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My fiancee and I might be relocating to EP from abroad due to her very possibly getting a good job offer there.
I have some questions for [former] locals though as I've spent a proper amount of time doing research but would like to discuss some things a bit more in-depth with people who have a good deal of experience living there.
First off the bat, we are a mixed race couple. She is Latina (Peruvian) and I'm white (Nordic heritage, but from The Netherlands). My intelligent guestimate is she'll have no problem integrating, or rather put, blending in. As for me, I'm completely fine in a majority Latino environment and having to speak Spanish alot, although I've read about quite a bit about hostility towards white people, and especially white men. Can someone elaborate on this? What's the deal on race relations, employment chances, and just your basic day to day interaction with other people? I'd appreciate a no-BS, straight forward assessment.
Secondly, the apparent hideous drivers. My fiancee has had more than her fair share of that already in Lima and she is sick and tired of road rage. So how bad is it in EP? Is it LATAM 2.0 or just your occasional moron?
Third, and this one's pretty big, as I understand the greenest and nicest area's are Coronado, Thunderbird and their immediate vicinities. We're fully aware EP is pretty much desert, but we happen to be tree lovers and want to live as green as possible. How cramped -as in supply vs demand- is the housing market in those neigborhoods and what price range are we looking at for a 1 or 2 bed one floor property? I suffer from knee arthrosis so we don't want any stairs. We're not planning on having kids either, but we'd like to have a guest room in order to offer relatives a place to crash. So overall we don't need a huge/overly expensive per square feet house. We basically want a modest-in-size good quality house in the nicest neighborhood, and have a preference for a 24/7 guarded gated community.
Fourth, as for employment, we both hold masters degrees in our respective professional fields. As I said earlier there is a very good job for her in sight so she's pretty much tucked in if all falls through, but I'd have to search upon landing. I'm a military expert (ex top brass in my country of origin) and looking at private sector jobs in high end security (convoy escort, explorations guarding etc. In other words 'non-permissive environment' stuff). I haven't come across any companies of that caliber in EP yet, but within certain parameters pertaining to the conditions I'm okay with working for a lower scale outfit that does less 'spectacular' things and is of a more locally oriented nature. Does anyone on this board know if I might have overlooked any employer of my first preferential category, or is perhaps connected to this circuit and brief me about the EP landscape of this business? Just for your general reference I'm MOS 49A/50A/59A.
Fifth and lastly, we are very green minded people and would like to be self sufficient/[semi] off the grid. What's the deal with any possible resistance from the municipality or permits with regards to solar panels, septic tanks etc? We'd like to cut out as many costs related to traditional suppliers as possible with regards to our energy and water needs because we just don't like third parties being forced down our throat.
Anyway, that's pretty much all, folks! Looking forward to your constructive replies.
I can only answer a couple of your questions but I will go ahead.
There are more white people in El Paso than any other border city in Texas. You will be fine. People will probably be very interested in your accent though, if you have one.
Driving is much better than LATAM but probably worse than most of the rest of the country.. But then again idk it might not be that bad compared to San Antonio. Texas does get a bad rep for drivers though.
I can only answer a couple of your questions but I will go ahead.
There are more white people in El Paso than any other border city in Texas. You will be fine. People will probably be very interested in your accent though, if you have one.
Driving is much better than LATAM but probably worse than most of the rest of the country.. But then again idk it might not be that bad compared to San Antonio. Texas does get a bad rep for drivers though.
Thnx for the heads up.
My accent? Funny you mention it, because I can adapt anywhere I go. I can speak clean UK BBC aka The Queen's English, Ancient Cockney, Aussie, Lowland Scottish, Irish, Dallas Texan, "standard" American English, and Afrikaans/Dutch accent English. I just kameleon wherever I go.
Bad drivers you say, hmm, okay, so by no means should I ship my Audi over, but rather get an MRAP category vehicle when (if) we get there? Just kidding of course. But in all seriousness, how about getting a nice not too old second hand B6 armored truck, something like a Toyota Tacoma or a Ford Ranger. Armored car=no worries about accidents/no dents anyway. If someone bumps in to me it's their problem because I won't have any damage. Driving an armored car also protects against trigger happy bad drivers... Food for thought I guess.
