How is Brownsville? (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio: crime, hotel, dorms)

[mikejcalis]

Hey, I making this post for a friend who is coming from China to do her graduate studies at UT in Brownsville. I live in Texas but have never been to the city or that far south. I would appreciate if I can get some answers from people who live their or have current information about Brownsville.


1. How bad is the crime? Lots of murders? Is it dangerous for a women to walk alone down the side walk?

2. How good is the public transportation? She wont have access to a car so will rely heavily on cabs and buses

3. What is the general atmosphere of the city like? IS it hectic, loud, frequent political or racial drama?

4. Do you think she will encounter some bigotry, slight and individual or institutional? I know this seem like an inflammatory question, but with the current US mood that china is the bad guy and taking all of our jobs, I worry that may invoke some negative reactions. Difficult as the question may be to answer, just give me your best personal no BS opinion.


Thanks to everyone that replies

[mikejcalis]

First and last bump

[South Texas Sucks]

UTB urges warning in response to Matamoros shootout | urges, response, grande - Local - Brownsville Herald

[roflmao]

1. How bad is the crime? Lots of murders? Is it dangerous for a women to walk alone down the side walk?

Compared to other cities in the Valley, its on the better side. Not many murders but plenty of car thefts and petty theft/burglaries is the norm.

2. How good is the public transportation? She wont have access to a car so will rely heavily on cabs and buses

The Brownsville Urban System (or BUS, yeah bus..) is pathetic, though I have a biased view after years of using public trans in Boston and Philly. There are dorms (converted hotel that is now part of campus), and several (not cheap) apt complexes in walking distance.

3. What is the general atmosphere of the city like? IS it hectic, loud, frequent political or racial drama?

Hectic... not at all, very relaxed place. Political drama, always, but the normal 'he did this no you did that' bs.

4. Do you think she will encounter some bigotry, slight and individual or institutional? I know this seem like an inflammatory question, but with the current US mood that china is the bad guy and taking all of our jobs, I worry that may invoke some negative reactions. Difficult as the question may be to answer, just give me your best personal no BS opinion.

Yes and no. Yes, as any race other than Hispanic in this area will get some flak, but most of the time its indirect, little things to make things more difficult than they need be. Im white, 7% of population, and have been here for 15 years and only on the very rare occasion have I encountered direct racism. Most Hispanics are of the thought that if you are willing to live in a place with an overwhelming majority of another race, your probably not racist to them. At UTB, there is a good mix of professors and students from other countries, I know for sure there is one professor from China, she thought half a history of Asia course I took years back. And I say no due to one fact, there are two food groups in Brownsville, Mexican and (Americanized) Chinese. In between every corner taco joint is a Chinese buffet.

[victorialynn79]

Brownsville is a terrible place to relocate to. I am so miserable here that I actually googled "Brownsville sucks" to see what I would get, and I came across this post. Originally I am from San Antonio, TX (not too far away) but it is worlds apart from what is going on down here in Mexico, I mean Brownsville. STAY FAR, FAR AWAY! The people have a very negative outlook on life and display no sense of goodwill toward each other. They are lacking in character and blame each other instead of helping each other. Been here 6 months and already packing to leave. If you are not hispanic (which I am not) it just makes things so much worse. The locals are jealous of outsiders. P.S. Stray bullets from Matamoros have recently hit UTB campus. UTB is not a real school anyway. I commute an hour to go to UTPA I hate Brownsville that much. I know it sounds harsh, but it is reality.

[RGV]

Good riddens to you.

Need help packing?

[RGV]

Just looked over Victoria's profile. The above represents her only post. What garbage.

[Visitor2007]

If she is going to be a student, she can just stay in the dorm and live on campus. Eat there, sleep there, study there, live there, etc. Does she need to get out of the campus?

Originally Posted by mikejcalis

Hey, I making this post for a friend who is coming from China to do her graduate studies at UT in Brownsville. I live in Texas but have never been to the city or that far south. I would appreciate if I can get some answers from people who live their or have current information about Brownsville.


1. How bad is the crime? Lots of murders? Is it dangerous for a women to walk alone down the side walk?

2. How good is the public transportation? She wont have access to a car so will rely heavily on cabs and buses

3. What is the general atmosphere of the city like? IS it hectic, loud, frequent political or racial drama?

4. Do you think she will encounter some bigotry, slight and individual or institutional? I know this seem like an inflammatory question, but with the current US mood that china is the bad guy and taking all of our jobs, I worry that may invoke some negative reactions. Difficult as the question may be to answer, just give me your best personal no BS opinion.


