Who knew that trying to pack your life into 2 cars could be so stressful? Ok, that's an understatement. I think that I knew how hard it's going to be but have refused to acknowledge it. Thankfully, I have some amazing friends who are willing to help me with my move to Omaha. Emily, one of my CA friends, is actually from Omaha and is going there next week. She VOLUNTEERED to take stuff down for me- awesome, right? I wonder if her parents know that they will have my stuff in their house yet... Kyle, one of my future roomies, is going to haul stuff down for me when he goes back after training. No more worries about where all of my kitchen stuff and extra clothes are going.
So I have a few questions about Omaha:
1. Do they refer to bags at a grocery store as "bags" or "sacks"? One of my high school friends from Hudson went to school in Iowa and informed me of this oddity. I've never heard anyone in Minnesota OR Wisconsin refer to "sacks" before. Emily told me it's still "bags" but I want to verify this.
2. I hear that you go in and out of sketchy neighborhoods in Omaha. Does Omaha's sketchiness equate to Minneapolis's sketchiness? I don't want to be that person who gets mugged in their first week of moving somewhere new.
3. How prominent will my Minnesotan accent be there? I usually have it under control, but I know it slips out sometimes. Will I be the laughingstock of the non-accented Omaha? (see video http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/68929/may-10-2006/better-know-a-district---nebraska-s-2nd---lee-terry)
4. Is there ever free stuff to do? In Mpls/St. Paul you can pretty much hit up a festival in the summer or random events in the winter every weekend for free. Will I lose this? :(
Also, does anyone have any crazy good packing tips? I try, but sometimes fail at moving.
Oh goodness.
ReplyDelete1. I believe I said either is acceptable. No one will notice or care which one you choose.
2. I don't know about going in and out of sketchy neighborhoods...I'd say North and East of the new baseball stadium (california streetish) And then about East and South of 24th and Leavenworth. I guess I'm not familiar with quoting levels of sketchiness, but idk, people get murdered in Omaha too. I guess don't go running around with a big ol bag alone at night in North O? Other than that, crime can happen anywhere, carry your mace lady.
3. I've never really noticed your Minnesota accent. Maybe I've been desensitized but I doubt many will pick up on it. You definitely won't be a laughingstock.
4. I personally think it's a lot harder to find free stuff in Omaha, but then I've never tried as hard as I do in the cities to find things. There is Shakespeare on the green and Jazz on the green (though I think those are probably over for the year). During the summer there are 3 or 4 really fantastic fireworks displays (better than MPLS I think) but of course those are over too. Just dig a little, it might take more time, but you'll find stuff. Oh! Festival of Lights in the winter. Look it up.
Things that are worth the money if they interest you:
- The Zoo
- Vala's Pumpkin Patch (most fun with big group)
- The Jocelyn
- The Western Heritage Museum (especially to see the big tree at Christmas)
- Mahoney State Park, also next to that is the Air and Space Museum and a wildlife reserve
haha, looking at this list I realize these are all the places I went on field trips as a kid. None of these things are free. In fact, they are kinda pricey. Maybe choose your favorite and save up? Also, make sure you give yourself enough time at the zoo. You will want to get your money's worth and see everything, which takes a long time.
Dear KBizz,
ReplyDeleteI would love to come over and help you pack things up. For real, use my clothes-rolling skills.
Also, the only language thing they might make fun of is holding out O's. That is what seems to get most people re: Minnesota accents. Otherwise, it's still the Midwest so you won't be made fun of.
As for free things, there are these: http://www.visitomaha.com/visitors/things-to-do/free-activities/ :)
1. I believe most people call them "bags" here.
ReplyDelete2. Here is Omaha's 2009 murder map: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=113055380055634892542.00045f89748e23b5ddfdd
Unfortunately, the place that you're working will probably be in that area. (I did too when I worked in human services.)
3. I enjoy MN accents, and I don't think anyone will give you heck about it.
4. I don't know a whole lot about free stuff. Wish I did. Sometimes there is. The Earth Day celebration is free and fun. The state and county parks do free things sometimes also. Every year there's a free concert at Memorial Park with decent bands. "The Reader" is a free newspaper tells about local events.
Thanks for the feedback, everyone! I'm starting to make a list of things that I need to do, since everyone seems to come up with random and interesting events.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like I wont be living in a supersketch area (33rd and Dodge) but there is a possibility that I will work in a neighborhood that trumps the top of the 2009 murder list that Jenny provided.
Here's to hoping that the MN accent doesn't shine through and not having to say "sack". :)