canadalaura

I will admit to missing the somewhat less nationally biased coverage of CBS during the olympics, but other that that I haven't missed Canadian TV one bit!

Although I personally don't use mayo on fries, the idea doesn't really sound all bad. I usually use A1 steak sauce on my fries. I know some people who dip their fries in milkshakes or ice cream ... now that kinda makes me nauseous.

MMMM... I love to dip fries into my frosty at Wendy's. Haven't been there in AGES though!

I like salt & lots of vinegar on my fries. That gets odd looks here, too

When I first came here we went shopping at the Commisary ( military grocery store) After watching the grocery bagger person put the groceries in the bags and onto the cart , I saw my husband give him a 5.00 bill. I later asked him why he gave this guy a tip, he was just putting groceries in bags just like people do at any grocery store. I totally understood when he told me that the people hired as baggers at this place were Vetrans that didn't get paid at all and the tips were all they got.

I actually prefer shopping there because they are always friendly, do a great job ( not putting eggs on the bottom of the bag), and even push the cart full of groceries to your car and load it up!

How odd - I just posted yesterday in the Walmart thread about how I love the commissary baggers Me and my husband were trying to figure out how much they probably end up making in a shift - probably more than minimum wage! I don't think they're all vets though - some of ours are teenagers. They do have a tip box that says baggers work for tips only though.

There's not too much you really can do... other that what you have already done Sit back and relax - enjoy your last few moment free to hang out with the girls whenever you want.

Oh, and it would have been a HUGE help if Dave had gotten all the AOS forms filled out to the point that it was possible to do this pre-move and pre-wedding - but I didn't expect it, which was good because it didn't happen!

We're outta here in a year - and moving to Boston (we can't wait!) Oooh... I get excited just typing it. I LOVE Boston!

Hey CanadaLaura- if you move to Boston (for Work) I hope you live outside it, like in NH (Manchester is great, as well as Merrimack) but living there is one of the most expensive cities in the US, so if you do I hope the jobs pay well...

Yup, it is quite pricey! we don't plan on living righ tin Boston proper, rather Quincy where my husband plans on joining the fire department (along with all the other males in his family!).

Only problem with living in NH and working in mass is tha you have to pay both state's taxes! Eeek! I'm off to grad school when we get back and then hopefully a high-paying pharma job

eta - I am quote-stupid.

Oooh, oooh... can you post your timeline please?? I have filed through Charleston... no interview yet though, and actually not expecting one for a while - but there are so few from Charleston here - I would love to see your timeline

I dunno- but I get that too. I really like the baggers at the commissary - they always bring your bags to your car, and they actually bag stuff really well - nothing get squished and no bleach in with my peppers It's all old fashioned-like!

I was just using the standard of living thing as an example because that seems to be one of the biggest things that CAN/UK ex-pats complain about. There's lots more that contributes to overall quality of life though, and hey - I love the quality of mine because I get to live with my husband!

Gotcha!

Canadalaura & Mr. Canadalaura RAWK! I hope your hubster gets transferred at some point closer to a big city for you city-girl!

We're outta here in a year - and moving to Boston (we can't wait!) Oooh... I get excited just typing it. I LOVE Boston!

People actually watch Canadian programming?

I can get a few hockey games on OLN with regular cable, once in a while I luck out with a Leafs game, but mostly no. And I'm stuck watching the Atlanta braves all summer - ick! hehe

I was just using the standard of living thing as an example because that seems to be one of the biggest things that CAN/UK ex-pats complain about. There's lots more that contributes to overall quality of life though, and hey - I love the quality of mine because I get to live with my husband!

I'm still waiting for my whupass by the way.

I just don't see why someone would get personally offended by people stating FACTS. It is a FACT for many that their standard of living is lower here. It is not an attack on the US per se. I have also lived in other countries. It would be a fact to say that my standard of living was best in Japan. That doesn't mean that Japan is the best country I have ever lived in, merely just that I made a lot of money there.

I thought servers were legally required to report their tips? The same way we as salespeople are required to report commissions - I hate how commissions usually just up my paycheque to the point that I pay way more tax

Yeah, for the canned stuff they have really good prices And toiletries too. And DVD's and photofinishing... and on and on. I just hate that it's our only option out here, not really any local merchants left to support anymore

Oh, I did. I just couldn't let it be.

I never said I disliked life in the USA. I dislike life in a small town yes, but I would hate living in a small town in Canada too.

Oh, and it's COMPARE.

I sometimes tip the person that makes my coffee for me - just depend on what kind of mood i'm in/they're in, I guess I used to work a job like that in high school and it was HARD work for $6.40 an hour - if they do a great job, I don't mind giving them a bit extra!

We were fully aware of having to live in the middle of nowhere (which is the only part of my move I dislike) but, we both dislike it - and have no choice - it's where the military put us

Shons man needs to get here is what I think.

I hope she dont think its going to be a bowl of roses for him once he gets here.

He's coming from a Country that is totally different then the US.

Good luck to him with his adjusting

In general, Indian/Pakistani men don't have the adjustment troubles that so many European men on this site seem to.

Let's hope that's the case - it doesn't seem like his wife will be too sympathetic, anyways...

For the record, I'd say my standard of living is about the same - I make less money, but things are genrally cheaper and having two incomes in one household is nice, too! And hey, I won't always be making less mney - I hope - but you have to start somewhere

We do all our groceryshopping at the comissary - but are forced to shop at walmart if we need anything on the weekdays because I am not home from work in time to go to the comissary - they close at 6pm. I HATE walmart. Their veggies have no flavour, and everytime I go there I end up in a bad mood. And ther really doesn't seem to be any small, independent grocers in my bumblef*ck town. I would love to have a farmer's market or fruit market, or even a butcher. Sigh... no, only walmart. Blech - we have promised never again to shop there after we move back to Boston!

pretty much everything! But I'm from Canada so I had the luxury of stuffing it all in a U-Haul.

I paid for everything except for the initial petitioning fee. Benificiary female. I just had more money, it was an easy choice

Why do so many Americans celebrate this?...Its bizarre, especially in Upper Michigan where if they came from anywhere in Europe its Sweden or Finland.

... It's FUN.

It just means that the missouri center is done with it's pre-processing and they have sent it to your local district office to schedule you an interview hooray for progress!!