well, it's been 1 year since i crossed the border to begin anew in the US.

it's been a roller coaster to be sure. from moments of sheer panic to pure joy and everything in between. it's taking some getting used to living down here. not only have i changed countries, i've gone from (what seems like now) a large city (no so large really though) to a conservative small town in the south. there are of course good and bad things about living here. i like the less traffic and i'm getting used to the fact that you can't do anything quickly since you are always bumping into someone you know. i'm getting used to saying ohmygosh without feeling silly, but i've not taken to saying y'all or golly as of yet (when i do, it's time for a visit home!)

i miss my famliy and friends like mad. unfortunatley things are a bit tight for a while longer so i'll not get home before the holidays. i did get a bit of a fix in july when i saw a few friends from home while away at a race in Lake Placid. i spent as much time with Canadians as i could while there! LOL of course, i still miss timmy's, shreddies, ketchup chips, caramilk bars and swiss chalet as well!

it goes without saying that i'm incredibly happy to be with my hubby. he's been great through the sad times, especiallly when they seem to come out of nowhere and i know it will just keep getting better and better and good times with him are are really good.

in the end, all the waiting, stress, waiting, paperwork and more waiting was more than worth it.

not long now until our 1st anniversary. the traditional gift is of paper so i'm hoping that i can get him entered for a race he really wants to do next year so that will be lots of paper things for him. paper money to pay for it (well, creditcard, but lots of bills in really $$!), a paper entry confirmation and they give you a certificate when you finish. if all goes really well, he'll get one more special piece of paper - an entry to worlds! then i'll get a 2nd anniversary present of a trip to Hawaii.

cheers.

k

Sounds like you are doing great! Congrats on both your Anniversaries!!

I am doing pretty good here- I have some sad days too. It really does take some time to adjust.

How far is Ruston from New Orleans?? let me know if you are ever heading close to the city- we can get together.

Thanks for you update Kim. It sounds like you're adjusting as best you can just like most of us here now. I know about those sad days. They always hit me at the weirdest times. I think I miss my kids the most. Their in their 20's, but they're always my kids, you know?

Congratulations on your almost 1st anniversary as well! I'm glad being with your husband makes your life so happy. This is what it's all about.

Carla

Congratulations on year one. I think that was the hardest one for me. Going on to the third now, a lot of the initial shock things are over... but even last night I was very homesick and just wanted some dill pickle chips and to wrap myself in the Canadian flag.

Cheers, and I wish you nothing but continued success and happiness!

I have just passed the 4 months now, and I must admit that I recognize myself in some of the things you wrote.

Of course we were into that Fairy tale every time we were visiting each other, and we knew there would be also bad times and adjustments to do.... I have never been so happy before and every moment we spend together is more wonderful than the previous one, and we love each other more and more everyday. But they are some moments where I just feel like sitting down on the floor and cry, for no apparent reasons. I listening to some french music, or watch some news on the internet from Montreal, and I get this homesick feeling. I thought I would be stronger than that and that I would never feel like this because I like it here, but I guess its something that comes after us sometimes no matter what.

My mom sent me a box with Coffee crisps and May west and it did feel good. I have tried a Kitkat around here and it tastes too much like hershey ( cause its made by them) so I don't like it at all.

Its all those little things that makes it happen I guess. But I don't regret any of this. I could never be happier than now

Congratulations to your first year! And to everybody in the US! Times passes so fast now its crazy....

It's true! Prior to visa issuance we all counted the days, hours, minutes and seconds and every hour seemed like days and every day seemed like weeks... well, you get what I'm trying to say. Now that I'm here I can't believe I've already been here for 5 months!

I just made a scrapbook of the Journey of FutureMrs and Marlon to celebrate their visa approval. In it, I put a card and on that card, I wrote something that effect.....that in a year's time, she will barely remember all the ups and downs of waiting out the visa process. Given just a little time, the time just flies and all this will just be a distant memory.

Andre's been here over a year now and I'd be the first to say the process itself now feels like it was some sort of dream.

a bad dream

But nonetheless a dream, feels unreal now. I can barely believe that we have been crying and missing each other like crazy for 18 months over a webcam..... Now I get to make him lunch everday and we barely spend more than 4 hours aways from each other