Job offer in Brownsville, TX area (Harlengin, TX, McAllen, TX) (Houston: insurance, crime)

[texan55]

wait wait... culture of dependence...


how much money has wall street received from the government? what about banks? GM, Chrysler, Ford?

Apparently most of the country is living in a culture of dependence these days.

[AKACarmen]

thanks u drop good points. i appreciate it.

[AKACarmen]

thanks desert dog, esp about insurance.

[AKACarmen]

Originally Posted by crbcrbrgv

I lived in the Valley for 6 years. I am from Chicago originally. Here are some thoughts after reading your post:

yes, i want to know more

-Forget restaurants if you are vegetarian -I am used 2 eateries having little to no veggie items on the menu; are there co-op markets there?

-Your car insurance is going up because so many people don't have insurance coupled with the high amount of Mexican nationals who drive on our side of the border - nothing i can do @ that, is there?

-There is very little to do outside malls and movies-particular not a mall or movie person; a good book(s) will do.

-If you like to exercise, good gyms are scarce- avid golfer, runner, yes im a gym rat. ARe there any run/bike trails? Country Club?

-The beaches are beautiful and South Padre is nearby-pass, they took me to s. padre island via video that the employees took, from the looks, i can do w/o spi.

-Whoever told you that because you are in Brownsville i.e. the United States and therefore people are required to speak Spanish is lying. Spanish is spoken more than English in many areas lying to a perspective employee is not good; y lie? Ppl are bound 2 c find out the truth, its just a matter of knowing it b/4 a move is made.

-There is a culture of dependence. If people living off the government for every aspect of their lives bothers you, you will not like the Valley. And I mean every aspect. From free breakfast and lunch at school for the kids to food stamps to Section 8 housing to getting more money for having more children-I dont judge, and since i don't know there situation, i can make or have a quick reaction; and i know its our money (taxpayers).

-Harlingen is much nicer than Brownsville. There is not much to do, though
-The closest major city in the United States is 250 miles away (San Antonio). - yes i heard about harlingen, i dont think i would live in bville; i was not impressed - at all; again my visit/interview was a drive by.

-The Mexican border cities are fun, but no longer safe to travel to with the cartel violence (Nuevo Progreso, a small town south of Weslaco is the exception)- yes i saw on the gov usa site, and many college sites that they are banding us/students and pple in general to stay away from mexico this spring break.

-Most educated people that live in the Valley are from elsewhere and most Valley natives who become educated leave. If they don't, they become teachers.- this is not a teachers job, but the salary they offered is very decent $52k, and i was told the media inclome is $9k; true or false?

Let me know if you'd like to know more.

yes, please tell me more, i'd like to take the chance i just want it to be a good risk; i keep telling my self, its only two years....

Carmen

[texan55]

median income in around 20-25k for most households.

a lot of people don't make much money at all.

but you also have to factor in that a lot of people are involved in the drug trade, so you'll also see a lot of wealth and wonder "where the hell are they getting that kind of money"... and if you don't think that's true, I could show you a lot of the houses/people.


the school district is the biggest employer in brownsville... so take it from there.


there is a nice bicycle/jogging trail that goes across a good portion of the city.

it also connects to a series of other jogging/bicycle trails which are pretty nice.

on the north west side there's some decent mountain bike trails.

there's a brand new sports complex with bicycle trails, a bmx course, skate park, bunch of different fields (soccer, football, baseball)

resaca de la palma state park also just opened... it has jogging/bicycle trails.

sabal palm sanctuary is on the south side, it has trails that you could walk/jog.


laguna atascosa is pretty huge and you could jog and bike ride there too.





there's a new farmers market every sunday at linear park right downtown, it's actually pretty nice, but i think it's too upity... i would instead recommend going to the 77 flea market where there's a bigger selection of locally grown produce at better prices.

[tigerwoodsyall]

The Valley sucks, take it from someone who lives there, and I live in the nicer parts of the valley North McAllen/Edinburg area. I have been trying to get away from this hellhole for the past couple of months, getting job interviews in Houston and San Antonio but still no ****ing luck.

Trust me you won’t like it...If it helps your career that much though then it will be a tough decision. Also don't believe all that hoopla that the valley is so much cheaper because it's really not that much, especially when the wages down here are dog ****. It's literally the armpit of the United States.

[jgar477]

houston and san antonio are just bigger versions of the valley. everybody i know that leaves the valley goes either to san antonio or houston.

oh one other thing. hope you like tacos. thats the main staple down here.

and whoever said "real" mexican food is lying. there is no "real" mexican food. they have real tex-mex food though.

don't worry about speaking fluent spanish. alot of the locals can't even speak fluent spanish. just throw in an english word when you don't know how to say it in spanish.

[Marlow]

Whether you have fun and are successful in the Valley will be up to you and your attitude. My first job out of college was in Brownsville and I loved it. It was many, many years ago, but I'm sure that some things have not changed. There was a small, fun, fluctuating group of professionals, most, but not all, from outside the Valley, that I hung out with--print and television reporters, legal aid lawyers, photographers, teachers, university professors. People are amazingly friendly and will introduce you to their friends who will introduce you to their friends. I have nothing but great memories of the time I spent there.

While most of the United States looks uncomfortably alike, full of nothing but strip malls and big box stores, the Valley is still unique. And South Padre Island is lovely and close by.

You don't have to live there the rest of your life, but if it's a good job and you go down there with an open mind, you could have a really great time.

[AKACarmen]

W/O saying much, the group of people u listed are the ones I currently hang out with and belong two.
I know the routine of friends, of friends of colleagues, etc. IMO, its 50/50 career move.

There was a small, fun, fluctuating group of professionals, most, but not all, from outside the Valley, that I hung out with--print and television reporters, legal aid lawyers, photographers, teachers, university professors. People are amazingly friendly and will introduce you to their friends who will introduce you to their friends. I have nothing but great memories of the time I spent there.

I have no plans, I fiugre two years (short term), and then leave.
You don't have to live there the rest of your life, but if it's a good job and you go down there with an open mind, you could have a really great time.[/quote]

At this point, I have to do some soul searching, this forum has been AMAZING, , but as someone posted earlier, I should take another trip to make sure this is the right move.

Its sad to say, that since August 2008 (my final semester b/4 graduating in Dec.), I have applied to over 171 jobs, I have gone on several interviews, majority in TX (turned down job offers b/c of minimum pay); most of the jobs I applied for, the 90 days of posting or contacting has expired; I am REALLY trying to stay focus and not seem desperate to take hte first offer, but....

[AKACarmen]

A Relator called today and mentioned the areas you are in, but i was told thats a pretty distant commute from the job site in b'ville...

Originally Posted by tigerwoodsyall

The Valley sucks, take it from someone who lives there, and I live in the nicer parts of the valley North McAllen/Edinburg area. I have been trying to get away from this hellhole for the past couple of months, getting job interviews in Houston and San Antonio but still no ****ing luck.

If I had my choice, I would chose Dallas, over Houston and San Antonio, I'm a sports fan, and I need my choice of events to attend, esp. professional spots, i do njoy college sports, but prefer prof. I turned doen a job in Houston, it just seems OVER crowded, but I did see that they have a lot of property developing; I have family in the area.

Trust me you won’t like it...If it helps your career that much though then it will be a tough decision. Also don't believe all that hoopla that the valley is so much cheaper because it's really not that much, especially when the wages down here are dog ****.

I am just curious, are these raw emotions that u r speaking from or is the truth derived from frustration? Believe me, I feel you, I am frustrated too, the dreem job, I want is in another area.

It's literally the armpit of the United States.

Thanks for the reply.