Moving to the USA

@g6065 said:

Good Morning Guys,

Recently, my wife has proposed the idea that we move to the U.S, specifically Seattle.

Visa's aren't a problem as my father was born in the U.S.

I would ultimately be able to continue my current career (with the benefit of RPL), and my wife would be able to teach.

We are currently residents of Australia.

I was just wondering if anyone else here has immigrated to the U.S, and for the permanent residents, what are some of the things I should be looking out for?

Thanks for your time,

-g.

Hmmm... I always kind of wondered what people from nations that are almost all the same race must think of moving to countries made up of multiple races and sub-cultures. Here's to hoping you aren't racist!

@BigChickenDinner said:

Jesus.... H.... Christ.......

And no one was going to warn you about all the gay men who will hit on you. Its not really a problem if your okay knowing that that those guys looking at you funny REALLY DO want to put their penises inside your anus.

there are no such thing as predatory gays and that is perpetuating a stereotype that really doesn't exist

@g6065 said:

Good Morning Guys,

Recently, my wife has proposed the idea that we move to the U.S, specifically Seattle.

Visa's aren't a problem as my father was born in the U.S.

I would ultimately be able to continue my current career (with the benefit of RPL), and my wife would be able to teach.

We are currently residents of Australia.

I was just wondering if anyone else here has immigrated to the U.S, and for the permanent residents, what are some of the things I should be looking out for?

Thanks for your time,

-g.

Hmmm... I always kind of wondered what people from nations that are almost all the same race must think of moving to countries made up of multiple races and sub-cultures. Here's to hoping you aren't racist!

@Tim_the_Corsair: extremely multicultural? shit man the aussies are super racists towards aboriginals.

@Video_Game_King said:

Although my data on the United States is dated, at best, I do know this: if you want to fit in, eat things that will kill you horribly. That much seems to have held up. Also, something about bimackerel governments?

Absolutely hilarious, really, saying the U.S. is only comprised of fat people, so fresh and so good, keep it up.

@Tim_the_Corsair: extremely multicultural? shit man the aussies are super racists towards aboriginals.

Come to Norway instead, you'll freeze but you won't get shot.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AMERICA:

@Animasta said:

also all you people saying the rain is a drag are fucking crazy

you know what is a drag? 110 degree weather (43 c for the europeans out there)

What about New Zealanders you racist mofo. Or aren't we good enough to make it onto your celcius list? =)

That is fucking hot though

I wish you the best of luck man, I hope to someday end up living in the US.

Though from I've heard (not confirmed) is that the healthcare stuff is really terrible.

This is of considerable importance to me as a former cancer patient, so watch out if you have diseases or other bad shit like that.

Also, hell of guns. Guns are bad. Knives are better. More personal

If you move to the U.S consider going to the East/West coast especially SF, Portland, Seattle, NY, Boston. Those places tend to be liberal and open minded to people from other countries (even if you speak english). I will avoid the Midwest and the South since they tend to be more conservatives and close minded.

@clumsyninja1 said:

If you move to the U.S consider going to the East/West coast especially SF, Portland, Seattle, NY, Boston. Those places tend to be liberal and open minded to people from other countries (even if you speak english). I will avoid the Midwest and the South since they tend to be more conservatives and close minded.

Oh, you mean close-minded like those people that make sweeping generalizations about an entire region and its people? Yea, I've seen a few of those around lately...

@Foxtrot0245: As someone that has live in the south and midwest: Dallas, Houston, Austin, Nashville, Atlanta, Denver,Phoenix, Scottdale, etc. I can tell you that people in West/East coast tend to be more open and friendly with people from other countries.

@g6065: My parents live just off the coast of Tacoma near Seattle, so I can tell you: you've chosen well. Seattle's a great city. Make sure you visit the Rock and Roll history museum if you have ANY interest in Rock and Roll or sci-fi (there's a sci-fi museum on the same lot), the coffee is excellent, the fish is great. It's a city that you can really hit the streets and explore on foot, though I'd also recommend owning a car since public transit is not great.

@clumsyninja1: As someone born, raised, and living in the South, I can tell you that you (notice how I didn't generalize; specifically you) are a bigoted dick hole. How exactly do you legitimize criticizing someone for talking about stereotypes (as you should do), and then turning around to spout stereotypes about the South?

@Foxtrot0245: is being more or less open minded a stereotype? Is saying that Seattle has a more open minded approach to other cities stereotyping? He wasn't even saying they were all close minded, just that they were more than their western contemporaries. Consider the fact that 4-5 southern states still have anti sodomy laws on the books (they're unenforcable now but still).

@Foxtrot0245: I understand that you are tring to defend where you live. Which state exactly you are from the South?

Like I said before cities that are on the coast (West/East) tend to be more open and liberal than the Midwest/South that tend to be more conservative and reserved.

@SmilingPig said:

2-There is an insane amount of guns in the States. (Big minus, unless you really like guns)

It does suck getting shot at all the time.

