leman
Site Champ
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2021
- Posts
- 802
To all my American friends on the forums: there is a certain possibility that my partner and me (both in our late 30-ties, no children) will be offered professor-level positions in the USA (California coast) in the near future, so we want to prepare for that eventuality. In particular, we are a bit concerned about the cultural and frankly financial impact of such a move. Having lived in prosperous European countries most of my independent life, I am sure that there will be a lot of subtle (and less subtle) cultural things to adjust to, as well as many obvious mistakes one can make. Starting with things like having to drive pretty much anywhere, credit scores, low density housing, different construction and food safety standards, crime exposure, lack of safety net, to culture of academic teaching (e.g. one hears horror stories of lecturers being harassed and fired because students believe they might have used a term they find offensive). Maybe I am overthinking this, but it sounds like a potential minefield to navigate. We also would interested in purchasing a house, but prices and mortgage rates seem absolutely obnoxious down there and I don't know if I want to do a 90 minute one way commute to campus from a more affordable, but that's a different issue.
Anyone might have some helpful tips or insights? Maybe some street wisdom to share? Anything that you might consider obvious, but a naive European might be oblivious to?
Anyone might have some helpful tips or insights? Maybe some street wisdom to share? Anything that you might consider obvious, but a naive European might be oblivious to?