[Londoner]

I am English, 34 and I'm in the USA solo for for 1-week mid October. I'm going to be spending that time in West Virginia, but I am not sure where yet.

I have heard good things about Morgantown but I am not sure of

1) How I will be greeted as an English guy with London accent?

2) If being 34 (look 30-31) is too old to game the WVU crowd?

3) Why the hotels are so damn expensive mid October!?

Any advice is very welcome and appreciated, thanks!

[ms224]

I've only been there once for buisness but its a college town.

End of october is probably homecoming, basically a big football drunkfest.

Its probably far safer then most any place in England, unless you are susceptible to alcohol poisoning.

No idea on no2 but no one will kill you if you try.
Use the London accent to help you.

Ignore all the WV jokes, its a pretty nice place with lots of Appalachian outdoorsy stuff to do.

[Jagnum]

Yes.

[Hypno]

Place is safe but insular. Helps if you are white.

If WVU has a home football game, those hotels were reserved a year in advance.

Morgantown is not large but its the unofficial capital of a very rural, depressed region. They used to mine coal in WV.

Most people hunt, drive pick up trucks, etc. Polar opposite of Miami.

They have an odd tradition of celebrating/rioting by burning old sofas in an intersection. As close as you'll come to America's version of hooligans, although closer to salt-of-the-earth than bad seeds.

Get yourself some flannel shirts and outdoor clothes made by Carhart.

For fun, watch the film Deliverance. Its a little bit exaggerated but you'll get the gist.

[Londoner]

Cheers. I have just checked and the Friday I arrive (13 October) is the Homecoming football game -- which explains why the hotels and airbnb's are sold out or insanely expensive for that weekend -- maybe it's best to stay clear of Morgantown for the first weekend and head there from Sunday onwards instead.

I appreciate the advice, why flannel shirts and outdoor clothes made by Carhart?

(09-05-2017 05:24 AM)Hypno Wrote:  

Place is safe but insular. Helps if you are white.

If WVU has a home football game, those hotels were reserved a year in advance.

Morgantown is not large but its the unofficial capital of a very rural, depressed region. They used to mine coal in WV.

Most people hunt, drive pick up trucks, etc. Polar opposite of Miami.

They have an odd tradition of celebrating/rioting by burning old sofas in an intersection. As close as you'll come to America's version of hooligans, although closer to salt-of-the-earth than bad seeds.

Get yourself some flannel shirts and outdoor clothes made by Carhart.

For fun, watch the film Deliverance. Its a little bit exaggerated but you'll get the gist.

[Hypno]

People in WV are nice but a bit insular. They don't like people who think they are better than them, so you want to avoid giving that impression.

As for clothes, they value function over style, so ironically quality clothes like Carhart are in style. Not the place to be a posh tosser.

As for lodgings, Pittsburg is a large city an hour or two away with likely plenty of hotel rooms.

Sorry if I sound negative. WV is actually a wonderful place, just a little different. And they will love an English accent and won't care if its upper crust or cockneye - its all the same to us yanks.

[Londoner]

Thank you that's exactly the kind of heads-up that's really appreciated. Not everyone from London is posh, as I am not, but I do understand that normal everyday behaviours or expectations on way of life etc can be seen differently in different parts of the world.

(09-05-2017 05:47 AM)Hypno Wrote:  

People in WV are nice but a bit insular. They don't like people who think they are better than them, so you want to avoid giving that impression.

As for clothes, they value function over style, so ironically quality clothes like Carhart are in style. Not the place to be a posh tosser.

As for lodgings, Pittsburg is a large city an hour or two away with likely plenty of hotel rooms.

Sorry if I sound negative. WV is actually a wonderful place, just a little different. And they will love an English accent and won't care if its upper crust or cockneye - its all the same to us yanks.

[DirectDanger]

(09-05-2017 05:37 AM)Londoner Wrote:  

Cheers. I have just checked and the Friday I arrive (13 October) is the Homecoming football game

If you have never experienced the spectacle of an America college football game day then do it! You don't even have to go to the game, just all the events surrounding it are just as fun. Tons of people tailgating and having a good time.

You will be a novelty with your accent. As long as you are friendly you will be welcomed with open arms.

You should go.

[heavy]

(09-05-2017 09:08 AM)DirectDanger Wrote:  

(09-05-2017 05:37 AM)Londoner Wrote:  

Cheers. I have just checked and the Friday I arrive (13 October) is the Homecoming football game

If you have never experienced the spectacle of an America college football game day then do it! You don't even have to go to the game, just all the events surrounding it are just as fun. Tons of people tailgating and having a good time.

You will be a novelty with your accent. As long as you are friendly you will be welcomed with open arms.

You should go.

I second that. A really fun atmosphere.

Meet people, they'll hear your accent. You'll be a novelty.

With the accent and your age, you'll have fun if you want to.

