Boston vs Austin? Relocating from Israel to the US with two kids
We know a lot of Israeli immigrants in the US. But I know they will not teach me about what’s best for my kids. How would they know? They are new to the US also. And our intention is definitely to optimize for our kids.
My husband’s parents immigrated from Russia to Israel when he was 6.
They had no idea how to make good decisions for their kids, and they made many mistakes.
But they did get the school thing right – they sent all kids to the best magnet private school in Haifa – and that decision paved Ilia’s way into the best possible route.
I want to do the same for our kids. We have friends in Boston and Austin. Can you help us choose where to go?
The biggest difference between Austin and Boston will be for your kids. Adults who immigrate to the US retain their culture of their country of origin. But their kids are American. So the issue is, do you want your kids to be Americans from Texas or Americans from Massachusetts. To recent immigrants the different is almost invisible, but to natives the difference is huge.
In Austin and Boston the laws, philosophies and funding are completely different. That will affect your children, but not you and your husband. Your daughters are getting to the age where their peers have way more influence on them than their parents.
You are choosing whether you want your daughters to grow up like kids from Westlake or Newton. Westlake is more flashy. Newton has great special needs services. Both cities have economies around academia and tech. And both cities have strong Jewish populations. It might just come down to weather for you. Austin will feel more familiar to you. Boston weather will be cold and unpredicatable.
I’m posting your question in mailbag. Maybe other people will chime in about Boston vs Austin.
Penelope