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Houston is hella hot in the summers. Add on to that humidity. It can come as a shock to newcomers. Winters are kine of mild. It might get one or two days of snow every few years. The last two years kind of seem like an anomaly. Winter and spring are nice but all too brief.

We have a really good local brewery that has good tear rounds and excellent seasonal beers. The food scene is pretty good.

You WILL need a car. As someone who has to get by without one because I can't get a license, all I can say is it sucks not being able to drive. The mass transportation system is a joke to put it in terms that the filters will allow.

The city is more liberal than the majority of the state possibly excluding Austin, but you will still find a good number of liberal haters here, and they like to take it to extremes. For what it is worth though we did elect an openly gay woman as mayor.

Hope that helps.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Heh... two posts at the same time that say mostoly the same thing.

I have never noticed the Persian food places... Any recommendations?

I hate big oil. See it is actually safe to say that here.

Fallen668 wrote:Houston is hella hot in the summers. Add on to that humidity. It can come as a shock to newcomers. Winters are kine of mild. It might get one or two days of snow every few years. The last two years kind of seem like an anomaly. Winter and spring are nice but all too brief.

We have a really good local brewery that has good tear rounds and excellent seasonal beers. The food scene is pretty good.

You WILL need a car. As someone who has to get by without one because I can't get a license, all I can say is it sucks not being able to drive. The mass transportation system is a joke to put it in terms that the filters will allow.

The city is more liberal than the majority of the state possibly excluding Austin, but you will still find a good number of liberal haters here, and they like to take it to extremes. For what it is worth though we did elect an openly gay woman as mayor.

Hope that helps.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Heh... two posts at the same time that say mostoly the same thing.

I have never noticed the Persian food places... Any recommendations?

I hate big oil. See it is actually safe to say that here.

Go down Harwin Avenue. there were some decent place there.

Just don't say you hate oil in public. About half the people here work in the energy industry in some manner. Many may become unemployed thanks to the ban on offshore drilling.

Its a bit schizophrenic. We love guns but have one of the largest homosexual communities in the states. Many Absolute rednecks but also have the most performance theatre seats outside of NY. And it is hot. Not Singapore hot but hot enough. We use jalapenos to make up the difference.

MDG, regarding Houston vs. Baltimore, I think my questions would be how long you're planning to stay and how much are you looking to travel.

Houston is the bigger and better city. The heat & humidity there is just crazy in the summertime, as others have said. Baltimore is a smaller, kinda slow city. It's probably more like a UK town than Houston, but you might get bored there after a while. However, what Baltimore has is access to other major cities on the East Coast. DC is very close. Philadelphia is 90 minutes away. NYC is a few hours away. So while you might run out of things to do in Baltimore, if you can get out to travel you're within very reasonable driving distance of some really major and iconic American cities.

And how much does it cost to run a car in Houston? Been driving for a number of years (including cabbying last year) so it's more the cost that could be prohibitive. It's hellishly expensive in the UK to drive!

As for Oil? Necessary evil. We need it, so we get it. Keeps the world ticking and people employed, and we'll replace it when we need to with something else.


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Oh, and how long I stay depends upon my Visa. Ideally at least a couple of years, then move on to a new location. Getting itchy feet these days, and it seems an ideal way to experience a bit of the globe.

Main question though....tell me Baltimore (it has the name Balti. It better do!) and Houston have proper Indian Curry Houses. I like my various Cuisines, but sometimes you just want a nice comfortable Bhuna!

I'm sure they'll have Indian food there. You can get anything just about anywhere. I mean, you can get sushi in Nebraska, and it doesn't get any more landlocked that that.

Now as to whether it's good Indian food, I haven't the foggiest. FWIW, I mentioned here a while back that I never got the UK obsession with Indian food (I personally think it's nothing special) and was assured that the Indian food in the UK is much better than what we're getting here. So it's at least possible you'll be out of luck in that regard.

On the Houston side there are a few. If thats where you head I can get more info from a couple of Canadian expats here who are Indian.

You should move to the Philadelphia area, because we have cheesesteaks and soft pretzels, and that's all anyone needs to eat. Great food overall though, lots of italians around.

