Made the Move to the US

[StillThePrettiest 3]

you sound COMPLETELY NORMAL to me

it's very weird being out of your element and feeling like a foreigner... I don't think it hit me quite as hard as it might some, as I went through it all four years ago when I moved from Australia to the UK, but you never get used to it... ask for a 'glass of water' if you really want weird looks

just make a joke out of it, I find that helps... or if they look confused just smile and say something like 'oh, my accent can be confusing, I know...' and that will put them at their ease

all the best re the job! what sort of place is it?

[Jon&Lindsey 0]

Tomorrow I'm off to investigate my first potential voluneer job! Wish me luck, VJers. I feel a bit nervous as people don't always understand what I'm saying although the last time I checked, I speak English

Sometimes I feel like a child...Everything is so different. Even filling a form appears alien and has pitfalls. I'm only getting now - after 3 weeks - getting use to crossing roads without deep anxiety. Anyone else felt the same?

Good luck with your volunteering! I wish I could have done that, it would have really helped.

lol, that's so true about people not understanding - now I just say the American words for things, it's easier than speaking normal English and having to repeat everything 3 times. I still (even after a year) hate using the phone for talking to people I don't know, as they never understand me!

I found it weird crossing roads too - the big four lane each side roads where even if you cross when the light says to, it's back to 'don't walk' before you even get half way. I don't understand how people who can't walk superfast survive! I find it safer to just cross away from the junctions when I see a big enough gap in the traffic I still forget how in the UK, we're used to walking places, but here, people think it's strange that I want to walk.

[StillThePrettiest 3]

oh, amen on that last thing... I joined an environmental group here in Houston a few months ago, and one of their community actions is getting footpaths put in to all communities, so that people who choose to walk can have an actual flat surface, and not just a grassy drainage ditch, to walk along

it's just amazing to me how things are set up JUST for cars... I know Houston is worse than almost everywhere else, but there is NO excuse for it as far as I can see; even years ago, in the midst of the auto boom, it should have been obvious that oil is a LIMITED commodity, so basing entire civilisations around it is mad, but apparently not

[Jon&Lindsey 0]

Good for you, joining an environmental group! Funny you should say that about Houston, I had to spend quite a lot of time there (before I met DH) on a course. I did walk wherever I could, but for places that were too far/impossible due to certain death, I took a bus. All the US people from the course couldn't believe that I was taking the bus! It's a shame that public transport has such a bad reputation/isn't user-friendly here.

[DeadPoolX 9]

oh, amen on that last thing... I joined an environmental group here in Houston a few months ago, and one of their community actions is getting footpaths put in to all communities, so that people who choose to walk can have an actual flat surface, and not just a grassy drainage ditch, to walk along

it's just amazing to me how things are set up JUST for cars... I know Houston is worse than almost everywhere else, but there is NO excuse for it as far as I can see; even years ago, in the midst of the auto boom, it should have been obvious that oil is a LIMITED commodity, so basing entire civilisations around it is mad, but apparently not

I'm a native Houstonian, so I know what you're talking about. Many neighborhoods do have sidewalks, but just as many don't. Houston -- like Los Angeles -- is primarily designed for cars, with pedestrians given a distant second thought. I'm not quite sure how Houston is "worse than almost everywhere else," unless you're talking about facilities for pedestrians. In that case, it's not very friendly.

Oil is one of the primary businesses in Houston. Because of this, gasoline has always been cheaper in Texas than other states. Limited quantities of oil is something new to Texas since we've always had a large supply which was fairly constant. Obviously, people will have to adjust, but it will take some time.

Good for you, joining an environmental group! Funny you should say that about Houston, I had to spend quite a lot of time there (before I met DH) on a course. I did walk wherever I could, but for places that were too far/impossible due to certain death, I took a bus. All the US people from the course couldn't believe that I was taking the bus! It's a shame that public transport has such a bad reputation/isn't user-friendly here.

Houston is an incredibly large city. Using the Greater Houston Area as a basis, the population is now around 5.3 million individuals. Houston is the fourth largest city in the U.S. (by population) and the second largest geographically. In addition, Houston keeps expanding due to absolutely no zoning laws and has no intention of slowing down anytime soon. Because the city is large, using a car to get around is the only viable solution. There are tons of freeways all around and through the city in order to make transportation quicker (although with the Katy Freeway under construction, this hasn't helped anyone get anywhere).

