I will be moving to Boston from the northwest and frankly I am very scaried after hearing so many thing about how rude, how snobbish of the peope in Boston area. How can I prepare myself to fit in or at least survive the first 6 month. Please help.
2006-09-21 07:39:31 · 25 answers · asked by JY 2 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Boston
Geez. With an attitude like that, stay away. It's that sort of close minded attitude that gives Boston a bad name.
That said, Boston is a great city. Outside of their fair weathered fans, it's one of the best cities in the US. Great people, great food, a young vibrant population. Lots of historical sites to visit as well.
Just relax, chill and have a great time.
2006-09-23 05:25:34 · answer #1 · answered by Yada Yada Yada 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry. For the most part, the people here are the same as the people in the Northwest. Individuals are just as nice (or rude) as individuals everywhere else. But here are some differences you might notice:
Drivers use their horns a lot in and around Boston. Don't drive in the city if you can avoid it. If you'll be mostly outside the city, just have lots of patience - the streets around here are small and were laid out long before anyone ever thought of city planning!
Cashiers tend not to smile much. In the supermarket, when it's busy and a new lane opens, it's pretty much a race to see who can get to the lane first, instead of people being nice and letting the next in line go first.
When you walk down a street, people won't make eye contact with you. It's not that they aren't friendly, it's just what they do. Maybe it's because they spend half the year bundled up in winter clothes!
So you may notice these and other small differences. But when you actually interact with people, they're all pretty friendly. You'll be fine!
2006-09-22 21:17:10 · answer #2 · answered by kris 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hello,
First, good luck with your move.
You seem to only have heard negative reactions. Research shows people are more eager to share and publicize bad experiences than good ones (for instance, students who are not happy with their college professors are more likely to complete their evaluations than those who are happy). So give the good people of Boston and New England the benefit of the doubt.
Like every place where lots of people live and work together, Boston has its share of crime, rudeness, and snobbishness. On the other hand, the city has a puritan work and life ethic. Work is very important, and maybe people come off as rude because they are generally busy or, during winter, it might be very cold and icy, which makes some of us quite bitter (though we sometimes secretly anticipate the next snowstorm that would topple all records).
In 1999, I moved to Boston from a much larger metropolis, and found living in Boston much easier and convenient, and people very pleasant. Just like many big cities, you live and let live, and if you don't expect the bus drivers or everyone on the subway to talk to you about how your day was, you won't be frustrated. Also, the more you are interested in how people live, the nicer they are to you. This works in Boston like everywhere else. Noone will frown if you ask them how they are.
Numerous smaller cities and towns close to Boston are great places to enjoy more relaxed New England living -- Western Mass, New Hampshire coast, Providence, and the Cape. There you'll understand the so-called rudeness is mostly a symptom of urban life, and New Englanders are as nice as they get.
I hope you will enjoy, as I did, one of the greatest walking cities in the U.S.; all you need is a positive attitude rather than anxiety and some serious cold weather gear for January. I now live in Arizona, which is also very nice and filled with warm people as well, but never a day goes by that I do not miss Boston.
Finally, I would recommend the book "The Good City", a collection of essays by writers and journalists who have made Boston their home. It was written in 2004, so I consider it pretty up to date. Here's the Amazon.com link to it:
http://www.amazon.com/Good-City-Writers-Explore-21st-Century/dp/0807071439/sr=8-1/qid=1159045594/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-8884263-0282304?ie=UTF8&s=books
Good luck once again and best wishes.
2006-09-23 17:21:38 · answer #3 · answered by nzu 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not all Bostonians are snobby & cold. When there, if you have the time, why not volunteer there, in a hospital, or at a fun place, like the Museum of Science. Also check out 'meetup.com' & see what groups of people gather in Boston & when. A girl from Seattle told me that that place had cold, standoffish people in it, & I did find Seattle to be that way. Still, I found some great people there too. Relax, you're going to have a good time in Boston. In most areas it is safer than the locals will say it is. You will be in your honeymoon phase with Boston for a while once you get there anyway, discovering it all for the first time. There is lots to discover there that will keep you busy. Relax & enjoy!
2006-09-24 05:28:00 · answer #4 · answered by Bronweyn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've moved around quite a bit and I understand your fears. (Sounds like me when I found I was moving to NJ some years ago.) Try to remember that people are people wherever you go. Some are going to be better than others.
DO expect things to be different. You can go one state over and find significant differences so cross country leaves no doubt about it!
Having spent some time in New England I can tell you that people there tend to be less flexible and probably a little more formal about things than in other parts of the country. (Jackets stay on throughout the meeting no matter how long or hot it gets, etc.)
Will the people come off as rude? Some will, no doubt. Others might not mean to be rude, but may just be less open than you are used to. Give them sometime to adjust to you, and yourself some time to adjust to them.
Finally, try to get involved in some things you would otherwise be doing back home so you can meet people. And if anyone is looking at you a little funny, don't be afraid to let them know that you're new in town. Then just try to make a note of how things are done in Boston, etc. Odds are you'll do fine.
2006-09-21 14:47:41 · answer #5 · answered by danl747 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I have friends that are from Boston and have been there several times to visit and I did not find anyone to be rude or snobbish but, then I'm from NY.
The one thing you can do to prepare for life in Boston is to save up lots and lots of money. Rent is really expensive there! It's also a pain in the neck to find a parking space. Buy a good pair of walking shoes.
Good luck to you!
2006-09-21 23:39:03 · answer #6 · answered by mardaw 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Oh crap, another one... What is this? Why do people keep telling that same lie? We aren't even snobbish. Sure we have some millia-billionaires living here, but they're all really down to earth people - I mean, they'd have to be because most of them are politically associated.. As far as rude...we can be a little aggressive on city streets...this is more of a walking city; There isn't as much room for slothful road movement as perhaps in other cities.
I think the problem might that alot of people are told that we're snobbish and so they kind of take a snobbish attitude in order to do what they feel needs to be done to "survive"...you should really just be yourself and stuff, and you'll find that most people here actually really pleasant...unless of course you're a Yankees fan...Im not sure how you feel about public lynchings....
2006-09-22 10:22:24 · answer #7 · answered by Aan 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was born in Harvard Square. I grew up and went to school in Boston. Some of my family still live there. I have since moved to NH, about 45 min from Boston so my children could grow up in the country. I don't consider myself rude or snobbish. I was brought up to be polite and helpful and kind to others. . I don't consider myself better than anyone else. Remember, you have good and bad no matter where you go. I wish you the best of luck in your move. Dint' forget to visit NH. It is beautiful country up here and lots to see. Will you be here in time for the Autumn foliage! Don't miss it.
2006-09-21 14:52:54 · answer #8 · answered by sam04m 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There's nothing wrong with the people in Boston. You will be okay. The only thing is... People on the east coast are generally not as friendly as on the west coast. I am sure you will do fine, but don't be insulted if you say hello to someone walking down the street, and they ignore you. Everyone here just thinks they are too busy and more important than everyone else.
2006-09-21 14:48:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
For starters, you could stop believing stereotypes. Going into something with a negative idea or attitude is bound to impact your automatic reaction to a situation, place, people, etc. There are rude people wherever you go. It's just life. But it's not like you're going to high school; you're just moving. . . In an adult life, it won't make much difference, you'll be fine. Yes, things in New England are often formal, but that's not a bad thing. Besides, if you don't think you'll like the people, perhaps visit first and rethink moving.
2006-09-21 20:32:08 · answer #10 · answered by ShouldBeWorking 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