LaurenAmber

Unfortunately with many of those cities you'll have to deal with cost of living AND that the Chinatowns are usually in pretty bad neighborhoods. Not knocking the Chinatowns, but i've been to a few of them, they're not really in areas i would be too keen to moving to, especially Chicago. The Chinatown there is wonderful to visit, but it's also right next door to a dangerous ghetto. I live about 13 miles from downtown Boston (Chinatown). It is not a ghetto. As a matter of fact, the former governor and presidential candidate live here. One doesn't have to live right in Chinatown to make the Chinese spouse comfortable. Just stay in an area within 50-60 miles from a Chinese community and the Chinese spouse will be happy. I didn't say in all those cities. I haven't been out to Boston so i wouldn't know the Chinatown out there. But the one's i have been to were not in good neighborhoods. 50-60 miles is pretty far to me. That's an average of 45-an hour away. That seems like a long drive to be able to just hang out. Even within that distance still seems far. Then again i like smack dab in the middle of a sweet Chinese community. I think if living within a Chinese community is important to your spouse then just research cities. Also we don't know this person's wife so we can't make assumptions as to what would make a Chinese spouse happy. We can just offer ideas of cities. Again to the OP just of lots of research and really talk it out with your wife about what kind of place she wants to live, and what kind of chinese community she most wants to be involved with (Like does she want ot live in it, or within a reasonable driving distance?). For my husband he's happy just to have various groups of people he can hang out with here in the city. He hasn't expressed much want to live near any Chinatowns. He thought it would be cool to visit, but not live. Each spouse is different just make sure to communicate with her about what will make her feel most comfortable and happy and go from there.

Yeh i mean there's also things to look for like the asian ratio in a city that fits your personal needs. Like find a city that fits your family needs, cost of living, and job market. Then you can check the cultural ratios on various forums for those cities. Huntsville doesn't seem like it would have a huge asian culture but it really does. It's not Chicago, but you'd get culture along with safety of a small city feel and great job market and schools. It pays to research outside the big cities that are just known for a large asian culture. Also those cities also have high rates of racism towards asians simply because of how many live there. The south gets such a bad name but it's sometimes worse up north. Just do lots of research, if you do really want a BIG city with asian culture the best that i encountered is Atlanta.

Unfortunately with many of those cities you'll have to deal with cost of living AND that the Chinatowns are usually in pretty bad neighborhoods. Not knocking the Chinatowns, but i've been to a few of them, they're not really in areas i would be too keen to moving to, especially Chicago. The Chinatown there is wonderful to visit, but it's also right next door to a dangerous ghetto.

No prob! Let me know when you're down here and i'll give you the grand tour Why thank ya Amber, I do like that southern hospitality It's very common down here

who makes a chery? Chery is the brand. Thier most recent car is an A3, which i think is what my Baba has. It's on the 5th page of the site. I think their American counterpart is Chrysler

No prob! Let me know when you're down here and i'll give you the grand tour

My father in law has a Chery. I must say it's an OK car, but if you need to drive anywhere that may be even SLIGHTLY bumpy then prepare ot have your head hit the ceiling. It's a great car it just sucks when it comes to shocks.

Oh no doubt you could find something down here. And yeh if you hate northern weather you're going to LOVE Huntsville lol. Right now we're angry because when it's cold it's like 48. Then again we're used it being so warm haha

http://daily.greencine.com/archives/gump-apple.jpg How about some of the largest sites for companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin? Also a technology-focused military base.

Like what kind of industries? The job market is really healthy here for post college graduates. The main industries here are automobiles, electronics, and engineering. Or at least that's what i see most of. And if you've got the skills and the degree then finding a job here would be no problem, companies here are ALWAYS looking for new people because most people use working in Huntsville as a springboard location for many jobs.

Oh the wilderness is amazing. in the upper part of Huntsville is Monte Sano mountain. Not to mention you can move into Madison (the city right beside Huntsville) and the cost of living is cheaper, amazing people, and the neighborhoods are fantastic. Also there's Bob Jones High School which is my alma mater and definitely the better out of the schools in Huntsville or Madison. I've attempted to move away from Huntsville many times but you jsut can beat the cost of living and the great enviroment here. If you need any info let me know.

