Job offer in Brownsville, TX area (Harlengin, TX, McAllen, TX) (San Antonio: 2009, apartments)

[AKACarmen]

I am hoping someone out in cyber world can assist and help with some questions, .

Recently, I was offered a job in communications in brownsville, tx, I was flown to brownsville, and only say the trip from the airport to the interview site.

I did some research, and much of the stuff, I found online was very negative. As a female, the offer is a good career move, but at the same time, I am not trying to jeopardize my young life. I did not see any decent townhomes or condos, i read where there a rats in the apt. buildings, illegal immigrants, and drug cartels hide in many places; and honestly, i would not know where to begin looking at what. i was very surprised to see how close the mexico border is to brownsville, as well as south padre island. while i was there, I did not see any people that looked like me.

can any one provide honest information about this city? Many collegaues live in rancho viejo, and they seem to like it, with some comments of immprovement.

please can someone help, i was asked to start work at the end of march 2009.

[dizziedup]

Well, I can't say much about Brownsville, but you mentioned Harlingen and I spent most of my life (I'm only 20, lol) growing up in Harlingen! Honestly, I only have good memories from my years there, and I'd go back in a heartbeat!

But keep in mind that I grew up in the Treasure Hills community -- specifically in a gated community very close to the elementary school. My dad is an attorney, so we had a respectable income, too. As far as crime goes, I live in the Naperville area now (once rated the best place to raise kids, or some such nonsense) and my parents were more anxious about us here than they were in Texas. I remember riding around the neighborhood with my girlfriends all the time without any fear for our safety. Also remember that I was just a kid!! Obviously life would seem more idyllic to me because I would probably be sheltered.

The only complaints I remember about housing were that when new neighbors brought in palm trees to be planted, there were occasional cockroach issues. And sometimes tarantulas find their way indoors... but it's nothing that can't be handled. Everywhere you go, there are going to be some kind of pests.

Though there are a lot of hispanics there, I don't remember that being an issue. There is some anxiety about illegals in the area, but I don't recall that being a cause for concern, necessarily. Then again, kids are often more forgiving of race issues (or so I've been told!). I mostly spent time around people like me -- WASP-types -- but in school I was exposed to lots of diversity and it was never an issue. If anything, take advantage of the close border to visit a foreign country and have a little bit of fun.

South Padre, by the way, is popular for good reason. It's definitely a fun place.

I don't remember drug cartels being an issue at all.

It might help if you mention where you're originally from... just for comparison purposes!

And for the record, I'm basing all this on memories, so take what I say with a grain of salt! I hope it was helpful, and good luck!

~Jinx

[AKACarmen]

Thanks Jinxk,

I am originally from Calif., but currently live in NY, and was offered a job there. I hear the weather is very nice, all year round. I am in my mid 20's, and am looking for the best career move, I did here about Harlengin, and people say it is well off. Just as you, I come from a legal back ground, i attended prive schools, and have always lived in a gated community.

This move would be considered a risk for me, but I am not sure - the pple that I am in contact with in brownsville, they are telling me good things, but i am not sure it is b/c they are there, i need some honesty, no sugar coating, i guess i am looking for reality.

u mentioned coackroaches; i am very afraid of those - esp. the ones that fly, i have a scar to prove my fear of them, so that does not sit well. I want to comfortable and safe. i was told police is not trustworthy.

i appreciate u sharing your memories with me, and u shed some light, but at this point i am looking to the blue skies to uncover the warmness of brownsville. what about hurricanes? any suggesions on apartments.

again thank you for the post/reply. i do appreciate it.

[texan55]

private schools... gated communities.... afraid of bugs... honest answer, you probably would not like Brownsville.

Brownsville and the valley are very different, a lot of people don't like it, but a lot of people do.


Have you seen Bizarre foods with Andrew Zimmern, or Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations?

If you have, did you ever think, "Hey i'd really like to do something like that!"

or did you think "What the hell, these guys are idiots for going into dirty trashy places with horrible people."


depending on your answer, that'll tell you if you'll like the area.

