Living in El Paso is basically like living in a different country. Sure, it's in Texas, but it's more like Mexico. Many people don't speak English, and the Mexican culture is dominant here in many aspects. There are some not so great things about living here, but it's also not all bad. We are happy here for the time being, but I'm glad knowing we won't be here forever. Here are some of my observations after living here for a few months. It is culturally very different from MN.
Style - Minneapolis is a fairly diverse place, and usually pretty up on current fashion. Hipsters roam the streets of uptown, professionals are dressed to the nines downtown, and college kids dress to impress all around town. Even children for the most part are well dressed. Well, in El Paso, half the people you see look like they got dressed in the dark. Maybe it's the lower standard of living or the culture, but seriously people, you could put a little work in. Then there's also the factor of the heat. Wearing as little clothing as possible is was gets you through the day. Short shorts, tank tops, and sun dresses all the way. I don't know how the soldiers work outside in their pants and long sleeves all the time. I'm excited for it to cool down a little so I can start wearing jeans, and sweatshirts, and boots, and OOH - getting too excited about fall clothes! MN change of season syndrome we'll call it.
Music - Minneapolis also has a pretty good music scene. I have gone to tons of concerts, seen bands play at bars, and experienced a variety of genres. Here there is one: Mariachi. No, not really, but almost. The radio stations here are terrible. There is no alternative, indie, or Cities97 type music to be found. Even the pop music they play is not so great. Concerts are few and far between, however I would like to attend an El Paso Symphony Orchestra concert at some point.
Independent film - I never realized that independent film was something that I would necessarily miss, but when a movie was coming out that I wanted to see and nowhere in El Paso was showing it I was a little sad. Luckily, one theater in town eventually got it. Unfortunately I can't rely on the Edina Landmark Theater to fill my independent film needs any longer.
Theater/art - El Paso has some museums and one nice theater, but overall it's lacking in the arts department. In Minneapolis it's like art and theater and music are just everywhere always. You don't have to look very hard for some sort of cultural entertainment. Here it's a little more difficult, but I was happy to see that they have a pretty good Broadway schedule lined up for the year. Now to convince myself it's ok to pay the $150-200 to see Wicked again...
Outdoors - Texas is hot. Really hot. Being outside in the summer is just not as appealing as it is in MN. There is also very few things to do outdoors here. There are no lakes, no rivers, no bike trails, no beaches, and very little grass. There are pools and tennis courts, but they are often crowded, or if you are the only one there it means that it's too hot and you shouldn't be there!
Driving - People complain about MN drivers not knowing how to merge...at least they know how to drive in general. Here, not so much. 40% of motorists here are uninsured, many don't have drivers licenses, and there are fatal accidents almost every single day. I avoid the main freeway through the city at all costs. If I do end up getting a job I'm scared that I will have to drive on it. It is scary. People speed like nobody's business, the on and off ramps are weird and get really backed up, and I have never seen so many cars on the side of the road at any given hour. Thankfully talking and texting on phones is illegal here, it takes enough concentration just to drive and not get hit. In the past week, I almost got side swiped and my husband almost got t-boned twice.
So those are some of the weird/bad things about living in El Paso. There are some good things too. I love the dry weather, it's so nice to get away from the suffocating humidity. My hair is better, my health is better, and things dry SO FAST. I also love living near the mountains. Seeing the sun hit the mountains as it rises, and the sunset over the mountains is just breathtaking. They are also good for hiking and rock climbing for my husband (when it's not blazing hot). And I have yet to see a rattlesnake so I'm happy about that.
Most of all, the best thing about living here is the people. I have met great people since I have been here and am lucky to have some really good friends. I've also gotten plugged into some good groups and activities. It's very different here culturally and weather-wise, but I'm glad to have the opportunity to experience living somewhere so different. I feel like living here is more of an adjustment than living in France was. But the experience is what you make it, so while some things are irritating/scary/boring, I'll try to make the best of my time here. The most important thing is that I'm with my husband finally and we are enjoying being married and making a life for ourselves!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
State Fair Top 10
I was SO happy that while we were home in MN, we got to go to the MN State Fair. I think I have gone every year of my life (at least every year that we were in town). I was so sad thinking that I may not have gotten to go this year since I moved away. Hopefully I'll be able to continue to go as it is one of my favorite times of year.
Mostly, I love the fair because of the food. But here are my top 10 favorite things at the fair:
1) Cheese on a stick - This is my absolute favorite food at the fair. I ate two while I was there this year since I only got to go one day. It is a stick of cheese that is deep fried in a corn batter and served on a stick. I recently bought a cornbread pan specially for making stuffed cornbread muffins and am experimenting with how to make it taste like cheese on a stick.
