Struggling to adjust

[TBoneTX 45,287]

it's not that I get irritated that people 'don't agree with me', it's that people - particularly in Texas, from what I've been told by other Americans - don't accept the facts. Anthropogenic climate change is very real and people need to act and change their behaviour NOW.

See earlier comments about changing people.

A saying in the U.S. is "my way or the highway," which refers to inflexibility.

If Texas or Austin is not enlightened enough for you, or if the people are too dense to comprehend, accept, and act on your wisdom, the option is to relocate, with hopes that you won't encounter exactly the same reactions in your new locale.

Edited September 16, 2015 by TBoneTX

[SCOTTANDVICKI 11]

Following another conversation with husband, I'm pretty much set that life in the U.S. just isn't for me. Luckily he can work from wherever and will continue to tour and it looks like I'm off back to my lovely country where prioritising sustainable development is the law!

I'm glad so many of you have found happiness here, I'm certainly glad I gave it a try!

[TBoneTX 45,287]

Glad to hear that you'll again be among enlightened, right-thinking folk.

If you wish for this thread to be closed now, hit the "report" button and so request.

[SCOTTANDVICKI 11]

Many thanks for the sarcasm TBoneTX.

[TBoneTX 45,287]

It wasn't meant as sarcasm, but as an accurate description, if you view them that way. Sincere best wishes.

[Pennycat 880]

I'd urge you to try for more than three months, it really is worthwhile to live in a foreign culture at least once in your life (and learn to adapt). It really is mind-broadening in very important ways, and not one single ideology has the corner market on closed-mindedness. Liberals can be just as closed minded as conservatives and the key for growth and change is open minds. Also, the very real problems that you have touched on won't just disappear because you no longer live here, and a big one (climate change) is a worldwide problem that takes everyone contributing to the solution.

To me, to use an example from my immediate area, it is similar to DC area people who refuse to live in the Virginia suburbs because Virginia is a "red state" (it's not, really), and because gay marriage was not legal here (note: these weren't necessarily gay people, it was just something that some people would use as a bellweather to gauge if they thought a place was appropriately liberal enough for them). Quick geographical note-- Washington, DC is the city, and it is surrounded by smaller cities and suburbs in Maryland and Virginia. I live in a smaller city on the Virginia side of things, but I'm close enough to DC that I'm a bike commuter. But their kind of thinking is really counter to any real *progress*. Our last election for state attorney general was won by 165 votes. Out of over 2 million votes cast. If 166 of us Northern Virginians (who are by and large very liberal, especially when compared to the rest of the state) had chosen to live in "more progressive" DC or Maryland, then Virginia would have elected an attorney general who was dead-set on banning gay marriage, abortion etc etc....veeery far right, and religiously-based far right as well. Being part of the solution IS an option. It can be a struggle (as I think you're experiencing), but it's actually getting something done, rather than hanging around where things have already been done. Which, yes, is much more comfortable and easy. But you don't learn. And you won't really be changing anything.

Not to say that you have to live your life as an activist, or again, that Austin is the right place for you, or even the US. Just that three months is *nothing* in the grand scheme of cultural learning and adjustment, and there are very serious fruits to be harvested from having giving it a real shot. At the very very least, please don't think that you've gotten an accurate idea of "life in America" because you sincerely have not. At all.

You could even treat it as an exercise in political science. To see other systems of government and different political ideologies and how they do or do not work and why these systems and ideologies are in place in that location at that moment in history. There are very real reasons that American political culture is much more focused on the individual, especially compared with Europe. Mostly doing with the way the country was formed, the vast distances and a population that from the inception of this country could never be described as "homogeneous" (something that most European countries still are, and those that are starting to change to being more diverse are having real troubles with the more socialist ideals now....just take a look at Denmark and its handling of immigrants and refugees. There's a *reason* that Denmark has taken a drastic turn to the hard-right). It's fascinating to just think about, even if you still prefer the European model. This is the very reason I, as a political science major, spend my 3rd year of university abroad and lived and worked abroad as an adult. It was never easy. But I learned so much, both in book-learning and about myself, the world, its people and how we all interact.

