From Calif...thinking about UofH...?

Question

Hi, I am thinking about moving from California to Houston to go the UofH to get my masters degree in hospitality. My question is "Do Houstans hate Californians?" I know this is a problem in the deep south. I am a republican if that helps. :) Tell me about the city...good areas, bad areas. I would love to live in a quiet community, maybe with a golf course (I love to golf!) Also, I have heard that the city has "gone down" since Katrina due to the large masses of unemployed people coming from NO. Is it really as bad as the media says? Is the City of Houston doing anything to correct this problem (if there is one)? Thanks everyone.

Answer 1

seriously, the hilton program at UH is the place to be. the restaurant there, eric's, is even on many "best" lists.

i've been with the UH for my entire looooong academic career (i'm pursuing my MA in literature right now). the improvements to the university have been grand, even if we pay more now. i'm a FAFSA kid, and i still think UH is worth it.

i have never heard anyone say anything bad about anyone from the west coast in general. my husband was born in modesto, actually. our problems with race here are more of the color variety. houston, however, is such a diverse place, i'd be willing to say you have less chance of being hated on here than in many other towns in texas. just stick to places within and close to the city - santa fe, a small town about an hour outside houston, is a thriving center for the kkk. -this is a fact, so no follow-ups about how that's not true, and don't freak out if you live in santa fe, i don't mean YOU are-

houston is an interesting place. we have great night life, wonderful museums and galleries, and our alley theater is more renowned than many people think. we get most of the major concerts, and dining here is good. the thing about houston is, the best things to do are outside the city, i.e. moody gardens or the strand (galveston), old town spring (spring), kemah, the woodlands, etc. tourist spots in the city are usually malls or other places designed to help you spend your money. my husband and i are young (i'm 28) and we have a 3 year old son. and every weekend we stare at each other and say "what do YOU want to do?" and we never really come up with a good answer.

and yes, it's hot. hot hot hot. i've been here for 15+ years and i still hate the humidity, which is really worse than the heat, and is as bad as people say. we don't have seasons (whoosh, there goes fall! bye bye spring!), and it just isn't very pretty here.

but people are nice - really nice. and once you're here, you settle in easily, and find it hard to leave. if you want to live in a "golf course" community, look at areas on the outskirts of town, including sugarland, friendswood, pearland (on the south) or anything outside the 610 loop on the north side. bellaire, river oaks, and braeswood are really nice inner city neighboorhoods, but very pricey.

crime is bad, and it has gotten markedly worse. i live on the southwest side, where it has been "the worst" in the city - well, a few blocks from me, actually. for almost all the time i've lived here, i've lived in the southwest side (and yes, i have been the victim of petty crimes). now i've had enough, and we will move to another part of town next year. if you can avoid the sw and nw sides, you have a better chance of avoiding crime. mayor white really is fantastic, and i think the city is doing everything it can. the apartment complexes are really bad, for instance, and the city has implemented several task forces just for apartments. but for many reasons (i hate to blame katrina alone), the crime IS worse, and hasn't really been getting any better. but it may just need time.

this is long winded, i know, but i have strong, if not mixed, feelings for this city. and for the UH - i love my school, and it's been good to me. if you come, welcome - i'm sure you won't regret being a cougar!

Answer 2

I've been all over the US, and I like Houston best. Mayor White has improved the city a lot. I have lived in Houston for a total of 25 (non-consecutive) years and I've never been the victim of a crime (except, if you read any of my questions, a crazy ex stalking me). We have our share of fatties, but many good looking people too (so, if you're single, it's a good place to meet people). No offense, if you're on the heavy side, I just thought I'd mention it since Houston was named fattest city two years in a row. If you like fine dining, then Houston is the place to be. We have food from all parts of the world. The weather isn't great, but that's why we have A/C! Do Houstonians hate Californians? No, why would we? Besides, the Hilton school of Hotel and Restaurant Management is where you really want to go. So do it!

Answer 3

I grew up Houston, Graduated high school there, Happiest day of my life was to move, U can expect to sweat when its 70 degree's outside, The humidity is terrible. Care-full to not get carried away with the mosquitoes the size of the Red hawks we have here in So-Cal, And beware, Just like any other city with a population of 4 million plus, The crime of big city living is bad

Answer 4

we are very friendly here. we don't hate Californians. being a Republican should help you out (there are a lot of those here). the city is very big and very diverse. lots of golf courses in and around town! coming from CA you will be amazed at how cheap you can find a place to live here! There are lots of good areas (close enough to U of H) to settle - too many for me to list....
so I hope you end up coming to TX.
I think you will enjoy it.

except it does get very, very hot in the summer.
just stay indoors or find an apt. with a nice pool.

welcome!

Answer 5

i highly recommend visiting for a few days just to get a feel for it all. this town isnt for everyone, just like texas isnt for everyone. the weather is very different from cali and depending on where you are from, there could be some culture shock. in general, i think most people are very open to people from all over. texas is booming right now with all the people coming from other states, the more the merrier! there are some great areas of houston, so the crime and problems are not prevalent everywhere. it just depends on what you are looking for and how much of a change you are wanting to make from your current lifestyle.

Answer 6

H-town's very diverse and mostly democrat. Most people aren't even from Houston or Texas. Nice and cheap, but unless you're from LA, you'll be shocked at how bad crime is. Couldn't wait to move out.