Orlando or Houston

[9jalover4life 0]

Hey, this thread excited me! I'm a huge advocate for Houston and would encourage anyone to make a move here.

I have been living in Houston for about a year and half now. It is a GREAT CITY. It has kind of a professional feel to it and it is a fast city, but at the same time it is also low key. It offers the big city life at a small town price. I would recommend Houston to anyone. The winters are very mild compared to Cincinnati/Kentucky winters. This past winter I was fine with just wearing a light jacket. Houston has always been known to have horrible, dreadful summers but honestly, this is my second summer here and I have yet to see the horrible humidity that they speak of. Even my friends and co-workers have been telling me the summers have been mild recently.

Houston is huge and very expansive so having a good means of transportation is very important. Public transportation is almost non-existent and just be prepared to drive everywhere. Be sure to keep your car insurance current because they people around here have big flashy cars and love to drive like speed demons in them. There's always some sort of major accident. Speaking of driving, Houston has some of the worst traffic in the country and it would be beneficial to you if you could find schools, daycares, work, etc close to the area where you intend to live. Houston is so big that it is basically broken off into big chunks (or sub-cities). You have the NW side, SW side, West side, etc and all of them have their own hub areas.

There are many things to do in Houston and you will never run out of weekend activities. This past week there was a huge Colombian festival and there are MANY reggae, caribbean, and African festivals throughout the year. Houston is very diverse and there isn't really a Black, Hispanic, White section of town....ALL areas are mixed up. There is a district called Chinatown where you will find a lot of Asians and even the street signs in that area are written in Chinese. There are more than 22 malls here and you will find any and every store here. Any store, bank, mall, or public area you go into you will see different people and hear many different languages. With that said, there are many different ethnic restaurants and you will always find different foods available. We just went to an Afghan restaurant last week.

You will find some of the worst school districts here and some of the top school districts. The three top school districts to focus on are Klein Independent School District, Cypress Fairbanks ISD (my kids are in this one), and Katy ISD. If you get your children into any of those districts, then you can be sure they are getting a great education. Houston isn't very expensive at all and even at the height of the recent gas increases the gas pretty much hovered around $3.75. Before the big foreclosure mess, the houses were really cheap so now houses are even cheaper. A house that costs $110,000 will get you in a very decent middle class area. Some of the areas you might want to focus on are Cypress Fairbanks (Cy-Fair...this area is booming), Jersey Village ( a bit expensive, but older and very beautiful), and anywhere that is on the NW and West sides of town.

As state before, Houston has a HUGE African population and everyday I see all sorts of African flags plastered on cars. The African population is mainly concentrated on the SW side of town in the Bellaire and Alief areas. There are many many Nigerians here and there are several Nigerian churches, restaurants, nightclubs, and supermarkets on that side of town. The Nigerian associations are big here and your husband will definately have no trouble finding some of his people to hang with.

BTW, about jobs...it can be hard to find a job and it can be really easy. It really just depends on what area you are looking in. You have to remember that there are more than 4 million people here and we all need jobs so some jobs such as office work will have pretty steep competition. On the other hand, I know people who have gotten a job on the spot. There are definately a lot of job openings and the job market isn't lacking here. A good place to start is www.chron.com ...that is where most jobs are posted. It's the website of Houton's major newspaper. It took me about 4 months to find a permanant job here.

I could go on and on foreve and feel free to ask questions. I used to hang out in the Cinicinnati/KY area and it is definately a change of scenery, but if you are open minded then you will have no problem with coming to Houston. Houston was a good start for my husband because he got to see a lot of the big city events without being overwhelmed and he has even connected with a fairly large Liberian community.

WOW!!!!! AFTER READING THIS YOU MAKE ME WANT TO SUGGEST HOUSTON TX TO MY SO....AND IVE BEEN STUCK ON ATL FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS...HMMMMM IM GONNA HAVE TO GOOGLE OR WIKIPEDIA HOUSTON...LOL

[Simply_Uno 1]

hey have you ever considered ATLANTA GEORGIA? this is also a very populated nigerian community with a lot of nigerian events yearly..we plan to relocate there from virginia beach, va where i live within a year of his arrival...i love ATL...its the dirty south!!!!! LOL

ATL SUXXX

I was always told if you can't say nuthin nice.......

