Worried about culture shock from northern california (Wichita, Lawrence: employment, neighborhood)

[mr bolo]

the harsh weather conditions would be enough to keep me from even thinking of moving to a place like Kansas

Kansas is one of those states that has a reputation for bad weather

[rickybobbyusa]

Originally Posted by phxone

I grew up in California and relocated to Wichita recently for a job. You will experience major culture shock if you move to Wichita. It is not really all that "country" even though you will see plenty of faux cowboys driving jacked up trucks and hear plenty of country music in places like restaurants and retail stores. The city is very rundown looking, it appears to have fallen on hard times financially for at least a decade. The people are blue collar, trashy and largely uneducated. Life revolves around kids, sports and church. Nightlife is non existent, and the social scene mostly involves people hanging out with people they have known since high school. Very few young singles, it seems that most people get married and/or pregnant at a young age. Your brown skin will not be an issue if you avoid spending time in the suburban towns that surround Wichita. Towns like Derby, Maize and Andover are almost 100% white and a minority will not be warmly welcomed by most of the residents since they chose to live there to avoid contact with Wichita's minority population.


IMO, it is similar to living in the Central Valley like Stockton or Modesto with worse weather and in a more remote location. If I could go back and change things I would not move here. I am going to stay a few years so I don't trash my work history and get out of here ASAP.

If you don't mind me asking whats your age?

[rickybobbyusa]

I like to spend alot of time at bars. Thats where im assuming i might meet people. Are bars more older crowds? And i dont mind run down, but is the economy decent? I was planning on just trying to find a entry level low paying job untill i could find something in my trade. Is that a feasible plan? Im planning on going with a at least a few months of safety money for rent and living expenses, but im also worried i might have trouble renting a place with no current job.

[rickybobbyusa]

I like to spend alot of time at bars. Not sure if you did but thats where im assuming i might meet people. Are bars more older crouds? And i dont mind run down, but is the economy decent? I was planning on just trying to find a entry level low paying job untill i could find something in my trade. Is that a feasible plan? I was going to bring about 3 months of rent, and living expenses.

[rickybobbyusa]

sorry for the duplicate post... first one didnt show up right away

[springfieldcollegealum]

Doubt if bars have more older people-bars tend to cater towards younger people. I grew up in KS and I sure would have culture shock living there again.

[rickybobbyusa]

Originally Posted by springfieldcollegealum

Doubt if bars have more older people-bars tend to cater towards younger people. I grew up in KS and I sure would have culture shock living there again.

Is it the way people treat you? whats so different?

[phxone]

Originally Posted by rickybobbyusa

If you don't mind me asking whats your age?

late 20s


Bars are a younger crowd if you avoid the blue collar beer and shot type places. The economy is sluggish and primarily based on a slowly dying manufacturing sector. It is similar to Rust Belt cities like Detroit or Flint in the late 90s. They are trying to attract new industries and diversify the available jobs but the efforts so far have failed.


What is your trade? Unlike other cities and larger urban areas, Wichita does not have a wide variety of employers or jobs available. If you move here you might find yourself changing careers involuntarily.


IMO, Wichita is the kind of place you live short term and only if you have to for a job, military, etc. Most of the people that stay long term grew up here and can't stand to leave family. You can see that reflected in the population, lots of elderly and young children, but a noticeable lack of people aged 20-45 since they left for better jobs never to return.

[rickybobbyusa]

I kind of prefer older crouds at bars.... but mainly finishing concrete... at least thats what id prefer to do kind of jack of all trades though..... Planning on moving back to cali or colorado after a couple years

[601halfdozen0theother]

The nine (9) months I lived in Wichita were the most miserable months of my entire life. And I'm an older White lady.


You would think that because of it's location, Wichita would be "Western" in character. It isn't. Wichita is a Southern town. It is excruciatingly christianconservative.


When I lived there a woman stood by the side of one of the streets in town with an anti-abortion sign. I think it said something like "honk if you think abortion is murder". She was there every single day.


And I still remember my DMV experience there - the most unpleasant and hateful in all of the 15 states in which I've lived (which include California.)


I got the he** out of Dodge (funny, because the real Dodge City isn't far away) as soon as I found another job that took me North.


Physically, though, it's kind of a pretty city. The botanical garden was nice.