For instance, we all assume people from New York are bold, people from the south are hospitable, California, I hate to say this and sorry, but ditzy etc.etc.  Would you still be you if you moved to a different area?  How much of an effect do our surroundings have on our personality?
216851
That's a great question. I was born in the south and have always been happy, cheerful, and nice to everyone I meet. I smile at everyone I pass, it's just natural (and I hate to say it but in the south everyone is related to everyone else, or at least related to someone they know) Anyway, I moved to Hollywood, CA after college and lived there for 6 years. I only just moved back to SC. Boy did that time in LA change my personality. I became withdrawn, less cheerful. In LA, if you smile at someone on the street, they look at you as though you are crazy. You learn to just stay to yourself and be less outgoing, if not so that others don't think you're crazy, but also to protect yourself from all the other crazies. It's taken me a while to get my self-esteem and cheerfulness back to where it was so many years ago before I left. I guess there's just no place like home. I'm interested to see how others respond. Especially those who have moved to other areas.
439482
LOL Good question!\nStereotypes I had before coming over...bad teeth, nice accents, tea loving, bad bad boring food.\nWhat I learned after living here:  interesting teeth (I like nonperfect teeth actually), nice and very different accents depending on where the person is from, tea loving, very ethnic food that can sometimes be very very good!
535499
Actually, they talk how others in their environment talk. I spoke with a southern accent for 12 years and moved to nevada, my accent was gone in a year. When I came back to the south I thought everyone spoke funny. Now i've got my accent back. Give people a break. If the worst thing they do is talk ghetto, that's awesome. Things could be worse.
504528
expectations.  Too many people have really high expectations that "moving to America will make everything better".  Well,  there's competition for jobs,  there's lonliness in no longer feeling  "comfotable"  that everyone around you is the same.  Like if you are from Greece,  you feel comfortable among the Greeks in Greece.  But if you find yourself in Bangor Maine,  it takes a long time to feel really comfortable...because people "like you"...aren't all around.  I'm from CT
667842
It's a survival mechanism.  NY is a huge city, with lots of people crowded into a relatively small area.  If you act like a woos someone might pick on you.\nI used to work for people from NYC.  I was never able to joke around with them, get them to loosen up.  It's like they are always combat ready.
458605
If there are true friends, they will understand your feelings. Moving from one extreme to another has made you see what your preferences are as far as where you choose to live. You are happy. They shouldnt hold that against you. Just explain how going back made you feel, the good about seeing them and the bad about the city.
359846
yes ,treat everyone as an individual and they will earn your respect on their own merits. \n  However,other people might label you,depending on your race,ethnic background,or what part of the country you are from ,or even what neighborhood you are from. \n  That has happened to me,I moved from the East coast out to Colorado,I try not to tell people where I am from,but as soon as I open my mouth,they ask me ,"Where are you from ? ".\n  I am not from Boston,or New York City ,so I don't have a distinctive accent but it is definitely different than a native Coloradan. \n  Once labeled you cannot allow people to know who you really are,because they already have their opinions of you made up in their small little labling minds.
51183
I'm from lower state New York, so I don't see much of racism, sexism etc. You start to see more xenophobia and racism in upstate NY though.\nAs far homophobia, it's not as bad as say the south, but it's not all that good either.
71918
Anyone who is not satisfied with where they are at will not acknowledge someone who knows where they are from, They are embarassed.  Otherwise they think that they are better than you and not worth looking at.
557328
My experience was quite good.  I've heard that each location (country) may vary considerably in personality.  It would probably be beneficial to ask questions directly to the location in which you are interested.
109817
As a person who grew up and lives "down south" and who has lived in New England as well, I'd like to respond to this one...\n\nIt depends on how they're raised. In my family people are people, we're part Cherokee, my daughter is multi racial and even my relatives that most people would consider "rednecks" have no problem with that. I dated who I wanted... Native, black, white... I dated guys I liked because of who they were, not what they were...\n\nPeople hate what they fear, and fear what they don't know... If the only people they have met from a different race treated them badly they will tend to lump all together...\n\nThere is a big difference between "southern" and "bigot" and tbh I met just as many bigots in New England as here... it is just more hidden, people tend to "stick to their own" and not socialize outside their race much, I noticed. \n\nAlmost as bad as racism was this hypersensitivity to anything that might possibly construed as a racial issue (this was mostly white people) and being constantly aware of it like that is a sign that you are racist I think... If you never really think about what color someone is, then you are color blind, if you're constantly aware of everyone's race then you aren't...\n\nIgnorant, intolerant and judgmental people live all over the place... north, south, USA, Mexico, Europe... no one country or area has a monopoly on it.