@Animasta: Imagine that this thread was about someone that was planning on renting out a room and was looking for advice on who to rent it to. Then someone like @clumsyninja1 comes along and says something like:

"If you decide to rent it out, consider renting to a white or Asian person. Those people tend to be able to pay their bills and are respectful of rental property. I would avoid blacks and Mexicans, since they tend to be more irresponsible and incapable of paying bills on time."

If this scenario (built just by changing the demographics and the related stereotypes in clumsy's actual post) were true, would we still be having this conversation?

@clumsyninja1: North Carolina. The original message inferring that people in the South are somehow bigoted toward people from other countries is offensive. I know its just a stereotype, but it really sucks (and is extremely ironic, given your original statement) being labeled as a close minded bigot just because of where you are from.

@SmilingPig said:

2-There is an insane amount of guns in the States. (Big minus, unless you really like guns)

It does suck getting shot at all the time.

@Foxtrot0245: I wasn't saying you were! jesus. but are you going to say that, ON AVERAGE, a person from the south is not more likely to be close minded than someone from seattle? and your strawman doesn't work because there are people from all races everywhere, racial stereotypes are significantly more damaging than regional stereotypes.

@Animasta said:

@Foxtrot0245: I wasn't saying you were! jesus. but are you going to say that, ON AVERAGE, a person from the south is not more likely to be close minded than someone from seattle? and your strawman doesn't work because there are people from all races everywhere, racial stereotypes are significantly more damaging than regional stereotypes.

Yes, I am saying that America's impression of the South is due to severely inappropriate stereotypes, propagated by people who supposedly abhor stereotypes.

Also, if it pleases you and dismisses your weak rebuttal of my argument, I have revised the wording here:

"If you decide to rent it out, consider renting to a person from above the Tropic of Cancer. Those people tend to be able to pay their bills and are respectful of rental property because people from this area are generally richer and more trustworthy. I would avoid renting to people from below the Tropic of Cancer. They tend to be more irresponsible and incapable of paying bills on time because people from these areas are generally poorer and are less trustworthy."

Is that regional enough for you?

@Vegetable_Side_Dish said:

@Foxtrot0245: Something being a stereotype does not make it untrue. Those states are statistically more conservative, he simply stated a fact, how things really are. You have no reason to be angry at him, other than maybe some imprecise wording.

Now you're confusing the argument. Are southern/midwest states more conservative politically? Absolutely. Does that equate to being hostile toward people of other nationalities? Absolutely NOT.

I do find it funny that I have lived in the South all my life, and right hand to God the most racist things I have ever witnessed have taken place in my trips to NY and PA. Just a side note that I wanted to get off my chest.

@clumsyninja1 said:

@Foxtrot0245: As someone that has live in the south and midwest: Dallas, Houston, Austin, Nashville, Atlanta, Denver,Phoenix, Scottdale, etc. I can tell you that people in West/East coast tend to be more open and friendly with people from other countries.

Hey yo, Chicago is the liberal oasis of the Midwest. Don't lump us in like that.

@Wrighteous86 said:

@clumsyninja1 said:

@Foxtrot0245: As someone that has live in the south and midwest: Dallas, Houston, Austin, Nashville, Atlanta, Denver,Phoenix, Scottdale, etc. I can tell you that people in West/East coast tend to be more open and friendly with people from other countries.

Hey yo, Chicago is the liberal oasis of the Midwest. Don't lump us in like that.

Atlanta is pretty liberal too as far as I know.

@Animasta said:

@Wrighteous86 said:

@clumsyninja1 said:

@Foxtrot0245: As someone that has live in the south and midwest: Dallas, Houston, Austin, Nashville, Atlanta, Denver,Phoenix, Scottdale, etc. I can tell you that people in West/East coast tend to be more open and friendly with people from other countries.

Hey yo, Chicago is the liberal oasis of the Midwest. Don't lump us in like that.

Atlanta is pretty liberal too as far as I know.

Yea, all of DeKalb County is pretty liberal. Northern VA (Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax) is also included in the South, and is very strongly liberal.

@bio595 said:

I wish you the best of luck man, I hope to someday end up living in the US.

Though from I've heard (not confirmed) is that the healthcare stuff is really terrible.

This is of considerable importance to me as a former cancer patient, so watch out if you have diseases or other bad shit like that.

Also, hell of guns. Guns are bad. Knives are better. More personal

What do you mean the healthcare stuff is terrible? The actual quality of care is some of the best in the world. That's why world leaders are known to travel here to be taken care of. Just make sure you have insurance or any real serious treatment will cost you quite a bit. When my disease was active I had to visit the doctor and receive treatment every eight weeks. Like I said, the treatment was great, but without insurance it would have caused real financial hurt.

Also, a piece of advice: Ignore the politics once you get here. The stupid in the air is palpable. That goes for all politicians.

@LordXavierBritish said:

Isn't getting a teaching job in America right now like really, really hard.

Because our education system is fucked? Not sure why his wife would want to teach here. We're a bunch of spoiled, loud, annoying people with a third-rate education system.

@bio595 said:

I wish you the best of luck man, I hope to someday end up living in the US.

Though from I've heard (not confirmed) is that the healthcare stuff is really terrible.

This is of considerable importance to me as a former cancer patient, so watch out if you have diseases or other bad shit like that.

