Is Portland an open, welcoming city?

[akana]

I know Portland has a reputation for being a bit pretentious, maybe a little pleased with itself. Maybe I’m just basing that on watching Portlandia. Would residents say that’s an open place, where a foreigner can fit in and feel welcome and at home?

[haneefmubarak]

Portland is hyper welcoming. While born and raised here, my parents (who were from Asia) moved here about a year prior to my birth and I meet many people living here from abroad each day as I take the transit.

There are subcommunities of virtually every background, whether race, ethnicity, occupation, or interest spread out all over Portland. These can make it welcoming for anyone who visits or moves here.

As for the pretention, I'd say that's more on a personal level for a lot of the hipsters in the city proper. Even then, almost everyone is polite and happy to help you find your way if you get lost (as long as you don't cross to the bad portions of the city, but every city has those). Most of the people you meet will be friendly and courteous, especially if you're a foreigner from Asia or Europe.

[Sean_Canton]

Generally no. You are free to be whatever you want, but don't expect to find open arms everywhere you go. There aren't many foreigners here, even the Californians are made to feel uncomfortable. I would not call it a tourist town or especially hospitable.

The cultural niche that portlandia promotes is largely being marginalized due to excessive costs, so while the bearded urban rabbit farmer does still exist, they have mostly been priced out to the suburbs and have been replaced with economic refugees from elsewhere in the country who are attracted to the relative inexpensiveness, but that is changing.

[Cameron_Jones]

Portlandia exaggerates that trait, but it's definitely a place that's a little self-absorbed.

I have found the people to be friendly in general and would not expect you to feel unwelcome due to being a foreigner at all.

[Marc_Bunny_Mondhasch]

I've seen all the Miyazaki movies and wonder if you would compare your experiences in Japan with those movies. Are you all really that whimsical and environmentally conscious?