iteachkids81

RE: "Pop, Washroom, and Change Room"

A good example is what Canadians call "running shoes." In the U.S., the southern states (including Texas) generally refer to these as "tennis shoes" while the northern states call them "sneakers." I've always called them "sneakers."

I have always referred to sneakers as sneakers.

Funny story from when I taught kindergarten in NYC. I always took the kids to the washroom. its not a bathroom at school, there is no BATH in there. and it isn't a rest room, you aren't there to rest! LOL so I taught them to ask to go to the washroom, or I said that we were lining up to go to the washroom. When they got to grade 1 next year (yes grade one, not first grade!LOL) the teachers automatically knew which kids were from my class because they would ask to go to the washroom.

I don't know if I am weird or not but I also like raisins in my cinnamon rolls.. preferably the golden raisins.. my mom always put raisins in hers...

I miss her cinnamon rolls

she would make them almost every week on Thursday when she would bake her bread and buns and she would also make a big pot of soup.. mmm, those were the days, my friends.. we would come home from school and the whole house would smell like baked bread...

my mom used to bake all the time too. home made bread, pizza, cinnamon buns, banana bread....

come home from school and the kitchen was full of bread on every counter and 3/4 of the table....

I miss those days. I wish I could have been around to actually bake with her (she died when I was 16... never got to learn how to make the bread, even tho i have the recipe.....)

good memories tho.

and i do make her cinnamon buns with raisins in them too!

if you go to president's choice and open an account there, they don't charge fees. its more like a credit union. you can get a credit card with them too and you can accumulate points when you shop at Loblaw's or Superstore (or other stores that sell the president's choice brand).

I have a bunch of those mutant flags. They usually come out of hiding when we go to Canadian events here in NC. I think I've given them all away though, I can't find my last one

I have the Made in Canada logo on my back right shoulder. I've had it for longer than I've known my husband though. I've thought about getting something to symbolise both countries, but not flags, I was thinking more the bald eagle and a beaver. With the beaver on top of course.

I have one flag like that, I got it at an event called AMERADA (where Americans & Canadians get together for a weekend and camp. it alternates years between Canada and US (usually Ontario or Quebec and NY or CT)

what is the Made in Canada Logo?

Here is mine...

hope the attachment works.

Rena

wow! that is cool. much different than I was thinking but it sure simplifies the idea.

Just wondering if anyone here has (or has plans to get) a tattoo with the Canada Flag or with some sort of combination of a Canadian Symbol and American Symbol?

For a long time now I have wanted to get a joint Can-Us flag tattoo and I just decided for sure where to get it (my calf) and when (in Nov, before I leave for the US)

Bonjour!

Je suis Canadienne. Ma Francais es trop mal.

Ma grandmere est Quebecoise, et la premiere langue du mon pere est francais.

I grew up in Alberta and took French from grade 5-grade 12, but high school for me ended 10 years ago.

I can read and understand French a lot better than I can write it or speak it.

~Jenny

Ps

voulez vous mangez poutine avec moi c'est soir?

ribs on the bbq!

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I will be spending my weekend doing some wedding planning stuff and some housework.

Going to look at invitations and figure out prices and ordering times. just to get a basic idea of what to expect. Also shopping for wedding undergarments and possibly lingerie! LOL

trying to get a DJ and videographer booked as well. tough when I am up here in Ottawa and can't actually make appts to meet with any vendors, but I am doing the initial emails and then Rich is following up and actually meeting with people. Hopefully we will have those taken care of soon, and then finding an officiant and then everything ought to fall into place.

*sigh* I feel like my life is consumed with wedding stuff....

crazy!

~jenny~

It sounds like a combination of things really.

Obviously as you have said, your mom misses you and your son and she probably feels a little lost and alone without you guys around.

Plus, when your son was on holiday, as you said, living the good life, doing all the fun things he did at home and playing with friends there, and having no routine, that makes it seem like more fun to him that the normal chores and what have you at home. (happened to me as a kid to when i would spend a couple weeks with my grandparents who lived just a few hours away).

If you sat down with your kid and asked him what he seriously thought life would be like if you moved back, and if he still thinks it would be all sunshine and daisies, you need to remind him he would have homework and chores there just as well.

Maybe remind him of the new friends he has made at his school in the US and also the things you can do in the US that there aren't in Canada (like a restaurant or a candy or something that they dont have back home). ( only suggest this since he brought up Timmy's... I think thats one thing we all miss!!! dunno where i'm gonna get my ice-cap fixes!)

I am sure that once school starts up again and he is back into the routine with those friends that he will start to come around.

I think he is old enough for you to explain to him that you made the choice to move because you felt it was the best choice for the family as a whole. And that you still think it is best to stay where you are. Ask him how he thinks you would feel (and act) if you both moved away from your hubby? maybe he would understand that that would make you sad and then you wouldn't be as good of a mommy to him since you were missing your husband a lot. (just a suggestion)

best of luck tho.

This thread had me laughing so hard.

When I taught in NYC I had a lot of people asking where I was from in Canada (they all immediately assume Toronto).

Hardly anyone knew where Alberta was, even when I said, just north of Montana. Some of them were like, "Montana? Where's that" and these are well educated people (elementary school teachers!)

I could understand it if the parents of my students didn't know (I taught in the projects in Harlem) but teachers?!

Meanwhile I can locate all of the states on a map and tell you the state capitals with 98% accuracy (sometimes I mix up one or two)

I call myself a French Canadian, and I have Tourtiere, Poutine, Oreilles de crisse, Tarte au sucre

I LOVE my grandma's tourtiere! so so so good

I just wondered how long it took you to get your visa in the mail. I had my interview on the 15th. I was thinking I should have had the visa by today, but so far no. When did yours come in?

Wow, that's a long time to wait to move....I don't know if I would have been able to wait that long knowing I had a document in my hand that allowed me to be with the man I love.

Do what is best for you though!!

Congrats again!

yeah, we had originally thought the interview would be October and figured a Feb wedding would fit in the timeline. when we found out the interview was sooner, we discussed moving up the wedding date, but Feb 28 was my mom's birthday (she died 10 years ago) and we thought that it would be special to have it on that day. It still fits in the timeline so we will do it.

We're just having a standard wedding now as opposed to a small ceremony now and a bigger one later. we've got the place booked, and i've got my dress and shoes. so we are just focusing on wedding plans now for the next six months.

Well I'm glad you were approved, congratulations!!

Sorry about the wait part.

My fiance thought I was crazy for getting there at like 6:30 but I was thankful.

Best of luck on the move!!!

I wish I had gotten there a little earlier, but I was sluggish... ah well. I finished a book and started a new one while i was there. (finished it on the bus later this weekend as I was travelling between montreal, ottawa and hamilton) Lots of bus time logged this weekend.

will be moving dec 7. wedding will be feb 28

I arrived in Montreal Thursday night, via Greyhound. Stayed at the Suites Labelle on Labelle Street (right of st Catherines, a 3 minute walk from the greyhound station).

In the morning I took the 20 minute walk down Rene Levesque Blvd to the consulate. I arrived at 7am and there were 5 people ahead of me. I saw "DanandAmy" and we chatted a bit. Fortunately someone else in line mentioned to me that the fee was payable CASH ONLY and held the spot for me while I ran around the corner to an ATM.

The doors opened at 7:30 and they let in the first 5 people. I was next in line. Once I got through and was scanned through security the guards told me. "we ran out of plastic letters. when the security guard comes to take the first group up, tell him you need to go to window 9 with that group. tell him we told you we had no more letters" (the people ahead of me all had plastic tiles with letters A-E on them)

I went down to the waiting room. the security guard came and asked for people with the letters. they all lined up. I explained to him what the guards upstairs had said and he said "you have no letter, sit down" well, I'm not one to mess with a 6'4 tall scary lookin dude. so I sat.

15 minutes later he comes and lets us all into the elevator (well as many as could fit) we get up there and he says "if you were told window 14 go here, window 13 go here" I said "I was told window 9" he says. "have a seat" So I sat. and he brings up the rest of the people who were waiting, and they go into their lines, and then he asks where I am supposed to go. he tells me window 14. So there was no point in me coming early, since a whole elevator full of people get in line ahead of me. (this is just the line where you show them your appointment letter and they assign you a number)

I am assigned C11. the people who were behind me in line outside are C1. I was not happy about this. Thankfully i did bring a book.

When my number got called (an hour or so later) I went to a window and gave the lady all my paperwork, passport, birth cert, medical papers, proof of fiance's income, letter of intent, crim check. she then gave me a piece of paper and told me to pay the fee at window 14 and then when she called me back to give her the reciept).

I paid and then waited another 2 hours for her to call me back. then she took my fingerprints (electronically) and had me sign a couple of things I had forgotten to sign previously.

Then I waited again. Another couple hours. Finally at 1:00 they called my name. I stepped into the little room and the guy took a finger print for verification. He asked me to raise my right hand and swear I was telling the truth. He asked how I met Rich. What website, what date. so I told him the story. He asked when and where we met in person. I mentioned I had been teaching on a J-1 in NYC and he asked if I plan to teach when I go back. I said yes or childcare. He asked about wedding plans, and what is Rich's job. Then he said, "I have no doubt you guys are in a relationship. I'm going to issue your visa" and he explained that when the envelope arrives there will be 3 things, the passport with the visa, an info sheet and a envelope with all the papers that is sealed and is to be opened at the border upon entry to the US. He reminded me that I must move within 6 months and to make sure to get married within 90 days of moving. I told him we had already figured out the math.

