What is it like to live in Phoenix, AZ?
I have lived in Phoenix for over seventeen years and it has changed for both better and worse. The metropolitan area has grown significantly over that time, especially during the late 90s. The population base has also changed with a large influx from California in recent years vs. the Midwest a generation ago.Some of the pros include:Reasonable Cost of Living - Compared to LA, Washington, DC, San Francisco, Seattle, NYC and other major metropolitan cities, Phoenix is a bargain.Great Restaurants - A variety of ethnic, fusion and other fine dining options. I am not a big fan of chain restaurants!Moderate Traffic - For the most part, the metropolitan area has moderate traffic. Yes, there are exceptions, but compared to most metropolitan areas the traffic is relatively light.Great Place for Hiking/Biking - the City of Phoenix has numerous trails that are dedicated to hiking and biking and shy away from road traffic. These trails are especially useful during the Fall, Winter and Spring. The summer heat creates its obstacles, but morning hikes can still be rewarding during the hotter months.Access to Most of the Country - Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is accessible to most of the country. In addition, it is easy to park and board a plane. Many different airlines service the area, most notably Southwest Airlines and US Airways.Diversity - A true variety of people from most regions, countries, races, creeds, religions............etc.Cons..................Horrible Schools - The elementary and secondary education is horrible. Right to Work State - Low pay and few worker rights keeps the economic engine powered in ArizonaExcessive Heat - 110 degree plus days can be the norm during the summer months........need I say more? Second Rate Media Market - the new is largely imported from LA with some other notable exceptions from the AP wire. The local newspaper emphasizes the entertainment section which is a second rate rebranding of the LA Times and other LA media.Air Pollution - High levels of car exhaust contribute to the air pollution and related ailments.High Sales Tax - Nearly 10% on purchases and diningReal Estate Dependent - the economic engine in Phoenix is real estate. Ground Zero of the real estate crisis. The economy has a hard "boom/bust" history due to chasing the fast buck.............................I think I will stay?
Is it possible to save money, making around $120K ~ $130K in the US in Sunnyvale, California as a software engineer?
He’s not lying.You need to make $100,000 just to live decently.Not great. Just decent.I live in San Jose (less than 10 miles from Sunnyvale). The median house value in San Jose is $1.2 Million and this is what that kinda money gets you:A very modest one story house less than 1,700 square feet.https://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Jo...In San Francisco, it’s even worse:$1.2 Million for 1,275 square feet!https://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Fr...For those that don’t make six figures, you have to room with 3–4 other people just to afford an average house.Look at places like East Side San Jose. The amount of single family households with 2 to 3 and sometimes even 4 or 5 families living in one house is staggering! It’s the only way families (predominantly Latino) who are landscaping/construction/labor workers can afford to live in the Silicon Valley.Drive down any street in any neighborhood in East San Jose and you’ll notice something peculiar not found in any other suburb - no parking. When you have multiple families living under the same roof, you get 3–5 cars per house. There are cars taking up every single spot along the sidewalk and people have to get creative and park cars on their lawn. It’s so bad, that people put out cones to block off parking so neighbors don’t park in their driveway!Don’t believe me? Here’s some pics I took while I was around East Side San Jose a couple weeks ago. And I must reemphasize, this is the norm in East Side San Jose, not the exception:
Who unvented the television show sesame street?
If you mean invented it was Joan Ganz Cooney and Jim Henson.
What's the best route to drive from St.Louis, MO to Las Vegas, NV in February?
