STL Transplants (St. Louis, Memphis: neighborhoods, private school, college)

[NoToSTL]

If your moving to St. Louis and your not from there check out STL Transplants. Outsiders have a really difficult time fitting in. The litmus test the locals use to find out if you are a local..."Where did you go to high school?" Your answer dictates your social placement. If you didn't go to high school there you may find yourself very alone.

[PerseusVeil]

K.

[FrankMiller]

Half my friends are transplants.

[billiken]

Seen this before--for $210/year, no thanks. Plenty of ways to meet people...for free.

I thought the social atmosphere was a bit strange at first too (I moved for college, and the high school question was very popular) and it's not like there haven't been small difficulties along the way, but it didn't take terribly long to make great friends. I've lived here 8 years on and off in total, and the friendships I've made here are stronger than anywhere else I've lived. In fact, I've had it easier here than in other places where there's more people moving in/out all the time. My best friend is an STL private school native and somehow she's friends with me anyways

[FrankMiller]

I found NYC to have its own challenges in making friends. Everyone is so busy, it's hard to convince people to hang out.

[lepoisson]

I taught at Mizzou for a few years. Most of my students were from the St Louis area and could be very cliquish. No idea why it's like that. I live in the KC area now and don't get that impression at all.

[mjtinmemphis]

Ive been back in St. Louis a year and a half and all except one of my associates are a native. I think I prefer it that way.

Ive only been asked the where you went to high school question once as a tongue in cheek conversation starter. Most people ask where do I work or where am I from.

I think every place kind of has a question. In Chicago it was what neighborhood your from. Memphis it was what church you go to.

St. Louis city has shrunk so much and it seems like the only people who care about it is from some where else. Look at the neighborhoods that are on a comeback. Mostly transplants.

[STL2006]

Is this post from 1983? Very outdated and completely untrue stereotype. No one asks that anymore, nor do they care.

[jribe]

i've heard it asked when i live in St Louis; but i think it was more of a conversation starter.. Now, there are definitely cliquish people in STL, but not everyone! I made a handful of very good friends; all but 2 were STL natives. I've since moved back to CA but they all keep in touch.

I think its like most places though, a lot of folks are still friends with people they went to high school with (or college if local) and just aren't looking for new friends. Doesn't mean that they aren't accepting, but you may have to try a bit harder.

Just judging by the OP's name, i assume he/she doesn't like STL? Personally, i liked it a lot - just really moved back for better weather..

[Dawn10am]

I've been asked where I went to high school exactly one time in the four years I've lived here. It's not that big of a thing.