Moving to Houston from Norway many questions? (The Woodlands, Katy: to rent, how much)

[Kunter]

We are a family of four moving to Houston from Oslo, Norway this summer. We have two sons 14 and 12 years old. My husband will be working in zip code 77041. We plan to put our sons in public school. Our sons are interested in sports soccer, karate, off-road biking, rollerblades and golf. We are moving from a total different climate and culture. We look forward to this but have several questions:

1) Which grade are you in the year you turn 12 and 14 years?
2) How is the school day organized? Start/end and are all sport activities at the school? How much homework do they have after school?
3) The school summer vacation is 3 months. What do the kids do for 3 months besides having some vacation with the family?
4) We know that it is hot during summer. What do the kids do in the heat - stay inside all the time? What kinds of activites are possible in the heat?
5) We are looking for a neighbourhood were we can do our sports activities and not having to long time in commute into TX77041. Any suggestions? school is a very important factor when we choose where to live.
6) Finally the heat how bad is it….this is my biggest concern!!

[Vicman]

Turning 14 = 9th grade - that is the first year of high school
Turning 12 = 7th grade - in many districts this is the second year of middle school/junior high school - in some districts this is the first year of middle school/intermediate school/junior high school

Now, since you will work in northwest Harris County, you will likely move into the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, which has a lot of top-rated schools. Just pick a good area near your workplace, and you are set

Originally Posted by Kunter

We are a family of four moving to Houston from Oslo, Norway this summer. We have two sons 14 and 12 years old. My husband will be working in zip code 77041. We plan to put our sons in public school. Our sons are interested in sports soccer, karate, off-road biking, rollerblades and golf. We are moving from a total different climate and culture. We look forward to this but have several questions:

1) Which grade are you in the year you turn 12 and 14 years?
2) How is the school day organized? Start/end and are all sport activities at the school? How much homework do they have after school?
3) The school summer vacation is 3 months. What do the kids do for 3 months besides having some vacation with the family?
4) We know that it is hot during summer. What do the kids do in the heat - stay inside all the time? What kinds of activites are possible in the heat?
5) We are looking for a neighbourhood were we can do our sports activities and not having to long time in commute into TX77041. Any suggestions? school is a very important factor when we choose where to live.
6) Finally the heat how bad is it….this is my biggest concern!!

[Vicman]

Wait, let me correct myself...

Turning 14 = 8th grade - in many districts this is the third year of middle school/junior high school - in some districts this is the second year of middle school/intermediate school/junior high school
Turning 12 = 6th grade - in many districts this is the first year of middle school/junior high school - in some districts this is the second year of middle school/intermediate school (This 2-year school is NEVER called junior high school - spans grades 5 and 6)

[johnsmith]

I suggest you to look around 77064, about 20 mins to your husband's company. I know many friends from Norway, working at downhole drilling company, relocate to there.

[lorilou]

Originally Posted by Kunter

We are a family of four moving to Houston from Oslo, Norway this summer. We have two sons 14 and 12 years old. My husband will be working in zip code 77041. We plan to put our sons in public school. Our sons are interested in sports soccer, karate, off-road biking, rollerblades and golf. We are moving from a total different climate and culture. We look forward to this but have several questions:

1) Which grade are you in the year you turn 12 and 14 years?
2) How is the school day organized? Start/end and are all sport activities at the school? How much homework do they have after school?
3) The school summer vacation is 3 months. What do the kids do for 3 months besides having some vacation with the family?
4) We know that it is hot during summer. What do the kids do in the heat - stay inside all the time? What kinds of activites are possible in the heat?
5) We are looking for a neighbourhood were we can do our sports activities and not having to long time in commute into TX77041. Any suggestions? school is a very important factor when we choose where to live.
6) Finally the heat how bad is it….this is my biggest concern!!

