Relocating / Anyone familiar with Kinston, NC?

[bgeno]

So, my girlfriend and I have been talking over the past few months about where we want to spend the rest of our lives. North Carolina came up since it has nice whether, has beaches, and generally has a better job outlook than Pittsburgh right now.

We looked into relocating seriously about a month ago until I realized how hard it was going to be for me to find an entry level job without having a NC address, and I really didn't want to move without a job. That would be VERY difficult financially and would be an overall dumb move. So, I kind of pushed it aside and figured I would pretty much be staying in Pittsburgh for a while.

Well, my girlfriend, who is graduating in May with an Early Ed and Special Ed degree, went to a career fair near Pittsburgh today and had a really good interview with a school district in North Carolina. They did everything but offer her a job. They want her to apply for a job at the school district and to come visit and tour a few of the facilities. They were REALLY interested in having her teach there (Special Ed degrees are like GOLD in education nowadays). The school district is the Lenoir County Public School District.

At first, I was a little weary. I didn't know where I fit in to all of this. I have a job lined up at home (just waiting on the official offer), and I know how hard it is going to be to get a job without a NC address and, like I said, I don't want to move down there without a job.

Then, it hit me--I can just transfer to North Carolina within the company I'm currently working for. I got a job last summer at a Sheetz convenience store near home in order to hold me over until I could find a job to use my B.A., but I haven't had much luck. Well, there are four Sheetz store within an hour or so of where the the school district offices are in Kinston, NC. So, my thought it that I can transfer down there and look for a job while working at Sheetz, and we can get housing somewhere between Kinston and Greenville, where the Sheetz stores are located.

So, it seems like this is really coming together. We are taking a trip in a few weekends to visit the school and hopefully my girlfriend can get a job offer so we can re-locate.



I'm curious how many other OS'ers have relocated and what advice you might have.


Also, anyone familiar with Lenoir County, NC, or Kinston, NC: What might you be able to tell me about the area? I know the crime rate is much higher than what I'm living in now in rural PA, but I think I can deal with it. What are some nicer communities between Greenville and Kinston? Thanks.

[ChampN252]

Re: Relocating / Anyone familiar with Kinston, NC?

it's a nice little bimp on the map with plenty of stores, business and restaunts. They have a nice size hospital, plenty of schools and a pretty good community college. You're right on the crime thing. We got some real wanna be gangsta down here, but stay off the wrong streets and you'll be fine. I've lived in the Greenville/Snow Hill/Kinston area all my life and never had a problem with any of that. If you're into car shows like me, they have plenty are their fairgrounds. I don't know if there are any coming up. I'm not sure on the communities, because there are so many. You should enjoy your stay if you can find a decent job. Work is a little hard to find down here. I taking NA1 classes now, one of the few things that hiring like crazy in this area. Got an AS degree in computer networking, but no luck. I may dump the computer thing completely and try to became a nurse or doctor. In short, this area is big for medical people.

[TarHeelMan]

Re: Relocating / Anyone familiar with Kinston, NC?

Yes, healthcare is a big thing down here. I work for one of the bigger CROs (Contract Research Organization) down here, and clinical research is a field I would encourage someone to look into. Plus the community colleges are offering courses in it, which you could use to transfer to a program in the UNC system if you are so inclined.

[bgeno]

Re: Relo***ing / Anyone familiar with Kinston, NC?

Thanks a lot for the replies, guys. My degree is nowhere near the medical field, so that doesn't help me a whole lot, but it is interesting.

You should enjoy your stay if you can find a decent job. Work is a little hard to find down here.

I'm not overly concerned with finding work. I can transfer in my company, no problem. And, from the sounds of it, I can even get promoted and make a decent salary because my company is so starved for management in North Carolina. I was offered a promotion in PA but I declined. I don't need the money while I'm living with my parents... and managing a store really has nothing to do with my degree. But if I'm on my own (with my girlfriend) in N.C., I'm gonna need the money, so I would have to consider it.

