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Topic: What kind of message would you write to your friend the reasons to move North or stay in the South?

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1

yelfri12

What would you tell your friend if you might say why you like or do not like the city. You might tell your friend the reasons to move North or stay in the south

2

mwestwood

There are two different ideas here.  First, there is the appeal of the North vs. the South.  Secondly, there is the question of urban life vs. rural.

1. If your friend is originally from the South, I would encourage him to remain there.  For, the South has a distinct culture of its own.  As a Northern who moved to the South as an adult, there is yet enough of a cultural divide in this country that one always feels somewhat of an "outsider," no matter how kind others are.  Aptly,W. Somerset Maugham wrote:

It is very difficult to know people.  For men and women are not only themselves, they are also the region in which they are born, the city apartment or the farm in which they learned to walk, the games they played as children, the old wives' tales they overheard, the food they ate, the schools they attended, the sports they followed, the poets they read, and the God they believed in.  You can know them only if you are them.

2. Urban life is exciting, especially when a person is young.  Job, recreational, and cultural opportunites are greater.  However, living costs are higher and crowded cities cause stress.  While employment opportunities are less, rural life offers more freedom as people can own more land and have a variety of pets.  Access to lakes, forests, etc. can, indeed, bring much relaxation and pleasure to people. 

3

There is also the question of weather.  The farther south you are, the less likely you are to experience seasons--not much snow in Miami.  If you like a change of seasons and the lovely fall colors, farther north is the answer.

4

jkhanfland

I would also add that culture is also very different between the two geographical regions. Having lived in both the North and the South, I can vouch for the fact that many of the people in these areas live life according to very different perspectives. Northerners tend to live life in a much faster pace, pushing schedules and timeliness. Appointments are made for most everything, and being late (as in 5 minutes or less) is met with high annoyance. However, Southerners tend to be more relaxed (to the extreme annoyance of transplanted Yankees). Schedules are much more flexible and meetings, both professional and social, are much more relaxed and low key.

5

pward55

I am orignially from the south, moved to the north, then to the west, and finally back to the south.  I have had the best of both worlds, and I can attest to the fact that I love southern living.  The idea of being able to stretch out and breathe clean air is a must! (although clean air is becoming a great commodity everywhere). I love the blue skies and can see millions of stars at night - every night. My neighbors are friendly and there are still places that you can leave your door open.  Neighbors exchange food they have grown in their own gardens.  Pecan and fruit trees are plentiful in my neighborhood.  Children ride their bikes in the street without fear of being run down.  Blue jays and red robins fly into my yard and pick worms from the ground.  Noisy children walk to school and play along the way.  Some even stop by for lemonade and cookies.  My paperboy is a nice little 13 year old who is saving his money to buy remote control airplane.  He wants to grow up and be a pilot.  Girls play hop scotch and jacks on their porches.  The whole neighborhoods and communities get together and have a barbeque every year. The kids handle the music and they allow us 'old folks' to square dance if we will join with them in the electric slide.  Our schools close immediately at the threat of snow.  Southern living is just different. People are closer and more family orientated, I think. I love southern living.

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