Moving to Arkansas from San Francisco. . .

[BigDemVoter]

I've been in SF for 10 years, and I know this is going to be quite a shock.

Nonetheless, Little Rock has a sizable progressive population, but the LTTE in the state paper are either fucking hilarious or pathetically sad!

Any advice for me out there? I've gotten too complacent in San Francisco, and I don't know ONE single Repuke out here!

I'll be registering in a hurry in order to vote in the fall, as I know the Dems need all the help they can get down there.

[geckosfeet]

1. Good god man. Good luck.

No slight intended to our fine DU members from Arkansas, but you are in for a cultural shift of 5 or better on the richter scale.

Let me know how you like the armadillo.

[mikeSchmuckabee]

44. We prefer opossum

armadillos are too...texas.

[geckosfeet]

48. Mmmmmm, deep fried and battered.

Give me some dark meat.

[mikeSchmuckabee]

59. and don't forget the diced tail.

[DCBob]

2. I lived in Fayetteville Ark for 5 years during my PhD program.

Its a bit more progressive than Little Rock since its a college town but I think you will be fine there. Its a big city with lots of diversity. You just need to know where to hang out. There are lots of rednecks there but also lots of liberals. They are decent people regardless. Remember this used to be Clinton territory so there is potential is there.

Warning: you will speaking in a southern drawl within 6 months..

[Phlem]

20. HA!

"Warning: you will speaking in a southern drawl within 6 months.. "

why is that? I did the same thing as a Washingtonian extended vacationing in Texas. I was aware I was doing it at first then it just faded away and I was full on Texas drawl.



-p

[Tommy_Carcetti]

28. You ever see old videos of Hillary as Arkansas First Lady?

She was seriously sporting the Arkansas accent.

[DCBob]

58. No, but that would be funny to see..

It happens to everyone if you live there long enough.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

63. You can hear it clearly from the famous 1992 60 Minutes interview with her and Bill.

&feature=related

Skip forward to 1:40 in the clip. It's not a thick accent, but it's noticable enough. She had been in Arkansas for nearly 20 years at that point, so it's not surprising.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3.

Last edited Thu Apr 26, 2012, 08:43 PM - Edit history (1)

[pangaia]

4. You'll be fine.

Little Rock is a good area. Plus they have the Arkansas Travelers Double-A baseball... Just across the river.. Much more fun to watch than the bigs... :&gt )

Have fun..

[ForgoTheConsequence]

5. My advice?

Enjoy your extra spending money. Arkansas is dirt cheap.

[Art_from_Ark]

17. The cost of living in Arkansas is pretty cheap,

although Little Rock is probably more expensive than the rest of the state.

Also, you have to be careful about break-ins-- Little Rock is notorious for burglars.

[arcane1]

6. Where were you before SF? That might help you calculate the level of culture shock

(coming from a 12-year SF resident who moved here from Virginia

[BigDemVoter]

7. Portland, OR

Which is kind of like a "little San Francisco!"

My job is transferring me, and I'm a bit nervous, to say the least!

[arcane1]

13. Oh my... yes, there will likely be some culture shock

I've only been through the state, with one overnight stay. My only real memory is the "birthplace of Bill Clinton" sign when you cross the border, so at least you'll have a reminder that he was elected governor there

[zbdent]

8. take plenty of meds ...

and apply alcohol liberally ...

[slackmaster]

9. Have a pot of greens and some fried crawfish tails at the Cock of the Walk

[DCBob]

12. That would be "crawdads" in southern speak.

When I lived there we usually boiled them like crabs or lobsters in huge pots of spicy broth. Then dumped them on tables covered in newspaper and then pigged out drinking beers and talkin trash. I think I must have ate a million of them. Fun times!

[slackmaster]

14. They're crawfish on the CotW menu, and that's what they were called in SC where my future ex lived

http://www.discoversouthcarolina.com/products/26511

My mom grew up calling them crawdads in Iowa.

[DCBob]

15. yes, I think you are more correct...

from wikipedia..

"Some kinds of crayfish are known locally as lobsters, crawdads,[5] mudbugs,[5] and yabbies. In the Eastern United States, "crayfish" is more common in the north, while "crawdad" is heard more in central and southwestern regions, and "crawfish" further south, although there are considerable overlaps.[6]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crayfish

Im actually a midwesterner... so crawdad is more common. I just kept using the term even when I lived in the south.

Cheers!