Chicago has a LARGE Chinatown and Chinese culture but it's also very close to a bad part of town. Here in Huntsville, AL there's a LOT of Chinese culture. We have lots of international companies staking claim here because the cost of living is so suprisingly low. (Gotta love paying $650/month for a 3 bdrm/2bth home on a corner lot with a huge yard) We've got various Chinese things going on and lots of mixing of cultures and asian supermarkets. Than again i'm biased lol, but it really is great here for cost of living and amount of asian culture

There's quite a few in my area but getting information on them comes from word of mouth, so i don't have maps or addresses lol just directions Choi's Mainly Korean but a lot of Japanese snacks and Chinese spices Off of Jordan Ln. in Huntsville Asian Supermarket (yes that's it name lol) Mostly Chinese with a great produce section Beside Asbury Thrift Store Dong Cheng Market (I think that's the name) Chinese and Japanese and the largest in the area. WONDERFUL selection Off Madison Blvd in the corner of the shopping center behind Country Bar-B-Que There's also a few more in the bad parts of town but i don't go there often enough to have good info on them

Take a coat and have a great time!!

Haha i must admit that's interesting as all get out LOL Perhaps I can convince the hubby for a second honeymoon

Yeh in normal high shcools College Prep just means "tons of work and not really college" It's very important to deal with 13th grade syndrome. Kids need to feel that they are achieving more for themselves. Unfortunately when it's "the 13th Grade" you just are going to college because so much of senior year is spent applying for college. It's all about "what do you want to be? ok go here" instead of properly preparin kids for how things change. And you worry about scaring away kids from college. But what's worse... scaring them away until they mature and come back because they WANT it? Or then just going on and failing and wasting LOTS of money?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/suthrnbellechan/DSCI0014.jpg i prefer my house shoes to rubber sandals any day :lol:

I highly recommend "Jiang Hu: The Triad Zone" you can get the DVD from Amazon i think (I got it as a gift) and it has Mandarin or Cantonese dialogue (cantonese is the original) and Mandarin, Cantonese, or English subtitles. Great movie if you like mafia/traid/yakuza stuff and are a fan of Tarantino. It has the feel of if Tarantino was making movies in the 70's

I think the problem REALLY with being disillusioned about college comes from classes that get the wonderful label "College Prep". They're not actually college level courses, just courses that require more busy work. But kids (myself included, i admit it) become very comfortable with a false idea of college that high school gives them. Then when you actually GET to college? It's WAAAAAAAAY different. Also there's something that we in highschool labeled "The 13th Grade Syndrome" Sicne most kids go straight from highschool in the spring to college in the fall, thier life hasn't changed. It's just "The 13th Grade" and they therefore don't expect any differences other than having the benefit of living away from their parents. I personally feel that my time spent off from college and taking care of my family will make me a better college student. Because i was a big victim of the The 13th Grade Syndrome and when my grandmother had her stroke i was enthusiastic to get out and go home and take care of her. Now i've matured, realized the benefits of a college education, and am in a better state of mind to bust my butt for it.

*SOB SOB* YEEEEEEEEEESSS!!!!!!!

Well im heading on going there Jan-Feb. If you are in town then let me know!

Aww thank you Michael. And oh lord no! I was the middle rider lol. My husband was at front and his little cousin was on back. That was terrifying once we went downhill lol. But if you're ever at Xiamen beach definitely do it

And I noted this morning that YOU were the NUMBER #1 poster with 60 posts... But getting back to the actual topic... We know people like that in China also...And it always seems to be men... WOO HOO! I'm sure i'm makign some kind of record lol. Though also i gott amake it to 1000 so my hubby can get his visa lol j/k. Mainly i was just up very early and you guys are awake lol Just yanking your chain Amber... Post away... LOL Why thank ya i even managed to finally upload pictures into my gallery lol

And I noted this morning that YOU were the NUMBER #1 poster with 60 posts... But getting back to the actual topic... We know people like that in China also...And it always seems to be men... WOO HOO! I'm sure i'm makign some kind of record lol. Though also i gott amake it to 1000 so my hubby can get his visa lol j/k. Mainly i was just up very early and you guys are awake lol

My husband's best friend is actually terribly addicted to online games. We had ot jsut about physically pull him away from his computer.