It's also got the best and safest weather overall. You actually get all 4 seasons, snow in the winter, hot in the summer, nice in spring and fall. No earth quakes, no tornados, and any hurricanes that swing by are mostly blown out by the time they get here.

Nice (and not so nice) downtown areas if that's your thing, nice suburbs and plenty of open space if you want to live in the middle of nowhere. There's also quite a few good game shops in and outside the city. There's also way too many liberals, so you'll fit right in.

Don't come here if you're looking for local sports teams that know how to play, cuz they all suck and pretty much always will.. but we all love our teams anyway.

Go somewhere in the Carribean! Clear blue oceans, white sands, NO WINTER! paradise!

Really guys? Y'all are going to say Baltimore over Philadelphia? We have it going on in Philly. One of the strongest economies in the country, one of the most historical cities, the best hockey team, and are liberal, with good gun laws. International airport and nationwide railways. The seasons here are average, hot summers, cold winters, good spring and fall. We have the American heritage in our back yard without the "I'm American so I'm better then you" attitude. And we have Wawa.


EDIT: spelling errors lol

CadianXV wrote:I've heard Texas is pretty liberal

Actually Austin is pretty liberal. Go to Austin, I'll be there. We can hang out! :p (This may either entice you or deter you depending on your view of me! hahaha)

MDG did say Houston or Baltimore...Philly wasn't an option.

Inquisitor Lord Bane wrote:Really guys? Y'all are going to say Baltimore over Philadelphia? We have it going on in Philly. One of the strongest economies in the country, one of the most historical cities, the best hockey team, and are liberal, with good gun laws. International airport and nationwide railways. The seasons here are average, hot summers, cold winters, good spring and fall. We have the American heritage in our back yard without the "I'm American so I'm better then you" attitude. And we have Wawa.


EDIT: spelling errors lol

Mmmmm.. wawa tuna... no idea what's in it, but I could just eat a bucket of that stuff with a spoon and then just die happy

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:So, circumstances are changing rapidly for me, and it now appears that I may have the chance to work pretty much anywhere in the world.

I quite fancy a spell in the US, so I was wondering if anyone could give me some pointers about where to avoid, where is good etc.

Moving to the US?

Staying any length of time, pick a larger city on either of the coasts, and you'll do fine. East from DC up to Boston will be more European in flavor. West will be more Asian. Latin is heavy in Miami & LA/SD. Midwest is good for a short time (Chicago or MSP), Denver & Dallas, too. Regardless, if you come out, do some travelling - there's lots to see here.

If I had arbitrarily large income, I think I'd pick San Fran - nice city with good weather, great Chinese food. If I had arbitrarily huge income, Manhattan is definitely the place to be.


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rocklord2004 wrote:You could move to Sprindale or Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Arkansas? Seriously? I know people make jokes about Arkansas being a bunch of inbreds, but I've actually been to Fayetteville, and it's the only place I've ever been served by a bearded waitress. No joke.

I'd advise the OK to avoid Ark like the plague. No offense intended.
____

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:So it appears a move to the US would involve either Houston, or Baltimore.

I lived in metro DC for many years, and Baltimore will be insanely hot and humid during the summer. And you will suffer allergies. But most of the wet parts of the US are like this during August. Balty is a blue collar town, gritty, not so nice. I'd recommend metro DC if possible.

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:And how much does it cost to run a car in Houston? Been driving for a number of years (including cabbying last year) so it's more the cost that could be prohibitive. It's hellishly expensive in the UK to drive!

As for Oil? Necessary evil. We need it, so we get it. Keeps the world ticking and people employed, and we'll replace it when we need to with something else.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh, and how long I stay depends upon my Visa. Ideally at least a couple of years, then move on to a new location. Getting itchy feet these days, and it seems an ideal way to experience a bit of the globe.

Main question though....tell me Baltimore (it has the name Balti. It better do!) and Houston have proper Indian Curry Houses. I like my various Cuisines, but sometimes you just want a nice comfortable Bhuna!

It is true that a car or at least a carpool will be necessary in most areas of the US. The vast majority of cars you will encounter run on petrol, not diesel, and they're automatics usually ( though mine is not, I won't drive one if I can avoid it). I was told that wasn't the case in most of Europe. I don't think gas is as expensive here as it is in Europe. Its priced on the gallon, not the liter, and where I live its running something like 2.50$ per gallon.

