Quote from: COWBOY on May 22, 2008, 01:35:27 PM
Some suggestions...
For Finance take a look at Charlotte. US's second largest banking center behind NY and the home of both Bank of America and Wachovia. Decent economy, fair housing, excellent climate...
This is a follow-on to the "Should I move back to America" thread. A few weeks is a long time on the DMF! ;D
You've got me thinking hard about
Charlotte, NC. Accommodation looks downright affordable compared to New Zealand and our other options in the US, and there seem to be plenty of prospects for work in my area. My wife and I like the size of the city (big enough, and not so large that we will be too lost), the climate looks decent, with outdoor pursuits abound(?).
Just a couple questions to anyone that's been there...
1. What's the cultural scene like? Music? Theater? Arts? I'm into Jazz, Funk, and Dance/Electronic/House music.
2. My wife is a mix of Philippino/Persian backgrounds, has been studying the civil rights struggle in the US, and the racism issue is fresh in her mind. She's a bit concerned about a "racist legacy of the south" both directed against her, and just in general. My take is that there are racists
everywhere (including here in NZ), but in major metropolitan cities people are largely educated and exposed to lots of other cultures, and so I don't imagine Charlotte to be any worse than LA or Auckland. I haven't been there though. Any experience?
3. Generally, what do people think of Charlotte NC?
Self Mod: Here's a link to the thread in MROC (that I'm trying to threadjack ;) )
http://ducatimonsterworldwide.org/index.php?topic=4423.0
Sweet! ;D
i just posted something similar in MROC, you might want to piggy back on my thread. Got a couple suggestions for areas to look at in Charlotte already
BW..Charlotte is typically on the Top 10 list for best places to live in the US. We've been chekcing the area out too but Austin won..
for now at least! ;)
From my point of view, the south gets a bad rap for its racist image. Is it here, yes. It was also in Detroit, and Boston, and Chicago, and Tampa. It isn't a southern problem its an everywhere problem.
Don't let it discourage you.
i've not been there, but i've done some reading and asking around since i was thinking of moving there, myself. the info i got made it sound like a pretty cool place to park yourself.
Quote from: zarn02 on June 10, 2008, 08:32:35 PM
i've not been there, but i've done some reading and asking around since i was thinking of moving there, myself. the info i got made it sound like a pretty cool place to park yourself.
check out the thread in MROC thats been posted up.
i've lived here all my life and have posted some insights.
Quote from: BWClark on June 10, 2008, 05:29:00 PM
This is a follow-on to the "Should I move back to America" thread. A few weeks is a long time on the DMF! ;D
You've got me thinking hard about Charlotte, NC. Accommodation looks downright affordable compared to New Zealand and our other options in the US, and there seem to be plenty of prospects for work in my area. My wife and I like the size of the city (big enough, and not so large that we will be too lost), the climate looks decent, with outdoor pursuits abound(?).
Just a couple questions to anyone that's been there...
1. What's the cultural scene like? Music? Theater? Arts? I'm into Jazz, Funk, and Dance/Electronic/House music.
Just off the top of my head we have a theater, opera, an Imax theater and the Discovery center is cool for the little ones (with an infant and 2 toddlers my wife and I don't get out much LOL). The restaurants are excellent. We also have two Pro teams (NFL Panthers and NBA Bobcats) as well as 2 minor league teams (Baseball and Soccer). There's also a whitewater center for kayaking etc and a number of good places to rock climb if you're into that.
We also have a plethora of historical sites to visit if your into that (US Civil and Revelutionary Wars). There are 3 National Parks within 2 hours West which have over 200 miles of trout streams. It's 3 hours to the Atlantic coast and the beaches.
If you're into boating and being on the water Charlotte is bordered by 2 lakes (Lake Wylie to the South and Lake Norman to the North). I'd estimate a good quarter of the population hit the water more than a few times a year here.
Quote2. My wife is a mix of Philippino/Persian backgrounds, has been studying the civil rights struggle in the US, and the racism issue is fresh in her mind. She's a bit concerned about a "racist legacy of the south" both directed against her, and just in general. My take is that there are racists everywhere (including here in NZ), but in major metropolitan cities people are largely educated and exposed to lots of other cultures, and so I don't imagine Charlotte to be any worse than LA or Auckland. I haven't been there though. Any experience?
The racial climate here is actually pretty muted. Especially when compared to other large cities in the US.
Quote3. Generally, what do people think of Charlotte NC?
Charlotte is a great place to be. When we moved from the DC area we looked at 12 other areas and believed that it offered the most. After being here for 2 years we are more than satisfied we made the right choice for us.
The only real downside is that the secret is out and about 80K people move here every year for the past 3 years most from upstate NY. I know as many New Yorkers as native Charlotte residents.
If you head this way hit me up. I'll spring for some pints and introduce you to my 2 other friends from your part of the globe (Australia and South Africa respectively).
Cheers
CWBY
Quote from: COWBOY on June 10, 2008, 11:41:46 PM
If you head this way hit me up. I'll spring for some pints and introduce you to my 2 other friends from your part of the globe (Australia and South Africa respectively).
Cheers
CWBY
Thanks for that!
Be careful! The Mrs and I are heading to the States in August, and we're likely to check out Charlotte if things keep up as they're going. I might just take you up on that! I'm not good at distinguishing false offers, so don't make 'em with me! ;)
Sounds like we can have our own little Tri-nations thing... with the ozzy and the saf.
I was down a couple weeks ago for the race. Saw me a nice monster at the Birkdale shopping center. Had some good sushi as well.
Everything looks very new.
We just lost our Police Chief to Charlotte. When I moved from southern Virginia I had a choice of N Carolina or Richmond...I went north. My own experience with Charlotte is mostly from visiting friends who live in Concord and it seemed that it took 45 minutes to get anywhere there. It also seems that they're always working on the road system there. It does have a bunch of entertainment venues and it is the only place in the country that has appreciating home values. For me it's just to spread out and like someone said alot of it is very NEW. But that's just me. Check it out
Quote from: bdfinally on June 11, 2008, 08:00:50 AM
We just lost our Police Chief to Charlotte. When I moved from southern Virginia I had a choice of N Carolina or Richmond...I went north. My own experience with Charlotte is mostly from visiting friends who live in Concord and it seemed that it took 45 minutes to get anywhere there. It also seems that they're always working on the road system there. It does have a bunch of entertainment venues and it is the only place in the country that has appreciating home values. For me it's just to spread out and like someone said alot of it is very NEW. But that's just me. Check it out
That's because Concord is 30 minutes from Charlotte and is home to 1 the track and 2 the areas largest outlet mall.
Using Concord to judge Charlotte would be like using Petersburg to describe Richmond.
Quote from: BWClark on June 11, 2008, 12:26:03 AM
Thanks for that!
Be careful! The Mrs and I are heading to the States in August, and we're likely to check out Charlotte if things keep up as they're going. I might just take you up on that! I'm not good at distinguishing false offers, so don't make 'em with me! ;)
Sounds like we can have our own little Tri-nations thing... with the ozzy and the saf.
My offers are always good especially for pints. Give me a heads up and we'll definitely meet for a few. Good luck with your search.
Quote from: COWBOY on June 11, 2008, 08:15:38 AM
That's because Concord is 30 minutes from Charlotte and is home to 1 the track and 2 the areas largest outlet mall.
Using Concord to judge Charlotte would be like using Petersburg to describe Richmond.
why the disrespect for Concord? ;D
happened across this just now
http://www.charlotte.com/business/story/663674.html