Tell me about Texas!
 

Hi there,
I'm sure that there are a number of Texans on this board, so I hope that you can share with me a bit about Texas. I'm interested in living and working in the USA. While California "calls" to me, I am also very interested in Texas. I don't know why, but as a Canadian, Texas has always had some sort of a "mystique" for me!

Mind you, I have never been to Texas, so I'm curious as to whether the reality would live up to the romantic pre-conception that I have in my mind!

I'm interested in Austin, Dallas and Houston (in that order). I've also heard that climate wise, Austin is the most pleasant, followed by Dallas, then Houston.
If any of you Texans out there could help out, I would be pleased to read your response!

(Also, if you're a non-Texan who has visited Texas, I would love to hear your input as well!)

Thank you! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by CutiePie2000 (edited April 12, 2001).]

I'm an unoffical Texan!!! I've lived in Austin for just over five years and I love it. Austin is the "Other Texas". Forget about the big belt buckle, cowboy hat, boot scootin' image that you have of Texas if you visit Austin - 'cause that's just not us (or most of us).

I've only visited Dallas and Houston but didn't like either of them... too much BIG HAIR!!! Austin is pretty casual and is very high tech... we are our own little Silicon Valley.

We have five beautiful lakes and boating is big here... in the summer, you've got to be close to the water.

Austin is also the capital city... Our state capital building is taller than the US Capital... you know, "everything is bigger in Texas." It was great fun in Austin during the latest Presidential Election.

Community service is also a big influence in Austin.

The Live Music Captial of the World is the latest battle cry of Austin. Music is huge...every style, you'll find something that you like. Nightlife is great here.

And lastly, greek life is huge. I'm sure that you'll find members of your group in Austin (unless you're part of a local) whether or not you have a chapter at UT... My first friends here were Alpha Xi Delta's. Ahhhh, it's great to be greek in Austin! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Texas is Awesome!!!
I'm from Austin but I go to school in San Antonio (which I noticed was not on your list :-( ) Anyway, Texas is great. The people here are very friendly. I'm not sure what your image of our state is but a lot of people tend to focus on the wild west or small town image. Those are both real and you can definitely find them if that's what your looking for. There are quite a few ranches and cute little towns but we also have the big cities. The climate is great here (Houston can be more humid than the rest of the state though). It is pretty mild year round but summers are HOT! It's been getting up to about 115 degrees the past few summers. (Thank goodness for A/C!) I've been to all the major cities; I was born near Houston so I'm most familiar with that area after Austin. All the cities you mentioned are great; you should look into San Antonio too because its a great place to live. Geez, I sound like a travel brouchure for Texas http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif Oh and by the way, we do say "ya'll" and some people do have the Texas twang but the accents vary depending on the part of the state. Hope this helped! Let me know if you have any other questions http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Hey turtle, where do you go to school in SA? If you dont wanna spill the beans to everyone, email me. Glad to see some SA representin' on here.

[This message has been edited by lifesaver (edited April 12, 2001).]

Thank you to everyone who replied.....now I have MORE questions! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif
(Also, I would love to hear what TxTechChiO has to say, being that she must be a Texan!)

I don't really have the "Wild West" image so much in my mind, which is probably surprising. I've asked some Canadians who've been to or lived in Texas for a while, so that has helped my perceptions out a bit. Also, about 10 years ago, I was reading SEVENTEEN magazine and they had a profile on U of Texas at Austin, and oh, how I wish I could have gone there! It looked like such a fun school to go to, with amazing amenities and social activities going on!

I guess my image of Texas is that it is kind of old fashioned in that "the men are men, and the women are women". I've heard this can be good or bad, in some ways I have heard that the attitudes can be kind of sexist against women and I should expect to be called "little lady" or something like that. At the same time, when I think of Texas, I also think of glamour, beauty pageants, big Greek life (along with the Big Hair! LOL!), but also people who are very charming and endearing. Whenever I have met Texans on vacation, I've found them to be so charming!

In any case, I would sure to be curious to live there, if only for a few months.

Also, how would Canadians be received when I say "Hi, I moved here from Canada?"
Would I be thought of as a "Yankee" (being that Canada is north), or just as a Canadian (i.e. igloos, hockey, Mounties, etc.). Just wondering! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif



[This message has been edited by CutiePie2000 (edited April 12, 2001).]

