An Expat Talks about Living in Boston, Massachusetts

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Boston

How long have you lived there?

Many Years

What activities, clubs and organizations would you recommend to newcomers to help them meet others?

I might recommend looking into local high schools (Brookline High) for continuing ed classes- you can take everything from Spanish to cooking to woodworking. There is also Junior League of Boston, and different business networking opportunities. (None which come to mind by name- but we belong to the Boston College Club- those types of places are great- although expensive) I would also suggest looking into the alumni department of the college you attended- I know there is a whole network of colleges that sponsor events together. (wine tasting, a capella concerts, ball games, etc.) One other suggestion is Boston.com and citysearch.com -- they summarize all the events in the city- free concerts on the river, events in the park, shows, etc. The Improper Bostonian is a free weekly magazine - they usually list great stuff in there, as well as the Boston Globe publishes a calendar section each Thursday. It highlights the events going on for the weekend, new restaurants, bars, etc.

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In terms of religious, racial, economic and cultural diversity, are the people of this city or town diverse? Are they accepting of differences? Describe.

Not really- Boston is still particularly segregated. The neighborhoods are still quite divided by race- and there are definite "bad" areas and "good" areas. Overall you will find much diversity- more so in some areas than others. I do think that people are becoming more accepting of differences, but it has been a slow process.

What are the main industries in this city? What types of career opportunities commonly exist? How do most people find new jobs?

Monster.com is really big here. For more of a part time job, the Boston Globe is always good.

In general, what are peoples' priorities in this city? For example, do lives revolve around work, family, socializing, sports, etc.?

It is a bit of all of this- but work and socializing are big on a daily basis. Sports- depending on the season -are big too. Specifically the Patriots and Red Sox. I don't see a huge family emphasis at all.

If a friend of yours was thinking of moving to this city or town from far away, what other advice would you give them.

Real estate advice- renting an apartment is expensive- the rents are high and in addition you have to pay first, last, security, and a finders fee - usually equal to one month's rent. The suburbs are a bit less expensive- and many still have an urban feel.