On the way to Ft. Bliss (San Antonio, El Paso: apartments, rent, buying a house)

[Amandam789]

Well after looking over the forum boards for the El Paso area I'm kind of left with some questions. First a little background, I'm an Ann Arbor, MI native now stuck in Columbus, GA to move in April to Ft. Gordon for 4 months and then to head off to Ft. Bliss. I'm ok with the lack of rain and welcome the sunshine (So far it's what I like about GA).

Well since we don't have the option to come or not to come to El Paso we'll be arriving in August. I speak limited conversational spanish (probably enough to order food and buy items and ask where things are) I can read a little better than I speak. From what I understand from the postings this is a plus.

Now done with my rambelings and on to my questions:

Housing:

1a) I've looked at the pictures of housing on base and my husband will be a
2nd LT. Is it better to live on base or rent a house off of base? (Army spouses I'd love more information and any imput you have to find forums and websites of information)

1b) If we rent off of base (looking at the forums) it's pretty much a toss up where to look for a house? I'd like to live in the range of 30 mins away from base yet not too close to the border crossings. So far one post says look in the NE because it's close to base yet another says to stay away from the NE because of the gangs and lack of amenities. Is there street names/neighborhood names that I should stay away from? Or that anyone would recomend? I prefer to live in a quiet neighborhood approx. 10 mins or so to some shopping (I'll take a Target or Starbucks)

Dogs:

2a) We are bringing with us two small dogs (jrt's). What's the local animal life like? Birds? Snakes? Lizards? Bugs? Spiders? Tick and flea season? Anything in particular that I have to watch out for?

Job Market:

3a) I have a secondary education certificate and degree in teaching High School Science from Michigan. However, I've looked up the state requirements in TX and have found that I would need to take the state test to become certified there. Can anyone tell me of the possitives or negatives for teaching the different area school districts? I'd like to add that I have been trained also in teaching to english language learners (mainly arabic) but the same rules apply to teaching all ELLs. Also how is the substitute teacher/tutor market there?

Or should I give up teaching and sign up at utep for a nursing program?

Thank you all for any information that you share.

Amanda

[Muhnay]

Originally Posted by Amandam789

Well after looking over the forum boards for the El Paso area I'm kind of left with some questions. First a little background, I'm an Ann Arbor, MI native now stuck in Columbus, GA to move in April to Ft. Gordon for 4 months and then to head off to Ft. Bliss. I'm ok with the lack of rain and welcome the sunshine (So far it's what I like about GA).

Well since we don't have the option to come or not to come to El Paso we'll be arriving in August. I speak limited conversational spanish (probably enough to order food and buy items and ask where things are) I can read a little better than I speak. From what I understand from the postings this is a plus.

Now done with my rambelings and on to my questions:

Housing:

1a) I've looked at the pictures of housing on base and my husband will be a
2nd LT. Is it better to live on base or rent a house off of base? (Army spouses I'd love more information and any imput you have to find forums and websites of information)

1b) If we rent off of base (looking at the forums) it's pretty much a toss up where to look for a house? I'd like to live in the range of 30 mins away from base yet not too close to the border crossings. So far one post says look in the NE because it's close to base yet another says to stay away from the NE because of the gangs and lack of amenities. Is there street names/neighborhood names that I should stay away from? Or that anyone would recomend? I prefer to live in a quiet neighborhood approx. 10 mins or so to some shopping (I'll take a Target or Starbucks)

Dogs:

2a) We are bringing with us two small dogs (jrt's). What's the local animal life like? Birds? Snakes? Lizards? Bugs? Spiders? Tick and flea season? Anything in particular that I have to watch out for?

Job Market:

3a) I have a secondary education certificate and degree in teaching High School Science from Michigan. However, I've looked up the state requirements in TX and have found that I would need to take the state test to become certified there. Can anyone tell me of the possitives or negatives for teaching the different area school districts? I'd like to add that I have been trained also in teaching to english language learners (mainly arabic) but the same rules apply to teaching all ELLs. Also how is the substitute teacher/tutor market there?

Or should I give up teaching and sign up at utep for a nursing program?

Thank you all for any information that you share.

Amanda

Hello, I am a Da Police officer on post, and will try to answer your questions.

As for the Heat, I dont think your ready for how hot it can get here. Just be ready, it can get quite hot. And Dusty, keeping the dust under control is gonna be a real pain.

1A: There is a slew of new housing, and some of the old housing is not that bad.. it is rather large. But be warned there is no standby housing, so you'll be left staying at the Fort Bliss Inn and will have to pay for that up front out of pocket, and be paid back later.. there is a 50 dollar deposit on animals there, if you leave you dogs in the car, and we see it, we fine upto 200 dollars per animal. Call ahead and make sure they have a pet room for you.

I have always preferred to live off post.

1B: The Patriot Apt just off Fairbanks are pretty new and nice, Butterfield trail is also nice, but they did get hit pretty hard by our recent flooding. Stay away from the stuff near popst or off of dyer, and stay out of the devils triangle. There are some real nice Apt on the mountain over looking El Paso, and being a 2nd Lt. you should have no problems affording them. Be warned though that many places have jacked rents up recently because they know the troops are coming and they want to really rake you over the coals. Just be fore-warned.

North East is pretty laid back, if you can try to get out near Trans Mt, Fairbanks area, and stay away from the Dyer apartments. East Side just off Montana and near the mall are also nice areas. If you need any info, pictures let me know. I'll see what I can do for you.

