere else tends to look better. That could be an expensive mistake.
If you're truly interested, come visit and look around this forum more.
I think 90% of people move here for a job in the area! Do you have a job offer in Raleigh?
The Triangle area has a reputation for being family-friendly and a great place to raise kids. Lots of tech, biotech, healthcare, and academic jobs in the area.
Spent some time in IL and then moved here to NC as my job required me to move. In the first few months the humidity (comparatively) hit us; now we are just fine. We love the triangle area, the mountains to the west, much better than just watching gigantic corn fields ;-)
Like most metro areas in the South, you will rarely hear a Southern accent. You will hear all kinds of other accents though, especially in my neck of the woods (Morrisville, 30% Asian).
Coming from up north you will notice a distinct increase in churches. The bible thumping is mostly a rural activity tho.
You will meet/see Mormons a little more often than in most places, because there is a regional Temple here. No big deal, they just always seem to catch me at the door when I am not yet showered and in pajamas.
TLDR; Major metro areas in the South are cultural islands bearing little resemblance to the rest of the states they are in.
Well, Texas is a "special" place, IMO. I grew up in Ft. Worth. I knew as a teenager that I didn't buy into all the organized religion and let it slip to a classmate once. Our English teacher overheard and involved herself in our conversation. The rest of the school year was awkward! She signed my yearbook that she "hoped I found Jesus."
When I lived in Atlanta, I had a co-worker/friend tell me my lack of faith might cause her to "slip and fall."
OP - I haven't encountered anything here like I did in DFW or Atlanta. We have gotten some people coming to the door to talk about their church but once we hung a nice "no soliciting" sign, they stopped. I have friends that are religious here and go to church. They know I am not and have never said anything about it.
Within the metro, I haven't had any more problems with that than living in in several other more liberal states. When you talk about some of the rural areas though, that's a completely different story. It's much more prevalent there than the northeast US rural areas.
To the folks saying that you won't or rarely hear a southern accent here, that is simply not my experience. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that and not all the accents will be that strong, but it's definitely not rare to hear them. Even in the upper middle class newer areas of the Triangle such as Morrisville, west Cary, west Apex, Holly Springs, etc. Living here for almost 12 years now I've grown very accustomed to it and I might have some words I use that sound southern as well (I grew up in the DC area).
Now with that being said, the stereotypical central/eastern NC accent is changing and possibly dying somewhat from what older generations remember. The area has and is continuing to become more homogenous. Kids being born in this area now with native parents will probably have a much less stronger accent. Of course, that's probably true for many urban and suburban areas of the country that are fast growing.
I do agree that you will also hear many other accents from around this country as well, more so from the Northeast and New England areas, but that doesn't mean hearing a southern accent is rare.
I don't think a southern accent is rare in the area, but it's certainly not as prevalent as it once was. And there are varying degrees. I think that people not familiar with the area get the idea that it will sound like "Steel Magnolias" here. There aren't many people with an accent that heavy.
Reading this thread made me aware of the people around me talking in my office. We have a guy who is very Jersey sounding, another guy with a Wisconsin accent, two guys with Indian accents, and the one person who's accent is the most 'neutral' sounding is the only Raleigh native. She has no drawl or twang whatsoever.
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