<p>Yea...this stupid drive-or-die mentality is why we're facing so much sprawl. I live in an urban area. I should not have to drive my car to buy a gallon of milk. Gwinnett needs to be sensible and open for MARTA, but the stupid people who live here asssume crime will follow, and no benefits will come out of it.</p>
<p>New York's MTA isn't a walk in the garden, but it sure as hell is better than 24 lane monsters. I love my car, but I love the environment and efficiency more.</p>
<p>OK, just gotta say--and then I'll shut up--I promise--If you think Athens is "rural," you've never been to a "rural" area. And as far as accents go, Athens is largely made up of UGA faculty & staff--many of whom come from out of state. And the "townies" as they're affectionately called, have a minimal accent compared to those in middle/central Georgia.</p>
<p>I'm a Northerner too, but I refuse to dismiss anybody because of an accent (I have a pretty obnoxious one of my own).</p>
<p>I'll shut up now as promised. Peace :)</p>
<p>Well, about MARTA's rail, they tried that in the 80's and 90's. Didn't work. Not even in Fulton (about 88% still used cars to get to work in 2000, compared 90% in 1990 and 91% in 1980... worse in Cobb: 95% use a car). Rail just doesn't work in sunbelt cities since they were built for the auto. So, I think we need more busses instead of rail that can keep up with different growth/die patterns; rail can only stay in one place forever while bus isn't attached to the ground. And, I think that's in the budget for the 24-lane monstrosity (and truck lanes :) ). </p>
<p>Though 24 lanes is alot, it'll be cool to have the widest freeway in the world :).</p>
<p>Nah, it's okay to hijack this thread now since we've pretty much answered any questions asked.</p>
<p>I've been to Indian reservations in Arizona where towns took the name of its occupants. Or maybe spending some time on a farm in third world countries? Thats rural-rural. Athens is just...rural. It's just not really suburban or even exurban. I don't know, maybe there isn't a real term for it. I'm 100% sure it's not in "Atlanta", and I don't think it's even a suburb of Atlanta since Clarke Co. isn't part of the Atlanta Regional Commission. </p>
<p>Then again, I've sat in on Tech classes with professors with Southern accents so thick I couldn't understand them clearly. So maybe my entire argument is moot. </p>
<p>I don't dismiss people for their accent, but sometimes it makes communicating much more difficult. I wouldn't assume a person with a Southern accent is provincial or closeminded- I would just have a tough time understanding them. I'd like to think I have no accent from a particular geographic region since I've been mixed up everywhere so much. </p>
<p>Please don't shut up...this is pretty fun in its own way.</p>
<p>Hey, no hijacking of this thread! lol</p>
<p>Would I really need a car that bad in Athens? I need a college with nice non-car accessibility.</p>
<p>Ok, I won't shut up, but remember it was your idea.</p>
<p>Athens is a <em>city</em>. A small city compared to NYC or Boston or even Atlanta--but a City none-the-less (over 100K people & no real working farms in Athens.)</p>
<p>So are you a Tech student? A future Tech student? What? You are clearly meant for the metropolis. :) I've come to love the slower ways of smaller spaces. And there is something lovely about the ways of Southerners. I love Athens, but I would definitely go to Tech if I was pursuing engineering.</p>
<p>I don't want to pursue engineering.</p>
<p>Business and psych...double major possibly.</p>
<p>No, you don't need a car in Athens. Most people have 'em, but they're definitely not essential. Downtown is in short walking distance from campus. And if you want to go to Atlanta, you're roomate will likely have a car.</p>
<p>Yea, I guess it's a "city"...perhaps a town would be more accurate. </p>
<p>I'm a future Tech student. I've always considered myself to be a city person, but after living and visiting in rural places, I've found that they are real treasures to enjoy. While the accent certainly doesn't gain any marks, I've found that there are some things I like about living down here. I've been to Athens a few times but it never just clicked with me the way Tech did.</p>
<p>I think UGA now has a few Engineering programs...I considered Computer Engineering at UGA if I got rejected. Funnily enough, I got into UGA on 17 Feb and Tech on 21 March. SO for entire month, I was the most quiet Tech fan in the universe. Just on the offhand I end up at UGA...you know?</p>
