What do Austinites think of Europeans? (move, summer, people)

[twange]

Originally Posted by maadimom

You won't get a speeding ticket for 1km over the speed limit as there are no cameras.

Hate to break it to you...but there are cameras here now(as of May)! Seems to be happening all over the U.S. Here's where they're at:



*Northbound MoPac Expressway at Howard Lane/Wells Branch Parkway

*Southbound MoPac Expressway at Howard Lane/Wells Branch Parkway

*East frontage of Lamar Boulevard at the south frontage of Ben White Boulevard (eastbound)

*MoPac southbound service road at eastbound U.S. Highway 290

*Northbound I-35 service road at 11th Street

*Southbound I-35 service road at 15th Street

*Riverside Drive at Pleasant Valley Road

*West frontage of Lamar Boulevard at Ben White Boulevard (or Capital of Texas Highway) westbound/northbound

*Southbound I-35 service road at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard

[hinke]

Are those speeding cameras or for catching people who run red lights?

[twange]

Originally Posted by hinke

Are those speeding cameras or for catching people who run red lights?

Thanks for asking that: you're right, red-light runners NOT speeding.

[jeffari-al-texani]

Originally Posted by UK-Swiss

Of course I speak funny in english, because my 1st language is french

Glad to see that you could tell I was joking!!!

I'm not in Austin any longer, but where I worked when I was there was almost like the United Nations. Let's see what nationalities I can remember working with:

Bosnian
Serbian
Croats
German
English
Mexican
Guatemalan
Salvadoran
Ethiopian
Somalian
Indian
Pakistani
Puerto Rican (okay, not exactly a nationality)
and even the almost extinct Native Austinite

Oh, and they all told me that I talked funny!!!

But we had always had a good time.

Austin's a great place, and you shouldn't have any problems there at all. Well, except for some hellacious traffic.

[woodinvilleguy]

OK, so here is the plan. You move out here. Before you do, you take orders from us for Chocolate and Cheese. :-) Was just in Amsterdam and almost forgot what really good cheese tasted like. yum! but things are so much cheaper here.

[maadimom]

I am aware of the new cameras coming into operation, however, as mentioned those are for red lights not speeding. I can just see the news if and when they put up speed cameras here, and what would the headlines be if your picture was taken going less than 1mph over the limit and you were issued a fine.

I loved living in Switzerland, don't get me wrong. It is a beautiful country with wonderful food and amazing things to do and see. I never describe the Swiss as being unfriendly, although it is very tempting. I tried to explain to people that they live in this box and it takes a really long time for them to open it and let you in. (At least in Geneva) You will find the exact opposite here. I'm originally from Odessa where everyone talks to everyone else like they've known each other for a lifetime even if they just met in a store. My dad literally never met a stranger no matter how "strange" he appeared when he visited me wherever we were and that was not the norm. I personally feel that the world might be a much better place if everyone tried to be a little more like that.

So, I really hope you give us a try. I'm ready to place my chocolate and cheese order! Just tell me when!

And as for your girlfriend....We just moved here from Surrey. I use my TESCO shopping bags at my local HEB grocery store. I've had several British people stop me and ask me if I was British so I know there must be a lot of people here. She'll love the weather here. It's Nov 14, and I'm wearing shorts as we speak and sitting outside looking at a gorgeous sky! (we won't mention the cold front on its way!)

[UK-Swiss]

Originally Posted by corntortilla

I live in Austin but have visited friends a few times in Grand Villard, a tiny town near Bulle. It's so beautiful there. And oh, the fromage de Gruyère!

Really funny to hear someone speaking of Switzerland like that
My nan was born in Gruyère.

I agree about beeing more open to other people, but Switzerland is not like this One of the reason I plan to move btw. SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY, gah, we cant wait to experiment it!
The other main reason is the weather!

Anyway I doubt I could bring that much chocolate and cheese in plane

[jread]

Originally Posted by UK-Swiss

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

I'd say "Texas Hospitality". I don't really associate Texas with the "South" at all (Alabama, Georgia, etc.) Texas is more of a western state... especially when you get away from Eastern Texas.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by jread

I'd say "Texas Hospitality". I don't really associate Texas with the "South" at all (Alabama, Georgia, etc.) Texas is more of a western state... especially when you get away from Eastern Texas.

I agree. Texas is its own place. The hospitality that we have, I think, grew from being such a big, wide open place, where when you saw another person, it was a Big Deal and you were very glad to see them. We've kept that, I think.

[verybadgnome]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Interesting that you took that to mean that I think Austin is "perfect" or that there's anything wrong with the UK or Switzerland, as they are, where they are. What I mean is (and you should probably know this already since we've been in the same threads), people who come to Austin, with its own unique flavor (pistachio, say), and try to make it over into something it's not because they think that it should be that way (strawberry, say), never mind what the folks who are already here think, would not be welcome here, no matter where on the planet they come from. Those that come here to experience Austin as Austin and appreciate it are more than welcome.

I understand what you are saying but both Austin and Texas are unique. Austin is unique b/c it is an "open-minded" (or whatever adjective you choose) city in the midst of a very traditional state. Two is that the number of non-natives in Austin vastly outnumber the natives. Third is that culture changes over time, even when we don't like to admit it; the 70s culture in Austin is very different from this decade's. And my final point is that we live in a very big country from which we rarely venture outside and this in turn creates a very insular, or some may even say, provincial mindset. No place is perfect but you get right down to it most people favor where they are from........and who are outsiders to argue? That last statement seems to contradict my second point, but a nice climate really does go a long way to pull people south.....or at least it did for me.