Thanks to everyone that replies

[roflmao]

Originally Posted by victorialynn79

Brownsville is a terrible place to relocate to. I am so miserable here that I actually googled "Brownsville sucks" to see what I would get, and I came across this post. Originally I am from San Antonio, TX (not too far away) but it is worlds apart from what is going on down here in Mexico, I mean Brownsville. STAY FAR, FAR AWAY! The people have a very negative outlook on life and display no sense of goodwill toward each other. They are lacking in character and blame each other instead of helping each other. Been here 6 months and already packing to leave. If you are not hispanic (which I am not) it just makes things so much worse. The locals are jealous of outsiders. P.S. Stray bullets from Matamoros have recently hit UTB campus. UTB is not a real school anyway. I commute an hour to go to UTPA I hate Brownsville that much. I know it sounds harsh, but it is reality.

Im not Hispanic, im white, have lived here for 15 years, never had one problem with this. Maybe I should show you where the nice people are in town (mexican nationals are the rude ones you run into).

But UTB not a real school, yeah Ill agree with you on that one. They need to change "University" to "Community College" (they are only UT by name, they dont get the funding, taxpayers of Bville fund it)

[Mr. Solis]

Originally Posted by mikejcalis

Hey, I making this post for a friend who is coming from China to do her graduate studies at UT in Brownsville. I live in Texas but have never been to the city or that far south. I would appreciate if I can get some answers from people who live their or have current information about Brownsville.


1. How bad is the crime? Lots of murders? Is it dangerous for a women to walk alone down the side walk?

2. How good is the public transportation? She wont have access to a car so will rely heavily on cabs and buses

3. What is the general atmosphere of the city like? IS it hectic, loud, frequent political or racial drama?

4. Do you think she will encounter some bigotry, slight and individual or institutional? I know this seem like an inflammatory question, but with the current US mood that china is the bad guy and taking all of our jobs, I worry that may invoke some negative reactions. Difficult as the question may be to answer, just give me your best personal no BS opinion.


Thanks to everyone that replies

Answer to 1. There is crime, but mostly drug related, so if she will not be messing with dealing drugs, smuggling drugs, doing and buying drugs, she shouldnt worry about crime. I feel it is safe for her to walk and take the bus to and from the few places she will probably go, being that she will probably spend the large majority of her time studying, and hanging out at school. I go to UTPA, and the Chinese students here are very dedicated, have nice demeanors and don't attract crime and or violence. I'm sure you will hear horror stories about Matamoros and how dangerous it is, but as long as she doesnt frequent Mexico, and sticks to Brownsville and studying, she will just see that stuff on the news, like the rest of us down here, living here.....I live 1 mile from the border myself, and no stray machine gun bullets have hit anyone I know....

Answer to 2. Brownsville has a bus system, and it is still existing, so it must be alright. All the other towns down here do not have bus systems, and so, she can get around like that. Also, here at UTPA many students ride bycycles, and since we have nice weather this time of year, and most other times, I'm sure shes used to the heat in China, that would be an option, no license needed.

Answer to 3. Atomosphere is somewhat laid back being that Brownsville is nothing like Dallas or Houston. Where the college is located is right on the border, right by an international bridge, so there will be that, but graduate studies are held inside buildings with thick walls, air conditioning, very clean, and secure. Most graduate rooms and research areas are usually closed off pretty well against any stray people who might just want to wander around out of curiosity or ill intentions. I don't think she will have to worry about any political or racial drama. Being that we are almost 100% hispanic, we have brown skin, and to be honest, anyone else that has brown skin, kind of wont stick out. If she were going to a predominantly white or black area, I'm sure there would be more racial tension then there will be down here in Browntown.

Answer to 4. At UTPA, many of our professors and graduate students are oriental, and do not face any severe forms of discrimination. As far as us being mad at Chinese for taking over America, thats a mainstream, foxnews, kind of a deal. We are mexican down here, not in citizenship but culturally, and trust me, the "Chinese takeover" is not at all an issue down here. Especially among the students and professors she will be mainly dealing with.

So don't worry, and tell her to study here, its all good.