Tell me about El Paso, TX

[Buechner]

There is a potential job opportunity for me in El Paso and would like some thoughts about the area. I am a single 30 y.o woman.

Thanks,
Jenny

[Robyn1007]

Honestly, I personally wouldn't move there. I went to college near there in Las Cruces NM and just never thought much of the city. I found it to be fairly dirty, without any central downtown area and not much social going on. However, I could've had the wrong impression so it will be interesting to see what others say. I know patissac is from there and I believe Blissful in TX has lived there as well so hopefully they'll pop in with their thoughts.

[aggie94]

Secondhand information here, but DH's best friend from high school lived there for a couple of years after he got out of the Army. He was then a single mid-20s guy with an established career and financial security, and he couldn't wait to get out of there. And he grew up in a pretty small West Texas border town, so it was not a matter of the culture or lifestyle, which he was used to. He has since lived in Chicago, Seattle, and now Dallas, and would happily live in any of those before returning to El Paso, although I do believe he kept his house in EP as an investment property.

We also have good friends here in Phoenix who grew up in EP and have no plans to return. I have driven through there but aside from that, have not spent any time there to formulate my own opinions. Being a native Texan, though, there are only a couple of cities in Texas I would choose to live if/when I return to Texas, and El Paso is not one of them.

[PAMMELA]

.......I have driven through there but aside from that, have not spent any time there to formulate my own opinions. Being a native Texan, though, there are only a couple of cities in Texas I would choose to live if/when I return to Texas, and El Paso is not one of them.

I'm not a native Texan, but we did extensive research before moving here and I personally would not choose to live there.

[Buechner]

Can anyone be specific with regards to what they dislike about El Paso?

Thanks...

[Heidi]

DH was stationed there at Ft. Bliss for a while before we were married. When an opportunity to go to Saudi Arabia presented itself, he took it--all so he could get out of there! He ended up liking Saudi better than El Paso. He said he encountered more people who spoke English in Saudi Arabia than in El Paso, and I believe him. I visited him several times while he was there and lived there for about 2 months after we got married. I hated it too.

Friends of ours who are military just had to choose between El Paso and somewhere else. They were leaning towards El Paso--until they went and visited for themselves, after which they decided to go to the other place.

IMO, it's a dirty border town. It's literally right across the river from Juarez, Mexico, a huge city. When I was there (2002) they burned tires or something over in Juarez and the smoke always drifted over El Paso, so the air quality was bad. Some other friends of ours who lived there had terrible respiratory problems, which they didn't have before they moved there or after they left.

All of the buildings looked old and dirty and unkempt, like they hadn't seen a fresh coat of paint in 20 years and had just sat and baked in the sun. There were no new developments or businesses where we lived. Things were just run down and ugly. It's also in the middle of nowhere, so if you want to get out of town and go see something new you're pretty much out of luck.

So, yeah--I wouldn't recommend it.

[Buechner]

I appreciate the comments and hope to hear from some current residents. Thanks again...
Jenny

[Meganator]

I haven't spent any significant time in El Paso, but my work has taken me to other Texas border towns. Not places I go just for fun or to live, but the kind of place you live because 1) that's where you were born, or 2) it is a better life than wherever you were from in Mexico (or, in the case of El Paso or Del Rio, because the military took you there). I don't know if you are originally from Wisconsin, or just happen to be there now, but the culture shock would be huge. If it is a job you are really interested in, why not go for a visit and decide for yourself?

[scout1222]

I don't know if you are originally from Wisconsin, or just happen to be there now, but the culture shock would be huge.

Oh my God, this was my exact thought when I saw the OP was from Madison. I've been to Madison and I've been through El Paso (while visiting Las Cruces). I really have no love at all for either Las Cruces or El Paso. And compared to the Berkeley-esque nature of Madison, wow what a difference.

The weather is what puts me off first and foremost (because I live in Southern California) but it just doesn't seem to have a lot of opportunity.

[Blissful_in_TX]

Hello, we live in El Paso now because DH is in the Army and stationed here. (Not for long though…he gets out in a few months!) For us it has been okay as a temporary place to stay b/c
1) I like warm, dry weather and
2) It’s still within driving distance of my family.
But I wouldn’t want to stay here permanently OR if I was single. Like PP said, most people who live here (other than those stationed at Ft. Bliss) are here b/c they grew up around here. We have made quite a few friends from DH’s coworkers, but I think it would be particularly hard for a single 30-year-old with no acquaintances in the area to meet people.

Some of the disadvantages are that IMO there isn’t much to do for the size town it is. It’s out in the middle of nowhere so you’re kind of isolated…..even the other cities in Texas are really far away. (I think it’s like the same distance to Houston as it is the Pacific Ocean!) The town is really spread out with the mountain cutting it in half. So we live on the West side, which is a nice newer area (so is the far Upper East side) but it’s a PITA trying to get to a store on the other side of the town.

If you’re in Wisconsin it would be a pretty big culture shock as the vast majority of the population are Hispanic (so not very much diversity if that’s important to you) and usually speak Spanish. Not a huge hurdle, but it definitely helps if you can speak some Spanish. As far as weather, we pretty much have two seasons: summer and Christmas. It gets really hot in the summer but it’s a dry heat, and there is often not a cloud in the sky so it is super bright. I know some people from other parts of the country have a hard time with the lack of vegetation/greenery. Most people have rocks in their front yard instead of grass, and I’ve never been able to keep flowers alive for more than a few days.

The good thing is that the cost of living is pretty low, especially if you wanted to buy a house, and utilities are pretty inexpensive. There is also a lot of wonderful, cheap Mexican food! The flip side of that is that you better really like Mexican food or else you’re eating out choices are limited. :D

Let me know if you have any specific questions.