CP2000- Ima gonna type up some infor for you as soon as I get a chance next hour or so. I was born and raised in texas, and we'd love to have ya. Give me a few hours and I'll see what I can come up with.

Wow! That is so kind of you! I will look forward to hearing from you! Thank you!

hey CutiePie2000,
I am also a native Texan- born and raised! Houston to be more exact. Anyway- i have to agree with most of the information you have received. Houston tends to be more humid than anywhere else- although Texas as a whole is HOT. The cost of living here is great- and there is SO much to do!! I have been to Austin a couple of times and i absolutely LOVE it there! I should have gone to UT! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif Greek Life is also big here. I have never been to Dallas- but I have been to San Antonio. San Antonio is also a fun city- but it seems like you would get tired of the same things fast. Although- i am just saying that, but I dont know lots of the fun things to do there besides the obvious.

I am happy to hear you are considering Texas- its a great place and Lifesaver hit the bullseye when he said we would love to have ya! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Texas is very different from anyplace I have ever lived. There is pride in being a Texan. I wasn't born there, but I got here as fast as I could. Texans have a very interesting relationship with Oklahoma as well. We talk bad about Okies all the time, especially during football season, but it seems that is a right reserved to Texans because if anyone else tries it they get jumped on. Austin is a beautiful city. Unfortunately it has the highest cost of living and the worst traffic in the state, including Houston. In Austin it rarely snows, maybe once every 5 or 6 years we might get an inch on the south side of town where I live. It has rained since Thankgiving, that is unusual, but at least the lakes are full. We may not see rain between May and Sept, so makes for great motorcycle weather though it can get a little warm in the summer. I grocery shop at night when it cools down, but last summer it could be 90 at midnight. Austin is the most 'liberal' city in Texas and is said to have the second highest per capita gay population of any major in the country, behind only San Francisco. Unfortunately the 'liberal' attitude has caused the growth of Austin to outpace its' infrastructure, hence the traffic problems. Look at a map sometime and you will only see one major highway (I-35) in Austin, that must serve a population of 1 million people in the greater Austin area. Now look at Houston, DFW, or San Antonio and look that the major highways there. Sure there are more people, but they may have 10 times the highway miles with only 2 or 3 times the population. Most people are friendly, be friendly back. I was in Reston, Va. (near D.C.) last year. I pulled up to a stop light and there was a cute blond in a convertible next to me. She looked over and I smiled and nodded. She gave me the snottiest go to hell look as though I had said something mean. That attitude will NOT fly in Texas. I have seen people from the northeast kicked out of a restautant in Austin for being rude to the waitress. Bad manners and bad disposition are frowned upon in Texas.

Here were some rules I posted on another board for someone moving to Texas:

1. Save all manner of bacon grease. You will be instructed later how to use it.

2. Just because you can drive on snow and ice does not mean we can. Stay home the two days of the year it snows like the rest of us.

3. If you do run your car into a ditch, don't panic. Four men in the cab of a four wheel drive with a 6-pack of beer and a tow chain will be along directly. Don't try to help them. Just stay out of their way. This is what they live for. (the 6-pack was a 'tip' from the last person they pulled out so it would be nice if you would be so generous. An alternative tip would be a brick or .22 ammo if you don't drink.)

4. Don't be surprised to find movie rentals & bait in the same store. Also don't complain about not having a good selection of new releases, it ain't Blockbuster.

5. Remember: "Y'all" is singular. "All y'all" is plural. "All y'all's" is plural possessive.

6. Get used to hearing, "You ain't from around here, are ya?" If you do hear it, it is an insult, you have done something wrong. Think about it.

7. If you want to make a joke of it, before you ask a question, preface it with 'I'm not from around here, but I was wondering...?'

8. If you are yelling at the person driving 15 mph in a 55 mph zone, directly in the middle of the road, remember, many folks learned to drive on a model of vehicle known as John Deere, and this is the proper speed and lane position for that vehicle. On the other hand you could be in Austin.

9. If you hear a Texan exclaim, "Hey, y'all, watch this!" STAY OUT OF THE WAY AND WATCH. These are likely the last words he will ever say. If they aren't then you can fit right in by doing the same thing.

10. Get used to the phrase "It's not the heat, it's the humidity". And the collateral phrase "You call this hot? Wait'll August."

11. There are no delis. Don't ask. (Actually Katz's is in Austin)

12. In conversation, never put your hand on a man's shoulder when making a point, especially in a bar, especially in Austin.

