Thoughts about New Mexico?

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coatofarms wrote:

My family thinks San Diego has a lot more economic opportunity than NM. I don't even know if that's true. I'm not even sure what that means. Nor how it applies to me.

Note that I would be an educator in the K-12 system.

I would think that b/c the NM public education system is ranked so low, the state's education system is bad/needs help, which would mean NM would have more opportunities for me.

I think you know it is a value judgement based on perceived status of each place and concern you might go a bit feral yourself. Sounds like the things that attract you to NM are because it's not so nice and safe. As a teacher, making a difference would be important to you, and good teachers would have opportunities there. It's ok to have different values to your family, just be true to yours first and foremost - not always easy, but you sound pretty adventurous and capable.

Meow Wolf, interesting. The website was a bit much for me to poke around in, so busy, and I'm nowhere near going there but yeah.

I lived in Santa Fe for ten years. Housing costs are a big problem but a part from that, it's a lovely city. You're 7000ft up (2100m), and at the foot of the mountains. If you like hiking, hunting, camping, or even exercising it's an amazing city to live in. Before I moved out, a few olympic swim teams came and took over my gym's swimming pool to train leading into the London Olympics. That high altitude gets your cardio game up a few levels. Amazing to witness when I visited family at the coasts. Same bike, just better performance on my end.

The northern part of the state is incredibly beautiful. Taos, Angel Fire, and the like are incredible. What's also amazing is how from Santa Fe, you can drive from a semi-arid climate into basically British Columbia up in the mountains. I loved hiking in the dead of winter when the snow was falling. My favorite was when it was moderately snowing, no wind, and pure quiet. That's the other thing I liked about Santa Fe. The city gets much quieter and since I lived outside of the city, light pollution is really low. The night sky is incredible. It's a lot darker at night in Santa Fe, and it gets a lot colder than people expect. I loved that.

If you visit, go find Bumble Bees just off the plaza. My favorite burrito.

Personally I wouldn't live in ABQ.

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erdelyii wrote:

I guess you could check out Sand Diego (was that intentional?) - they could pay for the expedition maybe.

Oops lol. It wasn't intentional.

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coatofarms wrote:

Thoughts about New Mexico in general?

What thoughts come to your mind when you think of New Mexico?

In El Paso TX where I live, the local rock station's morning talk show has a recurring segment called "New Mexico or Florida?" wherein call-in contestants are read a news item of "Florida Man" style wacky behavior, but with names, locations, etc unspecified, and then they have to guess whether the event occurred in, well, New Mexico or Florida. It's New Mexico about 40% of the time. So I imagine the inner reaches of NM as a place of quasi-criminal eccentrics second only to Florida, although I understand this might be a rather biased or even propagandized view.

As far as the parts bordering Texas goes, it seems pretty rustic overall. Vaguely reminiscent of Budd's trailer town in Kill Bill Vol 2. The most developed part of Sunland Park is by the casino; the public library's parking lot isn't even paved. I'd recommend a truck if you're not near a major urban center.

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coatofarms wrote:

My family thinks San Diego has a lot more economic opportunity than NM. I don't even know if that's true. I'm not even sure what that means. Nor how it applies to me.

Note that I would be an educator in the K-12 system.

I would think that b/c the NM public education system is ranked so low, the state's education system is bad/needs help, which would mean NM would have more opportunities for me.

I kind of agree with your family that San Diego would have more economic opportunity. On the other hand, it is way more expensive, so your initial start up time while organizing your life would likely be lower quality.

Some bullet points on why the public school system in NM may not have opportunities (not applicable to private schools):

Historically, local government in the south has not valued education much, especially for the poor. You may get caught up in a quagmire of low pay, large class sizes, outdated textbooks, no resources, where you are struggling just to keep the status quo versus being able to improve conditions.

Culturally, some ethnic groups don't value education or are actively against it.

New Mexico is majority Hispanic. Racism is still a thing. People being nice to tourists is different than people being nice to transplants.

Racism also applies to Castilian Spanish Hispanics (white) versus native indian/Hispanics (non-white). Check poverty demographics and history of the area to see why.



Lastly, I am making an assumption that you are male. Being a male teacher comes with its own risks, especially if you are attentive or caring of your students. Think about what opportunities exist as a second career.

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ScrotieMcB wrote:

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coatofarms wrote:

Thoughts about New Mexico in general?

What thoughts come to your mind when you think of New Mexico?

In El Paso TX where I live, the local rock station's morning talk show has a recurring segment called "New Mexico or Florida?" wherein call-in contestants are read a news item of "Florida Man" style wacky behavior, but with names, locations, etc unspecified, and then they have to guess whether the event occurred in, well, New Mexico or Florida. It's New Mexico about 40% of the time. So I imagine the inner reaches of NM as a place of quasi-criminal eccentrics second only to Florida, although I understand this might be a rather biased or even propagandized view.

