tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055884776830576708.post5632404533226490678..comments2011-02-08T21:50:40.482-06:00Comments on Looking at Life Through Lard Colored Glasses: My rant.-Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424656135715276571noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1055884776830576708.post-32284144947153220152010-07-07T22:18:34.156-05:002010-07-07T22:18:34.156-05:00-A
Take a deep breath. Relax. I'm from Kansas...-A<br /><br />Take a deep breath. Relax. I'm from Kansas City and graduated from UMKC many years ago. BA, '73, MA, '77.<br /><br />I haven't lived in KC for 30 years, but my wife and I have family in the city and surrounding area.<br /><br />First. Do what you think is right. You've checked out your options and your thoughts are this will work for you. After all, you have to live with your decisions.<br /><br />Some thoughts from a KC native. The bus service at least from the 1960's on has been minimal (please check the current schedules to see what current service is like). So if you have to catch the bus, you might want to live some place where you only have to catch one bus and not have to transfer.<br /><br />Downtown is not at all far from UMKC. But again, check the current bus schedules to find out how long it would take you to go from there to UMKC in the morning and in the late afternoon or evening.<br /><br />Just a thought. As a grad student you might want to live as close to the university as you can. During my grad school years I found the closeness to be extremely convenient. It allows you to hop back and forth between home and campus with ease.<br /><br />Check out the areas around UMKC, the KC Art Institute, Rockhurst University, Westport, the neighborhoods between the Plaza and Westport, and the Union Hill area (around 31st and Main) for apartments to live in.<br /><br />Kansas is an interesting city, but a lot of people who live there, especially those who are from there, need to get out more. <br /><br />The comments of the two people you describe are somewhat indicative of a lot of "sheltered people" who live in metro KC. But, but..if you get out and about you'll find a lot of interesting people doing stuff that's interesting. But you'll have to get out and find them.<br /><br />Fortunately today, your generation has a lot of tech tools to help you do that.<br /><br />So go for it. Whether you choose KC or some place else, do your homework and make the best choice for you.<br /><br />One more thing. You sound like someone who likes cities. One BIG mistake I made when I went to work on my doctorate, was I chose a program at a big university in a TINY town. I was never happy there. Graduate school, much more than the undergraduate years, is about academics and your ADULT time away from class.<br /><br />So if you like cities, you'll probably want to go to graduate school in a city of some size that will give you options.<br /><br />Just my 2 cents. Hope it helps. I know the feeling.consultanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06212860754280555647noreply@blogger.com