Oh and btw! Totally forgot to mention that after my OP last night, I saw a YT video made by a guy who lived there while stationed at Ft Bliss, and he said the world's first nuclear weapons test was held at the White Sands Missile Range (Trinity Site). I didn't know that yet. Is this any cause for concern or is the radiation gone by now? WSMR is an awful lot close [about 200 clicks] to El Paso...
I am white and had no issues living in El Paso. The "scary brown people" were extremely welcoming and love a party.
Drivers are bad everywhere. The worry would be if the drivers with the plates from Mexico have the proper insurance or not. This is a non issue on moving to El Paso.
You do not need a "guarded" community in El Paso. The city is ridiculously safe. The housing is much more affordable than most cities. The property tax, well that is another story. You can get ranches very easily in El Paso. I would look on the West Side.
You better have jobs lined up.
It will not be green in terms of grass. Embrace El Paso's brown landscape and it's own beauty.
I agree with doolish1s comments. And reading your concerns suggests a real misunderstanding of what the city is like. I’m an old retired white guy that moved here after I retired (twice!) I have lived all over the US from coast to coast. I don’t have all the answers you want but will offer a few.
I’ve always been treated very well by all the locals and haven’t witnessed any anti white sentiment.
Armored car?! I don’t understand this. Like doolish1 says the city is crazy safe from a personal crime perspective and as far as driving goes. There is an interstate highway that runs through the center of town and lots of new folks (myself included) have to learn to merge onto it which is more challenging at first than most places because the merge lanes are really shorter than most places I’ve been (and for work reasons I have driven in all 50 states). I’m not saying that there isn’t road rage or aggressive driving but I’ve never seen it.
This is a working class town and there are poor areas but that does not equate to higher crime. I’ve lived on both sides of town in normal middle class neighborhoods without problem. I started on the west side and live here now. It is a lot smaller than the east side but has all you need and feels newer than the rest of town. There is no neighborhood I wouldn’t go to in the day time and I’m old so I don’t drive far from home at night. Crime is just not a concern. You will rarely hear about violence between unknown people. We don’t (typically) have carjackings, home invasions or store employees being shot during robberies. People that get killed are usually known to each other and a lot of problems happen at bars and bar parking lots or drug deals gone bad.
I don’t know how successful you will be finding work. I have never tried to find a job but when I do a search on a job board for my industry there is never anything remotely interesting to me.
I like it here and have been here for all but one year since 2015. I’m not sure I’ll stay forever but it meets my needs now. Good luck if you come here and if you do please update this thread with how you found things to actually be.
I am white and had no issues living in El Paso. The "scary brown people" were extremely welcoming and love a party.
Drivers are bad everywhere. The worry would be if the drivers with the plates from Mexico have the proper insurance or not. This is a non issue on moving to El Paso.
You do not need a "guarded" community in El Paso. The city is ridiculously safe. The housing is much more affordable than most cities. The property tax, well that is another story. You can get ranches very easily in El Paso. I would look on the West Side.
You better have jobs lined up.
It will not be green in terms of grass. Embrace El Paso's brown landscape and it's own beauty.
There are plenty of solar panels. It is a desert.
Tnx for the reply.
As I said in my OP I'm perfectly okay in a majority Latino environment, was just wondering if the 'white discrimination' is true. People apparently talk alot of trash on the internet.
As for jobs, well, my fiancee had an interview for a very good job scheduled but the employer turned out to be a flake and never bothered to call her. Which is strange because he approached her in the first place to express his interest in her, not the other way around. Anyway, that ship has sailed.
Hmmm... brown, yeah, I know, that's why I did my research and looked in to the West as far as housing is concerned.
The reason El Paso appeals to me is because of the warm and dry climate, as I suffer from severe arthrosis and damaged stretching tendons in both knees. San Antonio is greener, but also very humid. I guess you can't have it all...
