Re-location Advise for the USA!!!!!
Nov 15th 2010, 6:41 pm
#33
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2010
Location: Round Rock, TX
Posts: 7
Re: Re-location Advise for the USA!!!!!
I went to Beloit for uni, and so know the area quite well. Janesville is nice, quiet, very suburban. As the previous poster noted Madison is a student town, with all the pluses and minuses that go with that. I, personally, LOVE Madison, but it that's just me.
I agree with everyone who says that you should visit first, and definitely visit in the winter. Very different experience from over here, and for some people the novelty wears off (never did for me, I still get excited any time there's snow on the ground).
Also, the more rural parts of WI (like Beloit) are radically different, culturally, to the big urban areas that you've probably visited before. People value different things, eat different things, etc. Its worth checking out.
Saying that it seems to me that it really depends on how long you're looking to go for. If its a couple of year thing, why not? Go with the one with the best pay / cost of living ratio and try it out.
Just my thoughts, anyway.
I agree with everyone who says that you should visit first, and definitely visit in the winter. Very different experience from over here, and for some people the novelty wears off (never did for me, I still get excited any time there's snow on the ground).
Also, the more rural parts of WI (like Beloit) are radically different, culturally, to the big urban areas that you've probably visited before. People value different things, eat different things, etc. Its worth checking out.
Saying that it seems to me that it really depends on how long you're looking to go for. If its a couple of year thing, why not? Go with the one with the best pay / cost of living ratio and try it out.
Just my thoughts, anyway.
Nov 16th 2010, 12:53 am
#34
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 38
Re: Re-location Advise for the USA!!!!!
For what my opinion is worth, my family and I have lived in Wisconsin for nearly thirteen years, we are in La Crosse, which is on the West side of the state. Our opinion is that Wisconsin is the best place we have lived in the USA when taken as a whole. This is our fifth state (Ohio, Texas, California and Arizona). Each state has its pro's and con's. Like the other posters say, the weather here can be bitter cold in winter and miserably humid in summer, but you adapt. If possible, I would visit here before you take the big plunge but if you only intend to stay a couple of years, this might not be a high priority. As for Beloit, it is rural and to be honest I think you would find the commute from either Milwaukee or North Chicago a grind, especially in winter. Do some research as to what Beloit has to offer, you might be suprised. Wisconsin is not the black hole that some people would have you believe. One word of caution, double check what your employer is going to pay as far as your medical insurance is concerned. Ask if there is any deductables that you would be responsible for paying. Even if they say they are paying 100% of the premium does not mean you will have to pay nothing. Good Luck, what ever you decide
Nov 16th 2010, 2:34 am
#35
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Joined: May 2009
Location: on the horizon
Posts: 4,382
Re: Re-location Advise for the USA!!!!!
Hey! 
Everyone's a bit keen on bashing Milwaukee and Wisconsin, aren't they?! As someone who CURRENTLY lives here, and has done off/on for the last ten years, I've got to defend it.
Yes, the winters are f.ckin' cold, but they're cold EVERYWHERE north, so that's a moot point. The summers are fantastic, especially in a city like Milwaukee where you're no more than ten minutes from a beach in any direction. There's so much to do, as well... admittedly I have never been single and living here, but friends of mine are and live independently downtown, and think it's the bee's knees. There are pockets of extreme poverty and buildings not up to code, so if you're going to live there I'd advise seeking out someone who lives locally to navigate where you're going to rent/buy something long-term.
It will take you a considerable amount of time to commute to Beloit, but that's true in both summer or winter. Madison ROCKS, but it's a student town (we used to live there AS students, so it was pretty awesome all year round), and Chicago is a nightmare for traffic. Lake Geneva is beautiful but expensive, and I've heard good and bad things about Rockford.
ALL I'M SAYING is: don't bash Wisconsin! The people up here are incredible - I've never felt so welcome and safe. We never worry about leaving our front door unlocked (although I still do, coming from London originally. Old habits die hard), and Halloween in our neighbourhood is just brilliant. People make fun of the Midwest... until they live here. Then they fall in love with it.
Everyone's a bit keen on bashing Milwaukee and Wisconsin, aren't they?! As someone who CURRENTLY lives here, and has done off/on for the last ten years, I've got to defend it.
Yes, the winters are f.ckin' cold, but they're cold EVERYWHERE north, so that's a moot point. The summers are fantastic, especially in a city like Milwaukee where you're no more than ten minutes from a beach in any direction. There's so much to do, as well... admittedly I have never been single and living here, but friends of mine are and live independently downtown, and think it's the bee's knees. There are pockets of extreme poverty and buildings not up to code, so if you're going to live there I'd advise seeking out someone who lives locally to navigate where you're going to rent/buy something long-term.
It will take you a considerable amount of time to commute to Beloit, but that's true in both summer or winter. Madison ROCKS, but it's a student town (we used to live there AS students, so it was pretty awesome all year round), and Chicago is a nightmare for traffic. Lake Geneva is beautiful but expensive, and I've heard good and bad things about Rockford.