13. Chili does NOT have beans in it.

14. Brisket is not 'cooked' in an oven.

15. We don't care how you did where you came from. This is Texas. If we wanted to do it that way we would move there.

16. If you think it's too hot, don't worry. It'll cool down-in December. Someone might say, 'You ain't from around here are ya?' That's a clue, if you piss and moan about it you will give Texans a bad name.

17. We do TOO have 4 Seasons: December, January, February, and Summer!

18. A Mercedes Benz is not a status symbol. A Ford F-250 is. (or for some of you an F-350 or any other dually). If you don't know what a dually is 'you ain't from around here'.

19. If someone tells you "Don't worry, those peppers they ain't hot" you can be certain that you will be able to light the fire in your fireplace by breathing on the wood. If they warn you that the peppers are hot you will not be able to light the fire because your breath would melt the stone and brick around your fireplace if you breathed on it.

20. If you fail to heed my warning in #19 above, be sure to have a bowl of guacamole handy. Water won't do it, but a Shiner will help. The alcohol helps break down the alkaloids in the pepper.

21. Rocky Mountain oysters are NOT oysters. They aren't even from the ocean. Don't ask.

22. If someone says they're "fixin" to do something, that doesn't mean anything's broken, but they probably won't be around there for long.

23. Don't even think of ordering a strawberry daiquiri (unless you are in a bar in Austin where it is okay to put your hand on another man's shoulder, usually has a neon rainbow sign in the window). What you really mean to say is 'margarita'.

24. If you don't understand our passion for college and high school football just keep your mouth shut or you will hear, 'You ain't from around here are ya?'.

25. The value of a parking space is not determined by the distance to the door, but the availability of shade.

26. If you come up behind slower moving vehicle on a two lane road and it pulls on to the shoulder, it is letting you go by. That is called "courtesy".

27. BBQ is a food group. It does NOT mean grilling burgers and hotdogs outdoors.

28. BBQ has nothing to do with a grill and charcoal.

29. Pig is a breakfast animal.

30. We BBQ beef. If you go to a BBQ restaurant and ask for something from a pig, the server will say, 'You ain't from around here are ya?'.

31. No matter what you've seen on TV, Texans do NOT line dance.

32. "Tea" = Iced Tea. There is no other kind.

33. Everything goes better with Ranch dressing.

34. When driving you must know the 'Lugnut Rule'. The vehicle with the most lugnuts has the right of way. (count lugnuts on all wheels: motorcycle=2, Renault LeCar=12, VW=16, Caddy=20, F250=24, F350=32)

35. When buying a house and you are told the price do not flop out your checkbook and say, 'I'll take it!' They will know you are from California.

36. Get you license plates changed as soon as possible. If you have license plates from Ca. or any state east of the Mississippi River and north of Ky (especially NY or NJ) this is especially important.

37. Get to like the Dallas Cowboys and San Antonio Spurs.

38. Learn to talk slow.

39. Be nice. If you walk around with an attitude problem you will have a miserable life. If you are rude to the wait staff in the restaurant the manager might kick you out.

40. We don't wear cowboy boots and cowboy hats, not in the cities anyway. If you do people will say, 'You ain't from around here are ya?'.

41. The Alamo is in San Antonio. Know this. Never make a bad comment about anything related to the Alamo. It is important.

42. Texas is BIG. The biggest state in the United States. Don't argue about it, accept it. We all know it is true.

43. Women in Texas are BEAUTIFUL. If you don't believe me go sit in an airport in Texas then in St Louis or Indianapolis.

44. Women in Texas don't turn gray. Somehow they turn blond.

45. Get a pickup.

46. Get a dog for the back of the pickup.

47. Get a rifle rack for the window of the pickup.

48. Don't ever ask for a soda, soda-pop, or pop. It's COKE or in most cases Dr Pepper (if you're a REAL Texan). Dr Pepper was founded in Waco and in Waco is made with real sugar not corn syrup.

49. Drive courteously. Texans are still a little peeved at the invention of concrete highways, so mind your manners.

50. Do not put a Green Peace sticker on your car.

51. Do not put a Gore sticker on your car.

52. Never touch another man's hat or cap (or wife)

53. Order grits at the truckstops.

54. Never complain about the grits you ordered.

55. Never complain.

56. Get a Bass boat.

57. Get a CHL.

58. Remember: those are breakfast Tacos, not burritos.

59. Never be afraid to fill up your gas (or diesel) tank.

60. Get use to seeing drivers use their F250's to make their own exits from the "Super Slab" if the state did not think of putting one where people want to exit.