There is public transportation available, but as you said, it's not very reliable and sucks badly. Metro owns public transportation and their buses are a joke. The general consensus is that only very poor people use them, since nearly everyone has a car of their own (including the illegal aliens). Downtown, there is the Metro Rail, which was good in theory, but in practice, has a lot of problems. For instance, the Metro Rail only covers a relatively small amount of area and it's "claim to fame" is that doesn't make a sound. The problem with that is cars have slammed into it (or been hit by the rail itself) so many times, people don't even keep count anymore. With the rail making no sound and having no lights or warning system, cars don't automatically realize it's there and heading their way. Even worse, many left turns involve driving over the tracks, which places drivers in danger of being hit.

[StillThePrettiest 3]

I'd have to drive for about ten minutes to the Park'n'Ride if I wanted to take the bus, and then walk for about five minutes at the other end... given that my drive to work is about twenty-five minutes, it hardly seems worth it :?

but I'd still use it if they came more often than every half-hour

yes, after London, with something like fifteen bus routes available two minutes' walk away, this is something else entirely... even the strip malls are part of it; crossing roads and getting from one mall to another is so user-unfriendly, it's easier and safer to drive across the road... it's mad

we still walk on such occasions, but no one's expecting you to, so you have to be VERY wary of heedless drivers

the environmental group is great! it's still reasonably small, but quite ambitious, and is already getting involved in all manner of things

I've volunteered to make some educational things for the website; there don't seem to be many available here, and that's the sort of thing I was doing in my last job... and I keep pestering companies about their environmental policies and asking why they're using polystyrene cups when they have china ones available and things of that nature

fear me B)

[DeadPoolX 9]

yes, after London, with something like fifteen bus routes available two minutes' walk away, this is something else entirely... even the strip malls are part of it; crossing roads and getting from one mall to another is so user-unfriendly, it's easier and safer to drive across the road... it's mad

we still walk on such occasions, but no one's expecting you to, so you have to be VERY wary of heedless drivers

Well, you need to remember that London is packed together more tightly. Everything is closer in walking distance, where as Houston (and most U.S. cities) have spaced things out. Knowing this, it's far easier to drive because the provisions for walking are incredibly limited. You could probably walk to most places if you're in the Montrose area, some areas near the Galleria or downtown; however, it's very difficult to walk anywhere in a reasonable amount of time and still remain somewhat safe.

[StillThePrettiest 3]

well, of course I know that; it was the same in Sydney, where I grew up... but that just goes back to my earlier statement of how the place developed; more forward thinking should have gone into the planning of both places

and I wasn't trying to say everyone can have a transport system like London's, simply point out that the contrast in my experience has been all the sharper, going from one place to the other

as for 'not being sure how Houston is worse than anywhere else' - you answered this yourself, in your subsequent remarks! factors like oil being so cheap and plentiful, historically, in Texas; no zoning laws in Houston; expansion being rapid and sprawling; the freeway system being developed far ahead of any other way to get people where they want and need to go - all these factors, and others, add up to Houston being pretty far down the scale of 'very reliant on cars'

in fact, I read somewhere - I think it was a Greenpeace stat, and maybe a couple of years old, but I bet still fairly close to accurate - that per head of population, Houston's consumption of petrol is the HIGHEST OF ANY CITY IN THE WORLD

I think that makes my point on its own

[DeadPoolX 9]

as for 'not being sure how Houston is worse than anywhere else' - you answered this yourself, in your subsequent remarks! factors like oil being so cheap and plentiful, historically, in Texas; no zoning laws in Houston; expansion being rapid and sprawling; the freeway system being developed far ahead of any other way to get people where they want and need to go - all these factors, and others, add up to Houston being pretty far down the scale of 'very reliant on cars'

Well... I'm not sure how any of that is a bad thing. I liked it!

I'm not saying you can't have your own opinion, but I thought what you mentioned was a positive aspect.

Edited November 19, 2008 by DeadPoolX

[StillThePrettiest 3]

environmentally, it's irresponsible in the extreme

socially, it's anti-social, with no real town centre or feeling of community in most places

financially, it's only going to make things more difficult for people who suddenly find it more expensive to get around, almost anywhere (because you have to drive EVERYWHERE, if you don't live in the city centre) (though that may mean fewer great bloody trucks on the road, so there's no loss without gain )

aesthetically, it's awful

and environmentally, it's irresponsible in the extreme (yes, it's by far the most important, so I'm saying it again )

yes, some of the above is my opinion, but the rest is just observed fact... it's going to become more difficult and more expensive to live in Houston, because people didn't plan better... to me, that's a problem whichever way you look at it

[DeadPoolX 9]

environmentally, it's irresponsible in the extreme

socially, it's anti-social, with no real town centre or feeling of community in most places

financially, it's only going to make things more difficult for people who suddenly find it more expensive to get around, almost anywhere (because you have to drive EVERYWHERE, if you don't live in the city centre) (though that may mean fewer great bloody trucks on the road, so there's no loss without gain )

aesthetically, it's awful

and environmentally, it's irresponsible in the extreme (yes, it's by far the most important, so I'm saying it again )

yes, some of the above is my opinion, but the rest is just observed fact... it's going to become more difficult and more expensive to live in Houston, because people didn't plan better... to me, that's a problem whichever way you look at it

Most cities weren't planned as well as they could have been. Look at New Orleans. The truth of the matter is that Houston is a fairly old city and as such, was designed with out any concern towards certain matters. The environment is one such issue. Perhaps if Metro had decent and efficient public transportation, people might be more willing to use it. As it stands right now, their system is a complete joke.

