And All Else
-
8/9/2009
I moved here to escape from the Upper Midwest winters in January 2008. Although I won't be moving back to the same city, I am seriously looking into relocation in about six months to the Midwest, again, about six hours from where I moved. I'll deal with the weather.
As for Albuquerque and New Mexico, it can be a nice place if you are retired or don't have to work, or don't have much ambition. I don't fit in. I like to work. I like to show up for work on time. I like to not complain about my job duties. That being said, Albuquerque and the rest of the state is the Land of Manana (Land of Tomorrow). There is no emphasis on improving one's self here.
Since January 2008, I have seen people come and go; people who moved here from other places. Some left within a year or even six months. I was willing to try and hand in here. But, the work ethic is atrocious, the laziness factor is very high (the higher the more lazy). People here leave their garbage every where - dumping in in stores, dumping it on pavements, anywhere which is closer than the trash can a few feet away. People are too lazy to walk the few feet to put their carts in the cart rack at store lots.
Let's talk about crime and relationship issues. People here could certainly use some relationship counseling. They fight all the time, they allow themselves to get involved with low life partners with limited prospects for a decent future. Crime is rampant. Embezzlement is rampant - in state government and private sector. People get hired without even submitting a resume, despite having felony conviction records for past embezzlement. Corruption is a common occurrence around here - in the government at all levels.
Let's talk about education. The average high school graduation rate for this state is 47%. Most girls are pregnant at least once during high school. Even in the community colleges and universities, many students don't want to do the work required. The drop out rate among Freshman at the University of New Mexico is astounding. And, in this state, you get to go to college for free due to the proceeds from the state lottery paying for it - as long as you maintain a C average, yet many can't even maintain that. They can't maintain a 2.0 GPA.
Let's talk about culture. And, this is politically incorrect to do so. When I was here about three months, I asked about the problems here and was told by an "Anglo" - the New Mexican term for White, that the problem is that no one wants to blame it on culture. As soon as someone mentioned the word, they are shut out since it is wrong to blame the problems on culture. But, culture matters. It certainly isn't the weather. And, by culture, I mean culture, not genetics. The Hispanic culture still insists on dressing up the girls, so that when they are 16 and older (or even younger and older), they are showing all of it, leaning down at counters staffed by men, baring it all. Drama is another favorite word around it, and many of this culture bring all their dramatic problems into the work world, if they show up on time or at all. It's either boyfriend problems, family problems, kid problems, or any kind of problem at all. The culture tolerated in this area, for both the Native American and the Hispanics, interferes with doing what is necessary to compete in today's world. But, the Native Americans have faced a lot of problems over the centuries, and many have done well. The other culture is a different story. The Hispanics in this state - always making certain you know they are descended from the the Spanish in Spain, and nowhere else - certainly have had generations to improve their lot. You see, it's sounds better to say your are from Europe and not Mexico or other places. But, in actuality, the long time Hispanics here didn't arrive off a boat and land in New Mexico, or the territory it was prior to its becoming a state in 1912. They came up through Mexico. Maybe 400 years ago they were Spanish, but not a few generations ago. It just sounds better.
No matter what employers say, you have a better time getting a job here if you are from the area and have that Hispanic last name. The place is run by Hispanics, especially in government. And, this place could certainly use people with better skills and educational levels, whether the person is Hispanic or something else.
Let's talk about economics there. It's a poor job market. Full of mom and pop stores. Many have closed down. Not much for industry. I was told it's due to the lack of water resources. Frankly, I consider that a good excuse coming from the wife of a native New Mexican. It most likely is due to the lack of a talented, educated workforce and notoriety for a terrible work ethic. If corporations and large companies want to move to an area, the area will do all it can to help them, since it improves the overall local economy. There's a reason why major companies have their operations in other major cities - Omaha, Minneapolis, Boston - and these places don't have nice weather. But what they do have is a talented, educated workforce, with good work ethics.
The pay here is terrible for the cost of living. I have seen employees take transfers here from companies on the Coasts and took a cut in pay, since the head honchos said the cost of living was less. They moved back within a year, finding it no different here than a few other places they have lived. Many employers here like to pay a cut above minimum. $7.50/hour. If the minimum were $2/hour, they would pay that. Your lucky if you get over $9/hour for many jobs posted, and I have a college degree with post-college education.
There are many other places to live in this country. I don't believe the grass is any greener anywhere else, but it is different grass indeed. And, I've learned weather is not everything. Besides, it does get boring seeing blue skies one day after another around here.
VS | Albuquerque, NM