Nashville is...
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7/7/2007
I'm originally from California (LA area), so coming to Nashville was a big culture shock for me. Things in the South are done differently from the rest of the country. The pace is slow and the good ol' boys mentality is still alive and well here. Nashville has urban sprawl and a small town vibe. It has a "thriving" music scene - meaning country, bluegrass, and Christian music dominate and the rest (rock, metal, jazz, classical, etc) are underground. Healthcare dominates the economy. The area has a subtropical climate, receiving ca 55inches of rain per annum and occasional snow in the winter. Not a good place if you have seasonal allergies as pollen count is often very high. People are polite, but it's difficult to establish close and meaningful relationships with native residents..especially if you obviously come from somewhere else. There is quite a bit of close-mindedness here. Nashville is often referred to as the buckle of the Bible belt because you can literally find a church on every corner. Conservative and religious thought (see "fanaticism") permeate the entire region. Neighbors may invite you to their church..if you don't accept, they will shut you out. Nearly everyone is pro-life. Nashville is a fairly safe place overall. I've never felt afraid or threatened downtown, but there are some key areas to stay away from - namely East Nashville. The rest of the city is quite safe, imo.
I've lived here for 10yrs, but it's high-time for me to move. I need diversity and open-minded people like myself, and the climate hasn't been good for my health....I know a lot of transplants who really like it here and I know others who've moved back home after a few months of living here. So it's really a mix. It's one of those places you either love or hate....and I hate it.
Lance | Nashville, TN