Texan that may be moving to P.A next summer...what should I expect?

Question

My husband's company is looking to transfer him, and Pennsylvania seems to be a strong possibility. It seems that he would be working in Maryland, but most the people that work there live in the York area.

Im not sure what to expect other than a brief trip we took last December to Maryland (and I had a good laugh at some Pennsylvanians that bragged that they were "rednecks" and not 5 minutes later pointed out a "flock of deer" on the side of the road). All I really know is that it will be cooler than it is here, especially in the winter and that towns and cities are closer together.

What is the culture like? How are the temperatures in the summer? How is the humidity and allergens? What about finding a job? Also, I have my associates, but I am working towards my BA, do you think it will be easy to transfer (Im majoring in Special Ed)? Any insight would be great

Thanks, folks!:)

Im originally from San Antonio (hilly and forested, though not as much as the East Coast) and currently live in Corpus Christi (on the southern Texas coast), so humidity and heat are no issue to me (today it was only 93 degrees, but the heat index was up to 110 because of the humidity) .

A question for Texans that may seem odd...is the produce different? I lived in Florida for a time and noticed some of the produce at the market didnt seem as fresh or healthy as it was at home.

Thanks so much.
That's disappointing to hear that there isnt as much live music (though, what city can beat Austin for music, eh?) Thats one of the problems where I live. I have to drive 3,4, sometimes 8 hours to get to a decent concert. I was an Art History major so being a short (well, short to me) drive from the National Gallery is exciting.

Someone mentioned the Jersey Shore...are there beaches that way? Ive only encountered 2 east coast beaches..The Space Coast down in Florida, and a shore somewhere in Maine when I was a kid. Its silly but I kind of assumed they were all like the one in Maine. Rocky and no real beach to speak of.
And the driving in snow prospect terrifies me. Like you said, I have a hard time driving in the rain. Are the roads in MD and PA salted in the winter?

Thanks so much for all the comments. Im really getting quite excited about the move. I usually move somewhere every few years, and have been in South Texas far too long. I need a new adventure.

Answer 1

I made the same move, but in reverse. I was born and raised in Maryland and recently relocated to Texas because of my husband's job. These are the differences that really struck me.

Weather is obviously going to be the biggest difference. Texas, as far as I'm concerned, doesn't have a real winter (at least not in Austin). You're going to need a winter wardrobe; not just a coat, but all the rest of the gear plus winter-weight clothing to wear underneath of it and some waterproof boots with decent tread on them. You're going to have to learn how to drive on snow and ice. (The folks in Austin can't even drive in the rain.) And you should expect to have to dig yourselves out of a snowstorm more than once per season. In the winter, you should keep a small shovel, an ice scraper, some sand (for traction) and a blanket in the trunk of your car.

But winter's not all bad. I miss snow skiing, ice skating, the way the air smells just before a snowstorm and the way the landscape looks when it's coated with snow that has yet to be marred with tire tracks or footprints. Hot chocolate after a snowball fight. And Christmas, looking like Christmas. (Be sure to take a trip to Hampden, a neighborhood in Baltimore, to see how outlandishly they decorate their houses!)

Yes, the towns and cities are much closer together on the east coast. Before I moved to Texas, I thought of a two hour car trip as being a road trip. Now we regularly drive six hours each way to visit my husband's mother in southeast Texas. And no one thinks that's a big deal here. Texas is BIG!

Maryland is stricter about both moving violations and other traffic/road-related issues. I often see folks driving here without a license plate on their car or one car towing another with nothing more than a chain or a stout rope. You won't get away with either in Maryland. The state troopers would be all over you.

Now maybe this is just an Austin thing, but when I signal to change lanes here, the cars speed up to make sure I can't get over. It's like they'll lose points or something if they let me in. So, while I originally complained that no one here uses their turn signals, I quickly found out that if I wanted to change lanes, I would have to stop using them too. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em! (Which is NOT my way of saying that Marylanders are polite drivers. They're just rude differently.)

Cultural differences? Lessee, football is a RELIGION here in Texas. High school football stadiums rival many college ones back in Maryland. Baltimore does have an NFL team if you're into football. Me, I was an Orioles fan. University of Maryland basketball and Johns Hopkins lacrosse are both big too.

If sports isn't your idea of culture, the arts are well represented on the east coast, though the live music scene in Baltimore is certainly lacking when compared to Austin.

I would say that Maryland summers are every bit as hot and humid as Texas summers. They just start later and end earlier. I couldn't tell you about allergens as that wasn't a real issue for me. I do recall that my friends with allergies complained about ragweed and other allergy seasons.

I personally have found the job market to be tighter here in Texas. Maryland jobs are more plentiful, pay better and have better benefits. Offsetting the better pay, though, is state income tax, so it's probably pretty equal in the end.

Because you have your associates and not just loose credits, your college will probably transfer pretty easily. As with most college transfers, not ALL classes will transfer, but I would think the majority will. You'll have plenty of nice colleges to choose from. The state colleges will be more reasonably priced than the private ones. You'll want to attend college in the same state as your primary residence to get the best rates. I forget whether it's six months or a year to qualify as a resident.

I hope you really enjoy York, Pennsylvania and Maryland. I loved living there and really miss it.

