Canucks...support group after turning into an ALLIEN in Santa Cruz CA

[ChristinePR 0]

First, sorry in advance for any spelling mistake… I am French Canadian. YOUPPI!

I have come on this website since the beginning of my K1 Visa request 2 years. This site has been a wonderful tool in providing me with guide, forum, and information (I say proudly: my attorney was less up to date than me from time to time, hahaha). VJ and his community of members and the sharing of their most recent experiences helped me a lot of time when I received confusing information. Oufff, the immigration process is confusing, long (and I wonder if it will ever finish) as we still need to finalize also our non-residency status in our native country at the same time, which mine is Canada. Now, I am in US, since July 2009, got married, did the change of status, and in a year will start with the Lifting Condition. A break please, it is what I got for a year, well deserve and I just have to enjoy, yah.

I am trying to enjoy after this stressful time made of paperwork and waits for approval with the constant scare of being denied. I came on VJ again to find answers on how to enjoy! From time to time I was feeling really lonely (even if my spouse works at home), lost, disappointed at myself, guilty (for not having a constant smiling face), sadness, hostility and resentment (did not even understand the meaning of those words before). Got the picture! Ring a Bell! And more I read, more I was reading myself (am I going crazy? when did I wrote all of these threads). Anyway I found the answer: HOMESICK, did not know how I got this thing … And with this thing catches upon my arrival in the US, I have turned into an ALLIEN, yes here in the US. OK, I realize that I was not alone, so not so tragic. There were many, many other ALLIENS. They did not all look alike but they were all CRYING “ET wants to go HOME”. See ALLIENS miss their old way of life — they miss their family and friends, their customs and traditions, and the familiar settings in which they once lived. I was (and I am still) an ALLIEN, suffering A BIT. Did I brought you up to speed? I did tried to do a short story (no one on this site can it related the long immigration process).

Anyway, what is on his way for the ALLIEN is, I am rewarded myself with a renewed perspective on life … First step acceptation of the ALLIEN transformation. What I have read the most about ALLIEN’s feeling is of being alone and therefore how much we wish there was another Canadian ALLIENS around with feeling the same way we do, we could cry together “ET wants to go HOME” if it helps. I know there is many, many ALLIENS out there but could not find any group. Is there any group that you know??? I would like to find other Canadians ALLIENS located in my region in California (the Monterey Bay area from San Francisco to Santa Cruz). If not could some be interested in forming a group that could meet on a weekly or monthly basis to discuss and support each other, and even do activities. I am sure I am not the only ALLIEN interested in this idea (might not be a new one); Trying out can be worthy!!! Canucks, who have turned into ALLIENS, located in from San Francisco, through San Jose, Santa Cruz, as far as to Monterey please identify yourselves by contacting me.

Christine

[Otto 83]

** Topic may be more appropriate in the Canada Regional Discussion - Moving from Effects of Major Family Changes on Immigration Benefits

[Udella&Wiz 325]

You need to hang around this forum more Join in on the Off Topic and the Vent threads...we regularly complain about how home sick we are and how frustrating it has been to move to teh US and realize it's not the same as home.

We also celebrate happy things too so share what you have

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Welcome,

it appears to me that what you have is a psychological or social problem. I have not been to my old country since April of 1994. Yet I'm home all the time, as California is my home. I love it here!

Obviously, that's not the case with you. It can't be the environment as Santa Cruz is a wonderful place and many aliens would cut off their arms and private parts for the opportunity to live there. It's also not the culture; as a Canadian you can't be missing Indian food or riding your camel through the Sahara desert. Finally, it's not your English either, 'cause that's more than sufficient. And it's not your accent either, as people here love French accents.

So what's left? Not being a professional I can only assume that you haven't made friends. I'm not talking alien friends waiting for a spaceship; I'm talking to normal friends, neighbors, people who jog or ride their bicycles, walk their dogs, play chess or work out in a gym.

You need to get out of your house and enjoy what Santa Cruz has to offer, and it has to offer a lot!

[Krikit 1,164]

Yeah.... so..... moving on....

You need to hang around this forum more Join in on the Off Topic and the Vent threads...we regularly complain about how home sick we are and how frustrating it has been to move to teh US and realize it's not the same as home.

We also celebrate happy things too so share what you have

Adjusting to a new environment and dealing with pain of being away from everyone and everything that is familiar is truly heartwrenching so I feel for you, Christine.

A good way to meet friends is to see if you can find a group on MeetUp. I did a quick search and there are a few Expat Canadian groups you may be interested in. In the meantime, like Udella says, come hang around here. I found it a great way to pass the time and to find people who knew how I was feeling.

[ChristinePR 0]

Thank you to everyone that posted comments. I will look at the website MeetUp.