6 Things You Should Know Before Moving to the Midwest

America's heartland, the Midwest, is home to a lot of great and friendly people. It can be a great place to live, but there are some things that you should know before making your big move.

The Weather

Weather in the Midwest can often be quite temperamental. One day it will be sunny and warm, and the next day it will be windy and raining. Summers are usually really nice; it can get hot, but not too hot to take a walk in the sun, and rain never stays for more than a few days. Winters, however, can be harsh. While some are worse than others, winters often see extreme cold and dangerous roads. However, if you like a snowy Christmas, winter in the Midwest is not all that bad.

The Sports

Sports in the Midwest are no laughing matter. Football and baseball are taken especially seriously. In Illinois, fall time means bringing out the old orange and blue Chicago Bears gear and waiting for the game on Sunday. The same can be said for Packers fans in Wisconsin and Vikings fans in Minnesota. Big teams draw faithful crowds, and rivalries run deep. Which brings me to another point: the Cubs/Cardinals rivalry is no joke. Once you have picked a side, you've picked a side for life.

Yes, Local Sports, Too

Local sports are often taken as seriously as national sports, especially in small towns. You will see a whole lot of high school team gear around, especially for football, volleyball, and basketball teams. People take their hometown teams seriously. This does lead to a decent amount of injuries, though, but all that means is that physical therapy jobs in Michigan, Indiana, and other states offer are valued even higher than in other parts of the country, and you will see plenty of physical therapy centers, even in smaller towns.

Speaking of Small Towns...

While there are large cities like Chicago and Detroit in the Midwest, much of the landscape is dominated by small towns. The people there are often nice and friendly with a heavy focus on the family first. Small town America is charming in ways that you would not expect, and always leaves you feeling at home. Once you've lived in a small town in the Midwest, living in a big city will feel a bit like visiting Mars.

The Food

Ever had tater tot casserole? Well, once you move to the Midwest, it will become inevitable. Midwesterners love carbs. Potatoes are especially a favorite in the region, and in general people believe that cheese makes every dish better. However, even if you do not want a home cooked meal, the Midwest offers a lot of great food\. Immigrants from all over the world come to small towns and big cities alike in the Midwest to open up restaurants offering all sorts of authentic cuisines. And if all else fails, nearly every town in the Midwest has an unheard of one-off pizza place that locals swear up and down will serve you the best pizza you've ever had.

The Families

There are few places in the world better to raise a family than in the Midwest. Many towns in the Midwest boast low crime rates, great school systems, and overall wholesome family environments. Children raised in the Midwest oftentimes never leave, and for good reason. There are not many places better to lay down roots than the Midwest. Children there find great friends and plenty of activities to keep them busy. If you want to have a family day, go to one of the countless parks, fairs, or museums and spend the day there. All in all, the Midwest is a great place to live.