Potential move to Houston, Texas

[JennyWren]

My husband has just been told that we may have the opportunity to transfer in his current company to a one-year posting to Houston, Texas. If it goes ahead, we would move in April. We are both very keen in principle, and have long decided that we would be open to the chance of moving to the US on a temporary basis, but now this has come about we need to decide fairly quickly!

I don't know much about Texas, other than it is hot and big! My impressions, such as they are, are of bible belt and the Waco cult siege, gun culture and weather disasters. Hardly a current, well-informed basis to make decisions about moving there. I'd love to hear from anyone who lives/has lived in the area, to tell me what it is really like. My DH would be working for a big multinational IT company in the 77070 area, and we have two children currently in Year 1 and Year 4 so we'd be looking to love somewhere with decent schools that is not too far from his office - maybe 30 minutes, 60 max. What is life like there? Where would we need to think about living? Are the schools OK?

Can anyone offer any insights? Thank you!

Hello from Texas! We moved here in July last year from Singapore and so far so good. We live in West University which is closer to the city than you would be - 770070 is about 50 minutes from downtown, but as Houston is so far spread, there's no need for you to go to the city, you'll have everything you need closer by. We have 2 dds in reception and year 4 so about the same age but they are at the British School, which would be commutable for you if you were looking at private schools. I'm sorry but I don't know where to start with US schools but some have a great reputation and I know people who live near me who are very happy with local schools for expat kids.

Take a look at har.com for real estate. There are a lot of big Texas bathrooms and 1980s decor on there but persevere. A word of warning, the real estate market in Houston is shocking, some houses are on the market for sale for a matter of hours and I've heard that rental is worse.... There's just no supply. If you see the one you want, make sure you have everything in place to sign asap. In terms of location, Lakes on Eldridge is a nice community. It's gated and lots of expats live there as it's not too far to the British School. Probably about 15 minutes drive from your dh's office.... I'm not always keen on living where all the other expats are but it's a quick way to make friends. My local neighbour is lovely but she already has her own friends so although would help if I knocked on her door, she would never invite me for coffee. Apparently it's just how things are done round here....

Houston is a good place to live. The sky is bright blue, it was -3C last week, today it's 22C, the weather is crazy. In the summer we get 40C and humidity but Ive heard most people head for Europe or the mountains. We have air con and pools and it's more bearable than Singapore imho. I can get everything "British" I need at the local supermarket from Birds custard to tea bags, love eating out, I walk a lot, we use our back garden more than our sitting room and we feel safe. I know Brits who have been here 20 years and never seen a gun. I don't like seeing homeless people begging at red lights so often make a contribution unless they look high. I like the general feeling that anything is possible, somehow it pervades daily life. I don't like standing in line for social security numbers and taking driving tests but I've dealt with worse red tape in Europe. People are achingly polite, which I like, despite knowing that polite people in restaurants are looking for a big tip. I'm not sure about hurricanes (we have a hurricane bag in the garage with house insurance details, flashlights and muesli bars in it!) but we love basketball games and will get tickets to the rodeo. We are not church goers but no-one has asked us whether we are or not. We spent new year with the kids in hill country, sitting round a fire pit drinking margaritas and toasting marshmallows after a day's horse riding. It's different, but embrace it, it's not too bad!

We lived in Texas for four years ..but further north that you .. we would go back in a heartbeat... our children loved schools .. go and enjoy .. we are sooooo jealous...

Thank you both - it sounds as though this would be a great opportunity. I have spoken with DH in more detail now (he was away on a business trip so we've been discussing by text! ) and the job would be in Plano rather than Houston. I guess that it would be similar in terms of lifestyle - would that be fair? I don't know if there would be a British school so we may be looking at public schools. How similar is the curriculum between the UK and USA systems - particularly maths and literacy? Would DC slot into a class studying at a comparable level?

OK, Plano is Dallas, about 6 hours drive from Houston. I don't know anyone in Dallas or Plano but I'm sure someone on mumsnet does.... No idea about schools, just be aware that there is no US national curriculum, rather federal, state and district standards. Take a look at www.greatschools.org/

There must also be a real estate site for Dallas, like HAR in Houston. Good luck!

We lived in Fort Worth so not far from Dallas ... know people living in the area still .. a lot less humid up there than Houston...
My children were in kindergarten and one went through school to 5th grade... left here with one in year one and had to get them to skip a grade when got to US as they were so far ahead ... you don't start full time school until after you are 5 there... also you have to have lots of injections to get them into school ... even ones they had when they were little in the UK .. that went down well with mine :( !!
It is a fantastic opportunity and if you have youngsters I would say go for it if it is only short term .. mine were fine and slotted back into the UK system fine....

Good point about injections, answers. You can find a vaccination schedule for Texas on the web, make sure you have them done before you relocate (nothing worse than arriving in a foreign country and welcoming the kids with several injections)

You can sign waivers for the injections.

I had to do so for university in the US when there was a problem with my records - had them all when I was small but we couldn't track them down. The school will give you the forms to sign. Says it's against your religious beliefs. If they've had all the injections go ahead and lie. I'm a big baby and didn't want to be stuck when I knew I'd had them.

I'm in California... unfortunately haven't been to Texas so no help there, but it does sound like a great opportunity.

Thank you all! We have to wait to see whether it will go ahead, but I feel as though I have a bit more of an idea of what to think about. Fingers crossed, and I may be back in a few weeks with a whole lot more questions!

We lived in Houston for 3 years. It was a very 'easy' life, compared to London. So many positives, and that is what you should focus on to make a move work for you. Good luck, and enjoy it!

Haven't had experience of living in Texas but recently went there and it's nice. the weather was hot. Absolutely loved Dallas. it was less humid - the people were very friendly, I loved it!