61. Don't tailgate a jacked up truck.

62. Corollary: Don't let a jacked up truck tailgate you, pull over and let him by.

63. Texas men still hold doors open for ladies and children, offer to carry packages, and any other manner of gentlemanly courtesies.

64. Big or "Texas" hair has never gone out of style.

65. Real Texans have two pair of shoes, work boots and dress boots.

66. Only in Texas are you likely to see country women bailing hay, sloppin' hogs, or any other manner of work in full evening makeup. (Most common around Dallas.)

67. If a Texan looks you dead in the eye and calls you, "Sir", with a bit of a hardness on the word, you have screwed up mightily.

68. If a Texan say, 'Hello darlin'.' or 'Mornin' darlin'.' it is a standard Texas greeting. It is not a sexist remark and he is not trying to get you to have his children.

69. Don't ever go under 60 on the interstate. And don't be suprised to see Suburbans flying past when your doing 80 yourself. (I regularly drive 90-110)

70. If you like Mexican food you won't like it in Texas. Whay you have eaten has been Americanized.

71. DO NOT TRAMPLE THROUGH THE BLUEBONNETS TO PLACE YOUR CHILD IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIELD TO TAKE A PICTURE. You are not the first one to have thought of it and if the other 4,867,533 people who thought of it did it then everyone would think that Bluebonnet were flat and grew close to the ground. This is why the Bluebonnets are watched by Tx DPS Troopers. You will be fined if you hurt the field.

72. If you hear the term, 'Git a rope!' You did not heed the warning from #6 and you are in trouble.

73. Ladies, if you hear a yelp out the window of a passing vehicle, a loud 'WOO!', that is a compliment form of 'Howdy'. Something on the order of, 'She's finer than a new set of mudders.'

74. People in Texas have guns. If you do something that you are not suppose to you might get shot over it. Get use to it, that's the way things are. If you don't like it, don't come here. Texas is the only state that you can legally use lethal force against someone to protect your property. We have had people get killed over $2 because the guy picked the wrong person to rob. It is called 'theft in the nighttime.' Lethal force is also justified to prevent 'criminal mischief in the nighttime'. TAGGERS BEWARE.

75. If you are single, the bench seat in a pickup is very short. That is why the girl in the truck sits in the middle.

76. When dinning out (particularly at a steakhous) remember that vegitables are what food eats.

77. NEVER say, "Your wife (girlfriend, daughter, etc.) sure has nice (physical attributes of any kind). Instead, if he's your *close* friend, you might get away with, "My, she shore is purty." And for God's sake, don't stare!

78. NEVER let a friend stand alone. NEVER! Odds, common sense be damned! If he's your friend, by God he's your friend. Stand by him - no matter what!
-- If you survive, you will have a friend forever - past death itself.
-- If you don't survive, well, what're friends for?

79. Duct tape and bailing wire can fix just about anything.


Now for things you don't want to say in Texas:

1. We don't keep firearms in this house.

2. You can't feed that to the dog.

3. I thought Graceland was tacky.

4. No kids in the back of the pick-up, it's not safe.

5. Wrasslin's fake.

6. Honey, did you mail that donation to Greenpeace and PETA?

7. We're vegetarians.

8. I'll have grapefruit instead of biscuits and gravy.

9. Honey, these bonsai trees need watering?

10. Who's Richard Petty?

11. Deer heads detract from the decor.

12. Spitting is such a nasty habit.

13. Trim the fat off that steak.

14. Cappuccino tastes better than espresso.

15. The tires on that truck are too big.

16. I'll have the arugula and radicchio salad.

17. I've got it all on a floppy disk.

18. Unsweetened tea tastes better.

19. Would you like your fish poached or broiled?

20. My fiancee, Paula Jo, is registered at Tiffany's.

21. Banana moon pies have too many fat grams.

22. Checkmate.

23. She's too old to be wearing that bikini.

24. She's too young to be wearing that
bikini.

25. Does the salad bar have bean sprouts?

26. I don't have a favorite college team.

27. I believe you cooked those green beans
too long.

28. Those shorts ought to be a little longer, Mary Beth.

29. Elvis who?

as a texan (my exact whereabouts will remain unknown http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif ), i must tell you that you will enjoy the cities you listed in the following order: dallas, houston, san antonio. for whatever reason, people in dallas are WAY more friendlier. making eye contact is not a threat, it is an invitation to conversation. dallas also has seasons. it does snow up there.

