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Re: The U.S.: West Coast versus East Coast

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 1:02 pm
by aokoye
Xenops wrote:
aokoye wrote:Does White Planes actually hit the criteria that you have for housing? My intuition says there's no way it does and a quick search says that my intuition is correct, unless I'm really doing something wrong, though Padmapper agrees with me apparently. I'm also not sure what niche.com is using for its diversity criteria. That said - you've already said that you're going to visit the cities that you get interviews in so that's smart and just plain responsible given you have the resources to do so.


Your intuition seems reasonable: it sounds like White Plains is at least a million people, and you wouldn't think there would be reasonable pricing for renting apartments. Perhaps the listings on Craigslists are dumps, or in bad neighborhoods? I would need to do more research.

White Plains is only just over half a million people. Are you looking at statistics for Westchester county or for White Plains specifically? If you're just looking at Westchester that's likely why you're finding apartments that fit in your price range.

Re: The U.S.: West Coast versus East Coast

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 2:53 pm
by Carmody
I live about 25 mins. away from White Plains and would be happy to provide info.

NB:
French
It has an Alliance Française.
http://afwestchesterny.org/

Medical
http://www.westchestermedicalcenter.com/wmc/home.aspx

Re: The U.S.: West Coast versus East Coast

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 7:23 pm
by Xenops
To aokoye: craigslist tends to expand from a mentioned destination, so that is a good assumption. I can live outside of the city too, but I prefer a commute less than 30 minutes if I'm driving.


Carmody wrote:I live about 25 mins. away from White Plains and would be happy to provide info.

NB:
French
It has an Alliance Française.
http://afwestchesterny.org/

Medical
http://www.westchestermedicalcenter.com/wmc/home.aspx



Thank you kindly Carmody. :D I do have some questions:
1. Are there neighborhoods I should avoid?
2. What are the exhaust regulations? I have a 2004 Dodge Stratus.

Re: The U.S.: West Coast versus East Coast

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 8:23 pm
by Carmody
Xenops
Thank you kindly Carmody. :D I do have some questions:
1. Are there neighborhoods I should avoid?
2. What are the exhaust regulations? I have a 2004 Dodge Stratus.


#1-I really don't know the answer to that. I live 30 mins. north of White Plains, but do not know anyone who lives there. I am sure that like most large towns there are places which are rougher than others.

#2-I am not familiar with any special exhaust regulations. I believe it is just the standard inspection that it is elsewhere in the state.

#3-Sources for local news:

-https://patch.com/new-york/whiteplains

-http://www.lohud.com/

Day to day followup of the above links should give you a good idea of what it is like.

#4-It is about an hour train ride to NYC or by car. A very tough drive. Maybe not a good idea to commute with a car; lots of related problems in doing that.

Please list criteria for your choice. No place is perfect but I am glad to tell you what I know. My guess is that Boston, Cambridge, etc. might be useful to consider also.

Re: The U.S.: West Coast versus East Coast

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 9:07 pm
by zenmonkey
Xenops wrote:Okay, I've done some research, and I've narrowed the East Coast cities to these:

Raleigh, NC
Providence, RI
White Plains, NY

My criteria as follows:
1. has active Alliance Français chapter
2. according to [url]craigslist.org[/url] , there are at least 1/3 of apartments for rent for $1000 or below (but it might depend on the neighborhood)
3. has good ratings and reviews on this site ( [url]niche.com[/url]
4. for medical laboratory scientists, they pay the average U.S. wage or more
5. close to the ocean
6. close to fairly close to testing centers for French and Japanese
7. looks fairly safe...?

Next I need to Google to see if there are Asian markets (which I would expect), and also to investigate the Calvary Chapels. Also, is there an Italian counterpart of the Alliance Français? And are there good websites for checking past weather conditions?

Thank you. :)


Too limiting a list - For example, there are many places near Boston that probably fit too - within 30/45 min commute.

Med-lab wages will be higher in larger cities. Plus opportunities in hub cities to work in different hospitals are perhaps higher.

Remember that in any large city (Boston/NYC) or university town (Raleigh/Durham/DC/Baltimore/Princeton) the number of French speakers will be sufficient and the non-AF learning opportunities normally sufficiently developed or French language meet-ups. (I met and married a French woman and lived in a French household in Durham, NC).

As to the weather - well. It's the east coast. It will suck part of the year. Too hot or too cold or too humid compared to the perpetual niceness of the bay area.

Re: The U.S.: West Coast versus East Coast

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 10:32 pm
by Xenops
Carmody wrote:
Xenops
Thank you kindly Carmody. :D I do have some questions:
1. Are there neighborhoods I should avoid?
2. What are the exhaust regulations? I have a 2004 Dodge Stratus.


#1-I really don't know the answer to that. I live 30 mins. north of White Plains, but do not know anyone who lives there. I am sure that like most large towns there are places which are rougher than others.

