I am a native Californian, who by some cruel twist of fate, has fallen deeply in love with a native Canadian whose family lives in Winnipeg. In a couple short months we'll be moving to Winnipeg, Manitoba to get married and live in Canada. I am outgoing female, personable, have tattoos, I like parties and I know that neither of us are the stay-at-home type, and we're both in our early 20's (I'm 21, he's 24) and we pretty much stick out like sore thumbs in any conservative setting. But our only chance at starting a life together is to go to Winnipeg, although, with all the crap I hear about Winnipeg it's starting to sound like I won't be able to handle the change. I'm a strong beleiver that crappy situations bring people together, I don't care about the crime and weather, and all the other complaints about winnipeg so much as I'm worried about not meeting cool people. We won't be there forever, just long enough to save money and find a real place to live, but is Winnipeg really that bad, will I be able to hang-out at coffee shops and make fun of angsty teenagers, find someone else that loves kitchy bands from the 60's like the Kinks, get a tattoo that doesn't involve various cartoon characters "doing-it" or a lame tribal design, can I still start a crumby garage band, go to house-parties that involve activities a little less mind-numbing than cow-tipping? Am I moving to Canada's equivilent of the U.S.'s midwest with a combination of homemakers that enjoy scrapbooking and kids that think huffing glue is awesome?
It's kind of a diamond in the rough actually. It has a really active and involved art scene. Same for punk music - see Propagandhi. Plus, there are a million cool places to live that you could never afford in California. Warehouses converted into loft living and stuff like that. Dunno. I've only had good experiences there, although I've never been for more than a week at at a time.
my freaky and lovely friend alex lives there, and so far no problems....but you will freeze your ass off, pack warm things have fun in the snow
Hey! I just moved to winnipeg last September(being Jessies lovley friend Alex ) Anyway, I really like it here alot. It is cold, and I'm no fan of the cold, but it's a really nice city. THere is a really good sence of community, more so then in bigger cities. And a really beautiful art and music scene also. As far not meeting cool people- if you move to any given place and cannot find cool people you are just not looking hard enough. Cities have alot of people in them. Look and you'll find whatever you what to find whereever you are living. I've met some of the most beautiful people in this city. I'm not one for staying in any given place to two long, but I'm really happy to spend a couple of years here.
well I don't know who you've been hearing what about 'The Peg' now, but I think you need to give the place a chance. Havn't been there myself but truth be told most of what I've heard about the place is good; great music scene, very interesting history and cultural background (like the french speaking neighbourhood of St Boniface) and an overall unique urban community tucked in the middle of the wilds of Manitoba. I've yet to meet a Pegger I didn't like, and I don't know how many endearing tales I've heard of the winnipeg folk festival. All and all I'd say it's a pretty excellent city to get your indoctorine to Canadian living. It sure aint california, and (as I see it) California sure ain't the praries, but maybe that's a good thing, all depends on how you look at it be sure to bundle up, and don't be startled by the friendly, and slightly less superficial, people on the street
Winnipeg is a pretty good place, I'm sure you won't be a complete fish out of water... but as you probably know, it's much colder than California. If you can live with that, then I'm sure you'll be fine.
as long as you find a heated garage you can start a crummy garage band... what do you want to know spec?
Winnipeg is probably much more hip and liberal-minded than any major city in California other than SF or Berkeley.
