I don't see the appeal
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12/14/2008
I moved here from Birmingham, Al a while back, and it has been a pretty big change. Coming from a metropolitan city with a booming economy, high paying jobs, cheap housing in good areas, amazing cuisine, entertainment and shopping galore, friendly people and a clean environment, I guess it might be hard to please me. But Lake Charles has not pleased me in any way. Since I've been here, I am negatively astounded nearly everyday. From the RUDE RUDE people, the roads that would be smoother if they were gravel, the backwards way they run the court systems ( I got into a car accident and they put me on 6 months probation!!! That is not a lie. If you get into an accident here, no alcohol or drugs involved, if it is your fault, they make you go to court!!), the high rent and low paying jobs to the fact that there is NOTHING to do here! Sure, if you like to gamble, hunt or fish, this is probably the place for you. But if you don't, I wouldn't suggest moving here, because there is nothing here for you here and you will be treated like there is something wrong with you because you don't like to go out in the woods and kill animals. I have a motorcycle, and I never ride it because I lost count of how many times I have lost control of my bike because of the potholes or buckles in the roads. Not to mention the the map of this town looks like a checkerboard. No curves anywhere! (Boring) The HOUSE I rented in Birmingham currently rents for $550. It is in an excellent part of town and kids can walk to school with no worries. Here, I am renting a tiny APARTMENT for $600 in a bad part of town (behind a trashy bar) in which I wouldn't allow my kids(if I had any) to play in the front yard. Also, the job I have here I would be paid twice the amount for in Birmingham (I've checked).The pay here is a joke, with one exception...the plants. Oh sure, if you are interested in dying in your 40's of lung cancer but making higher pay (considered average pay in other cities), then go right ahead because the plants are the place for you. As a matter of fact, it seems as though this entire city is geared towards making everyone work at the plant. Everywhere I have worked, people quit because they aren't making enough money, so they go to the plants. Speaking of the plants, it blows my MIND that people raise kids around all of this industry!!! The water smells like latex and iron, it leaves horrible stains in your sinks, toilets and tubs. Sewage (get ready for this) dumps into the ditches in front of your house!!! Thats right! Little Sally accidentally flushed daddy's favorite ring down the toilet? Don't worry! It will be in your ditch by the end of the week along with...well you get the picture. OH! And while you are here, you had better not ever be in a situation where you need help from anyone, because you will be out of luck! For instance, your car breaks down...you had better start walking because no one is going to stop to help you. Even people that I have considered my best friends around here, have refused to help me in my very few times of need. For instance, I had just left my friends house and on my way home (approximately 5 miles from his house) I got a flat tire, and I remembered that I had left it at his house a few days before. I called him and asked if he could run it to me real quick. His response, "Ehhhh, man, I can't. Its like 1:30p.m. and I have to be at work at Chili's at 4p.m. and I want to take a nap first." This is the quality of people they have in this place. Every friend I have made here has done something equally as unbelievable. If you find yourself here, take my advice and don't ever trust anyone to do anything for you, no matter how insignificant, no matter how important.
Now, onto the good parts. They have a couple of good restaurants here that I will miss once I'm gone. Although, I won't miss the terrible wait service in this town. I have only had I would guess maybe 3 good waitors in my hundreds of meals out in this town.
So to sum it up, I wouldn't recommend living in this city to my worst enemy. It is a complete dump (figuratively and literally). My business here will be done in 18 months. You can guarantee that in 18 months and 1 day I will be back in Birmingham, and I can't wait. As for all of you people that live here and enjoy it. Lock and load, yeeeeehaw!
Ryan | Lake Charles, LA