Also, hell of guns. Guns are bad. Knives are better. More personal

What do you mean the healthcare stuff is terrible? The actual quality of care is some of the best in the world. That's why world leaders are known to travel here to be taken care of. Just make sure you have insurance or any real serious treatment will cost you quite a bit. When my disease was active I had to visit the doctor and receive treatment every eight weeks. Like I said, the treatment was great, but without insurance it would have caused real financial hurt.

Also, a piece of advice: Ignore the politics once you get here. The stupid in the air is palpable. That goes for all politicians.

@g6065: First of all, good luck on your move. Secondly, I think teaching in private schools are a lot better than teaching public schools, so if she ends up with such a job, she should be fine. Good luck on your current career too.

@Animasta said:

@BigChickenDinner said:

Jesus.... H.... Christ.......

And no one was going to warn you about all the gay men who will hit on you. Its not really a problem if your okay knowing that that those guys looking at you funny REALLY DO want to put their penises inside your anus.

there are no such thing as predatory gays and that is perpetuating a stereotype that really doesn't exist

Well I've had multiple gay men come up to me and say things like " Mmmhh seeing you just reminded me I'd like some of that." or " Damn you look good " etc. And saying there are no such thing as predatory anything is a ignorant blanket statement. Now I will admit the majority of gay men in Seattle will just look at you or not even that, and not make advances. However gay men do, and from personal experience, have made advances on a male they have never seen before. If it happens it happens, I don't really take offense, but it is a little unsettling. Especially when the gay dude hitting on you is homeless (my latest experience).

Don't Come to America: The Gays Will Get You

@martyarf said:

Don't Come to America: The Gays Will Get You

Wow you homophobic less than human piece of shit. Gays never make a mistake and hit on a straight man!!! STOP SPREADING LIES!!!!!!

I know, right? If only there was some kind of way to mark who was gay and who wasn't, that would end all the confusion. Maybe something they could wear on their sleeve? Like, I dunno, some kind of shape, a symbol. How do you feel about a pentagram? It's close, but I feel we can do better.

@martyarf said:

I know, right? If only there was some kind of way to mark who was gay and who wasn't, that would end all the confusion. Maybe something they could wear on their sleeve? Like, I dunno, some kind of shape, a symbol. How do you feel about a pentagram? It's close, but I feel we can do better.

I demand it mandatory for them to parade around in ass less chaps, with a rainbow painted on their chest. Like they do doing the gay pride parade, and march around elementary, middle and highschools, parks and daycares. If any of you doubt the gay men in Seattle do this, Come watch the parade. I literally stay inside on that day because I guess gay pride is constituted by indecent exposure.

@martyarf: You seem like someone with legitimately witty things to say, but without the patience to wait for someone to say something that warrants what you have on your mind.

*holds up card* House! I win homophobic bingo! I have "sexually aggressive", "gay pride parades", and I got the center square kicker, "won't somebody think of the kids?"

@habster3 said:

@scarace360 said:

@WilltheMagicAsian said:

I hope she's teaching at a private school. Public school kids are becoming bigger dicks by the year.

I dont think they can get any worse?

Somehow they can. And they do. Fucking monsters.

burn them.

@BigChickenDinner

@Animasta said:

@BigChickenDinner said:

Jesus.... H.... Christ.......

And no one was going to warn you about all the gay men who will hit on you. Its not really a problem if your okay knowing that that those guys looking at you funny REALLY DO want to put their penises inside your anus.

there are no such thing as predatory gays and that is perpetuating a stereotype that really doesn't exist

Well I've had multiple gay men come up to me and say things like " Mmmhh seeing you just reminded me I'd like some of that." or " Damn you look good " etc. And saying there are no such thing as predatory anything is a ignorant blanket statement. Now I will admit the majority of gay men in Seattle will just look at you or not even that, and not make advances. However gay men do, and from personal experience, have made advances on a male they have never seen before. If it happens it happens, I don't really take offense, but it is a little unsettling. Especially when the gay dude hitting on you is homeless (my latest experience).

Sounds cool! I live in Victoria, BC, just north of Washington!!

We can be best friends..... BEST FRIENDS!!!!

I can't speak for immigration, but I've lived in the greater Seattle area all my life. The rain stuff is a little overblown. It usually isn't raining super hard or anything, it's just cloudy a lot when it isn't summer. There won't be a single drop of rain from around mid june til mid September though and you can't beat the scenery. Seattle is pretty welcoming for foreigners, though you probably wouldn't have an issue anywhere as an Australian. It is pretty expensive here though (counterbalanced by some of the highest wages in the country), so hopefully you have something lined up already. Also, PAX.

@Srah said:

@Jumanji:

Agreed and I'm new to the forums. With some of the comments made here and the ESPN thread, I don't think I'll be sticking around.

Don't give up on the Forums necessarily. As MB said, you can just turn off Off Topic on your feed, where most of the problematic threads pop up. There's a lot of good people willing to have good conversations on games here. You just have to avoid some articles that will clearly just lead to trouble. :)

@Jumanji said:

@TruthTellah: Your profile pic is well suited to your post.

Well thank you. Kind words are always appreciated.