Advice for a west coaster moving to the east coast

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You will pass people in the street who when you smile and say hello, will simply stare back at you, silently, as if you are a martian.

Signed someone who has lived on both coasts.

+1

Many people on the east coast don't say hi even when you say hi to them. There is just this blank stare. It's the weirdest thing.

My experience was pretty much the exact opposite. I moved to DC from Palo Alto, and was blown away that everyone I passed on the street in DC seemed to say, "Hi--how you doin?" I got into the habit of doing it, too. When I went back to Palo Alto, I swear the first lady I said "How you doin?" to on the street called the police on me. I am a white woman, so it was not a race or gender thing--it just freaked her the hell out.

[Anonymous]

East coast is a big place - North and South are very different, rural very different from urban. That being said, as a DC area turned Bay Area turned DC area person again, here’s what I’ve noticed:

SF
- passive aggressive
- don’t understand sarcasm
- much more chill
- flaky or late more often
- more self expression (music, art, especially fashion)
- more casual (hoodies, jeans)
- when talking “I feel...”
- minorities much more integrated

DC
- “what do you do?” as a greeting
- status oriented (job, education, neighborhood)
- keep commitments, more punctual
- less self expression (tend to dress more conservatively even if politically liberal)
- more formal (clothes, Mr./Ms.)
- when talking “I think...”
- minorities still seen as minorities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends where on the west coast and where you’re moving. Yes, New Yorkers are direct and life is faster paced there.

If you mean you’re moving to DC, people aren’t really that direct and life is a lot more suburban. You’ll probably be shocked at how black and white DC is (you’re going to miss the Asian and Mexican people/food/culture of the West Coast) and how starkly divided the city is along socioeconomic lines.

+100

East coast is black-white. And the white population is very Italian or Irish Catholic focused. You’ll miss all the amazing Asian, Mexican and Middle Eastern food!! But, you’ll get good soul food, and great Italian food.

East coast is preppier, more intellectual, more conventional, more competitive, more honest with bigger, brighter, and more opinionated personalities.

The East Coast is not black and white. DC, sure. NYC? No way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends where on the west coast and where you’re moving. Yes, New Yorkers are direct and life is faster paced there.

If you mean you’re moving to DC, people aren’t really that direct and life is a lot more suburban. You’ll probably be shocked at how black and white DC is (you’re going to miss the Asian and Mexican people/food/culture of the West Coast) and how starkly divided the city is along socioeconomic lines.

+100

East coast is black-white. And the white population is very Italian or Irish Catholic focused. You’ll miss all the amazing Asian, Mexican and Middle Eastern food!! But, you’ll get good soul food, and great Italian food.

East coast is preppier, more intellectual, more conventional, more competitive, more honest with bigger, brighter, and more opinionated personalities.

The East Coast is not black and white. DC, sure. NYC? No way.

It’s just different. In CA, the white population is 36% so the vast majority of people you see are people of color. And everyone meshes.

[Anonymous]

It may depend what industry you work in, but there will be an adjustment process at work as far as people being direct and working at pace. I,my husband, and one of our good friends all had issues when we moved to the west coast about our direct style of management with people on our team when we literally just thought we were talking like normal people. I could not handle how slow people were with describing an issue. Also people on the east coast are going to curse more at work, if that’s something you care about. We moved back East after one year.

[Anonymous]

I second all the people saying the west coast was passive aggressive. Honestly I thought the people were overly prone to getting offended and it was pretty unpleasant.

So, if you’re making the move in the opposite direction, you might find yourself getting offended 24/7 at how east coasters are direct and upfront

[Anonymous]

I like the directness of the New York area versus the passive aggressiveness of the DC area.

Give me a rude New Yorker over a rude Marylander ANY DAY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like the directness of the New York area versus the passive aggressiveness of the DC area.

Give me a rude New Yorker over a rude Marylander ANY DAY.

Well, then stay on the east coast, because the most passive aggressive Marylander will pale in comparison to anything you will see out west.

Besides, the passive aggressive stuff really starts in the south, which would be Virginia on down. Learn your regions!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends where on the west coast and where you’re moving. Yes, New Yorkers are direct and life is faster paced there.

If you mean you’re moving to DC, people aren’t really that direct and life is a lot more suburban. You’ll probably be shocked at how black and white DC is (you’re going to miss the Asian and Mexican people/food/culture of the West Coast) and how starkly divided the city is along socioeconomic lines.

+100

East coast is black-white. And the white population is very Italian or Irish Catholic focused. You’ll miss all the amazing Asian, Mexican and Middle Eastern food!! But, you’ll get good soul food, and great Italian food.

East coast is preppier, more intellectual, more conventional, more competitive, more honest with bigger, brighter, and more opinionated personalities.

DP. I have noticed this too! I think something about the energy brings out a spark of life in people that i really love

+another. West coasters seem more subdued to me.

[Anonymous]

It's very green on the east coast. Lots of trees. Even if you are from the mountainous forest on the west coast, you don't realize how much greenery we have here. That is if you leave your neighborhood and wander into the state and national parks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's very green on the east coast. Lots of trees. Even if you are from the mountainous forest on the west coast, you don't realize how much greenery we have here. That is if you leave your neighborhood and wander into the state and national parks.

Most of the west coast is super brown. Just brown brown brown as far as they eye can see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's very green on the east coast. Lots of trees. Even if you are from the mountainous forest on the west coast, you don't realize how much greenery we have here. That is if you leave your neighborhood and wander into the state and national parks.

Most of the west coast is super brown. Just brown brown brown as far as they eye can see.

? that depends. Central CA down to Socal, and east to the rockies.. yes. Redwood Forest up to WA? No, very green. I was floored the first time I visited the Redwood forest. I lived in CA for 40 years. So much moss and greenery.

[Anonymous]

Honestly besides the weather the biggest difference for me coming from the west coast was the lack of Mexican food. Lots and lots of other types of amazing food and cultures (Ethiopian! Peruvian! Salvadorean! Burmese!) to make up for it but I miss ubiquitous taco trucks.

I found people just as nice and friendly in DC area. Most people are from elsewhere anyway. The weather sucks all around. Traffic sucks, but that goes for any populated place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like the directness of the New York area versus the passive aggressiveness of the DC area.

Give me a rude New Yorker over a rude Marylander ANY DAY.

Well, then stay on the east coast, because the most passive aggressive Marylander will pale in comparison to anything you will see out west.

Besides, the passive aggressive stuff really starts in the south, which would be Virginia on down. Learn your regions!

Bad advice to someone who lived in Santa Monica 5 years and LOVED it. No rude people at all.

[Anonymous]

What field are you in O.P.? Do not move here without a job. The winters suck out here. People are fatter + less friendly on the east coast. Stay put it you have a good job.