What's Pennsylvania like?

Clay · Dec 12, 2019

We don't know for sure yet, but it looks like my wife is going to accepted into a PhD program at Penn State. She applied kind of on a whim, not really expecting to get in. We don't know anything about the state.

Some things I'm curious about:

Where is the best place to live? I assume we'll live near campus unless I get a job somewhere that makes it smarter to live somewhere in between, but are there any particular nice areas, or ones to avoid?

How do Pennsylvanians feel about Californians? I know we're not the most popular state, and I hear there's resentment in some states toward Californians moving to places with cheaper cost of living.

Anything else I should know? I've lived mostly in SoCal for the last six years so I'm sure the weather will be a huge culture shock.

Rvaan · Dec 12, 2019

Philly and Pittsburgh are fine. Everywhere else? They call it Pennsyltuckey for a reason.
Oh. Bring a winter jacket or 2. Trust me.

YuShtink · Dec 12, 2019

The area directly around the campus is nice, not sure what prices are nowadays. But outside of a 5-10 mile radius things get pretty rural and conservative pretty quickly. Happy Valley is a nice place though I'd love to go back.

Laevateinn · Dec 12, 2019

As someone who got a PhD at Penn State, I hope you like football, beer, and driving 3 hours to do anything interesting.

YamchasRevenge · Dec 12, 2019

Californians are not discriminated against lmao. I live near Philadelphia, while technically in Pennsylvania, is not the Pennsylvania you'll be dealing with. I've only driven through the middle of the state.

Hecht · Dec 12, 2019

Bellefonte and Boalsburg are decent areas if you don't want to live in State College.

There's a saying about Pennsylvania - "Pittsburgh on one side, Philly on the other, and Alabama in the middle" - State College is pretty much a city in the middle of farmland, so it's a little odd, heh.

I don't think you'll run into too many issues about being from California. Especially near a college town where not everyone is from in-state.

Bio · Dec 12, 2019

I never lived anywhere near Penn State, and Pennsylvania itself is an incredibly varied state, both geographically and demographically. There are a lot of cultural and economic differences between, say, Pittsburgh and Philly (where I lived).

I moved there from California and no one batted an eye, so on that front at least I can say you'll be fine.

Deleted member 1086 · Dec 12, 2019

yinzers and yuengling

Freddy=Legend · Dec 12, 2019

Rvaan said:
Philly and Pittsburgh are fine. Everywhere else? They call it Pennsyltuckey for a reason.
Oh. Bring a winter jacket or 2. Trust me.

Annnnd we're done here.

Illenium · Dec 12, 2019

I don't live in PA so I can't speak for the living circumstance. But as for hating Californians, I think if you don't come off as stuck up y'all should be good to go.

nightstalker962 · Dec 12, 2019

Always under construction. Also there's billboards everywhere.

Deleted member 1086 · Dec 12, 2019

you have to pick a side in the great Wawa v Sheetz war

Kevers · Dec 12, 2019

shittiest roads imaginable.

TaySan · Dec 12, 2019

I remember going camping once over there with my father and his friends and visiting a gift shop full of Nazi and Confederate merchandise.

I know you can find that in any rural area of a state, but that memory stood out for me.

Turin · Dec 12, 2019

Kind of aggravating if you want to find anything interesting to do.

SpitztheGreat · Dec 12, 2019

Clay said:
How do Pennsylvanians feel about Californians? I know we're not the most popular state, and I hear there's resentment in some states toward Californians moving to places with cheaper cost of living.

In general no one on the east coast is going to care that you're from California. We'll only care if you bring it up thinking that it's a big deal for some reason. Your neighboring states may have strong feelings about Californians, but east coast residents don't give a shit. The rural parts of PA may not thinking highly of outsiders, but you could be from upstate NY or Florida, they're just miserable people who don't like anyone new.

Now, if you're a caricature of a southern Californian, that will get you some looks.

That said, central PA is pretty fucking desolate. The weather won't be the largest culture shock you're going to experience.

Musubi · Dec 12, 2019

Rvaan said:
Philly and Pittsburgh are fine. Everywhere else? They call it Pennsyltuckey for a reason.
Oh. Bring a winter jacket or 2. Trust me.

Nailed it.

Deleted member 32822 · Dec 12, 2019

You like Amish people?

WeAreStarStuff · Dec 12, 2019

Pittsburgh is one of my top 5 east coast cities. I enjoy Philly as well, but I would actually move to Pittsburgh.

Avengers23 · Dec 12, 2019

Nothing like Transylvania, which was very disappointing.

EnlightenedMint · Dec 12, 2019

Sega Dreamcast said:
You like Amish people?

Nothing better than a nice Whoopie pie.

Papercuts · Dec 12, 2019

How do you feel about potholes?

El_TigroX · Dec 12, 2019

From Philly area, lived there most of my life... love it there, Pittsburgh's alright, the remainder is a take it or leave it situation. You'll get pockets here and there that are good, but generally speaking the middle of the state is less than awesome.

Penn State is its own thing, so if you are in "Happy Valley" at Main Campus, there's enough up there to keep things interesting. You go 10 miles out of there, and it's just rolling barren plains, scrub trees, and racists for hours in each direction.

