Thinking of going to Graduate School at UT at El Paso moving from South Florida? (West: houses, job transfer)

[joqua]

Not sure why this thread veered off into a debate about language.

The OP wrote in his introductory message:

I've lived in highly hispanic areas my whole life, and am actually quite fond of hispanic culture.

This would seem to indicate that the OP would be right at home in El Paso and at UTEP!

[unnativeelpasoan]

Originally Posted by kidicarus89

I'm neither saying that all Army transplants think that way, or that other migrants to El Paso assume that mindset either. I'm merely saying that from my small, anecdotal, sample-size the only time I've heard anyone claim that its impossible to get a job in El Paso unless you speak Spanish or that everyone in the city is Spanish-only, was from family members of Bliss personnel who were from areas where there were few Hispanics. I come in contact with a lot of Army personnel and their families in my job and the majority of them get by just fine beside the occasional minor gripe (and who doesn't in any new city?)

Ok. Totally fair enough! (Sorry.)

[unnativeelpasoan]

This would seem to indicate that the OP would be right at home in El Paso and at UTEP!

Yeah, he would probably be just fine here, but coming from S. Florida the dry weather and lack of water might be (for some people) really difficult to get used to. Also, I would argue that the Hispanic culture of S. Florida is definitely somewhat different than the Mexican/Mexican-American border culture that we have here in El Paso. And El Paso does not have the nightlife or cultural/arts scene of the Miami area, not even comparable. Also El Paso is a much more family oriented city. It would be, I think, a huge change from the Miami area. It is very hard to know if the OP would actually like it here.

[kidicarus89]

Originally Posted by unnativeelpasoan

Ok. Totally fair enough! (Sorry.)

No need to apologize, it's all part of the discussion.

[blue_915_tib]

I'd stay in Florida if i were you or look at other college options.

[julietbravo]

Originally Posted by kidicarus89

I don't know where you live, but it sure ain't El Paso. I only speak somewhat decent Spanish and have been able to get by in classes at UTEP (yes, in business, where half the students are from Juarez), at work where a lot of our employees speak poor English, at restaurants, in Juarez, and pretty much everywhere else. In most cases the person speaking in pure Spanish and me in pure English are able to understand and hold a basic conversation enough to get by.

Correct, you don't know where I live, and you are wrong. You shouldn't be so presumptuous as to assume that because my view of El Paso is different than yours, I don't live in El Paso. If you had actually read what I said, I said, "If you aren't fluent, you will be looked at and thought of as if you are scum by those from across the border." This is a fact, whether you want to admit it or not. I said nothing about "getting by", as you put it. If you speak a minimal amount of Spanish, of course you can "get by", but try seeing if you can get a job speaking only decent Spanish when there are many, but not all, that require you to be fluent.

[julietbravo]

Originally Posted by blue_915_tib

I'd stay in Florida if i were you or look at other college options.

This!

[malamute]

Originally Posted by julietbravo

Correct, you don't know where I live, and you are wrong. You shouldn't be so presumptuous as to assume that because my view of El Paso is different than yours, I don't live in El Paso. If you had actually read what I said, I said, "If you aren't fluent, you will be looked at and thought of as if you are scum by those from across the border." This is a fact, whether you want to admit it or not. I said nothing about "getting by", as you put it. If you speak a minimal amount of Spanish, of course you can "get by", but try seeing if you can get a job speaking only decent Spanish when there are many, but not all, that require you to be fluent.

That's a fact in many workplaces and also social situations here. There might be some English spoken if there are other English speakers but very often even if co-workers can speak some English, they'll converse in Spanish. I've encountered this very often, people complaining that they are left out of converations at work.

That doesn't bother all people, if you prefer to stay to yourself and don't care what everyone around you is talking and laughing about, you won't have a problem but many people feel quite isolated.

I've seen parties where one person sits alone because they aren't fluent in Spanish and all groups are chatting in Spanish. Obviously they were invited so it's not always exclusion of anyone who speaks English but it can be like living in a foreign country. Again, some people don't mind that, they don't need to be included in conversations going on around them, but other people won't enjoy that.

If someone wants to learn Spanish they could find the language immersion useful, it could be better and easier than living in Barcelona or Mexico City but they might not get the same quality Spanish here.

[kidicarus89]

Originally Posted by julietbravo

If you had actually read what I said, I said, "If you aren't fluent, you will be looked at and thought of as if you are scum by those from across the border." This is a fact, whether you want to admit it or not.

Yes, I read your assertion, and it is still incorrect. I come across Spanish speakers every single day at work, and sometimes I'll claim not to speak Spanish, and the reactions are as varied as the people themselves. Some might look visibly annoyed, others confused, some embarrassed that they don't speak English, etc. But asserting that if one action is performed (not speaking English) you will get a predetermined outcome (treated like "scum) is ludicrous. You cannot base "fact" on your personal anecdotal experience, and neither can anyone else here.

As for job searches, I myself have never run into the issue of needing Spanish fluency so critically. Perhaps if you are looking in the service industry or similar fields where an employer would understandably seek employees that spoke serviceable Spanish for their customer base, but not in the professional world have I ever seen this.

[eomrat]

I speak about 30 words of Spanish. In 3 years in El Paso, I only needed Spanish once and three different customers stepped in to help me. I am 23 years active duty military and have lived alot of places. I can state without reservation, that El Pas is one of the best. Friendly people, great food, and the best weather I ever experienced.

I have been gone two weeks and I miss it already.


FWIW, both of my children got jobs in the service industry within 2 weeks of arriving.