Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Deep in the heart of Texas - Monday Listicles


I am once again participating in Stasha’s listicles this week we’re supposed to write ten things about our hometown. Up until last week I would have had a really hard time figuring out which city to write about. Rome, where I was born but haven’t lived in since I was itty bitty and frankly I don’t even like or know it that much? Milan, where I went to university, met my husband and started my “adult” life? Cuneo, where I live now, doesn’t even come close to being the place I consider home though it’s home for my kids (mind boggling)? No, no and no. 

Talking with my therapist a few weeks ago I excitedly told him I was going home for Christmas, and he asked, confused, where exactly I thought home was. Houston, Houston is where my heart is, Houston is HOME. And I’m going home for Christmas y’all, so this writing prompt couldn’t have come at a better time.

So here are my ten things you should know about Houston, from the perspective of a girl who hasn’t lived there in too many years.

1. Every one Sir and Ma’am’s you. In fact, people are polite, and nice, and generally smiley. I miss that so much.

2. The traffic is terrifying. It was barely manageable when I was a teenager many moons ago, nowadays I will not leave the house during peak traffic hours… it just seems that peak traffic hours are almost around the clock. In fact, I’m kind of worried cause one of my best friends in Houston lives way on the other side of town from my Mom so I’m wondering if I’m going to have to go visit her at 6am to avoid getting stuck on the freeway till my old age.

3. There’s a thriving international community. There are people of all nationalities; in fact, there’s a French school (which I attended) where you follow the French curriculum K-12 entirely in French.

4. The weather is almost more terrifying than the traffic. Which is a good thing or everyone would want to live there. I still remember the feeling of the hot, heavy, humid air on my body when I first stepped out of the airport as a kid when we moved there. It felt like I was walking around in a jar of hot molasses.

5. To compensate for the insufferable heat, the A/C is always turned down to hypothermia levels. Now that I no longer live there and have thawed out I need to wear a sweater everywhere I go. So to recap, if it’s summer you want to be wearing the least amount of clothes possible outside, and a sweater and socks inside, if it’s winter you want to be wearing jeans, flip flops and a light sweatshirt outside and possibly a coat, scarf and gloves inside.

6. Everything is bigger and more badass. Particularly the cockroaches. I promise you, you have NEVER seen cockroaches this large, and no, I don’t care if you live in NYC, you have us beat on rats, sure, but not roaches. Our roaches are so big you can put a saddle on ‘em and ride ‘em off into the sunset.

7. Another insect related one: mosquitos and fire ants. I have never seen fire ants in Europe, and for this I am thankful.

8. It’s close to the beach. Not a great beach by any stretch of the imagination, but you can get to Galveston and dip your toes in the water in a relatively short amount of time if you feel the need to get out of the city.

9. It’s got great entertainment. Entertainment I’m going to fully take advantage of starting next week.

10. Houston steals your heart. I’m not really from there, as neither I nor my parents were born there, but I grew up there. The childhood and young adulthood years are the ones that shape you, and this wonderful city, with all it’s contradictions, is in my heart more than any other place where I’ve pitched my tent these past 36 years. And I’m going NEXT WEEK! 

YEEHAW!

I just wanted to add that I had a list in my drafts folder for a post I wanted to write about the things I missed the most and the least about Texas. This is what was on my list: Things I miss the most – Friends, sir – ma’am, politeness, A/C, big houses, cowboys, rodeo, whole foods market, tex-mex, real margaritas
Things I don’t miss about Texas: Cockroaches, Mosquitos, insane traffic, Insane urban planning, fire ants, water moccasins.

Now I guess I don’t even need to write that other post.





18 comments:

  1. This is awesome! Two Houston listicles! 

    I didn't bring up the cockroaches because New York's are bigger and their rats are Starbucks managers-in-training. No way does Houston compare.Hey, did my blog not let you leave a link to your space in comments? I had to Google your blog to find it, messing up my laziness feng shui.

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  2. Great list! I wish I lived close to the beach!

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  3. Second list about Houston...makes me almost consider Texas as a destination to visit. But then I realize I hate the extreme heat!

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  4. I refuse to drive in Houston. Seriously crazy drivers!

    Florida beats Texas on cockroaches though ;)

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  5. I'm sorry for messing up your feng shui! 

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  6. It does NOT, it beats us on beaches. You can have the beaches but we get the cockroaches.

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  7. But it's really effing freezing if you're inside! You don't really want to be outside anyway what with the snakes, ants, mosquitos and roaches.

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  8. True, but at that point probably best to wish for better beaches than ours!

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  9. OMG, tex-mex, margaritas and whole foods.  Can I come with you??  I get that look all the time when I say I'm going "home".  I guess in general, "home" is the US for me.

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  10. Real margaritas - now that is something to miss! :) Great list - hope you have a fantastic trip HOME!

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  11. Have fun in your hometown! I'm not sure I'd like the roaches big enough to put a saddle on...in fact, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't. Try to avoid those on your trip!

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  12. It was great reading about Houston! I love #1

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  13. I know, I miss how nice people are (generally).

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  14. I avoid them like the plague!

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  15. I know, plus, the last two times I went I was either pregnant or breastfeeding, this time I'm enjoying myself!!

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  16. Once you start moving around a lot the whole concept of home becomes confusing

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  17. There is no place like home... so glad you are going. Talk about insects, what about biting horse flies? Never seen those over here in Italy, but everytime we got out of a pool in NY we had to jump right back in. Those hurt like hell. And yes, nice people. No sir and ma'ams in NYC but lots of How can I help you honey?

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  18. The reason you have never seen biting horse flies in Italy is because you live in a city...lucky you! So be reassured, there are enough of them here for any New Yorker to feel at home. (they are called tafani)

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