Also, you'll want to learn Spanish... not a necessity but it'll make life in Brownsville a lot easier.

[AKACarmen]

Sorry, I have never saw those shows; and honestly being that I just graduated from college (dec 2008 with MBA), I don't invest in cable when enroled in school, so i have never seen those shows.

i was told since brownsville is tx, pple ar required to spk english, i understand some spanish, but if u r asking if i can hold a full conversation - no, i can not.

yes i am extremely afraid of bugs, i just got over the fear of dogs...

again, thanks for the insight, the things i am finding out here, pple at the jo site are not telling me.

so i appreciate all of you and everyone who is responding to this thread. relocating is very hard, esp. when u don't know the are and when u r trying to make a move in the industry.

again, thanks to all.

[NOTAM]

ha yeah...same way i got "suckered" into a job in South Texas....got flown in and whisked from the airport and back...and was kept so busy, wined and dined, so to speak, that I didnt have time to get a feel for the area...
one year in hell...glad i got out before that area sucked the spirit and soul out of me.
definitely NOT the place for a single professional female, unless you are hispanic. and you say you didnt see any people that looked like you. well you better be prepared then. if you are light skinned caucasian type with anything but dark hair, you may stand out and you will be stared at. i got sick and tired of the staring. but that was just one thing. i got stalked by a hispanic law enforcement official. i felt very unsafe down there and unprotected. i was not accepted. folks for the most part were not friendly and the ones who were, were very guarded-because they knew i wasnt "one of them". i got asked a million times "what made you decide to move here of all places?" and even the locals couldnt understand why someone would VOLUNTARILY move there.
be careful, very careful, and go visit AGAIN and spend time at the places you would be going to e.g. Walmart, HEB, post office etc.
disclaimer: no i did not live/work in Brownsville, but in the Corpus area....i can only imagine how much MORE geographically and socially isolated it would be to be even CLOSER to the border.
if i never see a green and white SUV again, uggh....(border patrol vehicles)..seems like that is all i saw day in and day out. and an endless supply of illegals everywhere.
i took a 20,000/year paycut to get out. worth EVERY penny. money aint everything and there aint enough money to get me anywhere south of San Antonio ever again.

[texan55]

youtube.com

hulu.com

google.com


you don't need cable to watch television shows these days.

[ladihawkae]

Originally Posted by AKACarmen

Sorry, I have never saw those shows; and honestly being that I just graduated from college (dec 2008 with MBA), I don't invest in cable when enroled in school, so i have never seen those shows.

i was told since brownsville is tx, pple ar required to spk english, i understand some spanish, but if u r asking if i can hold a full conversation - no, i can not.

yes i am extremely afraid of bugs, i just got over the fear of dogs...

again, thanks for the insight, the things i am finding out here, pple at the jo site are not telling me.

so i appreciate all of you and everyone who is responding to this thread. relocating is very hard, esp. when u don't know the are and when u r trying to make a move in the industry.

again, thanks to all.

yes, english is not the only language spoken in brownsville and many other border towns. there are high populations of spanish speaking citizens and that is normal. I would recommend learning at least the basics. Very nice people but language barrier can come into play if you need directions, or want to at least be friendly

[AKACarmen]

yes, i know the power of online media; basiclaly what i was saying is that throughout my life while in college, i've never had cable, to me it was a distract, and it allowed me the time to work on my academics. which is ok, i do enjoy online purpose of media, and to prove it i go to moviefather.com for all my movies... thanks for the post. it was a choice not to have the cable necessity.

[texan55]

Originally Posted by AKACarmen

yes, i know the power of online media; basiclaly what i was saying is that throughout my life while in college, i've never had cable, to me it was a distract, and it allowed me the time to work on my academics. which is ok, i do enjoy online purpose of media, and to prove it i go to moviefather.com for all my movies... thanks for the post. it was a choice not to have the cable necessity.

word.

check out the shows when you get a chance!