ALL I'M SAYING is: don't bash Wisconsin! The people up here are incredible - I've never felt so welcome and safe. We never worry about leaving our front door unlocked (although I still do, coming from London originally. Old habits die hard), and Halloween in our neighbourhood is just brilliant. People make fun of the Midwest... until they live here. Then they fall in love with it.
The beaches are shite. Literally. Last summer they were closed down due to unusally high E.Coli from all the sewage MMSD dumps into the lake - I believe the count is now up over one billion gallons since the mid 90's. I'd say the one bright spot in town is the Calatrava designed Art Museum but unfortunately a large chunk of masonry fell off the car park that adjoins it and fatally landed on a kids head earlier this year cos the City couldn't afford the remedial work.
Your sentiment about the people being incredible I agree with and if Spudster has an affinity for fat, leather clad, middle-aged biker chicks with bad dye-jobs, Gloria Hunniford tans who sport foam cheese wedges on their domes, he'll have hit the jackpot. Either way he's guaranteed to put on at least 5 stone in the first year due to the overabundance of deep-fried cheese curds and frozen custard - maybe he'll changes his user name to Tubbie?
Notwithstanding any of this Milwaukee does have it's attractions. My top 3 are the downtown Amtrak station - Hiawatha Service, General Mitchell Airport and the I94 E (South, I guess).
I bid you good night.
Nov 16th 2010, 2:03 pm
#36
Ginger Monkey
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Cheeseland, WI
Posts: 2,772
Re: Re-location Advise for the USA!!!!!
Errr......... I live in Milwaukee, you don't. Next March is year 7 so I guess that kinda puts me at an advantage on the opinions front.
The beaches are shite. Literally. Last summer they were closed down due to unusally high E.Coli from all the sewage MMSD dumps into the lake - I believe the count is now up over one billion gallons since the mid 90's. I'd say the one bright spot in town is the Calatrava designed Art Museum but unfortunately a large chunk of masonry fell off the car park that adjoins it and fatally landed on a kids head earlier this year cos the City couldn't afford the remedial work.
Your sentiment about the people being incredible I agree with and if Spudster has an affinity for fat, leather clad, middle-aged biker chicks with bad dye-jobs, Gloria Hunniford tans who sport foam cheese wedges on their domes, he'll have hit the jackpot. Either way he's guaranteed to put on at least 5 stone in the first year due to the overabundance of deep-fried cheese curds and frozen custard - maybe he'll changes his user name to Tubbie?
Notwithstanding any of this Milwaukee does have it's attractions. My top 3 are the downtown Amtrak station - Hiawatha Service, General Mitchell Airport and the I94 E (South, I guess).
I bid you good night.
The beaches are shite. Literally. Last summer they were closed down due to unusally high E.Coli from all the sewage MMSD dumps into the lake - I believe the count is now up over one billion gallons since the mid 90's. I'd say the one bright spot in town is the Calatrava designed Art Museum but unfortunately a large chunk of masonry fell off the car park that adjoins it and fatally landed on a kids head earlier this year cos the City couldn't afford the remedial work.
Your sentiment about the people being incredible I agree with and if Spudster has an affinity for fat, leather clad, middle-aged biker chicks with bad dye-jobs, Gloria Hunniford tans who sport foam cheese wedges on their domes, he'll have hit the jackpot. Either way he's guaranteed to put on at least 5 stone in the first year due to the overabundance of deep-fried cheese curds and frozen custard - maybe he'll changes his user name to Tubbie?
Notwithstanding any of this Milwaukee does have it's attractions. My top 3 are the downtown Amtrak station - Hiawatha Service, General Mitchell Airport and the I94 E (South, I guess).
I bid you good night.
Apparently you and I move in different circles.
I bid YOU a good morning and a wonderful, friendly, Midwestern day.
Nov 16th 2010, 2:32 pm
#37
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2009
Location: on the horizon
Posts: 4,382
Re: Re-location Advise for the USA!!!!!
Was there ever any doubt?
Right back at ya!
Nov 16th 2010, 4:11 pm
#38
Ginger Monkey
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Cheeseland, WI
Posts: 2,772
Re: Re-location Advise for the USA!!!!!
Nov 16th 2010, 4:50 pm
#40
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2009
Location: on the horizon
Posts: 4,382
Re: Re-location Advise for the USA!!!!!
One of my golden rules is to give all gingernuts the widest possible bodyswerve - far too unpredictable and temperamental at the best of times and just think what it would do to my uber-cool image.
Nov 16th 2010, 5:55 pm
#41
Ginger Monkey
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Cheeseland, WI
Posts: 2,772
Re: Re-location Advise for the USA!!!!!
Less of the gingernuts, thank you. We've had this discussion before on BE.
Nov 16th 2010, 5:59 pm
#42
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,023
Re: Re-location Advise for the USA!!!!!
Nov 16th 2010, 6:17 pm
#44
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Joined: May 2009
Location: on the horizon
Posts: 4,382
Re: Re-location Advise for the USA!!!!!
Milwaukee T-Shirt", is it?
