If you only knew then, what you know now...

[Sprailenes 47]

Would you have done anything differently?

Anything at all, involving your process, your move, employment?

I personally would have taken more time to find a job that was better suited to my needs instead of acting out in complete desperation and taking the first one that came along

I would have also taken in home a lot more during my last year there. I kind of had one foot out the door and everything was about moving, than about taking it all in and really appreciating Canada and my family. My head was in another place during that last year.

I may have asked my husband to get an apartment of his own rather than come live with the inlaws...but on the sunny side, the MIL and I are getting along nicely since the wedding. Which is nice.

I probably should have stocked up on Timmies, though it never tastes the same when you buy the can of coffee and try to brew it yourself.

[KarenCee 3]

Would you have done anything differently?

Anything at all, involving your process, your move, employment?

I personally would have taken more time to find a job that was better suited to my needs instead of acting out in complete desperation and taking the first one that came along

I would have also taken in home a lot more during my last year there. I kind of had one foot out the door and everything was about moving, than about taking it all in and really appreciating Canada and my family. My head was in another place during that last year.

I may have asked my husband to get an apartment of his own rather than come live with the inlaws...but on the sunny side, the MIL and I are getting along nicely since the wedding. Which is nice.

I probably should have stocked up on Timmies, though it never tastes the same when you buy the can of coffee and try to brew it yourself.

Even though I'm the USC, I *have* to agree with this, yet I will still continue to brew Timmie's at home.

[MrsCat 6]

I was in the same mode and then I realized that I was thankful for having some time before I moved. While I dispise the not knowing when we'll be done - it has given me time to really enjoy my last year in Canada. I decided to buy the mustang convertible I always wanted last month. I figured - what the heck - its only a couple $$ more in Canada and I can really enjoy this summer. I am making one last summer road trip to the Northwest Territories to see my family, the lake, the falls, the beach . . . the mosquitos. Normally I am a home body - but I have accepted every last invitation from my friends to hang out, go out for drinks, gossip. At some point it dawned on me that those are not going to be at my disposal when I move. I've taken more time to be with my family - even when they do jerk things that normally would make me lose my mind, I've attempted to savor our dysfunction. The time it has taken to finally move has actually been a blessing. I would never have done these things if the move happened quickly.

Edited June 17, 2008 by cattattude

[Sprailenes 47]

I probably should have enjoyed that time I had when I first moved here instead of being in AOS mode as well. Here I was stressing about the petty things when I should have been getting to know my community better.

[Krikit 1,166]

I decided to buy the mustang convertible I always wanted

Oh cool. Whatcha get, Catt?

As for me..... I did all the things I was supposed to. Enjoyed my time with family and friends. Tied up loose ends. I really wish I had completed some extra certifications and diplomas, though, while it was cheap. Hindsight sux. Plus I probably would have taken a leave of absence from work rather than an outright resignation. And I also would have given more thought as to whether I should get married or get a cat.

[anxiouslywaiting 0]

Would you have done anything differently?

Anything at all, involving your process, your move, employment?

I personally would have taken more time to find a job that was better suited to my needs instead of acting out in complete desperation and taking the first one that came along

I would have also taken in home a lot more during my last year there. I kind of had one foot out the door and everything was about moving, than about taking it all in and really appreciating Canada and my family. My head was in another place during that last year.

I may have asked my husband to get an apartment of his own rather than come live with the inlaws...but on the sunny side, the MIL and I are getting along nicely since the wedding. Which is nice.

I probably should have stocked up on Timmies, though it never tastes the same when you buy the can of coffee and try to brew it yourself.

Don't say that, I am already scared about the whole living with my in-laws. We are actually staying in an apartment attached to their house (we have our own seperate entrance, kitchen and everything). With our situation it was really the best option for us until I find a job and we find a house. Everyone is telling us not to do it but we really don't have a choice.

I haven't done the move yet but I really hope there isn't anything I regret! I am not that far from home (7 hour drive) so I am hoping to come home to visit as much as possible!

