i'll put this to the mellow fellows (and fems)

[Sk3tchyD4ZO]

since y'all are probably better traveled than most of the 'hooka, i've got some questions. currently, i live in good ol' New Hampshire, and it's great, i love the place, everything about it just about. but i've been here for 20 years now, and i'm bored. i've (not-so-)recently decided to attend UTI (Universal Technical Institute) for mechanic training. they have 10 campuses in various parts of the states, including one about an hour and a half south, in Mass. well, i've decided (separately) that whatever i do, i need to go someplace other than new england. i'd like to not have a winter for a while, but i could live with a milder one.

anyway, this weekend, i went with my dad to Phoenix (the main UTI campus), Sacramento and Exton (just NW of Philly) to check out the campuses and the areas. i'm at the point where basically, i just need to decide where i want to spend the next year of my life (or more). i liked all three areas, i have family in NJ, and Exton is very similar (which is why i'd suffer the milder, shorter winter). has anybody lived in these areas or stayed for an extended amount of time in them? what is your input about the areas? mind i did just go to them in the middle of summer, so i know that Pheonix is hhoooooot and dry and Sac is similar. but what is living there actually like?

it's been narrowed to these three places, because Chicago sucks in Winter, Orlando is a small campus and is full till April (i'm starting late Jan), Mass is too close/similar and No. Carolina is NASCAR based (which i hate). the last is unfortunate because that would be a prime location, as my dad has a friend real close (like 10 min) and i have a friend near Charleston (about 4 hrs i guess), and the climate i think would be prime for what i'm looking for, but hey, curriculum comes before people known. i really liked all three (like i said) but i'm leaning towards Phoenix because it's got an elective i want and a couple other percs, but i'd like some input from people who have stayed in the areas.

thanks for reading if you did, if not, the middle paragraph is the important one.

[grieves]

Go to California... anything you would ever want to do is inside the state...

[AlteredStateGrl]

Originally Posted by Mя. Gяiєvєs

Go to California... anything you would ever want to do is inside the state...

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What specifically do you want to know about Sac Sk3tchyD4ZO?

[let_it_grow]

Well, I'll just say this: Philly winters have been getting longer and colder. I'm not complaining, but I'm thinking maybe an extreme change is what you're looking for. Go for the heat, Phoenix would be nice, but I gotta go with Sacramento; closer to the ocean.

[Jimmy Coonan]

Originally Posted by let_it_grow

Well, I'll just say this: Philly winters have been getting longer and colder.

Quick, somebody call the White House!!! We've finally found the evidence they've been looking for that global warming isn't real.

[Sk3tchyD4ZO]

Originally Posted by AlteredStateGrl

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What specifically do you want to know about Sac Sk3tchyD4ZO?

anything. what's it like to live there, how are the people, the cops, etc. politics don't really matter to me. i realize it's the capitol, but w/e. what kind of stuff is there to do? basically it's gunna be a year of full time school, and at least part time work, so i'm not going to have much free time, but i don't want what i will have to go to waste. one thing i like about Phoenix--and i don't know if this is possible in Sac, so let me know--is i'll be able to ride a motorcycle 360+ days a year.

it sounds like y'all are leaning towards Sac, which tips it a little. i was thinking Phoenix because it has a BMW elective i want to take, and Factory Five Racing (they make kit cars) donated a few to 5 of the campuses and they built and competed them, Phoenix being one. also, Nicholas Cage has a nephew i think, going through the program, so he donated his Ford GT to the Phoenix campus.

[Sk3tchyD4ZO]

bump. come on, no body has any input about these cities?

[Mental]

I grew up around the Phx area. If you go there, get ready to visit Mill Ave a lot as that's were most of the "campus parties" are. Also, realize Phx is hot and sunny. We have 2 distinct seasons, Hot and Hotter. You'll likely never see snow around here, but you will also never have to worry about driving in shitty weather.

The nightlife/bars/clubs are pretty good, and there's quite a few some in Scottsdale some in Phx and some in Chandler. Make sure you're able to drive as the public transportation here kinda blows, but we're getting a tramline through the center of Phx which should be done in I believe 2010?

Realize I've lived in Az for 25ish years and while I absolutely hate it here (much the same reason you hate where you live, lack of anything different), once you live here awhile you never really want to leave. The cops aren't generally bad, and pretty much adhere to the "if we can't see it we won't really look that hard for it."

If you have any other questions, either post them up here, or pop me a PM I'll do my best to answer any Az questions.