[Pennycat 880]

Oh and a quick side note about driving. Yes, most of the US requires a car. Except for the older cities. Or "east coast style" cities (basically Boston through Washington, DC. Add in New Orleans, Chicago, Minneapolis and San Franscisco. An argument can be made for Portland, OR and Seattle, WA as well). And usually their closer-in suburbs. I was raised in a close-in suburb of a major east coast city and I didn't get my driver's licence until I was nearly 20, owned my first car at 22 (finishing up university in a rural setting).

I have lived in the DC area for 11 years, and have been car-free by choice for most of those (since 2008 I think, if I'm remembering correctly). It is beyond absolutely possible to do, and I prefer life like this. One of the main reasons I feel like I could *never* move to the west coast or California in particular is the huge dependency on cars that exists in the western part of this country. That is not where I want to spend my money or my worries. Texas, the southern states and the midwest (outside of old cities) are essentially off-limits to those who wish to remain car-free (or car-lite as it sounds like you're going for).

Now, if I *had to* relocate to any of these places for job or whatever, I could make it work to the best of my ability. I wouldn't like it, but I could do it. And I'd get more bicycle advocacy in, and maybe help a whole new set of folks see that bikes don't "impede traffic", bikes ARE, in fact "traffic". We all count on the roads. Ideally, cities set things up so that you don't have to have these sorts of conflicts but the same sorts of folks who think that bikes don't belong on roads also don't want to make bike lanes and so....we have advocacy. Because those two things (keeping bikes away from cars but not providing bike lanes) can't happen without mandating that no one ride a bike. And we can't limit people's personal freedom of choice so.... here we are

[decocker 7,198]

Many thanks for the sarcasm TBoneTX.

from reading through this entire thread...seems like what you were saying before, about americans being easily offended..goes quadruple for texans

ETA: i know quite a few people that left my neck of the words -virginia- for the more liberal/weird austin. none of them have come back or moved elsewhere. there are defintely likeminded people in austin, but from what i gather most folks who've lived there for quite some time are a bit resentful of all the hipsters moving in and taking over..maybe that's why it's difficult to seek the true liberal weirdos out, they're hiding.

Edited September 16, 2015 by decocker

[Darnell 8,478]

Thank you so much everyone! It's nice to know this is a common phenomenon! There was no real reason for us to live in Texas other than the fact my in laws are here (4 hours' drive north of us) and I'd liked Austin when we visited, plus it's a hub for live music so we thought that might present some new opportunities for husband. He left Texas to go to college in the early 90s and hadn't lived back here until now either. When we moved from the UK we had to pick somewhere so that was about it!

So I told husband (bless him, he's away on tour until November so there's sod all he can do about it right now!) that I'm going to go home to the UK in 2 weeks to regroup then we're going to figure something out. If he really doesn't want to go back to the UK we're going to move to the Pacific Northwest and I'm going to concentrate my job search in that area.

TBoneTX - I'm genuinely sorry if you feel that I and others are bashing Texas. I can only speak for myself but as a very liberal, relatively heavily tattooed, environmentalist woman TX just isn't the place for me. I work in communications and engagement around climate change and sustainable development and have done for the past 10 years. I just can't do that here because a large proportion of the people I've met (and the job market!) don't place as much importance on those things as I do. Plus the car reliance here is driving me mad! I didn't drive for years in the UK (again, for environmental reasons) and I feel guilty every time I get in the car. I'd like to live somewhere more walkable, with more accessible public transit so I don't have to drive as frequently.

ok - what news of seeking PACs that have local offices in Austin and applying for jobs there ? You seem to be a great candidate to work at a PAC in Austin - what's holding you back from:

1] seeking the PACs in Austin and

2] applying for jobs with the PACs that are listed in Austin (they rarely advertise for positions, fwiw) and

3] making appointments to speak with the head counsel in each PAC office and

4] finding then attending MEETUP.COM events in your area ?

Texas is an OIL state - many environmental PACs have offices in Austin as that's where the actual fight is, on a state level.

Seriously - what's holding you back from doing this stuff?

I ask, cause I am highly aware of all PACs' activity in Austin.

[Darnell 8,478]

bump