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[petal_abstract]

Ripping up the in place life plan for the past 7 years is scary and invigorating.

There is a good chance that I may be studying at West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania for my masters in Holocaust studies.

Comments

[lifeofmendel]

that's a tough question to answer.

when i first moved to the west coast, at first i thought the answer was yes, then i thought the answer was no, then i came to the conclusion that the answer was yes.

but exactly *how* is hard to describe, so you just have to experience it for yourself. Walking around Philadelphia is much different than walking around Portland or San Fran. One of the immediate surface level differences you'll see is that there are much less asians and many more black people. On a deeper level, it may seem that people are less friendly, but i don't think it's really that, or at least not all of it is that. People i think are just more cautious.

West Chester is different than the city, though, since it's a college town. Even so, there's something kind of true about the whole "faster paced east coast versus laid back west coast" stereotype.

you can definitely tell the difference between living in a denser style of neighborhood, as in more people in a tighter space and some of the subtle psychological effects that has.

Other than that... gosh. i dunno. it's definitely different. but not a bad different. it's more an individual thing, a personal choice thing. i feel more at home on the west coast than the east coast.

[petal_abstract]

I have never actually been to the East Coast, but I've always wanted to live there. I was really excited to see all the old, colonial (inspired) buildings in West Chester. Hopefully I will be able to go back there and see what it is like. But, knowing me, I will probably just apply with out seeing it. I like change, new situations and feel that I am really adaptable.

I was reading the Wiki page about West Chester and the racial census numbers, conducted in 2000. If I do go for the first time ever I will live in a place where the biggest 'minority' are African Americans, not Latinos. I also read the .31% Asian population and got a little sad. Other than that I am really excited about this prospect. I just don't know who to email or ask about living situations, commuting, etc. Like, is there a shuttle or any transit that goes back and forth between Philly and West Chester? Does good beer exist in West Chester?

[lifeofmendel]

i'd look at graduate housing online for west chester and see what it's all about, but surrounding areas are fine too, and i'm sure that you can poke around cl to get a feel for rentals around town. you might also see if there's an LJ community for west chester.

as far as transit, probably the best answer is SEPTA.

and yeah, there's good beer in west chester. Yeungling is pretty awesome. :)