As for community, many neighborhoods have their own communities. I've also remembered that generally neighborhoods have something called "Homeowner Associations." What that basically means is anyone moving into the area has to sign an agreement to abide by the association and get permission if doing something considered "drastic." This is how people aren't allowed to turn their homes into neon-lit eyesores, complete with pink flamingos on the lawn. My parents had to gain permission from the homeowner's association in their area to chop down some trees which had recently died and install an iron gate.

I can see how you might find some of this shocking. It can be quite different from a smaller, more tightly-knit city with better public transportation. Perhaps I don't see anything wrong with it because I grew up in Houston.

[braveheart1 0]

EVERYONE! Thanks for your responses....I'm off to chat with the volunteer co-ordinator so details will be posted later...As to walking, not many people walk and the public transport is pretty minimal. As a non-driver, it is a bit of challenge as I need to depend on my new husband for lifts. The positive side is the shops are close by, only about 15 minutes away...Hahahaha...learning to drive will be another challenge.

[StillThePrettiest 3]

I don't think London or Sydney are smaller than Houston

more tightly knit... perhaps

Houston is not a fairly old city, by any stretch of the imagination! it's young on both American and world scales... maybe the VERY central part is a bit older, but most of it developed in the last century, or even the last half-century; this was ample time to be thinking ahead a bit more... places in the UK which are far older are better planned, on pretty much all the points I named above

and regardless of that, it's what's happening NOW I'm concerned about... the new Katy freeway, something like TEN (!!) lanes across, was built with the capability of supporting light rail... but there are no plans to install one

why? it's mad; you could radically reduce the numbers of cars on that very road, with certainly no greater inconvenience than the building of the bloody thing in the first place, and start to off-set some of the costs immediately upon completion, with paying commuters, but no... there's no excuse for short-sightedness like that; EVERYWHERE needs to be thinking laterally about using alternative fuels and supplying alternative transport, and there's an opportunity right there on the doorstep, and nothing being done! it's mad

and yes, we have an HOA, and I've even been to a couple of meetings, but in what way does stopping someone turning their house into an eyesore remotely equal a sense of community? put bluntly, these associations seem to exist, in the most part, to safe-guard the value of people's properties (though they do, I grant, do a little bit of community stuff on the side, but it's precious little), not to actually bring neighbours together

even the way these neighbourhoods are set up is disturbing; little enclaves, with one or two entrances off the more major roads, consisting ONLY of houses; if you want to sit down with a friend over coffee or a beer (somewhere other than your own kitchen of course), or even buy a pint of milk, guess what? you've got to get in the car... TRUE communities, in my mind, have the houses, but also a couple of shops, maybe a cafe or pub or both; possibly even a church or a school or whatever... driving home to your nice non-eyesore house, and then getting back in the car to go out from behind your subdivision's walls to do ANYTHING, is not community to my mind

and that's not to say that neighbours can't be great anyway; ours are excellent, and were helpful during Ike, and are friendly all the time... but it's not community in the sense that it could be, and you only really get the chance to meet the people within a radius of a few houses

[TBoneTX 45,329]

you have to be VERY wary of heedless drivers

I -- a Sugar Land resident, si man -- am now on my second bumper-sticker that says: "So Many Pedestrians... So Little Time." I just run them over; they'll never be missed, no man.

More seriously, the bride (from Ecuador) is used to walking places; after a brief period of shock at how far away or apart things were, she simply decided to expand her idea of a "walking radius" to include more places where she wanted to go. When her brand-new used jalopy is retrieved from the shop and is ready for her destruction... er, use, there will be no stopping her, si man... er, no man... er...

[braveheart1 0]

Jon&Lydsney, public transport has a bad reputation here too. When I think of England where people think nothing of using a bus or a train ...well...Lets just say, this is a diferent world to get use to.

ThePrettiest...I'm hoping to be a volunteer computer mentor, teaching elders computer basics (ie e-mail, Word and the internet). The location is within walking distance so I hope they find me acceptable. If not, I'll keep loking.

Thank you to all the other VJers who responding to my post. Like I alway say, it's nice to know one can chat to people who are going through similar or the same experiences....It helps, a lot.