For those not from Chicago, but live here now, what was your perception of the city when you moved here?

Question

Personally, I've had a hard time here. I admit I haven't been everywhere, or met everyone from the city, but most of the people I have met are rude, the cops are brutal, and there seems to be this "I-and-Me" complex people have here. Am I wrong? Do you agree or disagree?

Answer 1

I understand what your saying. I lived in Chicago for two years and recently moved to VA Beach. I was in Chicago for grad school so I eventually made friends. But the first few months were brutal. I hated it! People were rude and since I am originally from Atlanta, GA - it was a culture shock for me. Everyone down south is soooo nice and then I moved to Chicago and it was the opposite. Then I realized that that's just how the way of life in Chicago is .."on-the-go" and so I stopped taking the rudeness personally. That's when I started to feel better about the situation and once classes started I made friends (who were mostly all from out of town as well). After living there for 2 years the city grew on me and I loved it. I miss it (don't really miss the rude people.. lol) But the city has a lot to offer. When I lived there I lived downtown so everything was walking distance. There was always something going on at the park or downtown. Wrigleyville was fun to hang out in as well.

Now the cops -a whole nother story. I swear it's like they sit and wait for people to park their car in the wrong spot or for the meter to run out so they can slap a ticket on you. I got my very first ticket in Chicago O'hare for DROPPING off my sister in the DROP OFF zone.

You'll warm up to it if you give it a chance. Try and meet some people and you'll be ok. Embrace the city and the nightlife. Goodluck and I hope things get better for you!! :)

Answer 2

I'm originally from Tennessee and have lived in and around Chicago for four years. It was tough getting used to the coldness of the people here. It's not rudeness, just coldness. Where I grew up, one would chat with the grocery store clerks and cashiers. Trying to do that in Chicago gets you a severely hairy eyeball.

In addition, I find Chicago to be very provincial, not in terms of culture or the arts, but in this way: everyone in Chicago is from Chicago. Being from somewhere else is a sort of black mark on my character. I imagine that this is true for most Northern cities.

I do have to say that while Chicagoans are not the friendliest of people, they are light years more welcoming and hospitable than New Yorkers or Bostonians. Those cities are home to some incredibly rude people, far worse than anything I have experienced in Paris or Prague.

Answer 3

I agree wholeheartedly. I moved here in the summer of '03 and on the average, most all people I have met here are only concerned about themselves and where they stand economically and socially compared to you. I come from a military family and was military myself for 10 years, I've been ALL over the U.S. and a great portion of Europe; I've never met a group of people stereotypically more rude than Chicagoans. Even the Parisians were more tolerable during my visits there.

If I could leave I would, but my chances to a gov't transfer are slim to none.

Answer 4

I agree, it really is a Me city. Everyone is all about themselves, like no one else is important. I have been here for 3 and a half years, after moving here from WI. I will be moving as soon as I graduate. I had a tiny bit of luck with www.meetup.com. Oh course, the people you meet will be city, but they are people. We have had a lot of luck meeting nice people in the richer neighborhoods. My husband, a native Chicagoian says there is tons to do in the city-but we never do anything! Good luck.

Answer 5

I moved to Chicago in 1990 and have always enjoyed it. It's not perfect (is anywhere?), but it's better than where I came from, and it's a very livable city with tons of great culture and nightlife.

No matter what your interests, there's sure to be someplace where you can pursue them here. The best advice I could offer would be to do what you love -- the friends will follow.

No matter where you are, there are rude and unpleasant people -- even in the south. And stay away from the neighborhoods where all the entitled poseurs congregate.