I live in the midwest also. Way to go Cardinals! While I have never driven out in February I have done it twice in December. Not by choice, my Dad likes Las Vegas he just won't fly. I drove it once from Harrison Arkansas and once from KC Mo. It's really not a bad drive, it took me right at 20 hours driving time from Harrison, a little less from KC. Each time I stopped in Tucomcari NM a nice little town, I stopped there going both ways actually, it was the perfect half way stopping point. If you don't mind motel 6 there is a nice one on the main drag, it's very easy to find, turn North from the exit and it's on the left about 1/2 mile down. Lots of other hotels there to choose from. If you were to go 44 W to Tulsa you can take 40 W all the way to Kingman AZ. Each time I have gone I have given myself some extra time on the way out just in case of bad weather. I book a couple of nights at some place inexpensive in Laughlin(Colorado Belle). A hint on the freeway system around Oklahoma City, just North East of OK City you're going to have a choice of taking 35S/44W or the John Kilpatrick Turnpike, if you don't mind paying the toll and it's rush hour you might want to take the Turnpike. But if you get to OK City any other time of the day, 35S/44W is actually quicker, just don't miss the 44W exit or you will have to travel out of your way to run into 40W. http://www.mapquest.com is a great way to go, print off their directions and follow them. If you like to drive, it's a great drive, some incredible scenery especially in NM & AZ
Where are the safest areas (on or off campus housing) for a young female grad student to live near the University of Arizona (in Tucson, AZ) with affordable rent for a student and a relatively short commute?
In general, most areas around the university (within a couple of miles) are relatively safe. Particularly good areas are (in order):1. Sam Hughes / Blenman-Elm (bounded by Campbell, Country Club, Broadway, and Grant).2. West of University (bounded by 6th St, Euclid, Broadway, Speedway)3. North University / Jefferson Park (bounded by Speedway, Grant, Euclid, Campbell)4. South of University (considered by some to be sketchy, but still mostly inhabited by UA students)5. The entire corridor between the University - 4th ave - downtown is also ok since there are always people out at all hours.I lived in the North University neighborhood for 3 years and never had any problems walking late at night. I have known of a couple of people living in other neighborhoods getting their houses broken into, but I don't know anyone who got mugged or harassed. I'm not sure if you want your own apartment or are willing to share, but if you share a room in a house you can easily find rent between 400-500 a month (at least you could 3 years ago). I don't know how expensive on campus grad housing is, but I wouldn't be worried about its safety.If you are willing to commute a little further, there are also good, safe, cheap apartments north of Ft. Lowell and east of Campbell. I'm not sure where you are moving from, so maybe Tucson seems sketchy but it's not that bad....
Is it meaningless to move to the US from Europe?
I have lived 12 years Europe and 10 in the US.Quality of living : Relative. Both societies offer great quality of living if you however lack the education to get a good job, you will have to do harder work in both. Europe however is better if you don’t have too much money.Culture : Europe. Most of the US outside major and very EXPENSIVE urban centers like NYC offers little culture. Most of the United States it’s a recollection of big houses, big roads, big stores, big cars and nothing else!Friendlier people : Spaniards, Italians and other Southern Europeans. You seem to think all of Europe is like Germany and Americans are nicer. However know that Americans just because Americans smile a lot does not mean they are friendlier, they aren’t. Beyond the smiles most Americans also will still consider you a stranger just like Europeans. In the US is also VERY HARD to get friends, mostly because people work and live busy lives and most will have little time to sit around and try to befriend you.Taxes: Europe. In Europe you pay taxes but you get all sorts of benefits. In the US you don’t pay taxes and you don’t get any thing from the government. Medical care and school in the US is VERY EXPENSIVE, while in Europe is not that pricey.Underpopulated : The USA. I do not know where you got the idea that Europe is underpopulated. Europe is far more crowded than the US. In the US you can go hours and days without seeing a single town or many people around. Most cities in the US are very big and spread out and you will need a car to move around.Work. You’ll be working on the internet, that doesn’t mean you can just move to the US and live. You need a proper residence permit and with Trump as president, you’ll have a hard time legalizing your situation once you become illegal.ME? I would live in Europe. The US is nice, but Europe is nicer. You’re probably idealizing the US because you don’t know it that well. The US can be terribly boring, most of the cities are spread out and suburban without public transportation, you need a car, I wouldn’t live like that.If I was you…. I’d move to Madrid Spain!! NOW THAT IS A GREAT PLACE WITH GREAT WEATHER, FANTASTIC FRIENDLY PEOPLE, OFFERS EUROPEAN EASY LIFESTYLE, AND SPANISH IS EASY TO LEARN.