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FIND YOUR DREAM HOME OR APARTMENT
I always find the collective comments interesting as it gives a good cross section of the US. We moved from upstate New York to Charlotte where our son is happily located. We moved back as it is too sectional with various races and or cultures locating to specific parts of the beltway and traffic through the center generally a mess. The area has grown and there are things to do but you can list on one hand the number of Performing Arts or other cultural venues in the area.
Having spent a few years in Houston/Dallas/Austin, I prefer Austin for tubing the Guadalupe and The Ivory Cat bar (and other short of the Polyester District) over the sprawl of Dallas. All nice places to visit but home is in the Northeast.
I can also reference shorter (less than a year) periods living in places like Santa Barbara, Mountain View or San Diego CA.... Portland (Camas) and Seattle, Boulder or Leadville, CO... the list could go on from Florida to Maine to California and Washington but the point is.... you are most comfortable with where you are raised and the norm that was created for you. Some can move and adapt to a new area better than others. You develop bias for a certain expectation of home and the comfort that various aspects of your environment bring to it.
As far as comparison to other parts of the world, I am currently in Kuwait on a two year assignment. Over the past 30 or so years I have been blessed with the opportunity to pursue extensive travel in many parts of Asia, Europe and the Middle East. My passport is generally well used and abused. I'm still proud to be identified as an American based on the knowledge and experience gained.
So, while people still squabble and make both ignorant and informed comments about this or that, be thankful you speak as American's... regardless of what area of the country you come from. You have a lot more to be thankful of than many parts of the world. Think of the US as a big company. You can "post" to other parts of it without leaving. If you find it rude or boring where you are, try some place else.
By the way... Zurich is boring ?? You have got to be kidding right? Getting back to the part of expectations, comparison and where you are raised...
I know what you mean by rude people. I'm from California, "land of the rude", and I had a rare opportunity to work in Dallas Tx for a month. Even going out to eat at a local place was such a nice experience. There, people genuinely are happy to see you. They are not phoney, obnoxious, or rude. I will always have fond memories of Texas, and hope to return, soon.
I understand that the job market in the D.C. metro area is better than other parts of the country, but if you can avoid it, DO NOT move here. It's overcrowded to begin with. I think their are rude drivers everywhere in the world, but they all seem to be flocking here. All in a hurry to go nowhere fast. A good amount of people here have bad attitudes and are very rude.
I've lived in the northern VA area most of my life and have observed it first hand.
Have a nice day everyone.
