blah no life blah

[*julez* 124]

Have you thought about joining a club?

Seriously, though, maybe take a class in something that interests you, or join a gym - if exercise is your thing.

If I had time, I'd like to take a cooking class, or screen-play writing, or pottery, or knitting or wine tasting. All stuff that I find interesting and hopefully people there would find it interesting too and might be some common ground for a friendship.

Good luck in your quest!

[StillThePrettiest 3]

pub trivia has been a great thing for us

not least because we win a prize most weeks

but seriously: it's fun, not expensive, and I've met some of Dave's workmates and their partners... none of them seem like they'll be new BFFs, but they're fun, and it's a good night out, and it makes me feel like I fit in a bit more

[Jeraly 4]

Did anyone suggest joining a club?

I did a little volunteering as well and can relate to the older generation being prevalent I still had fun though but it wasn't exactly the best place for making friends I have had luck with meetup.com though and have made a couple of friends through that site that enable me to get out from time to time which is nice

I'm also trying to establish the roots for a business that I can run when I get my EAD - ok so I am the worst procrastinator and haven't got very far yet but it is something to focus on and I'm hoping that doing it as a hobby alongside another job when I get my EAD will allow it to build up enough that eventually I can work from home on a more regular basis

StP - I would *love* to go to a pub quiz but I haven't seen any about which is amazing as there are so many bars here...

*runs to search*

[StillThePrettiest 3]

if you don't find a place doing a pub quiz, suggest it to one

the one we go to isn't organised through the pub; they get the questions and answer sheets etc from an external group... the prizes are just vouchers for the pub, so I'm sure they give away far less than they make out of the event

[GabachaYucateca 0]

Slightly Bonkers: just judging from the personality that jumps from your posts, it's only a matter of time before you start finding people that really click with you. You sound like a hell of a lot of fun.

Best of luck, and I'm sure you know it'll be fine (and hopefully great) soon, you just want some empathy and support!

I was also going to make a "join a club" joke, but I think previous posters have it covered.

[Krikit 1,163]

If I had time, I'd like to take a cooking class, or screen-play writing, or pottery, or knitting or wine tasting. All stuff that I find interesting and hopefully people there would find it interesting too and might be some common ground for a friendship.

I'd join all those with you, Julez!

*goes back to working on moving to Buffalo*

[annieob 0]

<start vent>

Ok so I guess this is 99% a vent and 1% a very quiet non-assuming warning

A little background ...

I've spend a lot of my life travelling on my own - 3 months in the states (summer camp J1) 5 years in a row, 8 months in India, and then finally with the guy, a 18 month stint in Japan.

I've left friends so many times and my family barely remember me being around for important holidays. I've missed babies, 40th's, weddings, blah blah blah all the good stuff.

I spent 4 years with my guy, I guess a good 2 and a half were long distance, with a good year at the end, like most of you, waiting for the visa.

Ok. So if any one is still reading ...

It's hard. It's the hardest thing I've ever done. I love being here with my husband. I don't hate america, but to be honest, Green Bay would never have been my first choice. I miss my family and friends, but I could deal with that if I had the possibility of making new friends but it seems impossible. No job. I am volunteering but everyone else who volunteers are in such a different part of their life (retired) that it makes it so hard to find someone to make you excited. His family and friends are amazing, really fun, open, caring but when it gets down to it, they are his friends. I can't wait for the day that I say to him - "I'm going out for dinner with someone you have never met!". I feel trapped, lonely, and so isolated.

I do know that this is a phase. And that when I get my EAD and a job and a life, things will slowly right themselves. But at the moment, I'm alone, with a cuddley dog, rock band and ... well thats it. Counting the days until I can join the rat race.

<end vent>

It's like I could have written it myself (apart from location). I get on great with my husbands family and friends, but just need some of my own. I know this will change once I start work etc, and have been looking for hobbies etc. So I know exactly how you feel.

And the poor dog isn't going to know whats happening when I get a job she's getting so much alone time with me

[Nagishkaw 510]

If I had time, I'd like to take a cooking class, or screen-play writing, or pottery, or knitting or wine tasting. All stuff that I find interesting and hopefully people there would find it interesting too and might be some common ground for a friendship.

I'd join all those with you, Julez!

*goes back to working on moving to Buffalo*

At first I thought I read, ' *goes back to moving the Buffalo*

[Krikit 1,163]

If I had time, I'd like to take a cooking class, or screen-play writing, or pottery, or knitting or wine tasting. All stuff that I find interesting and hopefully people there would find it interesting too and might be some common ground for a friendship.

I'd join all those with you, Julez!

*goes back to working on moving to Buffalo*

At first I thought I read, ' *goes back to moving the Buffalo*

:lol:

[*julez* 124]

If I had time, I'd like to take a cooking class, or screen-play writing, or pottery, or knitting or wine tasting. All stuff that I find interesting and hopefully people there would find it interesting too and might be some common ground for a friendship.

I'd join all those with you, Julez!

*goes back to working on moving to Buffalo*

Do it Krikit!! There are some really nice affordable houses for sale near me!!! And a totally sweet Wegman's for all your shopping needs!

[aidan80 9]

I too know the feeling of just being stuck, trapped in this place with no way out!.. God it took a year before I had the EAD, then the stupid GC came along not too long after it! I think I might of been going a tiny wee bit mad in the end!

I tried to keep myself grounded as much as I could, I watched stupid cable till I knew what was on what stations and at what times.. I cooked dinner, I cleaned up the house, I washed clothes and I even hung them up on a line I put up!.. No need for a dryer in Florida, unless you want rid of the lint I read the local papers from back home (still do!) so I could keep up with everything, I keep an eye on the News, RTE/UTV and some of the papers as well. Of course I emailed people all the time, posted stupid pictures.. we got Vonage and setup a virtual "back home" number so people could phone us for cheap and we could phone them for next to nothing! Every now and then I get someone from Derry asking for the Doctor's office or somebody trying to book a taxi/chinese

In the end I was hunting every stupid job that came up that I just might get, starting with those I wanted.. the the ones I thought I wouldn't mind doing, the ones I could do alright, the others I'd have to do.. then the ones I didn't want but had to bring in some cash...

I got lucky in the end and found a half decent job, not my chosen field and am still there now.. leaset it's better than the $7.25 office depot was offering

[TracyTN 237]

My husband felt the EXACT same way about friends (his friends being my friends). I got him into hockey once he got here and we have Predators season tickets. He started posting on the Preds message board, and before you know it, he knows more people now at the games than I do!! That's really been a good outlet for him and a way to find his own friends. My point (if I have one, LOL!) is that sometimes you'll find friends in ways you least expect.

[TBoneTX 43,411]

*goes back to working on moving to Buffalo*

At first I thought I read, ' *goes back to moving the Buffalo*

And, count on this: "When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty!"

[Krikit 1,163]

*goes back to working on moving to Buffalo*

At first I thought I read, ' *goes back to moving the Buffalo*

And, count on this: "When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty!"

[Stardust72 0]

What? You don't like Green Bay?! Actually, I live in Seymour, which is only 20 miles from Green Bay so I know what you mean. I am from Amsterdam, Holland and it's a different world out here . I can relate to a lot of what you're saying. When I first entered the US with my K1 visa, I got a 90 day EAD stamp in my passport. The plan was to apply for AOS and EAD shortly after I married my husband, so there would be no gap in time between when my I-94 expired and when I got my EAD card. However, due to circumstances, we weren't able to apply for AOS and EAD as soon as we had liked. I was lucky to find a job soon after I arrived, but I quit that job because the people weren't honest with me about the times and the weekends I would be working and they scheduled me for evenings and weekends when I wasn't supposed to work. I found another decent job that I liked soon after that, but then my I-94 expired and I wasn't allowed to work any longer. Fortunately the company I worked has already said that they want to rehire me after I get my EAD card. So hopefully I will get that as soon as possible. I am already tired of bumming around the house all day. I keep busy by cleaning, cooking, running errands for my husband, etc... But sometimes boredom sets in and then I realize how much I've given up to be here. Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy to be here with my husband and I am absolutely not considering going back. It's just not always easy. I was hoping to make some friends at work, but the people here are so different from the people I knew back in Holland that sometimes I wonder if I'm going to be able to make any friends at all. My husband's family and friends all treat me very nice, but I would like to have some friends of my own. And the food here is something else I have a thing or two to say about. Hopefully soon I will get my EAD card and I can go back to work. I try to stay positive about this whole thing and I realize that by this time next year, I will probably laugh about everything that is happening now. Most people say that the first year is the hardest so once that is behind me, I know I'll be fine. I am still confident that I made the right choice by coming here.