<p>People who haven’t been outside of Texas very much think the state is beautiful. Those who travel know better.</p>
<p>Well, I have been “outside”, I was born “outside”, grew up “outside”, etc, etc, etc.</p>
<p>I don’t know what it means for a state to be beautiful but I don’t really care :).
We make home where we want our home to be. And it is up to us if our own home is beautiful or not. </p>
<p>I am very happy to live here in Texas since the economy is one of the strongest in the USA and colleges cost is one of the most affordable. </p>
<p>I have several friends in California who are positively envious of our Texas “college experience” this year. I was told that even 12 years ago when I first told them that I had FREE full day kindergarten in our school they thought that life here was too good. :)</p>
<p>It was interesting to read this topic though. I met a lot of people from different cultural ghettos, recent immigrants etc. I could never imagine a Californian ghetto in Texas. :)</p>
<p>So of the things that were said here … how much of it was actually experienced first-hand as opposed to information passed on to you from someone else? And of those negative first-hand experiences, how many different times did it happen to you? I mean, you don’t get bitten by a dog once and automatically assume that all dogs are vicious beasts.</p>
<p>I was born in Dallas, grew up (first 5~7 years?) in Illinois and moved back and forth between the two states for several years. I’ve lived in East and West Texas and I can’t say I saw many, if any, of the concerns listed here. </p>
<p>Regarding the dress … I mean really, let me put it to you this way. After moving back to Odessa and living here for the past three years I still find it weird when I see people in cowboy boots. Unless you mean to say the difference in dress is that people in Texas actually wear clothes … ?
In all honesty though the only real difference I saw was that I had no use for heavy snow jackets in Texas.</p>
<p>Hospitality and acceptance of outsiders as the OP was worried about … check the ethnic population of Marshall and Odessa, Texas. I am a shy, introverted Asian with literally no other hobbies or interests besides mathematics and computers who was raised by extremely paranoid and protective parents. Still no problems making friends whatsoever.</p>
<p>Different viewpoints? I’ve spent the majority of my life in Texas and was born in Dallas so I count as a Texan right? I have close friends that I can’t agree with half of the time and people I dislike who happen to think exactly like me. Respect others’ opinions and they’ll respect yours.
Only problem I ever had was once in Junior year regarding religion but Texas is not the only state with non-Buddhists so …</p>
<p>Language: This one I can’t refute, but its like going to foreign countries on vacation and expecting everyone to speak English. You’ll laugh just as my cousins from Illinois did when my sister said “y’all” just as I laughed whenever they said “itch” instead of “scratch”.</p>
<p>I really don’t think you have anything to worry about as long as you have a bit of common sense, there will always be groups of people that are different from the rest (good and bad). I mean if you don’t like the party scene, get the heck out of 6th street. If you’re a sheltered little kid, stop lounging around in the dark alley. Don’t like seeing farms, stay in the cities.</p>
<p>@ Vi3tShugo Thank you for a very insightful post.</p>
<p>@lisia</p>
<p>Texas is plenty beautiful. I’ve been all over the country and to some of the most stunning places in Europe and the urban scenery in places like Houston and Austin can’t be topped. There’s just something so special driving north on 288 in houston and seeing the downtown and med center skyline in the distance. Europe has great architecture and the Mediterranean is gorgeous but Texas is special in its own little way.</p>
<p>You know, this topic is getting silly. You can’t paint all or most of the people in a state or country or whatever with one broad stroke, and that’s it. To do so is bigotry, especially if you’re unwilling to even listen to people with actual firsthand experience. It’s not hip to hate on Texas for no reason and it definitely doesn’t score you any tolerance points. I mean, come on, Texas is one of the most diverse states in the country. And anyway, this topic is about Austin, which we’ve already agreed is politically a lot different from most of the rest of Texas. Come visit with an open mind and without the ridiculous preconceptions that people the world over have about Texas, you’ll find out that our state really isn’t hell on earth.</p>