<p>I'd assume getting to and from class wouldn't be utterly horrible on foot, but a car wouldn't be a bad thing to have in Athens. Remember, it's Carland- if you want to get to Atlanta, you'll have to drive. There has been much talk (and only talk) of a rail line between Athens and Atlanta, but I'd expect we'd find the Holy Grail before that line is finished.</p>
<p>I believe Scarlett put it best- Yankess in Atlanta, how on earth did that happen?</p>
<p>Alright, so final evaluations: A northern girl in Athens...</p>
<p>I believe you have to have a car if you go to UGA. If you ever intern in Atlanta(which will be likely), you will need a car. You cant rely on friends all of the time. My sister didnt have a car freshman year and says it was the biggest mistake she ever made. </p>
<p>I think you will be ok. The problem's you will run into at UGA as a female will be the ones that most girls run into. Plenty of people to make friends with, but not many "good" guys. From talking to many girls that go there, they see the males at UGA as heavy drinkers and sometimes rednecks. Im not sure if this will be a problem for you, but it definitely sucks for some. </p>
<p>In terms of culture shock, it wont be too bad. Just buy a lot of UGA football gear , learn how to smoke pot and drink beer simutaneously on saturday mornings before the game followed by some hard liqour shots afterwards and you will fit right in!</p>
<p>Another upgrade is the weather. </p>
<p>Atlanta/Athens weather >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Buffalo.</p>
<p>Here's a perfect phrase for the Atlanta metropolis: "Los Angeles without the beach." Plus, the people are nicer, and the homes are slighly larger and cheaper. Other than that, a lot of similarities.</p>
<p>You drive everywhere, in the summer there's this bad smog hovering above the city,it's terribly planned/sprawled out, and population growth to the extreme. Though, I still love living here :-).</p>
<p>Athens, in some studies, is part of the Atlanta MSA (or CMSA in other studies), but the census still considered athens its own MSA. However, don't be surprised if by 2010-2015 this place will go from being "Atlanta-Marietta-Sandy Springs MSA" to "Atlanta-Marietta-Athens CMSA". It grows out that fast.</p>
<p>The party atmosphere in Athens is drastically overrated. If you're a serious student, an intellectual, or just a regualar who doesn't drink, you'll definitely find others. There are indeed a few Northerners here and we'd definitely welcome any more who decided to come. The hardest part about anyone from out of state coming is just making connections and finding a social group, which takes a bit of work but is certainly worth it.</p>
<p>vig is right, especially if you are in the honors program. Honors program = many competitive students.</p>
<p>I just want to add my two cents. My daughter (Massachusetts born and bred) recently graduated from UGA. She loved Athens and UGA. She made many friends and is now living/working in Atlanta. There were some bumps along the way (the professor who mentioned how they actually let girls play hockey up North, for one), but overall, her experiences were good. Athens appears to be more liberal than other parts of the state, although she ran into her share of good ole boys. She is not as fond of Atlanta. The traffic is an absolute mess and this young lady who grew up riding the T can not believe how underutilized MARTA is. Also, while Southerners are indeed polite, that doesn't always translate into "niceness". She does love the weather and every year she sends us a newspaper picture of kids trying to sled on 1/2 inch of snow. She also loves the fact that she can go to a Braves game for $5.00 (that won't get you a hot dog at Fenway). I don't think she will ever be a true Southerner, but nowadays, there aren't that many of those in Atlanta anymore. Good luck!</p>
<p>Dogwood, would you care more to elaborate on your daughter's experiences, particularly her freshman year/fitting in/social things...etc. We are kind of similar. Thanks!!</p>
<p>A Meditation On The Speed Limit by some UGA students.</p>
<p>My AP Macro teacher showed us this a few weeks ago because he taught a couple of the students and he's in love with UGA. I thought it was pretty appropriate for the discussion at hand. You can see the awful traffic of Atlanta (I-285) and hear some of the accents of UGA students -- I don't really understand why that's an issue but whatever.</p>
<p>why does the video caption say that this was done by GA State students...not UGA...error?</p>
<p>lmao but the video was awesome ...I would be one of those people passing someone by riding in the shoulder...</p>