[MineralMan]

33. I call 'em mudbugs.

That way, my guests won't eat so many, and I get more.

Pinch they tails; suck they heads!

[Politicalboi]

10. Goodbye earthquakes

Hello tornado's. I'm sticking with earthquakes for now and probably forever. Unless of course fracking is the latest and greatest out there. Then you'll feel right at home. Good luck to you.

[dflprincess]

16. Not necessarily

Little Rock isn't that far from the New Madrid fault line.

[HillWilliam]

36. And it's overdue n/t

[WinniSkipper]

11. I live in Bay Area

....and I have made a few long business trips to Little Rock. The people are great.

Didn't talk any politics - but southern hospitality was alive and well.

[Art_from_Ark]

18. You'll be moving to one of the most solidly Democratic counties in the state

Pulaski County. There are also some pretty interesting places in Little Rock (State Capitol building that was modeled after the US Capitol, Clinton Library, MacArthur Park, Arkansas River), and some interesting places nearby (Petit Jean Mountain, Mt. Magazine, Hot Springs National Park).

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. Arkansas is absolutely beautiful

The mountains are gorgeous. There's plenty to do if you like the outdoors. Check out Eureka Springs and Hot Springs.

I'm jealous. I love Arkansas.

[slackmaster]

21. The thunderstorms are every bit as scary as Kansas thunderstorms

[Art_from_Ark]

22. One word of advice about Little Rock

The western side of Pulaski County seems to be far more dangerous than the eastern side

http://www.arkansasonline.com/homicides/

[AsahinaKimi]

23. Its probably cheaper but

I could never leave, my culture is here, the ocean is here, and will always be a Cali girl!

[Art_from_Ark]

24. There's a Japanese department at the University of Arkansas,

and Arkansas rice farmers grow koshihikari rice for Japanese in the United States who prefer it to the California-mai. Arkansas soybean farmers also provide most of the soybeans used in Japanese soy sauce. And some Arkansas towns have sister-city relationships with Japanese municipalities. For example, Pine Bluff has a sister-city relationship with Bando City.

[AsahinaKimi]

25. My Asian roots are here

I could never want to leave. SF is the most Asian city in the US.

[Art_from_Ark]

26. Honolulu might beg to differ

[AsahinaKimi]

34. Look at our stats

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06075.html

[Art_from_Ark]

39. And here are Honolulu's stats

http://honolulu.areaconnect.com/statistics.htm

[AsahinaKimi]

47. Fine...

San Francisco has the largest Asian population on the MAINLAND.


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/21/MNMB1NOCSI.DTL

[Art_from_Ark]

50. Yeah, there's nowhere on the mainland comparable to San Fran's Asian population

I was just having a little fun. I hope I didn't rub you the wrong way.

[AsahinaKimi]

52. naruhodo.

daijoubu, arigatou gozaimasu.

[Art_from_Ark]

55. Yokatta

[NNN0LHI]

27. My wife has family who live in Blytheville, Ar

They are about the most liberal people I have ever known.

Don

[snooper2]

29. Wait till you see the airport...last time I flew into Little Rock

On a puddle jumper, we were landing and the graffiti was on the INSIDE of the security fence

[jorno67]

30. You'll find loving people in the Art scene...especially theatre

the Arkansas Rep, Arkansas Arts Center, Arkansas Shakespeare Festival...
Oh and find the night club Discovery...Very large gay club open to everyone - (even us breeders) something there for everyone!

[kaiden]

31. Chiggers. Don't sit directly on the grass.

Ticks. Do tick checks of your dogs when they've been out and about. Do tick checks on yourself, too.

Scorpions. Be careful when turning over rocks or putting on a pair of shoes that have been in the garage for a while.

Brown Recluse Spiders. Beat the living shit out of clothes you haven't worn for a while.

Fleas. Multitudes of fleas. Carpet bomb regularly. If you wear white socks, they'll jump off the dog and onto you.

[NatBurner]

49. ^^this

I spent a significant amount of time at fort chaffee, and i swear this is all i remember about the place

the chiggers were HORRIBLE

didn't matter how many pairs of socks (or stockings in some cases) you put on, your ankles would be covered in red welts by noon

and once, i saw a swarm of ticks crawling on a tree trunk. there were so many of them, i thought they were ants at first. and i have a tick (and scorpion) phobia so i damn near lost my mind.

and those little fuckers have static cling; all you gotta do is brush up against them, and they stick to you. PLUS, they're attracted to your carbon dioxide emissions. so if you insist on breathing, you're screwed.

don't get me started on the mosquitoes :/

didn't really help that i was in the infantry

that whole experience was a nightmare, and i've managed to never set foot in arkansas since then

my advice: cover yourself in deet daily, don't exhale, and levitate

other than that, enjoy!