(LOL)

[Asante Maroon 0]

hey have you ever considered ATLANTA GEORGIA? this is also a very populated nigerian community with a lot of nigerian events yearly..we plan to relocate there from virginia beach, va where i live within a year of his arrival...i love ATL...its the dirty south!!!!! LOL

ATL SUXXX

I was always told if you can't say nuthin nice.......

(LOL)

I agree guys! ATL is a :no: for me. Houston is a great place to raise a family

[stevi1123 0]

Thank you LL for the nice description of life in Houston. We are also planning to settle there in the near future.

Yes, Cincinnati is not the best town to live in, but it is not bad at all. It has always been very "conservative" for the lack of a better word.

I lived in ATL for two years many years ago, and it was not my style at all. Too fast for my taste and although diverse, there was such a strong separation of class/race etc. That is just my opinion AND it was many years ago.

San Antonio is my only experience of Texas, but I was in the Air Force so I did not experience "true" life there.

Omoba, I also lived in St. Louis. My family is very prominent there. In both Illinois and Missouri. I believe it is Belleville (I might be wrong). My aunt was a popular person there, but recently passed away. She owned a popular restaurant there named "Scotias" I believe. Her house has been coverted to a Church. I really enjoyed living in St. Louis. It has such a comfortable feeling to it. Nice people too.

Houston, here we come!

Well, that's just my 2cents....

Stevi

[9jalover4life 0]

hey have you ever considered ATLANTA GEORGIA? this is also a very populated nigerian community with a lot of nigerian events yearly..we plan to relocate there from virginia beach, va where i live within a year of his arrival...i love ATL...its the dirty south!!!!! LOL

ATL SUXXX

I was always told if you can't say nuthin nice.......

(LOL)

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Perseverance 1]

Ok so I have to say HELL TO THE NO on Florida...girl there are PYTHONS in the WILD, used to be pets...went all wild kingdom...

NO NO NO!!! NOT I!!!! not Florida NO WAY!!!!!!

I have a HUGE fear of snakes!!! Shoot didnt ANY of you read the Bible? That is how all of us girls got a bad rap....SNAKES!!

OH HELL NO!!!!!! UH UH NOT ME NO WAY...

did I make my point??

Ok and while I am at it...you ever deal with a GATOR???? Dont you watch the Today show those bad boys will come in your house...eat your pets....OH NO NOT ME....

If you are going to put up with some crazy A$$ animals like that you might as well ship your butt to AFRICA....

P

Sorry I feel strongly about that

[Ta Ta 1]

Stevi, I live 10 min away from Belleville.

[Ta Ta 1]

Thank you LL for the nice description of life in Houston. We are also planning to settle there in the near future.

Yes, Cincinnati is not the best town to live in, but it is not bad at all. It has always been very "conservative" for the lack of a better word.

I lived in ATL for two years many years ago, and it was not my style at all. Too fast for my taste and although diverse, there was such a strong separation of class/race etc. That is just my opinion AND it was many years ago.

San Antonio is my only experience of Texas, but I was in the Air Force so I did not experience "true" life there.

Omoba, I also lived in St. Louis. My family is very prominent there. In both Illinois and Missouri. I believe it is Belleville (I might be wrong). My aunt was a popular person there, but recently passed away. She owned a popular restaurant there named "Scotias" I believe. Her house has been coverted to a Church. I really enjoyed living in St. Louis. It has such a comfortable feeling to it. Nice people too.

Houston, here we come!

Well, that's just my 2cents....

Stevi

Ok so I have to say HELL TO THE NO on Florida...girl there are PYTHONS in the WILD, used to be pets...went all wild kingdom...

NO NO NO!!! NOT I!!!! not Florida NO WAY!!!!!!

I have a HUGE fear of snakes!!! Shoot didnt ANY of you read the Bible? That is how all of us girls got a bad rap....SNAKES!!

OH HELL NO!!!!!! UH UH NOT ME NO WAY...

did I make my point??

Ok and while I am at it...you ever deal with a GATOR???? Dont you watch the Today show those bad boys will come in your house...eat your pets....OH NO NOT ME....

If you are going to put up with some crazy A$ animals like that you might as well ship your butt to AFRICA....

P

Sorry I feel strongly about that

Yes the big ones are bad but the little ones are veryyyyyyyyyy poisonous and a mess too, hiding their little ol'e selves in the tall grass.

