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I'm new to North Dakota and I heard everyone up here would be soooo friendly. I'm sorry, but the friendliest people I have run into have been on the base and are not from here. The native North Dakotans I have met...no offense, but they seem rude, blunt and standoffish. My husband mentioned this the other day. Every time we ask someone for something or just run into someone and ask a question they look at us like what do you want? And huff like you're wasting their time. And then they stand there after the question and they're like what? You want something else? Leave already. Maybe it's just me, but this is far from the southern hospitality I'm used to. Other than that, the town is pretty, we live in Minot. I even like the snow, just not the cold. The plains and flat lands are beautiful, the hills around the town are beautiful too. Just a different view from mountains and I'm enjoying that. The cost of living is not much cheaper than the places I'm used to, but it's def nice to see that there's not a ghetto side of town that people don't enter after dark. I think we'll like it, maybe it just takes awhile to get used to northern hospitality.
What you encountered is normal in any Military community. After 18 years in the service I kind of figured it out.
You find people, on the base, not from there, more friendly. The reason for that is in the military, including families, you know your only going to be there a short period of time. 3 maybe 4 years. So you tend to make friends quicker and your more tolerant because you know, in the back of your mind, that you have to be quick because if you don't, people will move and you'll never have any friends.
For the locals, you are a transient. You won't be around long enough to contribute to the community. You and I both know that you will. But that's not the way they look at it. They look at long term committment to making a community what it is. Men have went to the same barber for 25 years. Women have went to the same hair dresser for 25 years. And then they have the people from the base, that may not be here in 6 months. So they tend to be a little short.
We rolled in on the 6th. The mobile is nice and cozy . . . now. We're still bucket flushing, still boiling water to wash dishes and bathing with baby wipes because there's no running water . . . yet!
Other than the running water we are absolutely madly in love with North Dakota!! We haven't met a single unkind person yet, that includes 3 trips to Fargo, one to Bismark, and a few to Jamestown. Never in my life have I opened a bank account while laughing sooooooo hard my head was on the account manager's desk - only in Medina.
We've run into a few people who looked grumpy grumpy grumpy. But, the minute they connect they are smiling and helpful. The sense of humor is a bit different - can't define yet - but in spite of all the roadblocks to getting a hot shower and not having to boil water for dishes, my face hurts from smiling!
Our new favorite food is knephla soup - and we're looking forward to trying more of the local food so we're going to be on the watch for places serving traditional local foods.
There's not enough money in the world to make me leave North Dakota except for a short trip (vacation). I think this is the most beautiful place in the world - the rolling plains are beautiful; especially after the never ending "flat" of the Central Valley of California.
I'm sorry, but the friendliest people I have run into have been on the base and are not from here.
Really? I work in retail so it's kind of my job to be polite and talkative with everyone I meet, but I'm really surprised by that. I'm not a native North Dakotan either, but in my experience here most people have been kind and easy going. Not sure who you were talking to that was so rude, haha. Yeah, I suppose locals can be a bit hesitant with basers, like ElkHunter said, but overall I think everyone from Minot is used to them coming and going. A lot of the customers at my store are from the base, so I enjoy seeing new faces day to day. Maybe that's just me.
I'm not sure why. I do like the fact that people just leave their cars running with all their stuff in it. Being from Dallas and having lived in big cities or near big cities all my life, I doubt that this will become a habit with me, but I think it's nice that the crime is so low here. I was always afraid we would be mugged or shot after 8pm (and we were mugged once) but it's nice to feel safe here. But yeah, people not really all that friendly. And yes I would think they would be used to people coming and going. And as for the knoephla soup...had some yesterday. Loved it.
I can't wait to make a big ol' pot of it!!!! My "farm-mate" girlfriend made cheese buttons the other day, they were so good. She's also raving about the sauerkraut sausages at Reisters. I can't wait to try them.
I love the feeling of safety here. It's so different from where we were, it's nice NOT to see tagging and feeling like the gangs are encroaching into your neighborhood (even "nice" neighborhoods).
Oh - the stars in the sky last night were so amazing. I know I love North Dakota!
Bob will like it more when he gets a job. Farming is tough way of making a living. I know first-hand. We just inherited a farm north of Devils Lake and deciding what to do with it. Good news is ND was the beneficiary of the Stimulus package. And, the only state that added jobs!
Bob will like it more when he gets a job. Farming is tough way of making a living. I know first-hand. We just inherited a farm north of Devils Lake and deciding what to do with it. Good news is ND was the beneficiary of the Stimulus package. And, the only state that added jobs!
I'm a big advocate for cash rent. It's probably the easiest way that I'm aware of to turn acreage into income.
I'm an Arizona native and San Diego part-timer and just spent last summer in Grand Forks, North Dakota. I was part of an intensive summer practicum at UND. Grand Forks is a wonderful city and I enjoyed every minute of my stay there. The people were friendly and honest...I never felt an unsafe for one moment while I was there ( a mature female without her husband). I highly recommend Grand Forks, ND and if I could figure out how to make it work with my family I would move there in a heartbeat! I'm gushing...but what a wonderful place to live! It's like going back in time 50 years to what small town America used to be! Children riding their bikes and playing in the parks without a care in the world? On the other hand....maybe, I'd better try a winter first?
Anyway, I love Grand Forks, North Dakota!
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