Bluegrass Lass

Very good point Bob. Chicago isn't called the 'Windy City' for nothing. Winters here are lot colder than typically seen in UK, and once you add in the wind chill,they can be downright arctic. It's not unusual for the temp to fall into the negative teens and twenties (and this is in degrees Farenheit). Remember, when it's 0 degrees Celsius, it's 32 degrees F. So when the temp hits negative Farenheit, it's pretty damn cold. Walking is not always an option you want to consider unless you bundle up quite a bit.

Unfortunately jenny, I don't know enough about specific neighborhoods in the Chicago area. Use your relocation agent to find areas that meet your criteria. Be specific with him/her about what you want. You may also want to consider renting/leasing a place instead of buying. This will give you time to settle in, learn the areas and find out where you would like to buy a home (assuming you want to buy). Plus, with the housing market the way it is, if you wait a while you never know what kind of deal you could find.

Bob

unless your nuts more like

penguinsix

There is a growing trend called 'New Urbanism' in the US that is a reaction tot he endless sprawl and designed to build 'sustainable, walkable communities'. Here is a good list of New Urbanist areas that might fit some of what you are looking for:

http://www.tndtownpaper.com/neighborhoods.htm

rseifert

Hello jennygill, I found your discussion forum while doing some other searches on the Internet. I happen to work for the International School of Indiana and would be happy to exchange emails with you about the school. I could even connect you with some British expats who have recently come to the school. We also have a new head of school who is British as well. His daughter also just joined ISI in the 11th grade.

Best regards

chicagojlo

Jenny I think that last poster is going to be a great help to you.

Here in my suburb (which you already know is out for you) we can walk to the local school, but zoning means my 4 year old won't be able to go there, she has to go to one 2 miles down the road.

There is no way of not having a car here. I have lived and travelled around the world, even with a child, and never needed to drive. One year in Chicago and I've had to get my license. The good thing is it's much easier here than in the UK!

And your husband will want a pretty fast car for getting out of Whiting once it's dark (or in daylight hours actually!).

kcoffman7

I'm not familiar with Whiting but for high school some very strong areas are Oak Park, Glencoe, Glenn Brook. You might look around there because I assume their elementary schools are strong as well. You can also go to www.greatschools.com and put in Illinois and get some information. It has both private and public schools. Chicago has some very good private schools including a French Lycee.

Englishmum

A very close friend of mine moved to a semi-rural part of New Jersey 31/2 years ago (Boonton township, Morris County) from Sydney. She has lived in many places; Singapore, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Pattaya in Thailand, Hong Kong, Leeds UK and various Aussie cities (she's an Aussie). She has never learned to drive - she's always lived in places with good public transportation until she came to NJ - and has an 8 year old and twins aged almost 2.

I honestly don't know how she copes being stuck at home all day, every day; her husband is always working overseas - often long trips to Mexico City, Gold Coast in Oz, London etc. and basically she buys everything online - even groceries when he's out of town. Her daughter takes the school bus - even though it's just 1/4 of a mile away. There are no pavements/sidewalks near their house - the main road nearby is too dangerous to walk on but it's the only way to get to the supermarket which is more than 2 miles away. She makes medical appointments when her husband is working in NJ and would call a neighbour if there was an emergency and she needed a lift.

Her husband has tried to get her to learn to drive but she just won't do it. I suspect that she is a perfectionist and if she fears she will not excel, she would rather not learn at all (she was a successful accountant working for one of the 'Big 4' in Singapore on an expat posting). No chance of trying to get her to have a go at learning to ski, either!

chicagojlo

I was also terrified of learning to drive. There are schools out there specialised in helping nervous drivers. Mine had the patience of a saint with me (and nerves of steel!). I had tried a couple of times before in the UK and in Holland, stick driving was just too much for me. Driving an automatic has made it possible. I still can't go on the highway though!

ironporer

Jen- you do realize that the distance between BP Whiting (basically Gary Indiana) and the school (Indianapolis) is over 170 miles one way- a three hour drive most likely?

Is your husband willing to drive 6 hours a day?

BTW...I am from Indiana and have never heard of the school- not that it means anything (probably too rich for my blood)

sanmarcos

I happened upon your question and thought that I would reply.
I was born and raised in the northern Indiana area that your husband will be working.
As far as Whiting goes, not a good place to live in.
I would recommend Chesterton and Valparaiso, Indiana. Both good school systems. Chesterton has a brand new High School actually. Plus, they are good communities. Clean and safe.
Those towns are still in Indiana.
If you are planning on living in Indianapolis, I agree with other posters about it being very far from Whiting. It takes me at least 2 1/2 hours to drive there from the Whiting area.
As far as Illinois goes, I am not too sure about it, but, Northern Illinois is nice. Traffic between the Northern Illinois area and Whiting is pretty busy though.

MsElui

most of the kids round here go on the school bus that comes around the subdivision and picks them up together. So walking them to school is not required.

jennygill

hi there can you recommend any schools in valparaiso?

Manc

my mate went there, I asked him how it went, but he's from Shanghai in China and said.

"備を始めました。ご関心ある方は、� ��極的に、参� してく� さい。（日本 時間）まで、運営委員を募集しています。コンテストの運� �に関心がある方の参� をお待ちして� ��ります。また、審査員"

and you can't argue with advice like that....