Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Tiger Beer]

We have some other threads out there, the Florida one, the Nevada one, the Oregon one, the California one....why not 'The Michigan Thread'.

Anyone spent much time in ol' Michigan?

[Ya-ta Boy]

I drove across the UP once and then a few weeks later drove across the bottom couple of counties. It seemed like a nice enough place. While not up to the standards of SW Iowa, it was OK. What's with all the trees everywhere? I could have done without those. I also was disappointed that the highway across the UP wasn't close enough to the lake to see it.

[gotte00]

I agree, why not a Michigan thread? I was born and raised in Michigan. I love the state, it's beautiful, has great restaurants, great universities and delicious beer, BELL'S. Unforunately the state gets a bad rap for being home to Detroit. Which is still a great city and isn't nearly as dangerous as what the media makes it out to be. And as far as I know, Detroit hasn't been the murder capital of the U.S. for at least 10 years. Thanks Houston, Washington D.C., Chicago, Miami and others.

The Great Lakes State is well deserving of a thread. Come on, it's time for Spartan and Wolverine fans to unite and start talking up the State of Michigan.

[sharkey]

dont forget about michael moore

[rubric]

My elementary students keep having giggle fits when I say the name "Michigan". It must sound like a funny Korean word for something else.

[wondobern]

My home state as well. Born in Detroit, but raised in East Grand Rapids. Great memories! Being a big sports fan, still follow the teams after all these years (even the Lions, who are on their quest for the perfect season this year!!). More of a Spartan fan that UM fan -- I've had church mebers buy me UM gear, thinking I was a UM fan because I was from Michigan (wrong!!).

The beaches are clean and not overcrowded, and the UP in the summer is so nice! There's something unique about Michigan that makes it stand out from the other more bland and flat states in the midwest. More hills, more lakes, more nature, etc. Also, in my opinion, one of the cleanest states in the US (the 10 cent returnable pop cans help a bit).

And Detroit does have a bad reputation, some deserved, but most not. Some of the warmest, kindest, folks I know are from Detroit. I found it interesting that just because I lived a year in Detroit, I had instant "street cred" with the kids I worked with in South Central LA. All they wanted to hear from me were stories about 8 mile road, and the street life in Detroit. As if Detroit was so much worse than where they lived (most of them were from south Ingelwood or South Central LA, obviously not exacltly the nicest place to live, either). From my experience, the gangs in Chicago and LA are much worse than the gangs in Detroit.

Anyway, as an old Michigan slogan used to say, "thumbs up for Michigan!" Here's for better times in the Motor City as well as the rest of the State! Go Spartans! And go Lions on their quest for the perfect season (0-16 baby!! -- bring back Wayne Fontes --- the winningest Lions coach in history as well as the losingest Lions coach in history)

Also, this was mentioned before in another thread. But, I notice just as many if not more English D baseball caps worn by Koreans as NY or LA ones, etc. One time I remarked to a Korean kid in my church who had such a hat on, saying, "Hey, Detroit! That's my birthplace! Go Tigers!" But, he had no idea what I was talking about -- and not because I was talking in English. I'm assuming most Koreans would know about New York or LA, but wondering if those who are trying to wear those "fashionable" English D caps, have any idea what they mean or stand for.

[VanIslander]

had a lot of great dinners in greektown and mexicantown in detroit when i was in grad school across the river at the university of windsor

spent a new year's in pretty ann arbour michigan and there was a friggin' howlin' cold wind

always meant to travel northern michigan in the fall with all the colorful leaves i've seen pics of,... never did

am glad to get out of the chicago-to-toronto cancer alley , as it's called, of which michigan is in the middle: people simply die earlier there from all sorts of cancers

gawd did the air stink: you could smell the metal

[Tiger Beer]

[BreakfastInBed]

Born and raised. If you lived in Ann Arbor and rented movies at Liberty Street Video anytime from '97-'03 we've probably talked.

[Jubalum]

Breakfast,

I know Liberty Video well:

6 movies, 6 days, $6

(and lots of creeps in the porn section)

[pkang0202]

So, how do you feel about Rich Rodiguez? I think Michigan would've won more games with talent alone, if they just played WITHOUT a coach.

[Tiger Beer]

[nate2008]

I lived in Michigan for twelve years and hated nearly every minute. The weather is crap with the exception of a few nice weeks in spring, the roads are crap (thanks to the weather), the cities are boring, the capital (Lansing) is a shithole, Detroit is an even bigger shithole, people from the UP having annoying accents and are religious fanatics (which generally tends not to matter since they almost never come down to the mainland to mingle with the commoners), and the economy is one of the worst (THE worst?) in the nation. Michigan's shittiness is the main reason I came to Korea; I just wanted to get as far away from it as possible.

The only good things about Michigan: The Detroit Red Wings, Michigan State University (U of M is a great school but the students are arrogant, socially inept douchebags for the most part, almost as bad as Ohio State University students), Summers in the Traverse City area, and southern Michigan's close proximity to the best amusement park in the country, Cedar Point (located in Ohio.)

Cheers Michigan.

[Nierlisse]

Living in Ann Arbor right now; liking it but not as much as my hometown near Grand Rapids. Michigan is beautiful (minus Detroit and also Flint) but there are definitely some bad points to it. I believe we have the highest unemployment in the country now...somewhere near 9%. Which explains why I'm about to escape to Korea...I'm also having an interesting time living in Ann Arbor when I went to State and have State stickers on my car and such. It's always fun to hear the comments, especially this year when UM's team sucks.

If the economy wasn't so bad (and the winters so terrible) I would probably stay here forever. It's definitely one of the better Midwest states. (Ohio, I'm looking at you, you dirty skank)

[wondobern]

Tigerbeer, "Thumbs up for Michigan" was the slogan before Say, Yes! to Michigan!

I agree that there is not city that I've experienced, that has as many rough areas of Detroit, as far as overall appearance and bad vibe. Really sad because you can tell that at one time it used to be a beautiful city. The homes on Oakman Blvd. were goregous back in the day.

But, even though Detoit is my birthplace, I grew up on the west side of the state. Suburban Grand Rapids was a great place to grow up as a kid, and I have many fond memories from there, although I have no desire to move back there.

The Great Lakes State still has alot going for if you look around -- nice beaches, good schools and colleges, etc. but the state's economy depends so much on the auto industry it's hurting probably more than any other state in the country right now.

By the way, as a Spartan fan, I'm obviously glad to see UM football descend to new lows this year under their new coach. They almost look "Lion-esque" at times (ok, maybe that that bad). Not so happy, my Spartans got crushed by UNC this week in hoops, though.

Like anywhere you go, how you feel about a place, depends on the people you know who live there. I've been blessed to know some standout folks in Michigan (even UM alums!).