Amy

[aggie94]

(or, in the case of El Paso or Del Rio, because the military took you there).

Del Rio is where both DH and his aforementioned best friend from HS grew up, and I can only imagine that El Paso is a larger scale version of Del Rio, with better (drier) weather. I have spent enough time in Del Rio over the years to understand that the reference to Del Rio as the "armpit of Texas" is more than just a geographical description. :eek:

[Buechner]

Thanks everyone. Yes Madison is a wonderful place, but I am looking for a change as it is not great for singles. However, it doesn't really sound like El Paso is the place for me either.

Jenny

[Meganator]

Del Rio is where both DH and his aforementioned best friend from HS grew up, and I can only imagine that El Paso is a larger scale version of Del Rio, with better (drier) weather. I have spent enough time in Del Rio over the years to understand that the reference to Del Rio as the "armpit of Texas" is more than just a geographical description. :eek:

Thanks for correcting me - I thought Laredo was the armpit! :p

[Canice]

It seems everyone thinks they live in a lousy place for singles; you hear it from people in every city, town, and berg! I'd go to Chicago in a heartbeat. Don't know what the dating scene is, but what a fantastic place.

[Blissful_in_TX]

Thanks for correcting me - I thought Laredo was the armpit! :p

I've never been to Laredo, but there was an article about it in a recent National Geographic....did anyone else see it? It was mostly about the big Martha Washington pageant they have there.


I also forgot to mention the hellacious wind/dust storms that occasionally come through here. The first one we encountered we took cover b/c we were convinced a tornado was coming down on us :eek:

[aggie94]

Thanks for correcting me - I thought Laredo was the armpit! :p

Oh no - Del Rio is truly the armpit (literally and figuratively):

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/c/c9/TXMap-doton-DelRio.PNG

Laredo, in comparison, is in a great location:

http://www.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/africa/03/15/rwanda.extradition/map.texas.laredo.jpg

[beckms]

If you're looking for a change and you are interested in Texas, I would put Austin way way way at the top of the list, followed by San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and any of the surrounding areas before moving straight to El Paso, especially coming from Wisconsin. There are some lovely, fun cities in Texas...better to move to one of those.

[patissac]

Can anyone be specific with regards to what they dislike about El Paso?

Thanks...


Yes, I am from El Paso. I moved to Florida about 4 years ago. I do miss everyone and the mexican food but other then that I could never ever live there again. Like everyone else stated the words Culture Shock would ring clear. Anyone who did not grow up in EL Paso probably would dislike the place, I even could understand that, but not every place is dirty and run down. If you are looking at the bridges or the Rio Grande yes, then you can see it in its true,raw, form. Not to mention how much poverty is across the border. The city does not have much to offer at all. There really isn't much to do on the weekends except club hop or go across the border. I also did not realize how dirty and faded the place looked until I went back for a visit last year. There is no such thing as green grass except for in July when it rains about 2 weeks straight. Dust storms are not that big of an issue but sometimes it can get pretty bad, you also will have to dust alot! Don't forget to watch out for tumbleweeds too, just think desert landscaping. Oh and Mountains, there are Mountains in El Paso surprisingly. What I would suggest is to visit first and based on your first impression of the place go with that. I really hate to say this but its not really a place of diversity. Everyone is mainly of Mexican decent or hispanic. Not to say that, thats all there is but its majority since Juarez, Mexico is just a skip across the bridge. Even though I am hispanic, I would often be irrated that many did not speak English, basically you can get away with out speaking English there. It is cheap to live there, but some jobs do not pay well due to the fact that your competing with people from across the border that are willing to work for pennies practically. It is also hot, very hot, some summers would get up to 110 degrees. Its dry heat, so that was a plus for me, I don't like this humidity!
If you do decide to move there try looking into the Westside or the Eastside for places to live. Those are the more nicer parts of town too. Keep us updated on what you choose. I know it seems that there really isn't too many positive responses but its really based on how comfortable you feel around different surroundings. I love going back for visits, its not something that I dread. I agree if you want to go places its a drive, for example Dallas is about an 7-8 hour drive. However there are neat places closeby, like Ruidoso or Albuquerque New Mexico. Phoenix is also about a 6-7 drive away.

[jmarie]

Would the job keep you there forever? Can you move up and out? Any good position where you can move up the ladder and out the door is worth checking out.

I have a friend who lives there and she has never complained. Always buzzing about, doing this and that. She has always lived there, so maybe there ia that comfort level. She is on a Cruise until Sunday. I will ask her. Her only complaint is that she (caucasion) has become a real minority there.

Thing is, there are a lot of places where you have to travel hundreds of miles, to see the Pacific Ocean....or any ocean, for that matter. I live in a rural area and I have to drive anywheres from 50 minutes to an hour and a half just to go the mall, with the better mall is the longer distance.

I realize that I can't be right and everyone wrong...I know that is what it seems like by my post. but if I were you, I would sure hop a plane and check it out....especially since there is a good job there.

[luv2cook]

I wouldn't move there for a week, much less temporary. Everything everyone said is true. My stepsister lived there and hated it. I've been there and didn't care for it.

There is nothing to do there. As a single young woman....not a chance...

[Meganator]

Oh no - Del Rio is truly the armpit (literally and figuratively):

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/c/c9/TXMap-doton-DelRio.PNG

Laredo, in comparison, is in a great location:

http://www.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/africa/03/15/rwanda.extradition/map.texas.laredo.jpg

:D Also, I did see the article in National Geographic about Laredo. It certainly showed a side of Laredo that I didn't know about!