2ogs.. I have 3 small dogs as well. They will be fine, Pit Bulls, as well as any fighting class dogs are not allowed on Fort Bliss/Biggs. On post we have a skunk problem, so if you live on post, just know that a curious dog may need a bath if you leave them out at night.

3A: I would suggest tryng to get your cert. here and teaching on post. But if you want to be a Nurse, the there would be no better time to train as one.. Texas Tech Medical is highly reguarded here.

Hope that helps, if there is anythig else you need to know, please ask.

[elpasojeff]

Amanda:
Welcome. I have lived in El Paso for over a decade.
With the proximity to the Post; I think you will like Northeast...
We have great people; terrific scenery...a Wal-Mart and K Mart.

The area called the Devils Triangle is bordered by Gateway North, Dyer Street
and Hondo Pass...that area seems to be where alot of the gang activity takes place.

We have three dogs.. Due to the low humidity there is no flea or tick season.
El Paso has scorpions, tarantula's and roundrunners. If you live on the mountain you will encounter the occasional rattle snake. There are also coyotes, foxes, and skunks. Our neighbors dog met a skunk recently and the skunk left a lasting impression!

El Paso always needs quality teachers. If you live in Northeast you'll want to look at either the El Paso or Yselta Independent School district. Unlike "back east" there are nine school districts in El Paso County.

[Muhnay]

Let me say there are Ticks and Fleas here.. so dont be fooled and think just because the person above says there is no season, there is.. Its called Spring Summer and Fall, ticks and fleas are active here.. I guess its just not as bad as it is back east. we do have a parvo problem here so get your pups their shots.

[FB1977]

Hey Amanda, I'm in the same boat as you!

I'll be moving to El Paso probably this summer. My BF is in Warrant Officer school right now, and will be in EP by March. I'm from Illinois, but have already moved once to Hawaii, which was quite an experience, with many of the similar complaints posted about EP. I'm looking forward to the experience myself.

Anyway, just thought I'd say hi :-) and I'll let you know whatever I may learn of EP in the months to come.

[Amandam789]

Wow! Thank-you all for the information.

The husband and I are actually renting/buying a house so what are some of the reliable local news papers to look for such things?

Also since we have a lot of dog lovers replying any recommendations for a vet?

Also I know this is going to sound funny is there a talk radio station other than NPR? It's one of the things I miss from MI that all we have here in GA is NPR.

Also looking for an odd collection of food stores/resturants. Noodles and Company? Trader Joes? Whole Foods? Quizno's?

Again things we have in MI that seem to be missing in Columbus, GA.

Thanks Again!

[Muhnay]

Originally Posted by Amandam789

Wow! Thank-you all for the information.

The husband and I are actually renting/buying a house so what are some of the reliable local news papers to look for such things?

Only one newspaper now.. El Paso Times.

Also since we have a lot of dog lovers replying any recommendations for a vet?

My Aunt uses Doctor Harwood.. she is way over priced, but a very good vet.

Also I know this is going to sound funny is there a talk radio station other than NPR? It's one of the things I miss from MI that all we have here in GA is NPR.

We have plenty of Talk Radio here, you'll get your fill. Most on the AM bands.

Also looking for an odd collection of food stores/resturants. Noodles and Company? Trader Joes? Whole Foods? Quizno's?

We have a Quizno's, no trader joes I have seen, no Noodles and Company, whole foods not sure sounds familure.

Again things we have in MI that seem to be missing in Columbus, GA.

Thanks Again!

Your Weclome.. anything else?

[eptex]

Hi Amanda:

We have a few good veterinarians here in El Paso. I can highly recommend Desert East Animal Clinic on Pellicano on El Paso's East Side. Dr. Colvin and Dr. Klein. They saved my cat's eye when he was in a fight.

There are 3 Malls in EL Paso of which 2 have Macy's, Dillard's, JC Penney, and then all the other popular stores. Pier 1, World Market, Bed Bath, Kohl's we've got them all.

We do not have Trader Joe's or Whole Foods but there is a little Sun Harvest on El Paso's West Side. Not quite as fancy but you will find some international foods there.

El Paso is full of restaurants and fast food places. Haven't seen a Noodles and Company but there are plenty of chain restaurants. Red Lobster, BJ's, Cheddar's, Logan's Roadhouse, Cattleman's, Landry's, San Francisco Grill, Applebee's, PF Chang, Pelican's, Olive Garden to name a few. Many chinese restaurants, many true mexican food restaurants.

Don't worry about having to learn spanish. If the waiter in the mexican restaurant doesn't speak English, which is rare except you go to Chico's Tacos then you just point to what you want on the menu. If you hire a contractor, the supervisor usually speaks English, at least the ones I hire, but the rest of them don't.

Welcome to Sun City

[Muhnay]

Chicos Tacos... Yummy! its an addiction.

[TX girl]

Amanda,
We too are a military family told by Uncle Sam to move to Ft Bliss- late June/July 2007. Except that we are Air Force. We have 4 kids - in college, a HS senior, MS and ES-so that is very important. My only daughter will be moving her Senior year and is not too pleased. We will only be at Bliss for 1-2 years, so need to live in housing. Husband is Officer also, so we are told housing should be quick.

I'm curious what you have found out about housing, schools, community, etc. Any advice? I'm military brat, raised in Abilene, but have lived in Ft Worth, San Antonio, (Alamogordo, NM) and currently overseas.

I welcome thoughts, ideas and advice from anyone.

Thanks,
TX Girl