in houston, there are 2 seasons: hot and HOTTER. people in houston are a little rude. and if you don't enjoy freeways, traffic and 20 minute trips to go any- and everywhere, you won't like it. but, if you ignore red and yellow lights, if the "turn lanes" to you mean "passing lanes," and if it amuses you to see "wreckers" lined up on the freeway at about 4 p.m., WAITING on accidents, you'll love it.

as a black woman, i can say that the only time austin is fun is during the texas relays. i can't quite understand why every time i have visited austin, i have been subjected to stares, disrespect, accusations, and the like. to give an example, i requested some towels at the front desk of a hotel and the attendants surrendered! i was not interested in robbing the place.

but, i will say, texas has got to be the most wonderful state in the u.s. the land is cheap and there is a lot of money to be made in this state!

------------------
I hope life isn't a big joke, because I don't get it.

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words - "mank" and "ind". What do these words mean ? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind

Hey Cutiepie,

I'm a native New Yorker...and I visited Texas before...lemme just say--if you're not a Republican or if you're not conservative--you will NOT like Texas. Just a warning! I prefer California--the ppl there are a hell lot more nicer, plus the weather is gorgeous, and it isn't so stifling hot! Plus I was way more comfortable in the liberal atmosphere! Youjust can't beat California! I plan to move there after college!

Hi! I was born and raised in Houston and although my immediate family has moved out to the Hill Country near Austin, the rest of the crowd is still in Houston. I enjoy Texas for its cosmopolitan atmosphere and friendliness. Houston has changed so so much since we lived ther--it's a megalopolis!--and I feel much more comfortable in Austin now.

I don't ever remember any of the "little lady" business--that's more common in Georgia, where I live now.

Hi! I'm from TX! I love it here! It's the best! I couldn't imagine wanting to live anywhere else! Whenever I have to do some survey asking where I want to go to college (happens often) I always chose TX only. Yes... "Everything is bigger in Texas!" Texas is known for the good looking guys and pretty girlies! AHHH everything Jeff said is sooo true! I love that list Jeff.. brought back memories! Texas is just an all around amazing place with the awesome scenery, great summer weather nearly year round, extremely nice people...! You have to come to Texas.. preferably Austin. Austin gives you a feel of TX life! Houston is horrible to me! I used to live 35 minutes from there, and as much as I like shopping, i dreaded the trip there! The highways are just sooo confusing and there are sooo many running together and plus traffic is a mess and the drivers are rude! Austin has considerate drivers, very indulgent cops, great education system, tons of open job positions, "live music capital of the world" tons of concerts here! I am going to a big concert on April 21st to see Cory Morrow/Pat Green and others (austin locals), also 6th street can be a blast with all the great clubs that they have for a variety of people. GOd, there is soo much to do here in Austin! I moved here 2 yrs ago from a small town and I know people from every other high school in Austin and boardering towns except for Reagan High School... I'm telling you, it's a friendly place! O'kay I just would be sooo disappointed if you picked any place in TX other than Austin to live! Especially picking Houston.. that'd be the worst decision you'd ever make! O'kay thanks! COME TO AUSTIN! BYE!

**(if you want me to talk to more about Austin... I can!!!)**

This is so fun; I love telling people about Texas http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif. Anyway, I've never really noticed a sexist attitude; but then again it doesn't really bother me to be called "little lady, miss or ma'am" (it is kind of weird that people will call like an 18 yr old girl ma'am though). But I can see how it would begin to grate someone's nerves if they took offense by it because it is pretty common. Oh and that list of rules for living in Texas was hilarious! I love Austin but traffic there is crazy. Somehow, Austinites can complain constantly about the traffic yet still refuse to build new roads. We instead continue to cram way too many people onto only two freeways (three if you count 183 but hardly anyone does). Ok but this is not a thread for me to vent about Austin driving so I'll move on http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif And Meez Discreet, I am very sorry to hear you've had bad experiences in Austin. Please know those were just a few stupid people and the majority of Austinites are not so rude (unless they're stuck in 5:00 traffic but that's a whole other story http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif )