In the USA, no EAD, what to do?

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Hello Canada!

I've been in the US for almost 2 weeks now and I'm starting to feel rather bored! I've been trying to keep myself busy with wedding details, the internet, phone calls home, TV, Nintento... and I'm just getting sick of everything, already! I went from a very busy life in Canada, going to school full time, working, doing the immigration stuff, planning the wedding... and now I sit in the basement watching clips on youtube. To make things even better, I have no car. I didn't bring my car from Canada, it was a piece of junk and I figured it would just die on the way. With the wedding and AOS coming up, we decided that getting another car can wait, since I have no job and really don't have anywhere to be. I was fine with that, but I wish I could just go out and do something! I take walks but that's only interesting for an hour or so... Once and a while I go to work with him, but I always get stuck doing odd jobs and working for free isn't my favorite thing to do. Its a family business so I feel bad not contributing, but I don't know anything about auto parts or battery group sizes so I end up sitting at a desk filing mounds of paperwork, or helping my fiance lift things that I can hardly get off the ground.

What do you guys do to keep yourself busy while your SO is at work? Any ideas for this housebound and bored Canadian?

[Otto 83]

You could volunteer somewhere.. (ETA: but maybe transportation would be an issue)

Edited June 26, 2009 by Otto und Karin

[JillA 2]

Unfortunately there's no real secrets.... it gets pretty boring, but you learn to deal with it and make the best of it! Even with your EAD, doesn't mean you're going to get a job right away, just gives you the green light to start looking. I have learned to cook alot since I've been here, I clean a ton, read many books per week (you didn't mention reading at all.... perhaps join your local library?) reading passes the time like nothing else.

It's hard, but you have to try and enjoy the time off while you can! It's a nice time to relax, reflect, get to know your new neighborhood, pick up some hobbies, etc. I am still enjoying the break, while looking for work. But I won't look back with any regrets, because I've immensly enjoyed the time off work that I have had! And I see this as my summer vacation

[Flames9_RN 358]

Beer is a lot cheaper here, so just pull a homer and drink away!!

[Ban Hammer 12,863]

it's summer time, the yard always needs to be mowed

[TimandJoyce 1]

it's summer time, the yard always needs to be mowed

I suppose that would work if you had to mow it everyday!

But what about gardening? Even if it's small, or in containers? Do you have room to do that? Where you are now, is that were you'll be for a while? If so, how about rearranging things around, or add some colour here or there. Make it yours too. What do you like to do. Sew? Scrapbook? You said you were going to school. What can you learn online, for free? What do you live close by? Parks, etc? How about going down and being your friendly self, meet people. You'll be in a nice safe area. You don't have a car, but what about transit? It's not always the best, but you can learn the routes. And let your finance know how you feel, he just may have some suggestions. And yes, it was mentioned, enjoy the break. I know that's one of the things I'm so looking forward to! Sorry you're going through this transition, but once you feel like your home, you'll enjoy it.

[Ban Hammer 12,863]

mow yard

clean out garage

wash car

detail car

catch up on spring cleaning

rearrange linen closet

mend socks/repair holes/tears in clothes, resew loose buttons.

lemme know when the list is exhausted, i'll come up with some more.

[Otto 83]

mow yard

clean out garage

wash car

detail car

catch up on spring cleaning

rearrange linen closet

mend socks/repair holes/tears in clothes, resew loose buttons.

lemme know when the list is exhausted, i'll come up with some more.

[JillA 2]

mow yard

clean out garage

wash car

detail car

catch up on spring cleaning

rearrange linen closet

mend socks/repair holes/tears in clothes, resew loose buttons.

lemme know when the list is exhausted, i'll come up with some more.

Rearranage linen and clothes closet is a good one actually! I do that alot

[bradcanuck 1]

I was out of work for a long time. Being trapped in that box can really wear on relationships. I am pretty confident that is why they make us go through it.

[Misty1979 0]

My co-worker just gave me this website that posts neat classes that happen all over the place. If you want, have a look and see if any of the classes are something that might help keep you occupied:

www.twosmartdogs.com

Another thing...what about joining your local gym or to be even more adventurous, joining a kick-boxing or self defense class of some sort? Exercise helps keep the blues away

Edited June 26, 2009 by Misty1979

[Ban Hammer 12,863]

mow yard

clean out garage

wash car

detail car

catch up on spring cleaning

rearrange linen closet

mend socks/repair holes/tears in clothes, resew loose buttons.

lemme know when the list is exhausted, i'll come up with some more.

Rearranage linen and clothes closet is a good one actually! I do that alot

and the oven always needs cleaning.

probably good to look at the cooktop too, maybe clean and inspect the burners, if it has visible burners.

take a look at the fridge for what is expired or growing cultures.

same for the pantry.

inspect the hoses on your washer for cracks - this is something that should be done every year as water hose breakage is a major insurance claim.

inspect that hose for the dryer too, it probably needs cleaning.

rearrange all pots and pans. while doing so, inspect them for loose handles.

got any ceiling fans? if so, the blades probably need to be cleaned off.

gutters. another insurance claim waiting to happen. clean them out in spring and late fall.

any dripping water faucets?

any toilets that run? both add to a water bill.

and just when was the furnace/ac filter changed anyways?

need more yet?

Edited June 26, 2009 by charles!

[cdneh 3,112]

Well...we rebuilt the flat. Just before I got here the old water heater exploded. Whatever he had in the flat got totaled. We had to start with the bare cinder block walls and concrete floor. That kept me off the streets and out of trouble for 3 months 10 hours a day 7 days a week. We did it all ourselves.

That's the loo before, and after..well the after isn't quite done. It is now. Sure learned a lot, about plumbing and wiring and drywall and plastering..it's only the last week I've sat down and taken a rest

[SapphireDreams 71]

Well I've been here for 3 weeks now, but 2 of them were spent with my fiance while he was on vacation so I guess those don't count.

This week I actually didn't get bored. But, I'm lucky because I have his sister to hang out with and there is plenty to do without a car since I love 5 mins from the train station that will take me pretty much anywhere!

A few things I did:

-Joined the gym, it's about a 5 minute walk from our house. I LOVE it - definitely gives me something to do

-Joined the library - I took out a couple of books to read to kill some time

-Laundry, put it away etc.

-I tidy up our room everyday, make our bed, organize the dresser or the desk... depends what's messy

-Make myself a healthy lunch everyday

-Walk the dog everyday and take him to the dog park

-Watch tv - I never used to have to time to watch tv, so now I'm loving it

-Grocery shop - I can walk to the store and so I like to pick up a few things here and there

A few things I haven't even done yet, that I plan to start next week:

-Work on my resume

-Write a couple different cover letters

-Make jewelry - this is actually a hobby of mine that kept me busy while we were apart, so it should be nice to continue again

-Update my etsy.com jewelry website

-Update my blog

-Cook more - my hub's Dad does all the cooking and he gets home from work early and always gets to dinner before I get a chance, so I want to try and cook at least once a week to relieve him

-Bake - my sister-in-law is allergic to all wheat and gluten, so I'd like to bake some gluten-free cakes and cookies for her

-Wedding planning/research

-Set up come meetings with people in PR that I've networked with before I moved

-Volunteer somewhere to put it on my resume - preferably PR related

[trailmix 77]

What is the link to your jewellery site sapphire?