He smiled and wished me a good day. I never got his name. I didnt have to show him any proof. no pics, no phone bills, bus tickets, engagement cards... nothing.

then I ran back to my hotel just as i got there it started to rain hard. I checked out and ran to the bus (as by then it was pouring buckets). called and texted people to let them know.

overall it was ok. just a LOT of waiting and that stupid security guard on a powertrip!

i'll be in montreal tonight in prep for interview at consulate tomorrow.

dinner likely at a pub on catherine street or something....

anyone have any suggestions?

love the cake!!!!!!!!

so you don't have to wait until after the K-1 has been approved to file for Advanced Parole?

If there isn't room on the form, I'd just attach a one paragraph explanation that you'd want to be able to travel on AP back to Canada before obtaining your GC to visit family and friends. Don't put down any specific dates or anything.

Why no explanation of dates? what if you need a specific date? I'm not there yet, but I will need to file it for my high school reunion next summer. Or is it a re-usable document? and do you have to file for both after you are already married, or can you do it as soon as you enter the US?

thanks

Ok, I looked for the info here but can't find it. On the papers I received, they say that the processing time is estimated at four to six months from receipt of the checklist at their office to the interview date. Is it really that long? I cannot believe I'll have to wait another six months

my wait time was just under 2 months.. don't panic.. it will go by quickly!! Think of the happy results!!

my wait time was 5 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! interview friday....so nervous!!!!!!

I see in your timeline it mentions you were denied entry to the U.S. once... be prepared to answer the question if you have ever been denied entry and why, they asked me that in the interview.

i am prepared. it was lack of ties to canada and basic ignorance of the law.

Ok, I looked for the info here but can't find it. On the papers I received, they say that the processing time is estimated at four to six months from receipt of the checklist at their office to the interview date. Is it really that long? I cannot believe I'll have to wait another six months

my wait time was just under 2 months.. don't panic.. it will go by quickly!! Think of the happy results!!

my wait time was 5 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! interview friday....so nervous!!!!!!

Wow, that was quick! Best of luck on your interview. And please, keep us posted as to how it goes. I'll have a special thought for you on Friday.

thanks. after reading people's reviews i have seen that i have nothing to worry about. i will definitely keep everyone posted.

thanks for your happy thoughts

thanks so much for your descriptive review, and your pic of the building entrance...

my interview is friday and i am happy but nervous too.

thanks so so much.

i also think it is super cool that you got married in central park. we entertained the idea, but... albany area it is!

anyway. question for you

how soon did you apply for advanced parole? and how? thanks

~Jenny

Remember--The elevator OPENS from the REAR!!!!!! kick butt

Funny, I always thought it was kick butt followed by the elevator OPENS from the REAR!!!!!

Jenny, a big Bonne Chance to you for Friday.

Why would you "figure" that? Obviously the door has to be open, before you can kick butt!! Len been serving you too many extra shots of Starbucks lattes?

I don't drink at Starbucks and I don't need caffeine to take care of business, it's called being a man. I didn't have any lattes, just imagined that the Flames won the Stanley Cup, dammit that's the last time I freebase Ovaltine. Actually you should be kicking butt even before you get on the elevator and it wouldn't hurt kick a few shins on the way up. Jenny, just imagine that you're on Broadway and keep kicking.

you guys are so awesome. thanks for all the encouragement.

i am so glad for this community!

and i will definitely keep you all posted

thanks so much for your descriptive review, and your pic of the building entrance...

my interview is friday and i am happy but nervous too.

thanks so so much.

i also think it is super cool that you got married in central park. we entertained the idea, but... albany area it is!

anyway. question for you

how soon did you apply for advanced parole? and how? thanks

~Jenny

so glad it went well for you. mine is on friday. i will also plan to be there early. it will be nice to get in and out and have it done with

Hey guys..!!I was wondering for those who made an appoinment for their medical...how long do you have to wait from the time you called for an appointment tp your actual medical exam?...and who would you recommend..Seiden or Medisys?..One more thing..If I show my immunization record to them..would they keep it or will they give it back to me..just wanna know so I could get extra copy from my doctor if I need to..Thanks..

took me 2 weeks to get mine. and it cost $250!

they said my immunization record was not up to date so i got a couple more shots and a new card. you'll get all your stuff back in a couple weeks