Reviews & Comments
Austin, TX
Austin is not what I expected -
9/21/2007After living here a few months I'm considering returning to California. There is not enough opportunity for me professionally. As a teacher, I was even turnrd away from the substitute orientation because of the large number of applicants. My son's school is very over-crowded.I have found a part-time job to try to make ends meet and will get out of Austin as soon as possible.In comparison to California it is not a thriving economy in Austin. Austin reminds me of many sleepy Florida towns that I lived in. It seems that Austin is good at hiring many part-time people to fill jobs, so they don't have to pay benefits to full- time employees. Even in these sleepy towns in Florida I found a Special Education teaching job, so Austin does not get high marks from me for the economy, but is ok as far as my neighborhood and surrounding area is concerned.We feel safe and the school across the street is ok. I think Austin is going to have to build more schools and it seems they do not have money to do so.My son has about 500 students in his grade alone at his school.He was absent for two days and I never got a call from the school as I usually do. I think they cannot keep up with the overcrowdedness in Austin Schools.It is a very impersonal school.
Whittier, CA
affordable -
1/15/2007Of the 5 cities I have lived in around California, Whittier was the only one I could really afford and have money left over after I paid all my bills and rent.California is too expensive for a teacher to live in and I am going to relocate.
Walnut Creek, CA
Over rated -
1/15/2007The schools were not as great as we heard they would be. We like to go back and visit the downtown area, but it was too overpriced for us to buy a place and the people were snobs in general.
Santa Clara, CA
overpriced -
1/15/2007You just do not get much for your money in California. we like the school and the area @ RIVERMARK ,the new community we moved into, but we cannot afford the townhomes here that start at 700,000. we pay a fortune to rent.we will probably move to a more affordable state next year. I have been teaching in California for 5 years and the price of things is just not worth it anymore.I loved California at first, but have come tired of everything being overpriced and overcrowded. We will come back to visit San Francisco and the surrounding areas.
Portland, OR
ANTI-CALIFORNIA -
1/14/2007OUR EXPERIENCE WAS NOT VERY POSITIVE IN PORTLAND , OR ANY OTHER PART OF OREGON. WE MET MANY PEOPLE THAT RESENTED PEOPLE FROM CALIFORNIA. WE COULD NOT WAIT TO GET BACK TO CALIFORNIA. WE DO NOT CARE FOR NARROW-MINDED PEOPLE. WE MET SOME NICE PEOPLE AT WORK AND SCHOOL ,BUT ALL IN ALL THE GENERAL ATTITUDE IS THAT CALIFORNIANS ARE TAKE OVER THEIR REAL ESTATE MARKET AND THEY RESENT IT. IT IS A FREE COUNTRY IS ALL I CAN SAY AND A PERSON CAN BUY REAL ESTATE WHERE THEY WANT TO. THEIR CLOSE MINDEDNESS JUST DID NOT WORK FOR US AND WE ARE GLAD WE LEFT AFTER 1 YEAR.