How Much, if at All, Would I Fit into Your Country/State?

[flowerpower]

There are RFers from various countries and states, so I'm curious what the answers to this question will be.

I realize that such things can only ever be guessed to a limited extent from online interactions, but based on my posts, conversations, things I have shared, etc., here, how much, if at all, do you think I would fit into your country or state if I moved there tomorrow? Would you see me having difficulty integrating, for example, or would I do so quickly? Or something else?

(I included "state" in the question to account for the vast differences between some states in the US.)

I don't know enough about you to make that assessment.

But all I can say about the country I'm currently living in (and will likely be stuck in long term) is that it's - on principle - extremely inclusive and values multiculturalism as a fundamental aspect of the culture. The place is full of people from all over the world and it sorta works on an extremely superficial level. Racism and xenophobia isn't tolerated at all but, at the same time, anyone who doesn't identify with a specific cultural group is almost treated like some kind of alien - it's really weird.

We're also a terrible, terrible nanny state. We're not totally fascist - it's one of the safest places on earth, but if you fart too hard in public you might need to get yourself a lawyer. So that's something to consider. At least the cops who enforce the nanny state seem to be a lot more chill than other places on earth. The criminal justice system is also pretty lenient too so maybe that evens the nannystatism out a little bit.

The worst thing about this country is probably the media and the things that people think are important but actually aren't - which seems to be par for the course in The West these days.

 

[George Washington]

There are RFers from various countries and states, so I'm curious what the answers to this question will be.

I realize that such things can only ever be guessed to a limited extent from online interactions, but based on my posts, conversations, things I have shared, etc., here, how much, if at all, do you think I would fit into your country or state if I moved there tomorrow? Would you see me having difficulty integrating, for example, or would I do so quickly? Or something else?

(I included "state" in the question to account for the vast differences between some states in the US.)

Uh, if you came to the US, I think you'd go through a culture shock, especially in any of the bigger cities like San Francisco, Chicago or NY.

You'd be best off in a rural town, somewhere maybe in the outskirts of a Midwestern city, possibly in or around a college town. I recommend Chesterton Indiana.

It's close to the Indiana Dunes, which is a great place, actually.

 

[Debater Slayer]

Uh, if you came to the US, I think you'd go through a culture shock, especially in any of the bigger cities like San Francisco, Chicago or NY.

How come?

 

[George Washington]

How come?

Too many mean people, drugs, homelessness, violence. You would probably consider it far too wild. I would assume.

 

[Soandso]

Too many mean people, drugs, homelessness, violence. You would probably consider it far too wild. I would assume.

"Mean" wouldn't be the way I'd describe people from San Francisco. The cultural issue I take with some of the cities in California is the "California smile." That said, I do like San Diego. Good people there

 

[Debater Slayer]

"Mean" wouldn't be the way I'd describe people from San Francisco. The cultural issue I take with some of the cities in California is the "California smile." That said, I do like San Diego. Good people there

What is the "California smile"? This is the first time I've heard of it, so I'm curious.

 

[George Washington]

"Mean" wouldn't be the way I'd describe people from San Francisco. The cultural issue I take with some of the cities in California is the "California smile." That said, I do like San Diego. Good people there

I'm here in SOCAL. My favorite place is South Orange County, near Rancho Santa Margarita. Close to San Clemente, and Dana Point, and the people are very calm and generally good.

Not sure when you were last in San Diego, but it has changed quite a bit over the last 7 or 8 years.

 

[Debater Slayer]

Too many mean people, drugs, homelessness, violence. You would probably consider it far too wild. I would assume.

Drugs and homelessness are major issues where I live too, albeit not in my part of the city. Violence is more limited than either, thankfully.

I don't know enough about San Francisco to comment on the "mean people" part.

 

[Stevicus]

Arizona also has a more violent police
force than most other states.

We certainly have our share, but I'd have to see the stats to see how we compare with other states. Personally, the worst offenders to me seem to be the Border Patrol, but they're federal, not state.

 

[George Washington]

We certainly have our share, but I'd have to see the stats to see how we compare with other states. Personally, the worst offenders to me seem to be the Border Patrol, but they're federal, not state.

Some neighborhoods in Phoenix are worse than than what you find in Compton or Watts. Chandler, Gilbert and those areas are pretty good though - especially downtown Chandler. It's gone through gentrification, and is much better now.

 

[Soandso]

What is the "California smile"? This is the first time I've heard of it, so I'm curious.

If "Southern Hospitality" is characterized as being very friendly, outgoing, and genuine, then the "California Smile" is characterized by being very friendly, outgoing, but disingenuous. It's hard to pick up on at first, but the more you see it the more you can feel it. People with the California smile tend to be very appearance driven and aren't very down to earth. They tend to look at friendships as a "what can you do for me?" kind of thing

Not all Californians are this way by any stretch, and this does tend to be limited towards population centers like Los Angeles from what I've noticed, but still... After a while you really do appreciate when you encounter genuine folks in California when you encounter them. It's something I take for granted where I'm from

The Seattle freeze has its problems, but people here tend to be very down to earth. If you do (finally) get yourself a friend here, they will be there for yah when things turn south

These of course are generalizations. People in the USA and their attitudes are diverse (we are very individualistic here), but there seem to be trends as well

 

[Soandso]

I'm here in SOCAL. My favorite place is South Orange County, near Rancho Santa Margarita. Close to San Clemente, and Dana Point, and the people are very calm and generally good.