[Mariana]

61. Don't leave out Fire Ants. nt.

[BigDemVoter]

32. One More Thing. . . .

The Little Rock Airport is now or will soon be "Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport!!!!" I am certain there will be some crazy wing nuts who will just go ballistic. . . . .!! Tee Hee! Will they have to travel to Memphis to avoid flying from there!

I love it!!!

[sorefeet]

35. Bentonville

There is a big city water tank across from wal-mart head quarters In Bentonville, I painted it when it was new, I think in 1981. Had to go to the Missouri state line to buy beer. The humidity was so bad you can't breath. Beautiful mountains in the fall season. I like it out west.

[Art_from_Ark]

40. I know those water tanks

There are two of them now. They're on Sam Walton Boulevard (old US 71). And the county is still dry.

[CK_John]

37. I believe they have raw diamond hunting near LR. Pay a small fee and go find a rock that cuts glass.

[Art_from_Ark]

41. The diamond park is a fairly long drive from Little Rock

Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, about 100 miles or so SW of Little Rock.

[CreekDog]

38. instead of all the Democrats around you being to your left

after you move, they will all be to your right.

at least that's been my experience in the Bay Area vs. other places.

[clyrc]

43. I secretly love Arkansas

My grandma was from Arkansas, close to Eureka Springs, one of my favorite place. I was just telling a friend that I want to live in Eureka Springs, some day.

[Art_from_Ark]

51. Whereabouts was your grandmother from?

Carroll County? Madison County? Benton County?

[clyrc]

60. A once small but now almost gone town called Maumee

It was really close to Searcy, I think. I remember once when we were visiting Eureka Springs, we drove out with my grandma to see where she her parents were from, and it was pretty much just a gas station. Where their house used to be, there were only weeds and an old well. And lots and lots and lots of bugs.

[Art_from_Ark]

62. OK, that would be White County then?

It's actually quite a drive from Eureka Springs. But a lot of beautiful scenery along the way

[mikeSchmuckabee]

45. I hope you like Catfish.

You should have no problem finding repugs. 4 of 6 representatives are repugs. If you have been reading the Ark Demozette LTTEs, you have experienced the worst.

You should find the downtown area to your liking. Lots of bars and galleries and not at all hilly. LR is a very walkable town, and both sides of the river downtown are being gentrified to a great extent.

For freethinkers, I suggest a beer at Vino's 7th and Chester.

Welcome aboard, enjoy!

Oh yeah, and WOO PIG SOOIE!

[Egalitarian Thug]

46. That better be one helluva job you got there.

Culture shock doesn't begin to describe what you're heading into.

Good luck to you & yours.

[Seeking Serenity]

53. Welcome to God's country!

Seriously, you are moving to, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful states in the nation. I'm not a native here (I'm a Texan by birth), but I've lived here for almost 20 years now and I can't see myself ever leaving.

Yes, I suspect it will be a bit of a culture shock for you (I've never been to SF, but I've heard about it, good and bad), but I think and I hope you'll love it here as much as I have come to.

No, we're not all big-city cosmopolitan and what not, but we do have a first-rate symphony, a repertory theater, live baseball, and scenery galore! And we have Arkansas Children's Hospital!! And, judging by your avatar, you'll find Little Rock welcoming enough (or at least not openly hostile). And, I think you'll find our drinking water in LR very delicious, so prepare to scrap the bottled water (unless it's a Hot Springs-based Mountain Valley Water).

Sure, we are more politically conservative than where you're leaving, but our state government is, by and large, very well managed. And the cost of living is a whole lot lower than CA.

Come on in! The water's fine! Don't be afraid!

[Ikonoklast]

54. Yeah, yeah, we all get the hint...

You just need a few DU'ers with couple of vans for few days to help out, amiright?

[spanone]

56. try the moon first....

good luck

[JI7]

57. why are you moving to arkansas ?

where are you from originally ?

i lived in los angeles my whole life and i would like to experience something different. if i can work out a good job situation i would consider moving some place similar to see how it is.