[Cattle Rustler]

(09-05-2017 05:47 AM)Hypno Wrote:  

As for clothes, they value function over style, so ironically quality clothes like Carhart are in style. Not the place to be a posh tosser.

Not directed at you Hypno, but Carhart is a posh brand when it comes to hillbilly wear. It's used to denote social status or rather, "Look at me, I can afford the best". The lesser folks have to wear knock-off brands, or stuff from Walmart/Goodwill.

Kinda how like people say F-250s are function over style like a 5-Series....but it's a Platinum F-250 with all the bells and whistles instead of the vinyl bench seats/floors.

Edit: You'll have a great time in Morgantown, I know a couple of folks from Copahagen that did study-abroad there and they loved it.

[scotian]

(09-05-2017 11:07 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  

(09-05-2017 05:47 AM)Hypno Wrote:  

As for clothes, they value function over style, so ironically quality clothes like Carhart are in style. Not the place to be a posh tosser.

Not directed at you Hypno, but Carhart is a posh brand when it comes to hillbilly wear. It's used to denote social status or rather, "Look at me, I can afford the best". The lesser folks have to wear knock-off brands, or stuff from Walmart/Goodwill.

Kinda how like people say F-250s are function over style like a 5-Series....but it's a Platinum F-250 with all the bells and whistles instead of the vinyl bench seats/floors.

Edit: You'll have a great time in Morgantown, I know a couple of folks from Copahagen do study-abroad there and they loved it.

My Carhartt fire resistant hoodie cost $250!

OP I say go for it, partying in small town America is a great time!

[puckerman]

(09-05-2017 05:47 AM)Hypno Wrote:  

People in WV are nice but a bit insular. They don't like people who think they are better than them, so you want to avoid giving that impression.

This is right on the money. People from West Virginia badmouth the state all the time. But if anyone else says anything bad, heaven help them. The surest way to piss West Virginia people off is to call the state Virginia. You are a foreigner, so you will be a novelty to them.

You take a lot of kids who grow up very naive, then you put them into a big university. Some of them get overwhelmed. The school has earned a reputation for being a party school. But it's also the best option for in-state kids who can't afford anything that would be called elite. You can party hard there and can get some good schooling. The area also has some techie stuff--more than anywhere else in the state.

I was born and raised in the state and have been to Mountaineer Field many times. University sports are one thing that brings the whole state together.

West Virginia girls are wonderful in many ways. They are lot less made up than girls elsewhere. They tend to have better attitudes and don't think much about feminism and other bullshit. They like men. You might even meet a girl who has fired a rifle.

+

[Svoboda]

OP is this trip inspired by the Brit going to the States (I think Wisconsin) in the movie Love Actually?

[Londoner]

Thank you guys, really appreciate this insight! Just about to grab my ticket for the game too, looking forward to it.

(09-06-2017 02:07 AM)Svoboda Wrote:  

OP is this trip inspired by the Brit going to the States (I think Wisconsin) in the movie Love Actually?

Haha! No, I've done the big cities, NY, Chitown etc and now I want to explore the delights of smaller-town America. Also, my accent wasn't really a novelty in the more diverse cities, so I am looking forward to experiencing that

[ms224]

Dude, as a foreigner in Appalachia, see if you can get some of the locals to take you shooting and 4x4 wheeling.

Ask maybe on hometown forum of ar15.com (largest gun forum)
or pirate 4x4?

A couple of hundred dollars of ammo and diesel will definitely be an experience.

Gun people love to take foreigners shooting because afterwards all the gun control brainwashing falls right off.

Ammo is super cheap now too btw (thanks Trump!)

See if you can hike some trails, I seem to recall there are some waterfalls in the area?

Defiantly go to the football game if you are there (this might be dangerous though, alcohol poisoning and all....)

As a side question, have you ever been to a place with dark skies, where you can see the milky way?

[Hypno]

(09-09-2017 11:48 PM)ms224 Wrote:  

Dude, as a foreigner in Appalachia, see if you can get some of the locals to take you shooting and 4x4 wheeling.

Ask maybe on hometown forum of ar15.com (largest gun forum)
or pirate 4x4?

A couple of hundred dollars of ammo and diesel will definitely be an experience.

Gun people love to take foreigners shooting because afterwards all the gun control brainwashing falls right off.

Ammo is super cheap now too btw (thanks Trump!)

See if you can hike some trails, I seem to recall there are some waterfalls in the area?

Defiantly go to the football game if you are there (this might be dangerous though, alcohol poisoning and all....)

As a side question, have you ever been to a place with dark skies, where you can see the milky way?

Solid advice.

Also, if you are there in the summer there is some world class white water rafting.

[Vaun]

WVU is a massive party school, so if you like mixing with college kids that could be fun. Truthfully I'd rent a mountain bike and cruise around the trails, and maybe hit up some college bars.

[DirectDanger]

Londoner....

Did you go? Tell us your experience.