pbgirl

Wow, 3 months! That's fast! Great news and congrats.

Arguh... I totally missed having to send the forms to California. I just printed them out a few weeks ago and highlighted the section that says "Where to File" and my office was Nebraska Service Center. When did this change take place?

Thanks for providing this information Jenn! I am sure it will save us a headache in the long run...

I think the double frustration has to be the worst. First being refused and then being treated rudely. It probably would have been a different scenario if you were treated respectfully in the first place. Thanks for the heads up warning. I wouldn't believe anything that USCIS office says...

So it sounds like standard texting rate, even though its an international number?

Do you send text messages to a cell phone in India? What does it cost for you in the US? I know in India's its free to receive the message. But are you charged the normal text message rate by your carrier for sending an international text message? I have ATT and the rep wasn't very helpful.

Hi.. Love this one as well.... Posted it back in April... heheh

VJ other thread... April 08

My long time friends children two daughters and a son... dance with the Bay Area Bhangra Empire. Bay Area Bhangra

They did a competition @ Bruens.. took 2nd... .. should have been 1st hehe..

enjoy the show...

That was awesome to watch! Absolutely loved the choreography . Whoever put that together did a kickazz job!! I think its so great when kids get involved with their culture like this. I wish these groups had been around when I was growing up. And dancing like that for 8 minutes has to be equal to a two mile run!! Thanks for posting. I'll have to send this around. And I've like to see who won first place!!

They should be required by law to at least provide a bottle of water. One can get pretty parched on a 2-3 hour flight. A bottle of water can be had for 15-20 cents retail or much less if they purchase hundreds of cases.

That's what I was thinking too. Or it should depend on the length of the flight.

It totally drives me nuts that you can't bring water through security with you and then the places inside the airport charge $2 for a bottle of water. It's totally a racket. I've tried bringing my own empty bottle and filling it at the water fountain but for some reason airport water fountain water tastes terrible.

Oh agreed!! I was flying through Amsterdam and I bought a bottle of water at the airport. I guess you have to go through an individual security check point at just the gate you are at, right before the jetway for the aircraft. They took the bottle out of my backpack and told me I couldn't bring it onboard. I was so mad. I tried to explain that I bought the bottle 20 minutes prior (unopened BTW) but they said that was the rule. So then I asked if I could drink it before I went onboard and he told me I had to leave the gate area and go drink it outside. I was furious. What a waste of 3 euros.

They should be required by law to at least provide a bottle of water. One can get pretty parched on a 2-3 hour flight. A bottle of water can be had for 15-20 cents retail or much less if they purchase hundreds of cases.

That's what I was thinking too. Or it should depend on the length of the flight.

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/95048

Better get used to carrying lots of singles next time you fly. US Airways is now terminating free drink service. No, not free mini bottles of Jim Beam and cheap Chardonnay, we're talking about all drinks, including soda, fruit juice, coffee, and bottled water, which will soon cost $2 each. Presumably tap water, which may or may not be contaminated with fecal coliform bacteria, will still be free.

The move is the latest way airlines are attempting to fight rapidly rising fuel prices in a disastrous economic climate. In recent months, the extra fees have come fast and furious. First came extra charges for your second piece of luggage, then came a charge for your first bag. That's not to mention extra fees for choosing your own seat, curbside check-in, booking using frequent flier miles, and the cost of the Santa Fe chicken sandwich.

The beverage fee is even more annoying than most, since you can no longer bring liquids through security at airports. You are really at the mercy of buying them on the plane, or at least buying them once you're in the terminal (which is doubtlessly no cheaper than on the plane). Alcoholic drinks will also go from $5 to $7. That's a lot for a can of Budweiser.

The fee goes into effect August 18, leaving plenty of time for the airlines to come up with other fees to nickel and dime their way to profitability. Can pay toilets be far behind?

Puerto Rico is great.

We stayed in San Juan. You were in the city so you could enjoy the nightlife but there was enough opportunity to take tours (Bacardi Rum Factory anyone?) to nearby attractions, like rainforest, beach etc.

It was February when we went and it was hot and humid. Kinda like NJ is in July/August.

Hotel name?

I believe it was the Mariott San Juan (Resort). Close to beach, restaurants, downtown.

A few tips if you go (even though they are a few years old):

- Interestingly enough, they have a "duty free" shop at the airport. We found Bailey's Irish Creme (1 liter) for $15!! So if you drink, great place to stock up

- If you do the Bacardi Rum Tour, be careful of any rum you buy to bring back. They have one that is some incredible proof and you're not allowed to fly with it.

- PR can be expense compared to the rest of the US (like Hawaii is I suppose).

- Drivers and their cars can be erratic....

Puerto Rico is great.

We stayed in San Juan. You were in the city so you could enjoy the nightlife but there was enough opportunity to take tours (Bacardi Rum Factory anyone?) to nearby attractions, like rainforest, beach etc.

It was February when we went and it was hot and humid. Kinda like NJ is in July/August.

North India (Punjabis) are known for a type of dancing called Bhangra.

Wanted to share these great bhangra videos if you've never seen this type of dancing. The beat is catchy and makes you want to get up and dance with them!

And this one is great too. Girls rule!!

Very sad. The poor animal was hunted down and tortured. In one sentence it says it killed three goats. And then it also killed three people. Sounds like the villagers were more alarmed that their goats were killed.

Wouldn't let me edit the message! Here are the videos...

And this one is great too. Girls rule!!

Wanted to share this great bhangra video with you all. The beat is catchy and makes you want to get up and dance with them! I just wish they wouldn't show the judge's and audience reactions to much, I wanted to see more dancing.

Congrats! Good Luck with the rest of the (hopefully short!) journey!!

Proper Nose Picking Tips & Tricks

http://www.theinsanedomain.com/Articles/nosepicking.htm

omg, freaking hilarious!

i dont know if picking is a cultural thing (and if it were, what culture it would be) but i sure learned that americans like to sniffle (and i think that's a cultural thing).

Yeah, it is interesting how it seems acceptable for some people, and others would find it inappropriate in public. And I have to agree with the sniffles. I think for some americans it has to do with not wanting to blow their nose loudly and get rid of that junk from their nose in public. So they'll just keep sniffling and annoy you instead!

yes it's a spanish thing. You should avoid contact with them.

Hummm....right. Except it wasn't anybody local. International audience, interesting cultural differences.

OK, so here's the deal. I'm delivering some training for my company and am currently in Spain. But my class is composed of students from all over Europe (so this is not making a statement about Spain!!).

I'm in the middle of lecturing and look over at a student and he has one of his fingers rammed up his nose and is just rolling it in that one nostril. I was soooo disgusted. And it was no big deal to him.

Is picking your nose in public a cultural thing???? And I definitely will think twice about sitting down at his machine and touching the mouse when he needs help. Ewwwwwwwwwwwwww

Does this also mean that you won't have to remove conditions? Won't the green card be good for ten years? That could be a silver lining IF this all ever gets figured out!! Good luck.

Maybe they were referring to getting some sort of "no objection" letter from the US Consulate in Delhi for the US citizen? We didnt' have to get one but I've read a a few threads where this was mentioned.

Oh ok, yeah I saw part 1 but never figured out when part 2 aired. Is it available online? Anybody know?

So they aren't together anymore and she has moved on to someone else?

BTW, I totally agree. I was chuckling when they talked about getting a visa from the Embassy and assumed it would just be a couple of days. Right. Good Luck with that one!!

I am thinking about how hungry I am and wish restaurants in Spain would open before 8pm!!

I have to admit, the "burp" part does ring true....