288542
I believe that it is true that where you started does impact on how you end up!! Due to the fact that if your really from the ghetto and you had a bad home life, you would want more for yourself and more for you future family!! But it all depends on the person because someone who could be from the ghetto who has a lack of self confidence, they might think that they are to "stupid" or they feel they won't make it far in life!! So basically it would be that where you grew up is half of what impacts your life decisions.. But the other half is self confidence!
63391
Where do you live now?  I mean, I have lived in several places on the east coast, and the south, as well as visited several cities between the east coast and going out as far as Texas, and I have not noticed it to be true.\n\nI personally never grew up noticing or noting differences in lighter skinned and darker skinned Black people.  I guess because, as a child, my mother never pointed it out to me. I think that when you are young, if someone points it out to you, then you grow up being more cognizant of it.  (And I grew up in the SOUTH).\n\nMaybe, for those lighter-skinned Black people that you feel act that way, they feel they have something to prove.  Black people's self-image, regardless of their complexion, cause them to act in whatever way they feel they have to prove they are "Black enough" or "acceptable enough" in diverse setting (meaning when they are not just among other Black people).\n\nWe, meaning Black people, just need to be ourselves, which is really dictated by what part of the country we grew up, and not try to please or appease someone else.\n\n(just my opinion)\n\nLM
647311
ive lived in melbourne, philadelphia, NYC, atlanta, Aspen, and currently live in Dallas.\n\nHated NYC when i first moved there WAY too much going on, but after a while you get used to it. the thing is, being from the suburbs, you get used to your comfort zone. you, your yard, your house, your car... etc. in big cities you have to encounter people... unfortunately a lot of people are selfish  unknowingly... but you notice it... the thing is all big cities have good and bad. all have just as much good and bad... the problem is, bad is usually in your face more.\n\nno matter how big a city is, you eventually find your own niche... i say you start feeling comfortable at 6 months, and by 2 years, you are completely in your element... just go ino it knowing that the first 6 months will most likely stink... read books.. explore on your own.. the first thing i do whenever i move somewhere new is either walk or drive and get completely lost... its a great way of getting a feel for a place... and clearing your head..\n\naustin is awesome, but if you are looking for somewhere where you can be in more of a comfort zone ft. worth is a driiving city with a nice downtown and great parks.. dont go to church myself but the people who i know that do are super friendly...\n\njust don't let a few rude people blind you to all the great people out there, because there are tons of them.\n\ncheers
371695
After being around someone who has an accent, you begin to also have one. It's completely natural. You adapt to your surroundings.
365545
How come you did not mention your own nationality? Anyway, I've lived in some African countries and really liked the environments - very friendly and stress free. I've also lived in the USA and was in fact very disappointed - very stressful and hostile society (despite the diversity), especially down south in Texas.
186641
Since you're asking in geography, I'll give you one opinion: geography.  New York is mostly centered on an island--it's very concentrated, people are packed in under pressure, and I think that raises the excitement level.  Plus of course it's much older, so it got first crack at all the high culture, the  great immigrant influence (arts, restaurants, etc.) and so on.  NY is about excitement--"if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere."\n\nLA is spread out, it hardly has a center, you have to drive anywhere to do anything--it's a post-World War II city, where everybody is in their neighborhood or in their car or wherever.  The cultural mix is Latino, Asian, and Americans who left the east for the sun and fun.  LA is actually quite great once you get off the freeway and into various neighborhoods--and the beach lifestyle can't be beat.  (Oh yeah--LA got the good weather; if you don't believe me, compare LA in July and NY in July...) But LA is about being laid back, casual, slightly star-struck with the movies and all--and that's just a different kind of fun.