Not sure when you were last in San Diego, but it has changed quite a bit over the last 7 or 8 years.

Hmmm, yah it's been longer than that for me. Maybe 10 years or so? A lot does change in that time. Seattle now vs. 10 years ago is night and day. Then again, Seattle even in the days of CHOP to now is a big change (for the better, thankfully)

 

[Revoltingest]

We certainly have our share, but I'd have to see the stats to see how we compare with other states. Personally, the worst offenders to me seem to be the Border Patrol, but they're federal, not state.

I've done it.
AZ isn't the worst by any measure, but it
fits right in with the worst southern states.
Phoenix is particularly bad.

 

[Stevicus]

Some neighborhoods in Phoenix are worse than than what you find in Compton or Watts. Chandler, Gilbert and those areas are pretty good though - especially downtown Chandler. It's gone through gentrification, and is much better now.

I guess Chandler has grown quite a bit. I remember when it was a relatively small community.

 

[Stevicus]

I've done it.
AZ isn't the worst by any measure, but it
fits right in with the worst southern states.
Phoenix is particularly bad.

I know Maricopa County was particularly bad when Arpaio was still sheriff up there. Arpaio was definitely a mean S.O.B. It was never really quite that bad in Tucson, although we've had some pretty atrocious cops. State cops and university cops have also had a bad reputation.

 

[Heyo]

There are RFers from various countries and states, so I'm curious what the answers to this question will be.

I realize that such things can only ever be guessed to a limited extent from online interactions, but based on my posts, conversations, things I have shared, etc., here, how much, if at all, do you think I would fit into your country or state if I moved there tomorrow? Would you see me having difficulty integrating, for example, or would I do so quickly? Or something else?

(I included "state" in the question to account for the vast differences between some states in the US.)

Germany isn't the worst place to live though it might not be for you. Jobs in the IT sector are demanding but good paying. The culture in most big cities are multi-cultural and food options from markets over street food to high end restaurants will accommodate your preferences. Public transport is fairly good in and around cities but I recommend getting a drivers licence where you are now. It will cost you about 20 times as much if you have to get it here. Life in general is much more expensive which offsets the good payment a bit. Most people are open to foreigners but we've got some very nasty elements, especially in the Eastern part. You can get around with English and Arabic for a while but you need to learn German if you want to fit in.

If you are seriously looking into coming to Germany, visit the "Goethe Institut" (Goethe-Institut Ägypten | Kairo), they have German courses and can help with immigration and finding work.

 

[☆Dreamwind☆]

California is pretty casual about people from all walks of life.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Would you see me having difficulty integrating, for example, or would I do so quickly?

What would you guess might be the main obstacles to integration?

Chicagoland has a robust and heterogenous Muslim population, the sixth best graduate math program, excellent cuisine, outstanding theater, and a reasonably high tolerance for people with poor musical tastes. You could go far, perhaps all the way to Indiana.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

There are RFers from various countries and states, so I'm curious what the answers to this question will be.

I realize that such things can only ever be guessed to a limited extent from online interactions, but based on my posts, conversations, things I have shared, etc., here, how much, if at all, do you think I would fit into your country or state if I moved there tomorrow? Would you see me having difficulty integrating, for example, or would I do so quickly? Or something else?

(I included "state" in the question to account for the vast differences between some states in the US.)

Toronto, Ontario, has been called by the United Nations the most multi-cultural, multi-racial city on earth. And frankly, that's part of the reason that I still love being here (though, of course, I was also born here). Here, we actually celebrate our diversity -- both with support of our civic, provincial and national governments, and with the enthusiastic participation of ordinary folks of every kind, shape, appetite and extraction. There really is no end of street festivals celebrating religions, or ethnicities, or just FOOD, FOOD, FOOD! (You can tell the food is my favourite celebration.) We have beautiful churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, mandirs and whatever else you want -- old and new, traditional and modern, rich and poor. I've visited most of them (a lot during our annual "Doors Open" event in which we visit places we normally wouldn't go to learn more about them).

Though we're not perfect (close!), there really is very little overt racism, we have been rated by the Economist as the 6th safest major city in the world, and the safest in North America.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Toronto, Ontario, has been called by the United Nations the most multi-cultural, multi-racial city on earth. And frankly, that's part of the reason that I still love being here (though, of course, I was also born here). Here, we actually celebrate our diversity -- both with support of our civic, provincial and national governments, and with the enthusiastic participation of ordinary folks of every kind, shape, appetite and extraction. There really is no end of street festivals celebrating religions, or ethnicities, or just FOOD, FOOD, FOOD! (You can tell the food is my favourite celebration.) We have beautiful churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, mandirs and whatever else you want -- old and new, traditional and modern, rich and poor. I've visited most of them (a lot during our annual "Doors Open" event in which we visit places we normally wouldn't go to learn more about them).

Though we're not perfect (close!), there really is very little overt racism, we have been rated by the Economist as the 6th safest major city in the world, and the safest in North America.

Even safer than Chicago