So quiet here in ND

[Julie Ann 0]

Hello everyone. I came here in US as a K1 visa. And now I'm married with my Caucasian husband for 6 months. We are residing in ND and until now I dont have any friends here. I never met any Pinays here. There are times I really feel depressed, I missed Filipino foods and there are no Filipino restaurants here.Lat monnth, I was hired as a nurse in a long term care, I only work 20 hours/week. I do enjoy my job and keep myself busy. When I', off, I mostly stayed at home alone. My husband works on weekdays. It makes me crazy at home alone no one to talk to and feel more homesick. I dont know I think I need encouragement from you guys.

[Badgerella 5]

Well, first of all - go out and meet people. It might not be easy, but I'm sure you'll get to see more of them than you will at home. You could also join a local gym (YMCA is usually a good idea, if you happen to have one), start a hobby (or a Manny Pacquiao fan club!) or perhaps even buy a dog. That's because dog owners always end up talking to each other. (Again, this works only if you are somewhere within a city...)

As far as food goes, well, I can't really buy any real cottage cheese or yogurt with (OMG!) fat in it. Or certain meats I am used to. But, that gets fixed by preparing most of our meals at home and, well, by being really creative.

Good luck.

[HeatDeath 430]

If you have your GC, and can therefore visit Canada, and are within a couple of hours of Winnipeg, Manitoba, you should consider visiting for a day. Winnipeg has a very large Filipino community, with several of the larger supermarkets having a significant section of Filipino foods available. I'm not especially familiar with the community there, but you may even be able to find Filipino magazines and publications with a little research. It might be worth a couple of hours drive.

[Inky 1,111]

What about starting some kind of class so you can meet people and learn something or do something you like such as an art class or language class or something? Maybe even joining some kind of comunity group like a walking group or running group to get out and meet people and do things.

Im not sure if you can find things like food online but maybe you can find a website where you can order food or things from your home and have them sent to you.

just some ideas for you

[Inky 1,111]

If you have your GC, and can therefore visit Canada, and are within a couple of hours of Winnipeg, Manitoba, you should consider visiting for a day. Winnipeg has a very large Filipino community, with several of the larger supermarkets having a significant section of Filipino foods available. I'm not especially familiar with the community there, but you may even be able to find Filipino magazines and publications with a little research. It might be worth a couple of hours drive.

Even as a LPR of usa people from the phils are required to have a visit visa to enter canada or to transit through canada, going for a " few hour visit " may not be worth it as they have to file for a visa.

Edited March 15, 2010 by Inky

[Bluerose001 4]

Hi Sis!

Buti ka nga may trabaho na, ako nag hahanap pa rin.

Like you, I feel that I'm isolated here in our quiet town in Colorado. No buses/taxis to go to Denver and I still haven't learned how to drive. I really had a paradigm shift coz when I was still in the Phils I was so independent living on my own in Manila, going to different places I want to go riding the jeepney, buses, taxis, mrt/lrt. I really miss riding the jeep!

Wala ba talagang malapit na Asian store dyan? Baka naman may mare search ka na asian store, sometimes they do carry Filipino foods. Luckily, my husband likes to cook so we buy some filipino stuff from the asian store (even if is 45 mins away from our place) and he would cook sinigang/sisig or kare-kare.

Anyway, sis, keep the faith. You are not alone in this situation.

Bluerose

[dale_trisha 3]

Where in ND are you located? Trisha and I live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. We did meet a filipina that came to the US last summer in NW Minnesota. We are considering traveling to ND in late July for a wedding. Trisha is also always willing to get on the phone and/or YM and chat away.

[TracyTN 237]

Moving thread from K1 process forum to 'new life in America' forum.

[Julie Ann 0]

Well, first of all - go out and meet people. It might not be easy, but I'm sure you'll get to see more of them than you will at home. You could also join a local gym (YMCA is usually a good idea, if you happen to have one), start a hobby (or a Manny Pacquiao fan club!) or perhaps even buy a dog. That's because dog owners always end up talking to each other. (Again, this works only if you are somewhere within a city...)

As far as food goes, well, I can't really buy any real cottage cheese or yogurt with (OMG!) fat in it. Or certain meats I am used to. But, that gets fixed by preparing most of our meals at home and, well, by being really creative.

Good luck.

Thanks badgerella, Your advice makes me feel better. I just cant wait to have my driver's license so that I can drive around the place. My husband give me a drive at work, I just cant wait for the spring too I know spring is near, that wouldnt be too icy for me to drive. Thank you again and have a nice day there:-)

[Julie Ann 0]

Hi Sis!

Buti ka nga may trabaho na, ako nag hahanap pa rin.

Like you, I feel that I'm isolated here in our quiet town in Colorado. No buses/taxis to go to Denver and I still haven't learned how to drive. I really had a paradigm shift coz when I was still in the Phils I was so independent living on my own in Manila, going to different places I want to go riding the jeepney, buses, taxis, mrt/lrt. I really miss riding the jeep!