Necros wrote:You should move to the Philadelphia area, because we have cheesesteaks and soft pretzels, and that's all anyone needs to eat. Great food overall though, lots of italians around.

You're kidding. The weather here is disgusting. Unbearably hot and humid from late May through September, and bitter cold from about October until March.

Honestly, we are not a friendly people. I love this town and will probably never leave, but I can't see the attraction for an out-of-towner. Baltimore, I feel the same way. Texas, in another life with less attachments I would move there in a heartbeat.

I'm not a native Philadelphian, but I think Philly gets a bad rap. It's a big city...big cities ARE unfriendly, especially those in the NE. Philadelphia isn't any unfriendlier than Boston or NYC, IMO. Chicago might be more friendly, but by the same token LA might be unfriendlier in its own way.

I really doubt it's anything different than what a Brit experiences in London.

Regarding weather, you're exaggerating. Philly isn't Atlanta hot, or Houston hot, or New Orleans hot in the summer. And it's not Buffalo cold, or Minneapolis cold, or even Pittsburgh cold in the winter. And I think that was Necros' point...you experience all the seasons, but not the worst extremes you'll find in the U.S.

It'd take a LOT to get me to move my family to TX or anywhere in the South or Midwest, other than maybe Chicago. I like my eastern seaboard and all the different cities and experiences that are a short drive away.

Been to and have lived in both cities and they have many similarities.

Both are or have:

1)Blue collar cities with a sizable harbour economy.(Baltimore will seem better on payscale until you see the cost of living. Houston doesn't pay as much but housing and living costs are more moderate.)

2)Lots of wargaming(Baltimore used to be right next to GW's US Production Headquarters before it moved to Tennessee and both cities/areas have lots of gaming locations).

3)Really good food.(Baltimore is slightly more Seafood oriented because of their locally harvested Crab. They also have good greek food and reeaallly good Diners, Check out the Double T Diners if you go there. Houston has a greater variety of good food and the overall quality of the food is better. In Houston you will find really good Cajun, Barbeque, Mexican,Tex-mex, Asian, Soul food, Southern down-home style, Mediteranean, Indian, Sushi, and Steak. Then you get into the National food chains that serve the same adequate fare that is served every where else in this country. Both cities have a place where you can buy Haggis in a store but not in a resturaunt.)

4)A rep for being heavy drinking towns.(Depends upon your preffered beverage as to who has the edge here. Both cities have nearby communities of german descent that make quality beer)

5)Miserable during the summer.(Edge goes to Baltimore in the sunner for better climate and winter depends on how much you like snow)

6)More than their fair share of redneck idiots(Houston has East Texans and Lousianans while Baltimore gets West Virginians and Rural Pensylvanians.)


There are a few differences that may swing your decision.

Baltimore is right next to DC and is a 3.5 hour drive to NYC, a 7 hour drive to Boston, and about 8 hrs to Canada(Should you need to escape). Houston has similar drive times to Austin/San Antonio(2 Hrs) Dallas(3 Hrs), New Orlean(6 Hrs), and Mexico(8 Hrs).

Baltimore doesn't have as many creepy crawly insects, arachnids, and snakes as Houston. Houston has access to a prettier and less developed coast.

Baltimore has a great Payscale. Houston has affordable housing.

Baltimores West Virginian and Pensylvanian Rednecks out racist the entire south. Houstons East Texan and Louisianan rednecks Have access to swamps with alligators if they don't like you......... I kid. Everyone in America Loves a Scottish accent. Even if it has become Cockneyed up by living in the East end. Dating will be like shooting fish in a barrel.


Hope this helps

Hope this helps

focusedfire wrote:
Houstons East Texan and Louisianan rednecks Have access to swamps with alligators if they don't like you......... I kid.

So you've met my family then...

Ancient Buddha say:
"Don't with Frazzled! That crazy bastard has two count em TWO bayous within walking distance, and has relatives living on the edge a swamp. Plus he has two chainsaws and always looks at me funny, kind of like he's hungry, gives me the willies!"