Hi there, my husband and I are moving to Houston in January. I have a couple of things that I am a little worried about and would hope that some friendly texans could help me out.
Number 1: Guns
Being from Canada the only kind of guns I have ever seen are the hunting kind. I have a small child and am a little skittish about him going to someone%26#39;s home who owns a hand gun. I know it is probably a silly stereotype but do the majority of people have guns and carry them around? Would it be considered rude if I asked someone if they had one before my son went there?
Number 2: Racial Tension
I recently had the terrible misfortune of visiting a Houston forum where people were EXTREMELY derogatory and hateful towards black people. It was really upsetting. In all my life I have never heard people use language like that except for on American History X and Jerry Springer. I am hoping that this is not the norm.
If someone could please set my mind at ease I would really appreciate it.
A little nervous about my move
Hi - I hope you and your family love it here!
1. Guns - yes a lot of people have them. Texas is also a state that allows a concealed handgun permit so there are people who do have a license to carry them -- the ones that go to the trouble of getting a license aren%26#39;t usually the bad people. I don%26#39;t believe that the majority of people carry them - but some do. Personally I don%26#39;t think it would be rude to ask your child%26#39;s friends parents if they owned handguns before you let your child go visit. One can never be too cautious - even if it seems silly at times. If you don%26#39;t want your child in a household that has guns - that is your decision and you should not be deterred from asking. That being said I don%26#39;t think Texas is any more dangerous to live than any other place. People here tend to be warm, friendly and welcoming.
2. Racisim - I have actually found racism to be worse in other states (Actually I found it surprising but New York was worse than Texas on my previous visits there). Houston is a very diverse city with large populations of White, African American, Hispanic, Asian, etc. For the most part all these ethnicities mix very well and enjoy good relationships with one another. I%26#39;m proud of my city%26#39;s diversity and behavior.
Texas is a great place to live and don%26#39;t let the stereotypes of the wild west scare you or intimidate you. Sure you can run into jerks everywhere you go and in any state or country but for the most part Texans are very welcoming. Good Luck!
A little nervous about my move
Dear Soon
Welcome to Houston and Texas.
Never hesitate to ask if there are weapons in the house and ask if they are kept in a locked closet or gun safe. Responsible parents and responsible gun owners will not be offended! The safety of your child is your first and primary concern.
For the most part, racial bias is a thing of the past. Yes, it does appear from time to time, but I find it more predominent in older people (70 or more yrs) who grew up during segregation.
You will find most Texas to be friendly and outgoing people. Please don%26#39;t confuse our interest in you for nosiness.
Thanks for your replies, I am feeling a little less anxious! I have so much to do and only 2 months to do it in! YIKES!
I have lived in the South now (various cities and states) for over 26 years of my life - and I have a few things to say about your concerns:
1. I have known very few people in my life that actually own guns - at least, if the fathers of my friends did - I did not know about it - so they must have kept them well hidden at least.
2. racism exists more in the small southern towns, where people can hang on to their ignorance more easily. Houston is a very international city. I lived in Houston for 7 years and never once heard any extreme racism as you are talking about toward people of different color.
Hi Soon2bTexan,
1. Guns- People in Texas have the right to own guns, but like the previous posters mentioned responsible individuals have a license. Also responsible people keep their guns in a locked case out of the reach of children. However, not all people here own guns. This is just a typical stereotype of Texans that is exaggerated in the media.
2. Racial Tension- Houston is a very diverse city. That is one of the best things that I like about Houston. There are people here from all over the world. I have neighbors of various ethnicities. I relocated to Houston from the east coast and I find that there is more racial tension in those places. The east coast cities (especially the public schools) are extremely segregated by race. The neighborhoods, working environments, and schools here in Houston are much more integrated. There are always a variety of cultural events going on throughout the city.
I also want to add that Jerry Springer and other sitcoms are not a good respresentation of Americans. Don%26#39;t believe everything that you see or read in the media.
To learn more about Houston check out these websites:
www.Houston-guide.com
www.visithoustontexas.com
www.HoustonNewcomerGuides.com
Welcome to Houston!
I have been to Toronto many times (lots of relatives there) and have lived in the Houston area. Don%26#39;t worry...I can%26#39;t really tell what the difference is except there is more stuff in French in Toronto. Both are big cities with lots of people. Toronto has as much racial tension as Houston or any other big city where lots of people from different cultures and colors live. As for the weapons issue, most of the Texans I know have more hunting guns than personal weapons and keep them locked up and out of reach of children. Houston has had a bit more crime lately, much having to do with a large influx of people from New Orleans after the Hurrincane Katrina. But just like any other big city, use common sense, lock your doors,etc.
You will find that most people are very friendly and care very much about families and children. 2 of my best friends are also Canadian transplants and have loved living in Texas quite a lot. We as a state are a lot like Calgary in terms of the oil/gas and ranching businesses.
Soon2be...
I wouldn%26#39;t worry about the racial tension. Unless you run around pushing everyone%26#39;s button and ticking them off.
About the guns, I will go off of your ';guns at home concern'; and tell you about guns and cars. I would be very cautious when driving in Houston. For the 10 years of commuting on Houston highways, I have never had a problem with guns or road rage. But, I personally heard of one bad situation where a foreign friend (only here for 8 weeks) had a gun pulled on him while driving. It was due to him cutting off a person carrying a gun (fortunately, nothing happened).
Back to you guns at home situation, I had an 8th grade classmate lose his life to a gun at home. Just make sure responsible parents are at home to watchover the kids.
If you are worried with crime, you are probably better off residing on the North side of Houston in the suburbs. I personally have moved from Houston and into the suburbs due to crime issues in my neighborhood. But as far as the guns in homes, not really sure.
Houston and the surrounding cities are pretty diverse and there are also quite a bit of mixed families. This makes it easier for the kids, and being of latin descent, I like the idea that children are more comfortable in any skin. It is unfortunate, but I think that no matter where you live in any part of the world, the older generation has more racial issues than the younger generations, whether they are white, black, hispanic, or indian.
I really dislike living in the suburbs, We are definitely city people. It is not really the crime I am worried about. I have lived in a big city for many years and have had very few problems. My problem is with inproper storage of fire arms and the accessability of fire arms to my child.
The North side isn%26#39;t the only safe side to live on. North I would choose Kingwood or Woodlands, South I would choose Clear Lake or League City. All are very safe.
Inner city I would choose West U, Montrose, Midtown - just have to be careful with schools in town and check them out, unless you are thinking of going to a private school - which there are plenty of as well.
The gun thing is a hard thing to answer - you would really just have to quiz the friend%26#39;s parents and let them know upfront that you aren%26#39;t comfortable having your child in a home with gun. Lots of people have them -- and most are probably very responsible.
No comments:
Post a Comment