The old adage of "It's Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Alabama in between" holds pretty tight.

Dishwalla said:
you have to pick a side in the great Wawa v Sheetz war

I mean, the answer is Wawa. Sheetz is a pale, sad imitation.

Soapbox Killer · Dec 12, 2019

Born and raised in Philly and moved to Pasadena when I was younger and moved back. The weather shock will be your biggest hurdle I think. It's a nice looking state to drive if you like outdoorsy stuff.

Rvaan said:
Philly and Pittsburgh are fine. Everywhere else? They call it Pennsyltuckey for a reason.
Oh. Bring a winter jacket or 2. Trust me.

Pretty much this.

clockworkinyou · Dec 12, 2019

Don't let anyone in here tell you that Pittsburgh is fine. It sucks, we put french fries on sandwiches and salads and it's southwestern Pennsylvania tradition to have a fucking cookie table at your wedding (these are not good cookies). The weather is god awful and people make stupid left turns when they don't have the right of way because yinzers are dumb. The accent is atrocious and nearly as bad as NY and Boston accents. It's one of the least diverse cities in the country and full of white trash in the suburbs. The city layout is awful and is dumb. The restaurants aren't good either. Except for Fiori's pizza, I wish I didn't live here.

Then there's Philly.

ibyea · Dec 12, 2019

I stayed at Penn State for an astro stat seminar. It was a nice town, food is good. I also want to say, that campus is ginormous.

Outside of that? Total Trump country. Me and a bunch of colleagues from around the world went for a trip to a cave. When we were done with that, we checked out a fair, and a tall flagpole with the Confederate army flag was just right there. Had a good time, the environment is nice, but yikes.

Papercuts · Dec 12, 2019

clockworkinyou said:
Don't let anyone in here tell you that Pittsburgh is fine. It sucks, we put french fries on sandwiches and salads and it's southwestern Pennsylvania tradition to have a fucking cookie table at your wedding (these are not good cookies). The weather is god awful and people make stupid left turns when they don't have the right away because yinzers are dumb. The accent is atrocious and nearly as bad as NY and Boston accents. It's one of the least diverse cities in the country and full of white trash in the suburbs. The city layout is awful and is dumb. The restaurants aren't good either. Except for Fiori's pizza, I wish I didn't live here.

Then there's Philly.

Hold up, Primanti Bros. is amazing.

KefkaPalazzo · Dec 12, 2019

Imagine Ohio. Add even more Amish people, keep the great zoos and museums but subtract the Rock and Football hall of fames, Cedar Point, and Kings Island. Boom. There you go.

Freddy=Legend · Dec 12, 2019

clockworkinyou said:
Don't let anyone in here tell you that Pittsburgh is fine. It sucks, we put french fries on sandwiches and salads and it's southwestern Pennsylvania tradition to have a fucking cookie table at your wedding (these are not good cookies). The weather is god awful and people make stupid left turns when they don't have the right of way because yinzers are dumb. The accent is atrocious and nearly as bad as NY and Boston accents. It's one of the least diverse cities in the country and full of white trash in the suburbs. The city layout is awful and is dumb. The restaurants aren't good either. Except for Fiori's pizza, I wish I didn't live here.

Then there's Philly.

Of all the valid things to get upset about in Pittsburgh; you're gonna throw shade at Primanti Bros & the Pittsburgh Left?

TheJackdog · Dec 12, 2019

Clay said:
We don't know for sure yet, but it looks like my wife is going to accepted into a PhD program at Penn State. She applied kind of on a whim, not really expecting to get in. We don't know anything about the state.

off the bat, state college is no where near major cities. its in pennsyltucky. BUT, that said, state college is basically a mini city. if she gets the job, live IN state college. its a great town. this is coming from someone who does not like penn state.

Some things I'm curious about:

Where is the best place to live? I assume we'll live near campus unless I get a job somewhere that makes it smarter to live somewhere in between, but are there any particular nice areas, or ones to avoid?

see above. im from philly, so im bias, but i LOVE philadelphia.

How do Pennsylvanians feel about Californians? I know we're not the most popular state, and I hear there's resentment in some states toward Californians moving to places with cheaper cost of living.

Maybe in pennsyltucky? But ive never ever seen or heard anything like that personally.

Anything else I should know? I've lived mostly in SoCal for the last six years so I'm sure the weather will be a huge culture shock.

Philly > Pitt. COME AT ME PITTSBURGH.

added my answers in your quote

clockworkinyou · Dec 12, 2019

Papercuts said:
Hold up, Primanti Bros. is amazing.

Yeah it was amazing back when Bill Cowher was a rookie coach and Yancy Thigpen was a baller and there were only 3 locations within city limits.

2019 update - it's now proliferated the outlying counties and attracts the clientele that thinks Outback is a formal date night location.

And Kennywood is a relic that needs fucking bulldozed and potato patch fries are a fucking abomination.

mhayes86 · Dec 12, 2019

Cheaper cost of living, I guess. Hershey Park is a decent amusement park. Outside of the cities, there isn't much variety unless you go up to NY or down towards MD/DC. Wear a coat and prepare for snow and ice during the winter. PA residents will likely not care if you're from California, or any other state for that matter.

