honeybadger

I am sitting here wondering what to do with myself. I am curious what others have done to help pass the time before you are finally able to be with the one who you love so much. At times it almost feels unbearable. Days I work the day goes by ok. Days off are the hardest. I am running out of things to keep myself busy and mind of the distance. Right now I go out for long walks, do alot of reading. Play with the dog among other things to help keep myself occupied. It just feels like everyday keeps getting longer and longer . I use to think each day that goes by would make things easier, because you are just one day closer to being together again, but for me is has been the opposite. Days just get longer and harder.

I think this is more of a whine on my part so I apologize to all who have to read this lol .... but what worked for others in the past .... what do you do to pass the time?

While you are in the Philippines, I suggest that you spend a lot and a lot and a lot and a lot of TIME with your families and friends. Eat all the foods that you might miss, do the things that you cannot do here like riding a jeepney, tricycle and pedicab. Organized the stuff that you want to bring here...and enjoy the weather...

for sure once you get here you will miss everything in PI esp. FAMILY!

Good Luck and God BLess!

HOME is where ur heart is!

Happy Holidays to all!

hello

who among our VJers whose POE is las vegas?how was your experience w/ the immigration officers? were they nice & polite?

hi!

it was smooth and easy!

its absolutely crazy , not to mention unapretiative to finally arrive here, and then want to turn around and go back home in such a short time. Are people really that spoiled that they can't grow up and deal with the decision they made to start over in a new country. with their SO. Its getting old hearing people hiding behind the same old excuse of being homesick. yea I know its real and it exist. but like everything, it fades with time. I read about people that want to go home only a few months after they arrive or visit several times a year, back in their homeland. How on earth do you plan for a good future with your spouse. if you have no respect for money. or does everyone have an extra 5 or 10 thousand a year just to go home and see mommy. what about saving for your future or kids college.

VERY WELL SAID yehheeyy!!! thanks gurls!!! :dance:

Lipay ko sa imong say gurly!

Sa pinas pa, sige ug ampo to speed up the visa process then pag naa na sa US puro mga WHINnERSSSSS !! geeee people grow up pleaseeee!

welcome to VJ!

Good Luck & by the way I am from Cebu!

It is only natural to become homesick. This happens on a smaller scale when/if you move out of your parent's house or to another city. Finding ways to keep yourself busy is always an excellant idea.

It seems that you are coping well there in KS .Happy Holidays!!!

Hi MP!

how are you? I bet you are having a GREAT Time with your family in PI! How's mom?

YES, I am doing good! thanks again and Happu Holidays!

I wonder why this thread got moved from the '...your new life in America' section? the byline in that section says:

Post your experiences after arriving in America. How has your life changed? Share things like if you got work authorization; is it what you thought it would be; are you happy, etc.

so it seems the OP more than fulfilled that... could the mover please explain his/her decision?

YEP, I agree with you! Happy Holidays!!!

nice post honeybadger..

sure it will be a big help to other pinays who are still in the corner sulking.. ( no offense meant) just got a lot of things to be thankful for..

Thanks mrsartis! I hope it sure does help!

Happy Holidays!

Arrival in a new country is an exciting, scary, frustrating, confusing and lonely thing. Although initially we are awed, amazed, amused and astonished by the new sights, different culture, different architecture, differing business practices, we soon realize that we dont easily fit in. When we come into a different country carrying the baggage of our own cultural background, we find ourselves limited by our own experience. WE dont have the freedom of transportation or communication, the language may be difficult for us, even if we understand some of the basics, collocialisms and local idioms confuse us. We are prohibited by law from finding employment so we feel non-productive, useless, lazy or dumb. We start to lose the initial glamor we saw in our first weeks and become bored and lonely for a more familiar life. We think our life will be better if only we can return to the familiar things of HOME. Every Filipino goes through this but, what I am describing is MY FIRST YEAR living in the Philippines! Hmmmmmm , you see it goes both ways. So what can you do?

1. Learn to DRIVE

2. Do some Volunteer work so u get used to the local culture and language

3. Apply for an EAD with your AOS so you can work and feel productive

4. Find local support groups

5. Familiarize with the local surroundings

6. Learn to cook and bake

7. If interested go to school to enhance your knowledge and skills

8. Because America is loaded with fast-food and lots of preservative, join an aerobics class to keep that petite figure u used to have

9. Dont forget to keep in touch with family and friends via internet, mail and phone but dont limit yourself to the past.

