By popular demand, I give you-- "WTF Am I doing moving to Utah?"

[WindRavenX]

When I tell my friends I'm planning to move from MA to UT upon graduation from BC to be with my boyfriend, Kyle, I get one of three responses:

1. Awesome! Do what makes you happy!

2. ::silence:: Um, are you sure you won't be burned at the stake?

3. Dude, you need to have a reality TV show or something-- this is gonna be hillarious.

Since I have neither the interest or resources to get my own reality TV show, I started, like every other person in the universe, a blog to log my senior year in HS, the eventual move to UT, and my encounters teaching HS bio.

I hope you all get a kick out of this, because it's going to be a fun ride :D

http://wtf-am-i-doing-moving-to-utah.blogspot.com/

[Momgonepostal]

1. Good luck and keep us posted!

Can I ask where in Utah you are moving?

I used to be on a "move to Utah" kick, because several friends have moved there and housing is cheaper than here, BUT (and that's a big ole but) I don't think we could make enough oney to make it worth it, even with the lower cost of housing.

My husband is also working on a teaching credential. Not all districts put their pay scale on their websites, but I haven't been impressed with those who do. Even accounting for lower costs of living, those districts are cheap.

[WindRavenX]

3. SLC/ S.Jordan area

Yeah, the websites for the Utah board of education kinda suck in a big way-- it was really hard to find the information like on salaries and how to get certified. As someone who isn't an education major (BAs in Bio and English) and will have to go thru alternative certification procedures, it kinda sucks not knowing how to get started.

From what I have gathered, most districts in the SLC area pay around 23-29K starting salary depending on education and experience. They have weird certification procedures, and the best I can figure is that the school can give you an emergency license that can be renewed yearly up to three years until you can take a Praxis exam and other things.

The good news is that SLC is a pretty chill area according to my SO, and we're looking into living by the UofU-- Sugar House I think it's called.

It's very overwhelming.

[Momgonepostal]

20. Depending on your priorities, I think you'll like SLC

Sugar House and some of the older areas are definitely more hip and liberal. If you can handle being in a blue enclave in a red state, you'll be OK. You will certainly find other like minded people there, and even the LDS who live in those areas are probably more left than those in the outlying areas. I used to belong to a web group called Mormon Democrats, and while it's not a huge group, left of center Mormons do exist. One of the women in the group was from SLC and said her bishop is a member fo the Green Party.

At any rate, for someone who wants to see the map turn blue over their state on election night, Utah is a frustrating place to be. But if you can be content having some cool neighbors, Sugar House is will make you happy. Salt Lake has a great, left wing mayor now too, Rocky Anderson. And I think the lady before him (or two mayors before him?), was also a non-LDS democrat. You won't be alone. I'm in a red part of a blue state, but I think I'd prefer the opposite.

Good luck with teaching, too. It seems to me Granite SD was one of the slightly better paying ones, so that might be a place to look.

[idgiehkt]

2. This is perfect:

"Why in the name of Allah is a dirty pinko commie from the homo-loving state of MA moving to the land of Mormons?"

:rofl:

I've heard it's a beautiful state. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is there and they have tons and tons of national parks and canyons. I wouldn't mind moving there myself, since I live in the south with the Baptists which are basically the same thing.

[Shakespeare]

4. Talk. Your Boyfriend. Into Moving. This is imperative.

Do not, I repeat, do NOT move to Utah. :scared:

If you're going that far west, come on down to LA. If you'd rather stay on the east coast (which I also love), why not convince him to move there?


:scared: :scared: :scared:

[WindRavenX]

5. We're not staying long

His family lives there, and it's cheap for him to go to college. So until he's out of college, it makes most since to save $$$ (and pay off my student loans) rather than scrap by in NYC (where we'd like to eventually live).

Besides, the SLC area isn't THAT bad, especially around the UofU.

[driver8]

8. My sister and her husband lived in SLC for a few years.

They didn't mind it. Most of their friends were ski bums and liked to party.

I know that they did a lot of skiing while they lived there, and the winters weren't too bad.

[flamingyouth]

6. SLC is nice, esp. around the UU area

Best of luck to you, and your blog looks like fun. :)

[Omphaloskepsis]

7. Good luck with that...

I (survived in Utah for a few years) LSD was key... You are so fucked... Snort.Giggle.Burp...

[ghostsofgiants]

9. You're Matthew Lillard?

</bad SLC Punk reference>

[catzies]

16. Yeah. You need LSD to deal with the LDS.

:hippie: See you in Pioneer Park.

[seemunkee]

10. Only been in the southern part of the state. It's beautiful

Do you like to hike/climb/ski?

[WindRavenX]

11. big time

Both my SO and I are HUGE outdoors-y people. Love camping.

[Amaya]

12. My mother lives near Provo

DO NOT go there! :scared:
SLC is nice tho...

Good luck :)

[WindRavenX]

13. Provo, in the words of my SO:

"Happy Happy Valley filled with Shiny Happy People" :scared:

It's where BYU is, right? That'd explain it.

[Radio_Lady]

14. My son moved from Framingham, MA to Ogden, UT in 1990.

He has survived the move, although he did convert to Mormonism in order to marry his now wife in 1995. She's a darling and they have two beautiful sons. They bought a nice little home, go to church on Sunday and teach in their ward. So far, so good.

I don't think I could live there, but that's mostly because I couldn't adjust to the weather. Too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. However, that being said, we try to get there at least once a year to see our grandsons. We'll be in St. George to visit in October 2007. Looking forward to seeing the red rock parks!

Good luck with your move.

[Mrs.Matcom]

15. AAAAAAAHHHHHGGGGGRRRRGGGGG

NO don't do it!!!! I lived there for 15 years, actually I must rephrase that, I got stuck there for 15 years!!! Nice place to visit, but you DO NOT WANT TO LIVE THERE!!!! Sorry, don't mean to yell, oh wait, YES I DO!!! Our neighbors moved there a few years ago, even though we tried to talk them out of it. After a year, we get a call. 'why didn't you try to talk us out of it??' trust me, make him move out here!!!

[bluethruandthru]

17. Stay in SLC as much as possible!

I grew up in Utah and, as a non-mormon, I can tell you it's horrible! Everywhere you go you'll be asked about your religion.

[don954]

19. so i guess this sticker wouldnt go over too well there..

[Gormy Cuss]

18. You'll be a breath of fresh air.

Those HS kids won't know what to make of you.

It's a beautiful state.

[matcom]

21. DO NOT DO IT!!!! SEE MRS MATCOM - POST #15

do NOT move there. NEVER. you will HATE IT!! HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT!!

[Arugula Latte]

22. I commented! Hee hee! I'm number 1!

:woohoo:

[sarge43]

23. Vaya con Dios, amigo.

Will you be living in Salt Lake City?