I grew up and lived in northern Maryland most of my life, about 5 minutes from the Mason-Dixon line.

Norris1020 · Dec 12, 2019

Just stay far far away from Altoona, that's all I can say.

Pandora012 · Dec 12, 2019

Which penn state?

Zyrokai · Dec 12, 2019

clockworkinyou said:
Don't let anyone in here tell you that Pittsburgh is fine. It sucks, we put french fries on sandwiches and salads and it's southwestern Pennsylvania tradition to have a fucking cookie table at your wedding (these are not good cookies). The weather is god awful and people make stupid left turns when they don't have the right of way because yinzers are dumb. The accent is atrocious and nearly as bad as NY and Boston accents. It's one of the least diverse cities in the country and full of white trash in the suburbs. The city layout is awful and is dumb. The restaurants aren't good either. Except for Fiori's pizza, I wish I didn't live here.

Then there's Philly.

As someone not from there but lived in Pittsburgh for 2 years, I thought it was great. One of the densest cities in America outside of NY and Chicago and the topology is amazing. More vertical footage than San Francisco. The sheer amount of urban fabric that survived the "urban renewal" of the 60s is amazing and something to be proud of. Most American cities decimated themselves during this time. Awesome neighborhoods and a unique history.

Accent is indeed terrible but its not as strong as it used to be, imo.

The Pittsburgh Left is also kinda nice, imo. Almost necessary because of the narrow streets.

Weather is on par with almost anything in the East and Midwest. I like it.

But fuck fries on salads. WTF?!

Xterrian · Dec 12, 2019

I'm from NePa so I can weigh in some.

The roads are trash. Nightmare-fuel potholes.

For some reason there's a more than average amount of people obsessed with the Confederacy. I sincerely hope to find out the answer to this one day, considering what side PA was on.

What else... our snack foods are good. Try out middleswarth chips and Tastycakes. And Turkey Hill.

I think that's all. We're kinda boring overall. Definitely go to the Franklin Institute in Philly though.

Deleted member 9972 · Dec 12, 2019

For someone like me who enjoys rural living, it's a wonderful place to live. But if you're used to being able to walk 5 minutes in any direction and end up at a unique and interesting restaurant, brace yourself because you're living in the middle of nowhere.

While State College is indeed between Pitt and Philly and thus is a part of Pennsyltucky, you're going to be located in a college town, so it's a pretty progressive area until you stray 15 miles outside of the area, in which case you're in solid red 80% Trump territory. But you're not going to be judged for being Californians, though people may look at you like you're crazy for giving up that fine weather to suffer in PA.

Grimminski · Dec 12, 2019

Dishwalla said:
yinzers and yuengling

Kevers said:
shittiest roads imaginable.

Papercuts said:
Hold up, Primanti Bros. is amazing.

It's better than Subway and those fundraiser sandwiches people are constantly selling

clockworkinyou · Dec 12, 2019

Talk her out of it. Happy Valley is a cult compound. Stay where it's nice.

I assume where you live is nice.

Lost Lemurian · Dec 12, 2019

Born and raised in Harrisburg, and I can assure you that central PA isn't all bad. Come visit Troegs brewery, and go to Hershey Park when the weather gets nice. I'll confirm that the rural areas are 100% Trump country, though.

(And Sheetz is vastly better than Wawa, don't @ me)

PersonAndStuff · Dec 12, 2019

I went there once in High School. Parts of it are very pretty.

Van Bur3n · Dec 12, 2019

Won't somebody think of the Californians.

Grimminski · Dec 12, 2019

Xterrian said:
For some reason there's a more than average amount of people obsessed with the Confederacy. I sincerely hope to find out the answer to this one day, considering what side PA was on.

What else... our snack foods are good. Try out middleswarth chips and Tastycakes. And Turkey Hill.

Pennsyltuckey is usually the answer to racist fuckery

And yeah, we have Turkey Hill and Turners Tea, shits great.

Torpedo Vegas · Dec 12, 2019

I drove through it a couple times. 5 hours of nothing.

sgtnosboss · Dec 12, 2019

based on my interactions with people that work there for the same company as mine... I would say not very nice....

clockworkinyou · Dec 12, 2019

I would also like to state that the Penn State Creamery or whatever the ice cream there is called, absolutely sucks.

Pittsburgh has 2 good things, Fiori's and Leona's Ice Cream sandwiches.

painey · Dec 12, 2019

very backwards liquor laws.

Dougieflesh · Dec 12, 2019

Everything in-between Philly and Pittsburgh is rural garbage. The worst liquor laws I've ever had to deal with. Also, the weather is trash. Good luck to you and your wife.

Var · Dec 12, 2019

PA is fine as long as you stick to the cities. Enjoy Hoagiefest!

hwalker84 · Dec 12, 2019

Rvaan said:
Philly and Pittsburgh are fine. Everywhere else? They call it Pennsyltuckey for a reason.
Oh. Bring a winter jacket or 2. Trust me.

First post nailed it. Native Pittsburgher living here now.

What's Pennsylvania like?

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