<p>susantm, don't worry too much about Japan. My friend's D did the same thing, arrangements made right before she married, and her H went with her, thinking he oculd get a job there. No way. Teaching English is one of the only things foreigners ever get to do. It is a fairly closed society, and theirs come first. He might get a job with an international, but probably won't be stationed there.</p>
<p>pyewacket, for me "back east" only means the east coast. I think I use it mostly to refer to the northeast, although I suppose Florida is "back east" as well. Ohio would not be "back east," it is the midwest. </p>
<p>Here's a question for easterners from a west coast kid who will soon be moving to MA: do you refer to the west as "out west"? How far west do you have to be to be "out west"? </p>
<p>It is interesting that we say "back" when we talk about the east, as though we used to live there or something, the same way people say "back home." The terminology is clearly related to the direction in which the country was settled.</p>
<p>evitarjr,</p>
<p>I grew up in New York City, went to college, grad school in New England. We say "out west". For some NYC people, this means anyplace that comes after New Jersey. But usually I guess we mean West of the Mississippi. One fellow New Yorker friend refers to this area as "all those rectangular states" .</p>
<p>left coast</p>
<p>For me "out West" ot "the West" starts at Colorado and ends at the California-Oregon-Washington borders. Those three states are "the West Coast".</p>
<p>I think in some cases where a graduate ends up is a function of the degree that they receive and the hot spots for jobs for those degrees. For example an EE or Comp Sci major from say Purdue or Wisconsin, is not likely to end up in their respective states. They will more likely migrate to one of the tech hot beds in California, Boston, etc.</p>
<p>In terms of outlook, some folks regard Phoenix as "back East."</p>
<p>I'm kidding. A little bit. I think.</p>
<p>I'm resigned to the strong possibility of D staying back East given her career interests. At least she'd be working in interesting cities to visit: D.C., NYC, etc.</p>
<p>This is an interesting topic. I have always wondered about the mentality of folks who live hundreds if not thousands of miles away from all relatives and seem to encourage their kids to do so also. Note I am not picking s's major or telling him not to go to distant Prestige U, but have expressed skepticism at the benefits.</p>
<p>Now to be a US Senator, Hollywood star or whatever. However, the vast majority of Prestige U grads, in the final analysis, usually wind up as the typical engineer, doctor, lawyer, MBA types that are present in most states or metro areas. All the focus in life for many , despite the over romanticism of undergrad education imho, seems to ultimately be on career and work. Other things being equal, and they often are, isn't it good to have family around?</p>
<p>Note I went to undergrad school about 2,000 miles from home and it was ok. After 5 years of hanging around the college town post graduation, I returned home. My 8 siblings stuck close to home for undergrad and grad school and I fail to see much difference in their worldliness or outlook on life.</p>
<p>The fine Wisconsin politicians are always complaining about the high proportion of UW-Madison grads that go out of state to work. Having Chicago and Minny so close has alot to do with that. I think more business grads now stay in Madison--which is booming--than go to Milwaukee--which is dying.</p>
<p>barrons: S is rising 3L at UW law school. We are west-coasters, and he has no intention of coming back this way. He wouldn't mind working in Madison (loves it there), but Minneapolis and Chicago are attractive options depending on what type of law he ends up doing. It looks like WI may have imported him. Any good places to retire in MN or WI?</p>
<p>Too cold for me--and a little expensive due to high property taxes. Outside of Madison--which I seriously considered--Door county is very nice if you like the water and boating. If your dream is on old farmhouse on 100 acres, the area southwest of Madison is very scenic and still cheap. Don't know much about Minn. Northfield is nice for a small college town near a big city.</p>
<p>Thanks. barrons, for the info (I'll have to investigate the property taxes and state income taxes). Interesting that you mention Northfield. D is finishing frosh year at Carleton there, but doubt she'll stay in the Minneapolis area. Graduate school will probably determine where she ends up too. We haven't worried too much about the cold - SIL lives in Minneapolis, and we visit in the winter.</p>
<p>As a parent whose D#1 is currently close to 3,000 miles away from home (but graduating) I resent the poster who implied that students who go far away from their homes to school have problems at home or with their parents.Sometimes colleges are picked for opportunity or location or financial reasons.For D is was all of the above..a music studio teacher she loved,a "free ride" financially and an on the spot decision that she loved the desert setting.We don't love her less and she doesn't love us less because she's not 2 hours away.
I would feel very badly about myself and where my needs lie if I was telling my children they "had" to stay close to home.What about the idea of "roots and wings"?
She's now on to Grad School and once again picked a location for opportunity..in this case a specific faculty advisor and another full ride financially (Hooray!).Location is not so much to her liking but she'll adjust.
Her long range plans?Teaching college could make you wind up anywhere there are job openings.Really, she would love to go back to the desert though.
I don't think either of my kids will wind up living here (suburban NYC) its just too expensive for someone starting out.</p>
<p>Our extended family lives on 3 continents right now.....we don't have to see each other constantly to be close. Everyone chose a path that was right for them.....I want the same for my kids, wherever life may take them.</p>
<p>D is already making plans to stay in Portland after college- but things could change- if she decides to go to grad school it could be anywhere or it could be in Seattle.
I think working after for a year or so is what she is planning though- and Portland is lots cheaper than Seattle- better public transportation too.</p>