Answer 2

You have noticed that they have hills in Pennsylvania, I'm sure. The rattlesnakes may try to make you feel at home, though. There are also occasional tornados, in case you might miss them.
As a New Yorker (country, not city), I haven't noticed any great differences. You wouldn't be far from the Amish country or Philadelphia. There are several colleges and Universities within reasonable driving distance of York, too, including some in Maryland. I don't know what majors are available, but Special Ed should be one at one or more of the schools around you. Temperatures run into the 90's in summer and can drop into the -20's in winter, although that is unusually cold.
You would be within driving distance of Pocono Raceway if you are a NASCAR fan, too. Hunting and fishing are major recreations and you would be near some of the major eastern trout streams as well as the Susquehannah River and Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is also not really a long way away.
For employment, try one of these:
http://www.jobs.net/Pennsylvania-York.htm
http://www.jobster.com/find/US/jobs/by/county/PA/York or
http://www.salary.com/careers/layouthtmls/jm_PA-jobs-in-York.html
Allergens are out of my field, sorry. There is humidity, but nothing like it can be along the coast. My experience is that PA is full of ordinary people, most of them very nice.

Answer 3

York is a very good place. It's primarily rural and very safe. It is only 40 minutes from Baltimore, 90 minutes from DC, and 2 hours from Philly. There is plenty to do that would be close. Many people work in Maryland and live in Pennsylvania because it has lower taxes and less crime.

There are plenty of colleges in York and the surrounding areas where you could work on your BA. In Pennsylvania, you'd have state and local income taxes, but then clothes and groceries don't have sales tax.

You will find that the residents are happy to be rural and don't need the things of an urban area to be happy, even though they are close enough. The drivers aren't as bad as they are in the Philly area. You'll find your neighbors will help you when you're truly in need.

I hope you enjoy Pennsylvania.

Answer 4

We've been here for about 10 months now. PA can be green and beautiful. Amish country is a fascinating place to visit, and you'll feel like you've gone back in time 100 years.

Yes you will find rednecks here. Someone told my wife once that PA is Northeast on the East and West with a strip of Alabama in the middle. Hate to say it but it is true (sorry PA, and sorry AL).

The people can be nice, but on the road they are rude. The roads don't make a lot of sense, as they have their origins in colonial days. Another phenomenon is that you may instinctively be in the left of two lanes so you won't have to contend with people turning off and onto the road, and then mysteriously your lane turns into a left turn lane. Then, the right lane is full of people that suddenly don't want you to join them.

They aren't as hospitable on the roads here as they are in TX. That said, don't be intimidated-- come here and enjoy it. There are a lot of neat places to go, see and do. Washington DC is close to where I am, there is Niagara Falls, and the whole Northeast is within reach so you can have fun trips to NYC, Boston, etc.

The weather does get hot, and it is not a dry heat. In the winter, you'll see snow, and it can get deep. As for schools, I can't comment on colleges (hopefully someone else will), but I do know the education system in general here is EXTREMELY good. One reason I came here is that I know the schools in my area are the best we've encountered everywhere (CA, VA, WA are other places we've been).

Good luck!

Answer 5

I have been to different spots in Pennsylvania about 8 times. My home is Texas. The people are different ( I didn't say bad) and the open friendliness we take for granted here is not so common. It gets really cold in the winter and that can get old. Ice, slush, dead batteries... There are a lot of people in the big cities and some really bad areas in Philly.

It is more expensive there as well. I guess you can tell what my answer would be. There are more deer there, on a possitive note but feeders aren't allowed. Good luck to "you guys"! Seriously wish you all of the best.

Answer 6

York is pretty much south central PA. it is rural and there are plenty of farms. as mentioned by others, Amish country is a stone's throw as is the state's capitol, Harrisburg. the nation's capitol is about 2 1/2 hours from York as well. Philly to the east about an hour and Pittsburgh to the west (not sure, maybe 3 hours?) You have Gettysburg not far from York. i live in northeast PA but would feel that the weather is about the same as where i live. summers are't as hot and humid as they are down Philly way (where i was born and raised). the Jersey shore is just a couple hours away from York, too.

you sound as if you and your husband may be hunters. i'm sure you'd be able to find some private land to hunt on if you knock on some doors. if not, state game lands aren't too far away. www.pgc.state.pa.us PA even has an elk herd. there are viewing areas around Benezette, PA. there is a lottery drawing for a limited number of tags for elk.

last but by no means least you have the Harley Davidson factory in York.

Answer 7

Whassamata wit' a flock of deer?

Pennsylvanians are great people. We don't take ourselves too seriously, and aren't above playing a joke or two.

There are several programs in the area where you should be able to transfer your special ed credits. Lots of shopping, entertainment, beautiful scenery, and cute little towns in the area you mention.

Caution: you will definitely lose that Texas twang in no time and sound like a backwoods Quaker or Amish woman ... but that's okay, ain't it?

Answer 8

You need to be more specific. PA is a big state, depends on where. If you are speaking about the area around Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, it is very populated and busy. Northwestern and North central are very rural. A lot of good old boys and then there is the Amish community.

Answer 9

Less guns, and more snow.