I’ve been thinking (no, it didn’t hurt) and I figure that since I’ve been in Texas for almost four years now, it’s only fair for me to document some of the more basic expat elements of living here, to help share my experience.  If I help make even one persons transition to Houston an easier one, then it’s worth the time it takes to put these blog posts together.

Plus, given the transient life we lead, we may end up leaving Houston and having to come back at some stage, so I want to keep track of the important stuff – just ’cause.

There’s so many questions that spring to mind when you first disembark that plane at George Bush intercontinental.

You’re officially an expat.

You’re a visitor in someone else’s country.

You have no idea what to do.

In spite of the potential support at your disposal, whether it’s from your husbands company or for some, your own company, ultimately, you’re on your own to figure things out.  That, is lesson one.

By now, you’ve probably already made the important decisions;

Where to live? (or you’re in temporary accommodation)

What to drive? (or you’re in a rental/hire car)

But what next? What’s the first step of your expat life in Houston once you get settled in your new digs, with your new ride?

I’ve asked around, most people want to know the medical things.  Doctor.  Dentist.  OBGYN.  And while I can’t really endorse anyone, or testify to their medical background, I can tell you who I go to and what my experiences have been – make sure these providers are covered by your insurance before you make an appointment with them!

Doctor

At home in N.Ireland, we call them a GP, general practitioner.  Here, in Houston, they are called family doctors.  I started off with someone that I didn’t like at all, but, pretty quickly found the one for me, her name is Dr Tiffany Albritton.

Her primary office is in Memorial Hermann, Sugar Land, 17510 W Grand Pkwy S Ste 310,
Sugar Land, TX 77479 Phone: (281) 725-5855 and I can’t recommend her highly enough, she’s peppy and positive, but not sickeningly sweet and fake.  She’s genuine, caring and most importantly, she listens and between you, you figure out a treatment plan that works for you.  She doesn’t jump straight to medication and she’s always armed with a number of alternatives to present you with.

Dentist

I’ve only ever gone to one dentist, Dr Jessica Ransom over at Rocky Creek dental care.  I’m TERRIBLE for dentists, I HATE going to see the dentist, it fills me with more fear than cockroaches, spiders and all kinds of snakes and creepy crawlies.  The first time I met Dr Jessica, I told her I was beyond terrified of dental treatment and that she’d need to handle me with kid-gloves.  She made a note on my file and from then on, I got numbing gel before I got any needles, I got asked a number of times during procedures if I was ok.  I can’t imagine ever going to anyone else – I love this office so much, that I voluntarily had them replace my UK/NHS silver fillings with white ones – that says a LOT for me!

OBGYN (aka: gynecological doctor)

Again, it took me one or two cracks at an OBGYN before I found one that I absolutely LOVE and totally trust with my girlie parts.  Her name is Dr Katherine Diase over in Southwest OBGYN and if you need anything ‘girlie’ done, make the appointment.  You may have a wait (which I haven’t had before with any medical professionals here in Houston) but she is most definitely worth the wait!

For more options, or for various parts of Houston, that isn’t Sugar Land, go to your insurance providers website.  I know with Cigna, they have an online database that you can search for specific care providers, different areas of Houston and in-network too.

Where do you go to get your Texas driving license?

Houston isn’t a walking-friendly city, there’s poor public transport and the entire city is HUGE.  It took me upwards of a year to get my Texas driving license, I put it off and off because I was scared, of driving here, of the test, everything.

An individual can legally drive with a valid, unexpired driver license from another state or country for up to 90 days after moving to Texas.  For information on how to get set up with a Texas driving licence, go to the Texas department of safety, here.

Advice: Don’t be afraid.  The roads in Houston are totally crazy, but just dive right in.  Take the bull by the horns and get behind the wheel, it’s scary, but the more you do it, the more confidence you’ll get.

The test itself is pretty short and simple, a lot easier than the one I sat in Northern Ireland many moons ago.  Don’t delay – sign up and get it over with, you’ll be glad you did.

Don’t restrict yourself.  Many people who move to Houston, refuse to drive out of their subdivision, townies won’t drive to Katy or Sugar Land and vice versa.  Restricting yourself is a bad idea, build up your driving experience and open yourself up to the entire city, not just your little bit.

PLEASE invest in an EZ Tag when you move to Houston!

Some people may tell you it’s not worth the money, some may tell you it’s not necessary, but I am not that person.  I’ll tell you that it’s cheap at twice the price, and it is, most definitely necessary.  I will use toll roads on any and every journey I can – and my husband both supports and encourages that decision.

How do you get an EZ tag? Go here, to the Harris County toll road authority website and sign up online.

Why should you get an EZ tag?

1.  Rush Hour. I use toll roads during times of high volumes of traffic.  Most Houstonians won’t pay to get where they are going, as an expat, I’d rather pay the 50c – $1.50 to get to where I’m going, in order to avoid sitting in a traffic jam for anywhere up to an hour.  Toll roads cut my journeys to a fraction of the time they could be.

2. Safety.  Personally, I find the toll roads safer, the volume of traffic is less (cause you have to pay) and with that, comes a somewhat reduce risk of getting in to an accident.  I’d say I’m a feminist, but when it comes to driving in Houston, I tend to be on the road at the same time as many other housewives.  Housewives who drive cars that aren’t necessarily suited to them (you’ll see many SUV’s/minivans).

As much as I’d love to fall down on the side of my fellow ‘sisters in arms’, I can’t, the women in Houston are generally terrible drivers.  On their phones, searching in their purses, paying attention to their kids – anything but the road, applying make up – I’ve even seen people painting their toenails while driving.  It’s crazy.  I’ll do anything to get off the ‘main’ roads and away from the crazies.

3.  Shortest route.  Oftentimes the toll roads are the shortest route – again, that works in my favour with all the driving I do here in the great city of Houston.

How do you register your car in Texas?

Motor vehicle owners in Texas are required by law to register their vehicles annually.  You have 30 days from the time you move here to register your vehicle in the state and the place you get your registration from, is NOT the same place you get your license from.

For more information on how to register your car when you move to Texas, read here.

How to choose your utilities providers

Power to choose is a website where you can learn about electric competition in Texas and shop for electricity providers.  Beware though, some of the companies that appear cheapest, aren’t exactly the cheapest – there are fees attached to the prices stated, be sure to check this.

For us personally, we have used the same utilities providers for our entire stay here in Houston, so I can’t really compare with any others, but I can say we’ve been happy enough with service and price charged – that we haven’t strayed (and I’m a coupon junkie so I’m all about saving cash!)  Reliant (electric), CenterPoint (gas) and Comcast (cable internet).

Prescriptions – a quick insight

For many things you just have to go to in to the drug store/pharmacy and get it ‘OTC’, over the counter.  However, every now and then, you’ll have to go to your doctor and get medications by prescription.  Drugs here in the US can be quite expensive, so when your doctor is writing the script, tell them that you’d prefer the ‘generic’ version – as this could save you a fortune, some named brands aren’t covered by certain insurance types, as well as the fact that the generic brand is notably cheaper to begin with – and it’s the same thing!

Sometimes your doctor will call the prescription through to a pharmacy of your choice (be it closest to home, or your kids school), but you may need to bring your prescription card (a card you’ll get through the mail from your insurance company) to set up your ‘rapport’ with your pharmacy at your first visit.  Once you’ve done this, you shouldn’t need to do it again.  It’s pretty much setting up a relationship between your docs office and your pharmacy – it’s an important step and according to Col, it’s the thing that most foxed him when he first moved here.

If I’ve missed something, or you think there’s something that would be of benefit to add on this post – please, feel free to let me know!