10. For animal lovers, get a pet, a dog or a cat, etc and teach them tricks.

The important thing is to keep moving forward, learning, challenging yourself, trying new things. Living in the past, even if that was a comfortable place limits your life. The advantage you have in the U.S is that you have the opportunities not always available elsewhere. Take advantage of them.

There is no place like the Philippines, but remember, you made a choice to live in the U.S., make the best of it and then enjoy those visits to the Philippines when you get the chance.

God Bless and Happy Holidays to all!!!!

The Badger!

Congrats and Best wishes!!!!

Hello VJ members in the Filipino Forum. My friend will have her visa interview on January 14, 2009. I know this is an oft-repeated question, but she wants to know if her fiance, which is a US citizen is allowed to be with her during her interview with the Consul. Her fiance is flying to the Manila for her interview appointment. Can you give me any thread or link about this topic. Would appreciate it. Thank you and Happy Holidays!

hi!

it really depends on the CO, some will allow it, some wont allow it!

base on my experienced, my fiance was with me but was not allowed inside the interview room..sooo i was grilled alone but i am still grateful for his presence, still made a lot of difference!

We had an issue with the Bayview Hotel in Manila also. Radz tryied to call them and change the reservation dates but they would not let her because the reservations were made online. So I went online and changed the dates to Dec 18 and 19 and i got response from the website and even showe a change in the amount we owed, Now at 77 dollars left because we had put down a $55.00 deposit. Today we got message from hotel saying Radz is a now show. Evidently the hotel didnt change the dates or the online reservations isnt working correct or it could be the hotel is just trying to rip us off. Radz was originally going to stay from Dec 9 to Dec 19. I have written (emailed) to the hotel but they have not responded yet.

hi there!

We stayed in Bayview when we had our interview and i would say that their service is very POOR!!! WE had a bad experienced plus they are very expensive. :

congrats!

have a safe trip soon!

its normal to have that kind of feeling (nervousness) i was too when i had my interview. my fiance was with me at that time..always reassuring me that it will be ok! I am soo glad his presence really made a difference!

well, just take it gurly, eat well before your interview and lots of prayer too!

Good Luck and I know that you will be ok!

LAS was my POE when i came here! Hassle-free! Good Luck!

have a safe trip!

Hi,

Analyn had her interview on October 3rd and received a pink and white slip. I had to provide additional documentation on US domicile. I mailed the documentation on October 22nd and it was received on November 6th.

I called each week, but all I am told is that it is waiting review. It has now been there over 4 weeks waiting on review.

How many others are waiting, and how long have you been waiting?

Any suggestions on what I can do besides call?

Thanks,

Dan♥Analyn

Hi there!

We waited more than a month! U can try sending a letter to your congressman and senator..we did that!

hope you will hear any feedbacks from USEM very soon!

wishing you GOOD Luck!

God Bless!

I undergone an operation while I was 4 months pregnant with our son. Everything went well. I gave birth through cesarean section. My fiance and I are very happy and blessed to have such a wonderful little man in our life. My question is regarding the medical exam when its time for us to have one. I am wondering if anyone here in the group, had the same situation as mine. I would really appreciate any advice or info you can give me about how the procedure will go during med exam at St. Lukes, especially if one has previous operation and undergone c-section?

hi gurl!

Relax and STay healthy! I dont see any reason of your worries! Just bring with you any medical documents that u think will help u!

good luck!

God Bless!

Me and my fiancee are both having problems regarding letter/emails coming from the USEM and wat to do next.

first thing'i got a letter coming from the USEM saying that our case is eligible etc. and that we may request for an interview appointment date by calling the visa information services,and the next day,my fiancee called and i got a confirmation date of interview which will be on jan. 8, 2009.. The problem is that,we arent sure of wat to do next.Plz help us get tru this, should we wait for more letters/emails from USEM or just get going with all the help from Sites?? tnx soo much!goodluck to all of us....

Since you got a schedule of interview on January 8th and letter from USEM that you are eligible for interview, now set a date for medical exam at St Lukes. It's a first come first serve basis no need appointment just go there and bring the following: ID, passport, (2pcs) 2x2 picture, medical fee ($213.35) and appointment letter/email from USEM. Make sure to have medical exam 1-2weeks before your interview. Remember that Dec 25 - Jan 1 is holiday. I'm going to have my medical next week. Good luck!