#2-I am not familiar with any special exhaust regulations. I believe it is just the standard inspection that it is elsewhere in the state.

#3-Sources for local news:

-https://patch.com/new-york/whiteplains

-http://www.lohud.com/

Day to day followup of the above links should give you a good idea of what it is like.

#4-It is about an hour train ride to NYC or by car. A very tough drive. Maybe not a good idea to commute with a car; lots of related problems in doing that.

Please list criteria for your choice. No place is perfect but I am glad to tell you what I know. My guess is that Boston, Cambridge, etc. might be useful to consider also.


Thank you for the info Carmody . :) Here's what I'm thinking:

1. I would prefer to be able to rent an apartment for below $1000 if possible
2. less than 30 miles from the shoreline
3. 30 minutes or less car drive to a diverse center with native language speakers
4. safe for a young woman living on her own.

It doesn't have to be in the city of choice; I'm fine living outside of the major city. I would like to have easy access to it, though.

I'm also just curious if New York state regulations for cars would be different than Idaho's (I imagine it would).

zenmonkey wrote:Too limiting a list - For example, there are many places near Boston that probably fit too - within 30/45 min commute.

Med-lab wages will be higher in larger cities. Plus opportunities in hub cities to work in different hospitals are perhaps higher.

Remember that in any large city (Boston/NYC) or university town (Raleigh/Durham/DC/Baltimore/Princeton) the number of French speakers will be sufficient and the non-AF learning opportunities normally sufficiently developed or French language meet-ups. (I met and married a French woman and lived in a French household in Durham, NC).

As to the weather - well. It's the east coast. It will suck part of the year. Too hot or too cold or too humid compared to the perpetual niceness of the bay area.


Thank you for the feedback, zenmonkey. I was thinking more along the lines of "in the area of Raleigh", etc. It doesn't have to be in that particular location.

It sounds like you are saying 1. be more open to live close to more cities, and 2. perhaps I would make higher wages, and thus could offset the rent cost?

And I suppose this question is like asking "how is the sushi in Japan?", but I imagine the public transportation is far better than what we have in the West...Which is almost nothing? ;)

Re: The U.S.: West Coast versus East Coast

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 10:51 pm
by zenmonkey
Xenops wrote:
zenmonkey wrote:Too limiting a list - For example, there are many places near Boston that probably fit too - within 30/45 min commute.

Med-lab wages will be higher in larger cities. Plus opportunities in hub cities to work in different hospitals are perhaps higher.

Remember that in any large city (Boston/NYC) or university town (Raleigh/Durham/DC/Baltimore/Princeton) the number of French speakers will be sufficient and the non-AF learning opportunities normally sufficiently developed or French language meet-ups. (I met and married a French woman and lived in a French household in Durham, NC).

As to the weather - well. It's the east coast. It will suck part of the year. Too hot or too cold or too humid compared to the perpetual niceness of the bay area.


Thank you for the feedback, zenmonkey. I was thinking more along the lines of "in the area of Raleigh", etc. It doesn't have to be in that particular location.

It sounds like you are saying 1. be more open to live close to more cities, and 2. perhaps I would make higher wages, and thus could offset the rent cost?

And I suppose this question is like asking "how is the sushi in Japan?", but I imagine the public transportation is far better than what we have in the West...Which is almost nothing? ;)


Absolutely - :) The Raleigh area is quite beautiful, lots of trees. LOTS. But not really that close to the beach - you are looking at a couple of hours of driving (to a beautiful coastal area).

Yes, close to large cities you'll have lots of transport opportunities - Boston / NYC have significant public transport. And yes, wages might be better in these cities.

Couchsurf your way into one or two towns and see what they offer.

Re: The U.S.: West Coast versus East Coast

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 11:36 pm
by aokoye
I just want to add that NYC is safer than I think a lot of people who haven't lived there within the last 10 or 15 years think it is. While I personally don't really want to live there again I would chose it over White Plains any day. I know/have known a number of young women who live/have lived there and haven't had any safety issues that you wouldn't find in any other city. I also have known a lot of trans people who lived in NYC (myself included) and felt safe.
There are neighborhoods that are safer than others of course, like any city, but it is not an unsafe city.

Re: The U.S.: West Coast versus East Coast

Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 6:37 am
by zenmonkey
aokoye wrote:I just want to add that NYC is safer than I think a lot of people who haven't lived there within the last 10 or 15 years think it is. While I personally don't really want to live there again I would chose it over White Plains any day. I know/have known a number of young women who live/have lived there and haven't had any safety issues that you wouldn't find in any other city. I also have known a lot of trans people who lived in NYC (myself included) and felt safe.
There are neighborhoods that are safer than others of course, like any city, but it is not an unsafe city.


Per capita, it is probably much safer than Durham, NC.

Re: The U.S.: West Coast versus East Coast

Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 2:33 pm
by Carmody
To go to the beach from White Plains, NY takes about 2 hrs. minimum.