Hello, I don't know exactly where your husband will be working, but I will tell you that we have had a good number of Norwegians come through our area. We live in West Houston, which is in the Katy school district. Good schools, great community, good shops, family area. It seems that the number of Norwegians, Scots, Brits, and Swedes has declined in the past few years, but several years ago, there were 3 Norwegian families living on our street! They were great! Look into neighborhoods like Green Trails, Kellywood, and Nottingham. Also, try Great Lakes and Cinco Ranch. Call the schools and ask about the Norwegian population; many engineers live out this way. I know that my Norge neighbors enjoyed living near one another. Best of luck, and we welcome you to Texas! lorilou

[lorilou]

Originally Posted by Kunter

We are a family of four moving to Houston from Oslo, Norway this summer. We have two sons 14 and 12 years old. My husband will be working in zip code 77041. We plan to put our sons in public school. Our sons are interested in sports soccer, karate, off-road biking, rollerblades and golf. We are moving from a total different climate and culture. We look forward to this but have several questions:

1) Which grade are you in the year you turn 12 and 14 years?
2) How is the school day organized? Start/end and are all sport activities at the school? How much homework do they have after school?
3) The school summer vacation is 3 months. What do the kids do for 3 months besides having some vacation with the family?
4) We know that it is hot during summer. What do the kids do in the heat - stay inside all the time? What kinds of activites are possible in the heat?
5) We are looking for a neighbourhood were we can do our sports activities and not having to long time in commute into TX77041. Any suggestions? school is a very important factor when we choose where to live.
6) Finally the heat how bad is it….this is my biggest concern!!

PS: The heat is wretched...no getting around that! Try to rent/purchase a home with a swimming pool...that helps and your kids will love to swim year round!

[wills]

All modern houses in the Houston area have air conditioning. All modern commercial buildings have air conditioning. Automobiles have air conditioning. Everything is designed for the hot climate.

The children will adapt quickly.

[Kunter]

Originally Posted by lorilou

Hello, I don't know exactly where your husband will be working, but I will tell you that we have had a good number of Norwegians come through our area. We live in West Houston, which is in the Katy school district. Good schools, great community, good shops, family area. It seems that the number of Norwegians, Scots, Brits, and Swedes has declined in the past few years, but several years ago, there were 3 Norwegian families living on our street! They were great! Look into neighborhoods like Green Trails, Kellywood, and Nottingham. Also, try Great Lakes and Cinco Ranch. Call the schools and ask about the Norwegian population; many engineers live out this way. I know that my Norge neighbors enjoyed living near one another. Best of luck, and we welcome you to Texas! lorilou

Thank you so much for your reply. I have been out of town for some days. Yes we have already focus on the Katy area. We will try to find out more about the neighborhoods you mention. We look forward to this new life in Houston. Regards Kunter

[Kunter]

Originally Posted by wills

All modern houses in the Houston area have air conditioning. All modern commercial buildings have air conditioning. Automobiles have air conditioning. Everything is designed for the hot climate.

The children will adapt quickly.

Yes we are aware to that but interested in getting knowledge about what the kids do when they are off school. We are used to be outside a lot. We will have a house with swimming pool. Thank for your reply.

[HonieB]

Originally Posted by Kunter

Yes we are aware to that but interested in getting knowledge about what the kids do when they are off school. We are used to be outside a lot. We will have a house with swimming pool. Thank for your reply.

Hi Kunter,

I know you'll be working a good distance away from The Woodlands, but you may wish to look at the area just the same. We are moving there from South Florida (although my husband is originally from Greece) and we think it looks nicer and more upscale than Katy. Schools are excellent in The Woodlands plus there's LOTS to do there. There is tons of shopping and restaurants, a children's museum, public pools (which you need to be a resident of The Woodlands to enjoy), lots of beautiful parks, golfing, biking/hiking trails, lakes for fishing and of course beautiful homes at good prices. The Woodlands has a more woodsy, back-to-nature feel than Katy does and I know a lot of Europeans like that. It would probably be a good commute (at least a 1/2 hour) to Katy each way...but in my opinion is worth it.

Good luck!!