hi from a soon-to-be Texan (I hope!)

[PetrucciFan]

Maybe I missed it earlier in this thread, why you gonna live in Armadillo? You want to grow Cadillacs?

But a word of warning if the economy is down when ya get there: Don't buy "chopped beef" barbeque sandwiches anywhere that sells minnows.

Don't listen to them Israel!! Amarillo is great! but I must ask...why Amarillo of all places in Texas? Family? Don't get me wrong, I love living here, but I do wonder why someone from over seas would pick Amarillo? I'm surprised you've even heard of it!

Whenever you get here, I'll treat you to a free 72oz steak dinner from the Big Texan Steakhouse*

*if eaten in under one hour

[israel67]

AFAIK, there is only one shul in Amarillo. They're reform and it appears that they have a day school. I don't know if it is a full K-12 school.

Yeah, this one ..?

http://tx019.urj.net/

A funny story surrounds that Syna. I decided to go there when I was in Amarillo. It was Pessa'h, and I set off on foot. As you know, no one walks in Texas. Anyway, I'm walking up Albert Street when this old red pickup screeches to a halt, and the door opens. The lady in the passenger seat asked me my name. I had the presence of mind to ask, 'erm .. why?' She told me I looked like her brother (!!). I said no, I'm on holiday and I'm from Europe. When I told her where I was walking to, they offered me a lift. So I got in.

When I got back and recounted the story to my niece, she was like, 'WHAT???? And you got into the car????? You could've been killed!!!'

Maybe I missed it earlier in this thread, why you gonna live in Armadillo? You want to grow Cadillacs?

Heh. Family.

[israel67]

Maybe I missed it earlier in this thread, why you gonna live in Armadillo? You want to grow Cadillacs?

But a word of warning if the economy is down when ya get there: Don't buy "chopped beef" barbeque sandwiches anywhere that sells minnows.

Don't listen to them Israel!! Amarillo is great! but I must ask...why Amarillo of all places in Texas? Family? Don't get me wrong, I love living here, but I do wonder why someone from over seas would pick Amarillo? I'm surprised you've even heard of it!

A long story. Are you sitting comfortably? The year was 2004 when I was sent to Texas by my company (I wasn't teaching at that point), Nortel. They sent me to Dallas (Richardson), and to my surprise, I totally loved the place! At that time, I was living with the woman whom I call 'The One'. Back in France, she left me in 2005; that split almost cost me my life. Enough said about that ..

Anyway, there are wounds that never heal, as they say and that's one of them. She's been gone three years now, and I'm not over her. I never will be.

So then in April of this year, I got the chance to go back to Texas, this time to see family in Amarillo, specifically my two nieces whom I've mentioned on occasion, and who are the apples of my eye. The younger of the two, especially, is a darling. I stayed with her and her husband of barely three months, and we hung out, went to Roasters, Wal-Mart, they took me into a gunshop (Pro Guns 'n' Knives), etc. She was nine when she left Britain and is now 20. The moment when I saw her again after so long ... she and her husband walked into the house, she said hi to everyone else, and then literally threw herself into my arms. It was so beautiful ...

She said one of the most beautiful, touching things anyone ever has to me. She has a Texan accent, but as I've been speaking French now for 30 years and rarely speak English, my French is now native standard, but my UK accent is still 'uncontaminated'. I still sound British when I speak English. And I don't like it. And I told her this, and she said - and this was so sweet ! - she said, 'I love it. It soothes me. It reminds me of when I was a child ..'.

I had tears in my eyes when she said that to me.

*ahem*

Sorry.

I've been disillusioned with France for some time now, for reasons which you've all been able to read by now. So I thought, 'why not Texas??' My niece can't sponsor me as she's still British, and even if she had citizenship, I believe that the 'family relationship' has to be close like spouse/child or parent. So if I come to Texas, it's going to have to be through work.

Now why Amarillo and why not say, Austin?

Well obviously, my family is there and whilst I'm not close to my nieces' mother, I want to be near the girls. Plus the younger one wants to go to college to become a primary school teacher and she can't afford it. So I want to get a job there, get a little bit of money behind me and hopefully put her through college in say two years from now. Maybe three. The day she graduates will be one of the most incredible days of my life. I feel I will die of pride.

My nieces are what I call my 'surrogate children'. I so wanted to be a father, but for reasons which escape me, G-d has decided that it's not to be. Sure, I'm only 41 so you can say there's still time now, but I asked 'The One' to marry me, and she refused. Then she left. So I live alone now, and shall continue to do so. So those two girls are my 'surrogate daughters', and I want to be there for them to help financially (if I can), and to protect them (which I pray I never have to do). Plus, being Brits, they are pretty anti-gun. The elder of the two (24 years old) has already said she'll come shooting with me if I move over there, and I hope to convince the younger one to join us. Who knows, I might 'convert' them to the point where they get their CHL, eh ? At the same time, I don't intend to smother them. They have their own lives, and the younger girl's husband is from OK but lives in Texas, and is a really cool guy. Quiet, discreet, and very respectful towards her. It warms my heart to know that she's in good hands.

