They really do live differently there, especially in the provo area where the population is 90% LDS. I dont think its your typical ignorance for most of the adults, its chosen, but as its passed onto their children it tends to be as though they dont have a clue whats going on in the world around them. I can find both good and bad things about this.... but for someone in your position I can definately see how it would be frustating.
BTW i am a fairly strong beliver but currently not practicing.
I've found that its demographic, and not the majority religious belief at all.
The education system sucks because a most of the couples here insist on pumping out 6+ kids. So, Captain Obvious states that Utah is dead last on state money for education PER CHILD and has the highest child/teacher ratios in the US. NO ****?
So, rather than tell people to chill out on having kids, the education just suffers.
Most never ask "why" or "how" about things they just accept it. Utah is the "Overseas You Won A Foreign Lottery Scam" capitol of the world from what I've heard.
And the Utah accent...OMG...I almost can't understand it and I've lived here my entire life. Its a sort of slack jawed lazy drawl.
For example.
E-Mail is pronounced "aye-mell"
But the word 'meal' is pronounced 'mell' also.
If someone were to win $1,000,000 they would tell you they won 'uh mellee-yun dullerz'
Hard T's as in mounTain don't exist. Its pronounced "muh-uhn"
I'm getting more and more pissed the more I type, so I'm going to lock up and go home now.