Good Luck gurl! Stay healthy!

bitaw, agree ko sa imong gi ingo nga dili gyud nimo mahibaw an ang batasan basta dili mo mag kuyog sa usa ka pinuy anan. sa sitwasyon kay, nag kuyog mi ug puyo sa cebu ug usa katuig kapin sa wala pa mi ni ari sa US, mao na nga nahuman na mi sa among adjustment sa usag-usa pero usahay naa man gyud na, dili malikayan. Ako i suggest nimo, na istoryahi siya kun unsay maka bother nimo, or unsa ang makapa hiubos nimo...masulbad ra gyd na ang mga issues basta mag storyahanay mo...ACCEPTANCE ug kumunikasyon ra gyud ang tanan...sa batasan, sa kultura dri, sa pagkaon, sa mga taw ug uban pa

ako kay ug masuko ko na mohilom ra man ko...unya iya kong gi ingnan sa akong bana nga dili siya makahbaw ug dili ko mosulti...ablihi lang gyud kanunay ang linya sa komunikasyon ug sa salig sa Ginoo kay mao ra gyud ni atong taming dri.

sa pagkakaron, wla pa gyud ko gibati nga na bored ko diri..gimingaw ko sa pinas..barugan gyud ni nato atong kaminyoon!

hinaut nga ang taga vj family makatabang diha nimo...

ayo2 ug kanunay mi mag ampo na makalingkawas ra ka sa ani nga sitwasyon!

PM gurly, wla gyud ka nag inusara dri!

o

As I write this, Im leaving behind all the painful memories I had in this journey. My dear vj friends, this is it! Im not dreaming, my visa is finally here!!!

As corny as it may sound, please allow me to make my ala Oscar awards speech.

First of all, I would like to say that I have forgiven my first consul (its so amazing what a visa can do huh? lol!) and my scumbag ex. All is forgiven and forgotten now. My journey hasn't been smooth as everyone knows, but it was not entirely horrible. For one, it made me become matured and I gained knowledge. In fact, there were lawyers and one judge who asked me if I studied law because I know a lot about annulments. HAHAHA! Another thing, I gained friends and these are quality friends. I got a lot of PMs giving me support and offering help and prayers. In this regard, I would like to mention a few people. You are all part of my story...

PINAYWIFE- the Gabriela Silang of the Philippines forum, my mentor (like my kung fu master, hahaha!)

dbears- my batchmate (January filer), one of the vjers that caught my attention the first time I joined vj cuz she always makes sense without being arrogant, and also my spiritual adviser. Thank you for always dropping by to ask how I am and for the support and being there to congratulate me.

Kathryn41- from Canada forum. Thank you for your inspiring words.

ManilaIdaho- my instant bestfriend. You will be amazed at how this lady handles her problem- with laughter. She cheered me up during my down days.

Honeybadger- we have the same consul and that's an icebreaker for us. We both had nightmares after the interview. Hey, we can laugh about it now.

Nickoftime- my instant attorney! Offered to help me when I was having problems with my documents. She didnt send me a bill! HAHAHA! Joke lang attorney!

JoseRizal- my analyst and psychologist! My napakasakit kuya eddie listener! Kuya, don't ask me why you. You helped not only me but a lot of people.

Jamesnrei- for starting a thread that helped a lot of people. I was at the top of your list but I know you felt bad that I stayed at the top for so long! HAHAHA!

Mike & Zandy- Zandy cried with my story. They would always PM me and still remembered to congratulate me.

And to everyone (you know who you are) who cried with me, laughed with me, offered help and support and prayed for me, I cant thank you enough.

Also, I would like to say a few words about my fiancee... Stephen had always been positive about this journey. I never really felt that he lost faith that we will get it. The process was so difficult but the relationship is stress free! I think that's how we survived. Stephen would always say- "I will wait as long as it takes Ria because you are the only woman for me". This is the preview of the man that I am going to marry. This is how I know that we will last a lifetime!

And the most important of all... God. Thank you so much. With you nothing is impossible. Thank you for the wonderful Christmas gift. Thank you for the miracle!

In behalf of my fiancee Stephen, I would like to thank the awrd giving bodies for giving me "The LEGEND" award!

WOW! Congrats Ria!!!!

I am truly happy for you!!! Finally after 48 years of waiting u finally have it!!!!!

Praise God ! This is truly a wonderful christmas gift!

Stay safe and hope to see u online! hehhe

Got a text from delbros this morning and said that the visa delivery will start today and now i got it!!! :dance:

Big Congrats !!!

In Part 1 of the I-485 what A# do you put? In the I-94 form the immigration wrote an A# in the back of the I-94 form is that the A#?

hi girl!

YEP....you can find your alien number in your visa and also in your I-94.

God Bless!