I turned 41 on the eve of flying back to Europe, and my niece did a birthday card on her PC for me and printed it out. She wrote, 'I hope you have some good memories to take back with you. I love you'

I mean ... what can you say to that?? I am blessed.

There you go. Sorry for the waffling.

As for the Big Texan, they took me there, and this dude from OK tried the 72oz thang ...



He failed.

[iratollah]

Plus, being Brits, they are pretty anti-gun.

I never understood this, because I've always felt that Brits were genetically predisposed to handling smoothbores very, very well.

Well at least in Texas you can carry in shul. I even know of a few rebbes who carry.

[srothstein]

Well, while I can now certainly understand your decision for Amarillo, let me make a few other suggestions you might consider. If you pick one of the larger cities, it will be easier to find a job. Houston, the D/FW metroplex, and Austin are all growing economies right now, especially compared to the rest of the US. All three have large Jewish communities. There is a better chance, IMO, of finding a private school there that would be looking for a French teacher than in Amarillo.

And, you might consider where your neice will go to school also. For example, Texas State University in San Marcos is probably one of the best schools for teachers in Texas. Being in Austin would put you near her there, and may even allow you to find a place she could share so you can help her get in school less expensively.

Do you have a Master's degree where you might be able to get a job at the college itself?

Either way, I look forward to seeing you get here. It sounds like you will fit right in - except for the accent.

[israel67]

Well, while I can now certainly understand your decision for Amarillo, let me make a few other suggestions you might consider. If you pick one of the larger cities, it will be easier to find a job. Houston, the D/FW metroplex, and Austin are all growing economies right now, especially compared to the rest of the US. All three have large Jewish communities. There is a better chance, IMO, of finding a private school there that would be looking for a French teacher than in Amarillo.

I hear ya (how's that for an accent? ), and the thought had occurred to me. The Synagogue in Amarillo is reforme, as someone else mentioned and my Synagogue here is orthodox.

And, you might consider where your neice will go to school also. For example, Texas State University in San Marcos is probably one of the best schools for teachers in Texas. Being in Austin would put you near her there, and may even allow you to find a place she could share so you can help her get in school less expensively.

She wants to go to WT. Another factor is that no matter how much she and her sister mean to me, it's probably not a good idea to build my life around them. The elder girl wants to move to Austin, and although her sister wants to go to WT, who's to say that she and her husband won't move to NY or CA in a few years? And then I'll be all on my lonesome in Amarillo. I'm not going to marry, for reasons already outlined, so a big city would probably be a better idea, if for no other reason than being able to make friends.

Do you have a Master's degree where you might be able to get a job at the college itself?

I have what we term BAC+5 in France, which is probably equivalent to the first year of a PhD in the UK.

Either way, I look forward to seeing you get here. It sounds like you will fit right in - except for the accent.

Hehe ... y'all don't mean that...

[israel67]

Plus, being Brits, they are pretty anti-gun.

I never understood this, because I've always felt that Brits were genetically predisposed to handling smoothbores very, very well.

Well at least in Texas you can carry in shul. I even know of a few rebbes who carry.

Yeah, but in the UK we're taught that guns are 'evil'.

I'll be taking my Kimber to the Syna ... you can be sure of that. :)

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

Israel67, I think you may be our long lost brother! I've got my friend who did the same thing looking for some paperwork on how to teach your first year and get your certification at the same time. I'll PM ya when I get it together. That was a great story about your nieces. They sound pretty lucky to have an uncle like you.

[israel67]

Israel67, I think you may be our long lost brother! I've got my friend who did the same thing looking for some paperwork on how to teach your first year and get your certification at the same time. I'll PM ya when I get it together. That was a great story about your nieces. They sound pretty lucky to have an uncle like you.

No, it is I who am fortunate to have them. Their father died in 2006, sadly and even in life was absent very often due to work commitments, and afterwards due to estrangement from their mother. I held both of them in my arms when they were barely hours old and frankly, fell completely in love. When they were growing up, they lived - quite literally - 25 yards from the house in which my parents and I lived, and so they spent as much time with us, as with their mother. Perhaps even more.

I was seventeen when the first was born; twenty when the younger came along, and in reality was more a brother or perhaps a father, than an uncle. Legally and biologically I am their uncle, but the relationship was so close that when they fell and hurt themselves, they would not call for their mother .. but for me.

They are ... my babies. And they mean more to me than anyone or anything on the face of this earth. More even than my own life.

I look forward to your PM. :)