I agree with doolish1s comments. And reading your concerns suggests a real misunderstanding of what the city is like. I’m an old retired white guy that moved here after I retired (twice!) I have lived all over the US from coast to coast. I don’t have all the answers you want but will offer a few.
I’ve always been treated very well by all the locals and haven’t witnessed any anti white sentiment.
Armored car?! I don’t understand this. Like doolish1 says the city is crazy safe from a personal crime perspective and as far as driving goes. There is an interstate highway that runs through the center of town and lots of new folks (myself included) have to learn to merge onto it which is more challenging at first than most places because the merge lanes are really shorter than most places I’ve been (and for work reasons I have driven in all 50 states). I’m not saying that there isn’t road rage or aggressive driving but I’ve never seen it.
This is a working class town and there are poor areas but that does not equate to higher crime. I’ve lived on both sides of town in normal middle class neighborhoods without problem. I started on the west side and live here now. It is a lot smaller than the east side but has all you need and feels newer than the rest of town. There is no neighborhood I wouldn’t go to in the day time and I’m old so I don’t drive far from home at night. Crime is just not a concern. You will rarely hear about violence between unknown people. We don’t (typically) have carjackings, home invasions or store employees being shot during robberies. People that get killed are usually known to each other and a lot of problems happen at bars and bar parking lots or drug deals gone bad.
I don’t know how successful you will be finding work. I have never tried to find a job but when I do a search on a job board for my industry there is never anything remotely interesting to me.
I like it here and have been here for all but one year since 2015. I’m not sure I’ll stay forever but it meets my needs now. Good luck if you come here and if you do please update this thread with how you found things to actually be.
The armored car was [mostly, haha] meant as a joke besides, gas prices are through the roof these days.
If we manage to move Stateside, I'll certainly give you a heads up! I'd very much would like to live in a suitable place in the US and like the freedom America enjoys, which I don't have in Europe. We don't have 2nd Amendment rights, the freedom to basically do as you please and go where you want without too much govt intereference. America appeals a whole lot to me, but it all depends on where we find new job opportunities of course.
You will be fine driving your audi. You will hardly be the only one driving a car like that. Although a toyota 4runner or chevy/ford pickup truck might help you fit in a little better
You can also look around Amarillo and Lubbock if you want to be away from humidity.
Job will be the most difficult part but if y'all find some you won't have many if any complaints. Maybe try searching on indeed.
My accent? Funny you mention it, because I can adapt anywhere I go. I can speak clean UK BBC aka The Queen's English, Ancient Cockney, Aussie, Lowland Scottish, Irish, Dallas Texan, "standard" American English, and Afrikaans/Dutch accent English. I just kameleon wherever I go.
Bad drivers you say, hmm, okay, so by no means should I ship my Audi over, but rather get an MRAP category vehicle when (if) we get there? Just kidding of course. But in all seriousness, how about getting a nice not too old second hand B6 armored truck, something like a Toyota Tacoma or a Ford Ranger. Armored car=no worries about accidents/no dents anyway. If someone bumps in to me it's their problem because I won't have any damage. Driving an armored car also protects against trigger happy bad drivers... Food for thought I guess.
Oh and btw! Totally forgot to mention that after my OP last night, I saw a YT video made by a guy who lived there while stationed at Ft Bliss, and he said the world's first nuclear weapons test was held at the White Sands Missile Range (Trinity Site). I didn't know that yet. Is this any cause for concern or is the radiation gone by now? WSMR is an awful lot close [about 200 clicks] to El Paso...
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Just kidding of course. But in all seriousness, how about getting a nice not too old second hand B6 armored truck, something like a Toyota Tacoma or a Ford Ranger. Armored car=no worries about accidents/no dents anyway. If someone bumps in to me it's their problem because I won't have any damage. Driving an armored car also protects against trigger happy bad drivers... Food for thought I guess.
besides, gas prices are through the roof these days. 