2) Cheese curds - Yeah, yeah I love cheese. If you know me you know I have a ridiculous love for cheese. Cheese curds are a must at the fair, but no way I can eat a whole order on my own. WAY TOO MUCH GREASE.
3) Sweet Martha's Cookies and the unlimited milk stand - These are not just any ordinary cookies. There is nothing like getting an overflowing bucket or cone full of hot gooey cookies and heading to the milk stand to stuff your face full of chocolate chip goodness.
4) French fries - LOVE the french fries at the state fair. That's all I have to say about that.
5) Pronto Pups- Not your ordinary corn dog. I believe these are made with a wheat based batter instead of corn. I like that the booths say "Wiener dun in a bun."
6) New crazy foods (often on a stick) - This year the new food I tried was deep fried cookie dough on a stick. I wasn't sure how it would look, but it was 3 balls of fried dough. Super ooey gooey, hot cookie dough complete with powdered sugar making it near impossible to eat neatly. While we were eating this in the food building a couple from NY was sharing out table and the woman was majorly struggling with eating it off the stick...amateur. They thought we were nuts for putting everything on a stick.
7) Baby animals - The miracle of birth building is both adorable and disgusting. While I do not want to watch a live birth of a cow (especially multiple times, seeing it once was enough), I do enjoy seeing the babies that have already been born. Like these adorable little duckies.
8) Alpacas - There is a booth by the animal buildings that sells alpaca woolen goods, and usually has a couple cute alpacas hanging out there. I always want to buy the hats, but I don't. I also always want to buy an alpaca, but I can't...
9) People watching - The MN State Fair is a prime people watching location. If you sit anywhere for more than 5 minutes, you will watch seas of people wander by. Often these people have horrible outfits, hair, fanny-packs, etc. If I did more picture taking than I did eating, I would take more pictures of things that make me laugh.
10) Fine Arts Building - Most of the buildings at the fair are pretty boring, but I love the Fine Arts Building. There are a lot of talented artists in MN. There were too many staff members in there this year so I wasn't able to take a picture of the amazing mosaic that was there this year. But it inspired me to pick that hobby back up.
There you have it. My top ten. What's yours?
Mostly, I love the fair because of the food. But here are my top 10 favorite things at the fair:
1) Cheese on a stick - This is my absolute favorite food at the fair. I ate two while I was there this year since I only got to go one day. It is a stick of cheese that is deep fried in a corn batter and served on a stick. I recently bought a cornbread pan specially for making stuffed cornbread muffins and am experimenting with how to make it taste like cheese on a stick.
2) Cheese curds - Yeah, yeah I love cheese. If you know me you know I have a ridiculous love for cheese. Cheese curds are a must at the fair, but no way I can eat a whole order on my own. WAY TOO MUCH GREASE.
3) Sweet Martha's Cookies and the unlimited milk stand - These are not just any ordinary cookies. There is nothing like getting an overflowing bucket or cone full of hot gooey cookies and heading to the milk stand to stuff your face full of chocolate chip goodness.
4) French fries - LOVE the french fries at the state fair. That's all I have to say about that.
5) Pronto Pups- Not your ordinary corn dog. I believe these are made with a wheat based batter instead of corn. I like that the booths say "Wiener dun in a bun."
6) New crazy foods (often on a stick) - This year the new food I tried was deep fried cookie dough on a stick. I wasn't sure how it would look, but it was 3 balls of fried dough. Super ooey gooey, hot cookie dough complete with powdered sugar making it near impossible to eat neatly. While we were eating this in the food building a couple from NY was sharing out table and the woman was majorly struggling with eating it off the stick...amateur. They thought we were nuts for putting everything on a stick.
7) Baby animals - The miracle of birth building is both adorable and disgusting. While I do not want to watch a live birth of a cow (especially multiple times, seeing it once was enough), I do enjoy seeing the babies that have already been born. Like these adorable little duckies.
8) Alpacas - There is a booth by the animal buildings that sells alpaca woolen goods, and usually has a couple cute alpacas hanging out there. I always want to buy the hats, but I don't. I also always want to buy an alpaca, but I can't...
9) People watching - The MN State Fair is a prime people watching location. If you sit anywhere for more than 5 minutes, you will watch seas of people wander by. Often these people have horrible outfits, hair, fanny-packs, etc. If I did more picture taking than I did eating, I would take more pictures of things that make me laugh.
10) Fine Arts Building - Most of the buildings at the fair are pretty boring, but I love the Fine Arts Building. There are a lot of talented artists in MN. There were too many staff members in there this year so I wasn't able to take a picture of the amazing mosaic that was there this year. But it inspired me to pick that hobby back up.
There you have it. My top ten. What's yours?
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