Wala ba talagang malapit na Asian store dyan? Baka naman may mare search ka na asian store, sometimes they do carry Filipino foods. Luckily, my husband likes to cook so we buy some filipino stuff from the asian store (even if is 45 mins away from our place) and he would cook sinigang/sisig or kare-kare.

Anyway, sis, keep the faith. You are not alone in this situation.

Bluerose

[/quo

Mabuhay ka sis, kumusta ka dyan? Taga Cebu po ako.. saan ka sa CO?, Hay nku hindi ako sanay mag tagalog... pero subukan ko magsalita ng tagalof lol. Wla rin taxi dito, so dapat tayong matutong magdrive. I already got my learners permit but still I need to keep practice. Meron chinese restaurant dito pero sometyms im craving for pinoy fuds like lechon, puso, atchara humba , miss ko rin balut chicharon, manga. May manga dito pero iba pa rin yung fresh. At sa ka hipon,

Makahanap ka rin ng trabaho dyan, Keep on looking, Dont lose hope.

Keep in touch sis

God bless and take care always

Good luck sa atin sis

[Julie Ann 0]

Where in ND are you located? Trisha and I live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. We did meet a filipina that came to the US last summer in NW Minnesota. We are considering traveling to ND in late July for a wedding. Trisha is also always willing to get on the phone and/or YM and chat away.

Hi Dale & Trisha. I live in Dickinson ND. Its like 8 hour drive to Minneapolis MN. My husband and I had been there in St Paul. We drove 8 hours from ND just to have my USCIS interview. Its the closest USCIS office here.

whats your email add? I would appreciate talking to you soon

Thanks guys

have a nice day

Where in ND are you located? Trisha and I live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. We did meet a filipina that came to the US last summer in NW Minnesota. We are considering traveling to ND in late July for a wedding. Trisha is also always willing to get on the phone and/or YM and chat away.

Hi Dale & Trisha. I live in Dickinson ND. Its like 8 hour drive to Minneapolis MN. My husband and I had been there in St Paul. We drove 8 hours from ND just to have my USCIS interview. Its the closest USCIS office here.

whats your email add? I would appreciate talking to you soon

Thanks guys

have a nice day

[HeatDeath 430]

Even as a LPR of usa people from the phils are required to have a visit visa to enter canada or to transit through canada, going for a " few hour visit " may not be worth it as they have to file for a visa.

Good news - no, you don't

This Canadian government web page:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

does list the Philippines as countries that need a visa, granted, but if you scroll down to the bottom, under "Visitor Visa Exemptions":

- persons lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence who are in possession of their alien registration card (Green card) or can provide other evidence of permanent residence;

So any "LPR of usa", regardless of their country of citizenship, can visit Canada visa-free, just by showing their US GC and Philippines passport.

Now granted Dickinson is at the wrong end of the state for Winnipeg to be terribly convenient. Grand Forks would have been better. [in point of fact, Winnipeg is basically exactly as far as Minneapolis, Google Maps says it's 8 hours, almost exactly.] But a trip to Canada is definitely a possibility, and you definitely do not need a separate Canadian visa.

BTW, have you ever gone for a drive on the "Enchanted Highway" that is right around there. I've driven through Dickinson on my way to or from Winnipeg and Salt Lake City twice a year for a good sized chunk of the last decade. I'd see the enormous Goose sculpture by I-94, and I've always been tempted to take the detour, but alas, I go through there on my second day of travel (Bismarck<->Butte) which is a long day already and I've never had the extra hour or two to take the detour. I wonder what it's like?

Edited March 15, 2010 by HeatDeath

[Choo.143 3]

Hello everyone. I came here in US as a K1 visa. And now I'm married with my Caucasian husband for 6 months. We are residing in ND and until now I dont have any friends here. I never met any Pinays here. There are times I really feel depressed, I missed Filipino foods and there are no Filipino restaurants here.Lat monnth, I was hired as a nurse in a long term care, I only work 20 hours/week. I do enjoy my job and keep myself busy. When I', off, I mostly stayed at home alone. My husband works on weekdays. It makes me crazy at home alone no one to talk to and feel more homesick. I dont know I think I need encouragement from you guys.

Heres a couple Sites that might help you connect with others in ND

http://filam-nd.org/

Filipino Stores in ND

[RichelRichel 1]

Hi Julie Ann,

Nagtype ko Bismarck,ND diri sa visajourney ang nigawas kay ang post nimo. Tapos nagbasa-basa ko sa mga post nimo, what a coincidence, mubalhinay mi diha sa Dickinson,ND as soon as possible. In fact, naa mi diha gahapon and we'll be back there maybe tomorrow or whole weekend kay mag house hunt mi. Nangita gani ko diri sa internet for houses for rent kay wala pa mi balak magpalit ug house. Anyways, I sent you a message and I also gave you our number here at home and our cellphone. Hope to hear from you.

-Richel