[Simply_Uno 1]

Ok so I have to say HELL TO THE NO on Florida...girl there are PYTHONS in the WILD, used to be pets...went all wild kingdom...

NO NO NO!!! NOT I!!!! not Florida NO WAY!!!!!!

I have a HUGE fear of snakes!!! Shoot didnt ANY of you read the Bible? That is how all of us girls got a bad rap....SNAKES!!

OH HELL NO!!!!!! UH UH NOT ME NO WAY...

did I make my point??

Ok and while I am at it...you ever deal with a GATOR???? Dont you watch the Today show those bad boys will come in your house...eat your pets....OH NO NOT ME....

If you are going to put up with some crazy A$$ animals like that you might as well ship your butt to AFRICA....

P

Sorry I feel strongly about that

dang "P" you made your point just as subtle as a train wreck

[Perseverance 1]

Ok so I have to say HELL TO THE NO on Florida...girl there are PYTHONS in the WILD, used to be pets...went all wild kingdom...

NO NO NO!!! NOT I!!!! not Florida NO WAY!!!!!!

I have a HUGE fear of snakes!!! Shoot didnt ANY of you read the Bible? That is how all of us girls got a bad rap....SNAKES!!

OH HELL NO!!!!!! UH UH NOT ME NO WAY...

did I make my point??

Ok and while I am at it...you ever deal with a GATOR???? Dont you watch the Today show those bad boys will come in your house...eat your pets....OH NO NOT ME....

If you are going to put up with some crazy A$$ animals like that you might as well ship your butt to AFRICA....

P

Sorry I feel strongly about that

dang "P" you made your point just as subtle as a train wreck

NO SNAKE IS A GOOD SNAKE.....

[Simply_Uno 1]

Ok so I have to say HELL TO THE NO on Florida...girl there are PYTHONS in the WILD, used to be pets...went all wild kingdom...

NO NO NO!!! NOT I!!!! not Florida NO WAY!!!!!!

I have a HUGE fear of snakes!!! Shoot didnt ANY of you read the Bible? That is how all of us girls got a bad rap....SNAKES!!

OH HELL NO!!!!!! UH UH NOT ME NO WAY...

did I make my point??

Ok and while I am at it...you ever deal with a GATOR???? Dont you watch the Today show those bad boys will come in your house...eat your pets....OH NO NOT ME....

If you are going to put up with some crazy A$$ animals like that you might as well ship your butt to AFRICA....

P

Sorry I feel strongly about that

dang "P" you made your point just as subtle as a train wreck

NO SNAKE IS A GOOD SNAKE.....

[Perseverance 1]

Ok so I have to say HELL TO THE NO on Florida...girl there are PYTHONS in the WILD, used to be pets...went all wild kingdom...

NO NO NO!!! NOT I!!!! not Florida NO WAY!!!!!!

I have a HUGE fear of snakes!!! Shoot didnt ANY of you read the Bible? That is how all of us girls got a bad rap....SNAKES!!

OH HELL NO!!!!!! UH UH NOT ME NO WAY...

did I make my point??

Ok and while I am at it...you ever deal with a GATOR???? Dont you watch the Today show those bad boys will come in your house...eat your pets....OH NO NOT ME....

If you are going to put up with some crazy A$$ animals like that you might as well ship your butt to AFRICA....

P

Sorry I feel strongly about that

dang "P" you made your point just as subtle as a train wreck

NO SNAKE IS A GOOD SNAKE.....

When I say that I mean MAN NOR BEAST!!!

[stevi1123 0]

Stevi, I live 10 min away from Belleville.

Really?

It is amazing how small the world has become since beginning this visa process and meeting so many people here on VJ.

Also, turns out that 4thelove lives just a hop,skip and a jump from where I live now!

Edited July 30, 2008 by stevi1123

[Simply_Uno 1]

Stevi, I live 10 min away from Belleville.

Really?

It is amazing how small the world has become since beginning this visa process and meeting so many people here on VJ.

Also, turns out that 4thelove lives just a hop,skip and a jump from where I live now!

roflm"mf" ao @ man nor beast statement...

I'm , nobody lives near me

[lovin_famo 0]

hello all,

sexxy , i must admit, i love atl, have family there, as well as houston, i guess it depends on the area you live.

4tloh, i would suggest mississippi, but there nothing here but, trees, nursing homes and psych wards, best place to be if you crazy and want to be incognito!

best of luck wherever you decide!

dana