It seems like the Kinston/Greenville area isn't a bad one to live in.

I'm really starting to get excited... lol

[bgeno]

Re: Relo***ing / Anyone familiar with Kinston, NC?

Just wanted to check back in and see if anyone can offer any advice...


So, my girlfriend and I are moving along on our relocation to North Carolina. We visited last weekend (yes, during the tornadoes... lol), and we want to make the move even more.

My girlfriend had meetings with two school principals and dropped off a few resumes at some other local schools. We checked out the Greenville/Winterville/Kinston area on Friday and Saturday and it was pretty much what I expected: lots of beautiful, growing areas and lots of run-down areas. We couldn't get over how close the more sketchy, crime-ridden areas are to some of the newer, safer communities. From what I understand, though, that's just how a lot of cities are in the south.

Greenville/Winterville really impressed us. It is growing right now and has some terrific rental opportunities as well as PLENTY of places to shop, eat, etc. We were leaning toward living in Greenville, but this pretty much sealed it for us. Kinston wasn't as impressive, but the neighborhood north of rt. 258 was nice. However, it doesn't have many rental opportunities and we're really not ready to buy, especially since we don't know if we'll actually like living down there and may have to re-locate back north after a year.

I'm pretty much sold on moving up in the company I work for. They wanted to promote me a few months ago, but I declined because it has nothing to do with my degree. However, I'm starting to get frustrated with the difficulty of getting a job in broadcasting/communications, and I have the opportunity to latch on to a terrific, growing company with many opportunities down south. If I test and interview well, I can get an assistant manager position with the opportunity to move up (I know a lot of companies claim they promote from within for PR reasons, but my company honestly makes a VERY conscious effort to do so, and I think I can take advantage of that). It's not what I always saw myself doing, but I can see myself doing it now.

We actually might move down before my girlfriend even gets a job offer. If I can secure a salaried position, we can probably afford the move. Plus, we're 85% sure she'll get an offer. If she doesn't, she can be a substitute teacher until she does can an offer. But schools down there love the credentials of teaching candidates from PA (state schools here require more of their education students then down there), so I'm confident she can land a job at some point.


This relocation is looking more and more realistic every day.

Has anyone else relocated--generally or specifically from the north to the south--that can offer some advice on the transition?

Thanks.


P.S. I got BBQ are the Skylight Inn in Ayden... DELICIOUS!

[Marino]

Re: Relocating / Anyone familiar with Kinston, NC?

I cant really help much since I don't know Eastern NC all that well, but Greenville is pretty cool. Been there once for a football game. East Carolina University (or as I call it EZU) is located there and you won't be to far away from the beach.

There are plenty of nice cities around there if you want to check those out as well such as Fayetteville, Wilmington and the Triangle area (Raleigh/Chapel Hill/Durham).

Sorry I can't be as much help, but the closer to Charlotte you get, feel free to ask me, I have more expertise to that part of the state.

[bgeno]

Re: Relocating / Anyone familiar with Kinston, NC?

I cant really help much since I don't know Eastern NC all that well, but Greenville is pretty cool. Been there once for a football game. East Carolina University (or as I call it EZU) is located there

Yeah, there were plenty of ECU logos abound and lots of students in the area.

and you won't be to far away from the beach.

Yeah, we like that the coast is so close. I think the outer banks and Wilmington are both a 2 1/2 hour drive from Greenville. And Myrtle Beach isn't incredibly far.

There are plenty of nice cities around there if you want to check those out as well such as Fayetteville, Wilmington and the Triangle area (Raleigh/Chapel Hill/Durham).

I've heard terrific things about the Triangle. My girlfriend can't seem to get many replies from schools in that area, though. She's got an "in" right now with Lenoir County, I'd say, so we're sticking with that one.

Thanks for the reply!

[areobee401]

Re: Relocating / Anyone familiar with Kinston, NC?