[Krikit 1,166]

Oh! That reminds me. I wouldn't have gone the K-1 route. I would have married in Canada and done the CR-1.

[Mephys 2]

Definitely spending more time with my family and friends, I too was in moving and stressing mode.

And now I thought I would enjoy my AOS time "vacation" but I didn't because I was too stressed with everything and depressed, and stressed about getting a job. So I would really enjoy my time if I could do it again.

If I could have known back in 1999 I would have picked the first college I had in mind for my studies (the certified one) that was in English so now I could get my license in the US and really get the job I want. But that's a stretch because i met my husband in 2004

I didn't know the first year would feel like this, and I must admit i wasn't ready for that much struggle... But at the same time, it was all in my head because everything is fine now.

Oh and I wish my husband had told me he had 3 kids before we got married

No just kidding on that last one It's a joke we'd been making before we got married. He kept telling me "Oh I forgot to tell you, I got 3 boys!"

[trailmix 77]

As for me..... I did all the things I was supposed to. Enjoyed my time with family and friends. Tied up loose ends. I really wish I had completed some extra certifications and diplomas, though, while it was cheap. Hindsight sux. Plus I probably would have taken a leave of absence from work rather than an outright resignation. And I also would have given more thought as to whether I should get married or get a cat.

[jynxNdragnfly 0]

I'm not even done going through 'this' yet and to be really honest, if I would have known it was going to take this long I would have went K-1 all the way and just scrapped and scrimped every penny I could. This whole thing right now is just absolutely killing me.

[Krikit 1,166]

As for me..... I did all the things I was supposed to. Enjoyed my time with family and friends. Tied up loose ends. I really wish I had completed some extra certifications and diplomas, though, while it was cheap. Hindsight sux. Plus I probably would have taken a leave of absence from work rather than an outright resignation. And I also would have given more thought as to whether I should get married or get a cat.

I'm not even done going through 'this' yet and to be really honest, if I would have known it was going to take this long I would have went K-1 all the way and just scrapped and scrimped every penny I could. This whole thing right now is just absolutely killing me.

Nah, K-1 sux. There's a lot of ####### you have to put up with on this side of the fence. CR-1's the better way to go.

[trailmix 77]

As for me..... I did all the things I was supposed to. Enjoyed my time with family and friends. Tied up loose ends. I really wish I had completed some extra certifications and diplomas, though, while it was cheap. Hindsight sux. Plus I probably would have taken a leave of absence from work rather than an outright resignation. And I also would have given more thought as to whether I should get married or get a cat.

I'm not even done going through 'this' yet and to be really honest, if I would have known it was going to take this long I would have went K-1 all the way and just scrapped and scrimped every penny I could. This whole thing right now is just absolutely killing me.

Nah, K-1 sux. There's a lot of ####### you have to put up with on this side of the fence. CR-1's the better way to go.

I agree with krikit, originally I had said if I knew then what I later knew, I would have gone with the K3, because Mike could have done the interview in Vancouver and it would have been less hassle from that standpoint.

However in hindsight, I would chose the IR1 again, simply because once you get here all you have to do is apply for a SSN - instead of having the big AOS hassle.

[jynxNdragnfly 0]

At the end of the day I just want to go home to my husband..... everyday. I would have already been done AOS and everything by now.

[Krikit 1,166]

At the end of the day I just want to go home to my husband..... everyday. I would have already been done AOS and everything by now.

But I understand you wanting to be with your husband. It's definitely a long hard road. Fortunately, you're on the down-slope now. Hang in there.

[Cassie 8]

If you had asked me this question a year or so ago, I would have said "I wouldn't have moved to the US 4 days after getting my visa, and I would have waited until after US Thanksgiving, Christmas and the birth of my niece."

But now that I look back on it, I am glad I moved when I did, because my mom was diagnosed with leukemia in March of that year, and if I had still been in Canada, I don't think I would have left them at that point. It all worked out in the end, the experience of being away from my family during a crisis helped me grow personally and Jerry and I grow closer as a couple.