As far as the parts bordering Texas goes, it seems pretty rustic overall. Vaguely reminiscent of Budd's trailer town in Kill Bill Vol 2. The most developed part of Sunland Park is by the casino; the public library's parking lot isn't even paved. I'd recommend a truck if you're not near a major urban center.

Do you remember any NM eccentric criminal stories you'd like to share? The Florida eccentric criminal stories I vaguely remember all involved a crocodile lol.

100% agree with you about getting a truck. But really, the truck would be just to fit in with the community.

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jack_aubrey wrote:

Personally I wouldn't live in ABQ.

I know it's subjective of course, but I'm curious to know why you wouldn't like to live in ABQ. Would you care to share or pm me private?

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coatofarms wrote:

100% agree with you about getting a truck. But really, the truck would be just to fit in with the community.

Trucks are great, all that tray space. You can pick up old furniture, UFO junk, your groceries, carry instruments, ten dogs, people, tools, equipment...

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FarmerTed wrote:

Historically, local government in the south has not valued education much, especially for the poor. You may get caught up in a quagmire of low pay, large class sizes, outdated textbooks, no resources, where you are struggling just to keep the status quo versus being able to improve conditions.

I do think Ted's post is worth keeping in mind, especially as a counter to all the optimistic and positive posts and if you're leaning towards heading there. Pick a school that's doing well (relatively), with positive culture despite, unless you are especially experienced and chill with working in a broken system.

I didn't quote all of it, as in the end what each person makes of a place comes down to subjective ideas and values, but it's worth a read over. I mean, what one person considers broken down, another may see something else entirely.

But being overly cavalier is never wise. Suss out the schools cultures at interview really well!

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jack_aubrey wrote:

I lived in Santa Fe for ten years...

The northern part of the state is incredibly beautiful. Taos, Angel Fire, and the like are incredible. What's also amazing is how from Santa Fe, you can drive from a semi-arid climate into basically British Columbia up in the mountains. I loved hiking in the dead of winter when the snow was falling. My favorite was when it was moderately snowing, no wind, and pure quiet. That's the other thing I liked about Santa Fe. The city gets much quieter and since I lived outside of the city, light pollution is really low. The night sky is incredible. It's a lot darker at night in Santa Fe, and it gets a lot colder than people expect. I loved that.

I had a look at Angel Fire. Most of the pics were of the ski resort, but it must be beautiful all around. Those birches! (are they?)!

Being outside on a still day when it's snowing is one of the most beautiful sounds and feelings on earth. Haven't experienced it many times here, maybe makes it all the more memorable.

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erdelyii wrote:

I do think Ted's post is worth keeping in mind, especially as a counter to all the optimistic and positive posts and if you're leaning towards heading there. Pick a school that's doing well (relatively), with positive culture despite, unless you are especially experienced and chill with working in a broken system.

I didn't quote all of it, as in the end what each person makes of a place comes down to subjective ideas and values, but it's worth a read over. I mean, what one person considers broken down, another may see something else entirely.

But being overly cavalier is never wise. Suss out the schools cultures at interview really well!

FarmerTed's post was excellent. Very informative. He mentioned things in that post I wasn't aware of.

I sent him a PM last night in regard to that post.

You are right about how some families/cultures don't value education. I'm tutoring this college-age student right now. And I honestly feel like I'm wasting my time. A 1-hour session is almost no time to understand anything. We aren't really spending any time together trying to understand the concepts. Instead, I'm just trying to do the student's homework as quickly as possible. In other words I'm a fucking homework machine. I don't want to be a homework machine. What I am doing right now is not meaningful.

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coatofarms wrote:

FarmerTed's post was excellent. Very informative. He mentioned things in that post I wasn't aware of.

I sent him a PM last night in regard to that post.

Great :)

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coatofarms wrote:

You are right about how some families/cultures don't value education. I'm tutoring this college-age student right now. And I honestly feel like I'm wasting my time. A 1-hour session is almost no time to understand anything. We aren't really spending any time together trying to understand the concepts. Instead, I'm just trying to do the student's homework as quickly as possible. In other words I'm a fucking homework machine. I don't want to be a homework machine. What I am doing right now is not meaningful.

Farmer Ted said that. I think some families don't value it, it's not something I'd say about entire cultures.

That sounds frustrating for you, and that you value hard work and inquiry, that actual teaching brings meaning to your experience. Is it a time factor or that the student just doesn't want to do the work? Both, I'm guessing, because the parents aren't paying you for 3x hours' sessions, right? Results are all that matter, to reach end goal of X, which isn't about learning at all.

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erdelyii wrote:

Farmer Ted said that. I think some families don't value it, it's not something I'd say about entire cultures.

I think that is because you don't live in the US. We have regions where ignorance is a badge of honor. It is not everybody, but it is pervasive.

I suppose if the study of superstition and mysticism can be counted as education, then you would be right, and I shouldn't say it about cultures.

Edit: I realize this was kind of a glib response and deserves a much more nuanced answer. Let me just say that I work at a science company where I am pretty sure a large portion of the employees are unaware of what science is.