I give you credit making the move. I wish your girlfriend an you the best of luck. Big step that hopefully pays off at the end for you two.

Good for you

[DXZeke]

Re: Relocating / Anyone familiar with Kinston, NC?

bgeno,

My family relocated from Western Massachusetts in 98 down to Raleigh, NC. It's the best move we've made and the place that we've liked the most after living in about 8 other places before that.

There's lots of good small cities and places in this state. Where you'll be moving to is a really nice area.

The biggest thing is just getting everything sorted, packed, and moved. Then getting into a place when you're down there and then unpacked and sorted.

My parents rented a house for a year before we finally settled on a house they wanted to live in for many more years. That way we had a feel for the area and which spots in Raleigh we liked the most.

So if you can rent for a year that will give you enough time to figure out where you'll want to keep renting at location wise in that area.

Beyond that. MOVE MOVE MOVE!!!

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Relocating / Anyone familiar with Kinston, NC?

I've been trying to look for jobs in NC also, but no dice. Argh....it's really a place I'm interested in.

[bgeno]

Re: Relocating / Anyone familiar with Kinston, NC?

Well, I've got a job waiting for me in Greenville, and it's looking very likely that my girlfriend and I will be re-locating to North Carolina.

She hasn't gotten a teaching job yet, but we are still holding out hope. And if she doesn't, she can transfer within the company she works for now without any problems.


We took our second visit on Thursday/Friday so I could interview for the position and we could scout the area more. My girlfriend also dropped off some resumes at some local schools.

It's pretty surreal that this is actually coming together.

We'll likely be moving in 3 months or so. I am going to train for my new position at home and then re-locate and assume my position after I'm done training. However, if my girlfriend gets a teaching job, we'll be moving as soon as necessary.

We still have to find an apartment, but it seems unnecessary to look so far in advance, especially since we can't exactly go see what they look like right now and we're not going to move into a place before having seen it.

[8]

Re: Relocating / Anyone familiar with Kinston, NC?

A couple things, especially since you're coming from PA. If it snows the tiniest bit (or ice) everything shuts down, don't even try to go on the roads because it's insane. You may not have too much of a problem with that since you're a little further east. One other thing just to think about in order to be prepared is Hurricanes. Luckily since my wife and I moved down here we haven't had one but we will sooner or later. With all the tall pine trees down here power goes out a lot during storms.

[bkfount]

Re: Relocating / Anyone familiar with Kinston, NC?

A couple things, especially since you're coming from PA. If it snows the tiniest bit (or ice) everything shuts down, don't even try to go on the roads because it's insane. You may not have too much of a problem with that since you're a little further east. One other thing just to think about in order to be prepared is Hurricanes. Luckily since my wife and I moved down here we haven't had one but we will sooner or later. With all the tall pine trees down here power goes out a lot during storms.

I used to live in Greenville, and it seemed like the streets flooded every time it rained.

[Knight165]

Re: Relocating / Anyone familiar with Kinston, NC?

I'm actually getting close to retiring and I myself have been looking at western North Carolina or southwest Tennessee.
Asheville or Johnson city areas.
Any thoughts on those areas from guys who have lived.

M.K.
Knight165

[bgeno]

Re: Relocating / Anyone familiar with Kinston, NC?

A couple things, especially since you're coming from PA. If it snows the tiniest bit (or ice) everything shuts down, don't even try to go on the roads because it's insane. You may not have too much of a problem with that since you're a little further east. One other thing just to think about in order to be prepared is Hurricanes. Luckily since my wife and I moved down here we haven't had one but we will sooner or later. With all the tall pine trees down here power goes out a lot during storms.

When you say to be prepared for hurricanes, what do you mean?

I certainly didn't forget about the hurricanes when considering the move. They just seem like something you just have to live with when you're near the east coast.

Do you mean that I should literally be prepared with candles, flashlights, food, etc.? Or just mentally prepared... lol?