I hate living in Tulsa and wish you leave ASAP
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3/27/2009
BACKGROUND
I am a woman of French and Spanish ancestry. I enjoyed a middle clas life in Mexico where I was born, raised and educated. I am SO very sorry that I accepted my then-husband proposal to move to Tulsa. Had I known better!!! I have American friends living in Mexico who warned me there was nothing here for me. They should have provided further details. Where do I start?
WEATHER
Make sure to have a bikini under your mink coat. Weather is unpredictable and anything can happen, anytime.
BIBLE BELT
My first surprise I guess was finding a church in every corner, literally. I thought Mexico was a religious country... no comparison! I was raised a Catholic but I don't practice. People here are very much into what denomination they are and fiercely criticize other churches. They also think they are much better than others who are not reliigious zealots. I do not know what they learn in church but definitely not tolerance.
POVERTY
I know there is poverty in developed nations too but I have never seen so many poor whites in my life. I have come across a lot of people who lack ambition completely. They just get by and put the least effort they can.
LITERACY
Another surprise! English spoken here is soooo horrible, they are native English speakers and they cannot verbally conjugate a verb, forget about writing it... they cannot tell plural from singular yet they look down on anyone who has an accent and refer to you as "illiterate". I speak four languages and wonder.. who is the iliterate one?
RACISM AND DOUBLE STANDARDS
This is an extremely racist place to live in, and don't expect racism only from whites... also, many whites here look down on anyone who has even a bit of skin color, yet they claim to be so proud of any American Indian heritage they have, which is a mean of getting government benefits.
Blacks who are into crime (I did not say blacks in general) target those who look Mexican (according to the stereotype) to rob them since they think that lacking the language knowledge and legal status, you will be afraid and/or unable to report the crime.
RACISM AMONG THE SAME MINORITY
The so-called "Hispanic population" -This is such an erroneous term because Hispanic means Spaniard or descendant of Spaniards- but Latin Americans are referred to as "Hispanic" when we are actually blacks, Native Indians or descentants of Europeans immigrants to Latin America).
The typical immigrant here from Latin America is Mexican and mostly Indigenous (same than Native American Indians, just born in another country)a few black Mexicans and the ocassional lost European from Latin America)
South Americans here participate in local human rights advocacy for immigrants but they are themselves very racists to Mexicans (because they consider them Indians; even though some of these South Americans are Indians too, but deny it) and refer to them as "little Mexicans". And while most of the "Little Mexicans" come here crossing the border ilegally and many dye in the process crossing desserts and rivers, many of these South Americans commit fraud by marrying Americans to get papers and they come here "legally"... so who is more "ILLEGAL"?
OBESITY
As a byproduct of lazyness you will find probably the most obese people in the country. Driving around you will see women who hardly fit in their cars. We are talking Morbidly obese, not only fat.
FILTH
While not all people are, you will see A LOT of them who don't practice good hygiene, they are lacking teeth due to again, lack of hygiene and or/ Meth use.
TRAFFIC
I am surprised people have driver licenses in here! first, they drive like they are in a hurry all the time. A lot of people drive without insurance (and I am not talking about illegal immmigrants but locals who don't want to pay insurance) I come from a place in Mexico where people drive fast and I think people drive even faster here but in addition, they lack driving skills.
FINALLY, THE GOOD PART
Buying a house here is more affordable than in many other states. I live in an upper-middle class neighborhood, virtually crime-free (from what I know)
Life is not as fast-paced. Crime is bad but do your best to stay away from poor areas.. Unfortunately drugs are everywhere even in the nicest parts.
Some goods school districts like Jenks or Union. If you don't find a group that you fit in with, create your own group of outsiders. Whites that come from other states are less racists, more open-minded and more educated. There are also a few English immigrants, a few other Europeans and other foreigners from the Middle East, they are mostly educated, middle class professionals.
Oklahoma has some nice lakes so try to get out of town and also visit the surrounding states for variety. If you are white you will find it so much better than others in this city.
Good luck!
Bp | Tulsa, OK