FiveYears Down

[Big Papa Zone 93]

I just realized that March 31st saw the fifth anniversary of my arrival in the US. And, unlike a lot of events where a passage of time is involved, it does NOT seem like yesterday when I passed through immigration at Minneapolis/St Paul. In fact, it seems like a lifetime ago.

I look back on the life-changing events and upheavals over the last five years: immigrated; married; widowed; return to school; re-married. The fact that I lived in a trailer in a field amongst rednecks. The friends I've made. And the fact that this whole, wild, mad, roller-coaster visa journey has come full circle with me now a petitioner for my beneficiary English wife (as soon as I've negotiated the final hurdle of attaining citizenship of course).

That's all, folks. Nothing too long-winded. Just sayin'.

[JTB11 1,079]

good luck with petitioning for your wife ! Wishing you all the best. Sure sounds like you had some life experiences...

[Novembro 1,763]

Crazy story! Glad you've done well through it all and good luck with the new "journey".

[nobbie 105]

I take my hat off to you. I have been here only 6 months and find it difficult. If anything happened to my wife the first thing I would do is leg it back to the UK.

[stevensane 10]

Yours truly is a 'journey'. Congratulations and good luck to you, sir, though I'm sure you won't need it!

[NickyMcMillan 0]

Good to hear you are well Damien. It will be six years for me come June. Its crazy to think about it.

Best of luck with it all! For the rest of you going through the process, it is worth all the effort and more.

I take my hat off to you. I have been here only 6 months and find it difficult. If anything happened to my wife the first thing I would do is leg it back to the UK.

The first year is hard, no question about it. Get through that and you will be fine. There were times when I felt like going back, but glad I stuck it out. Could not imagine going back to the UK now.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Proud of you, dude. You've been through some tough stuff. Some of the morons you had to deal with in your old job to begin with! I'm forever grateful to you for our long phone chats when I was losing my mind here.

It will be seven years for me in August. I can't believe it some times. I thought I'd never leave Blighty, and, well, it happened. I seem to have lost a husband along the way, but I picked up a domestic product that has more than made up for that. Cheers to Damian and Nicky!

[Pooky 3,775]

Newbies, the lot of you.

But seriously, congratulations on making it to 5 years, with all you have been though.

Even if you do support The Scum.

[Kiwinyc 62]

I take my hat off to you. I have been here only 6 months and find it difficult. If anything happened to my wife the first thing I would do is leg it back to the UK.

What are you finding difficult Nobbie? We're on about the same schedule, arrived around Oct. The UK seems a distant memory, but I haven't been back for any visits yet. Going for a week at the end of the month. The only thing I really care about is making sure I load up on tea bags while I'm there...

[nobbie 105]

Hi Kiwi, yes i think I remember us being on the forum last year around the same time. Things I find difficult? Well the 2 main things i thought would bother me do, that is the crazy gun laws and violence and the lunatic medical system. Plus lack of public transport (no trains here is Annapolis) lack of proper food shops in that it's all supermarkets and the ludicrous prices they charge, particularly for fresh veg and the like. In fact the general expense of things here, I am not short of a few bob but I have no idea how poorer people eat in this country, junk I guess.

[Kiwinyc 62]

Ah, yeah. I knew about the no public transport thing, outside of major cities like NYC it doesn't really exist, its car culture all the way. I'm in Texas so I shout at the TV a lot and keep my kids away from the family that thought a 'Duck Dynasty' themed birthday party is a good idea... Eventually navigating the health care system won't seem so onerous and are there no Farmers Markets in Maryland? I have to say I'm not finding food in general that expensive - but diary products are pricey, I can't understand that. I'm from London though and everything compared to London is cheap.

[nobbie 105]

There are farmers markets but oddly they seem to be more expensive than supermarkets. The thing about the healthcare system is that even though you may be paying $500 a month, you still got co pay, still got deductibles and still got co insurance to pay, makes me wonder what the premium is for.

[Justine+David 218]

Glad to hear you are doing well Damian how much longer on the citizenship front? David just got his, so glad to have all the immigration money paid off.

nobbie: I think a large part of our obesity epidemic is because it's so much cheaper to eat junk food. People on tight budgets have a harder time affording what amounts to a "luxury" like fresh fruit and vegetables. It drives David crazy too. Where do you shop at? Giant food isn't too bad for pricing, although "whole paycheck" is definitely true of whole foods, lol.

Edited April 14, 2014 by Justine+David

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Glad to hear you are doing well Damian how much longer on the citizenship front? David just got his, so glad to have all the immigration money paid off.

I apply next Month - the 22nd of next month to be precise. Can't wait for it all to be over!!!