Updates: those who passed the interview and now in the US,

[Completely 3]

Most people post negative things. regarding visa process. So i think now it will be great to post and hear stories from different people who are now enjoying life with their husband.. How are you guys coping with place, food, weather, relationship, inlaws.etc..?

I am wondering about those people who were once active in the VJ community and now we seldom see them online..

Peeps, now its a great time tto share stories..

Edited October 21, 2008 by Completely

[HoneySkin 0]

Most people post negative things. regarding visa process. So i think now it will be great to post and hear stories from different people who are now enjoying life with their husband.. How are you guys coping with place, food, weather, relationship, inlaws.etc..?

I am wondering about those people who were once active in the VJ community and now we seldom see them online..

Peeps, now its a great time tto share stories..

This topic is very interesting...something that i would watch out for...i like stories....hopefully, they are not too busy to share a few interesting information of how have they been.....please include the status of the US economy as well....

[jom 4]

I celebrated my first anniversay of arrival in the US last October 3 and I love it here. Hereunder is a list of what I have "achieved" from my arrival until now:

1. I already have my Permanent Resident Card

2. I am driving by myself and in the interstate too.

3. I've learned how to cook

4. I've learned how to drive a pontoon boat

5. I am now going to school for an 8week refresher work and will start working by January next year per our agreement.

6. I've been to 16 states outside of Florida

7. Gained almost 15 pounds after 2 months of arrival but have lost about 10 and counting

8. I've developed patience in talking to people in customer service

9. Hosted my first baby shower party for a fellow VJ member

Everything is great between me and my husband. The reason why we agreed that I don't work within the first year of our marriage is for us to really know each other well since we were only together physically in the Philippines for two weeks before I came here and it really worked for us. I can honestly say that I have adjusted to my husband's different upbringing and vice versa. We now know how to adjust to each other's personalities and moods. I love my husband more than ever and marrying him, relocating here and leaving my work and family in the Philippines is by far the best decision I made in my life. I feel lucky to have married someone who can make me laugh 24/7.

My stepchildren adore me and perhaps that helps too in the adjustment. I just wish I could spend more time with them. There are problems along the way but we have managed to survive. Life here is not that easy because the way how things are is different but its just a matter of adjusting and accepting the culture.

We will visit my family in the Philippines by Christmas 2009 and I am already very excited about it. I do miss them a lot but I have been away from home since I was 16 to study and work so it was not so difficult.

My husband is not rich but gainfully employed. He still pays child support and we always sit down together to evaluate our finances and only spend what we can afford. The gas price has dramatically gone down the last few days ( THANK GOD) , I gassed up my car yesterday for $2.79/gal . Bottomline is, some of us are maybe used to getting what we want back in PI but some sacrifices have to made because things are not really cheap here Ive learned that very well.

To those who are still in the process and are about to leave the Philippines my prayers are with you. Take it easy. Life here maybe different but with your man beside you, it is worth all the sacrifices.

Goodluck!

Myla

[tallcoolone 102]

I had my Pinay wife dye her hair blonde:

[vichygurl 1]

I have been here for like 4 months yesterday and that simply means 4 months also being with my man. First step in a strange place was nerve rocking but then as I went through I feel not an alien anymore,LoL ( I don't like that word being used like petitioning an alien relative/fiance ) Anyway, so far so good and here are the list of my accomplishment and hopefully more to come:

a.) I am Mrs. Taylor finally!

b.) I am loved by my in-laws and they are awesome!

c.) I learned how to drive both stick and automatic.

d.) I am almost out of recipes to cook ( thanks I saw a lot online )

e.) I am loving reading now. Have A LOT of time to do it:)

f.) Submitted the AOS papers and waiting for my biometrics on Oct.28.

g.) I am having fun decorating our lil house and I discovered some skills in me

h.) I learned how to speak and speak and speak... what I feel,what I am thinking coz that is what he taught me.

Speak along with listening to understand each other.

Most importantly, I am learning his attitude, discovering new things in him and loving him more. We are both doing are best to live life to the fullest and enjoy having each other. Baby is not our first priority at this time cause we want to know more of each other. But yes marriage is definitely not a bed of roses, there are times of misunderstandings but we are both coping up and holding on. Cheers to more happiness!

As a whole, I realized that married life is a tough job indeed! It's more of giving to your partner and expect less. He is not a wealthy man but I know he has a wealthy heart.

Vida Taylor

[Rocky_nBullwinkle 6]

Most people post negative things. regarding visa process. So i think now it will be great to post and hear stories from different people who are now enjoying life with their husband.. How are you guys coping with place, food, weather, relationship, inlaws.etc..?

I am wondering about those people who were once active in the VJ community and now we seldom see them online..

Peeps, now its a great time tto share stories..

I've been here for more than a year now (just less than 13 months) and I'm getting ready to celebrate our first wedding anniversary in three days (October 24) being married to the love of my life. The scariest part was the flying to the US alone. But when I saw my future hubby at the San Francisco International Airport, everything was fine. My husband is not rich, but we're not poor. But my relatives back in the Philippines they think we are rich.

So far these are my accomplishments.

1. I've been working for almost a year now in retail sales doing customer service.

2. I am still learning how to drive.

3. I'm learning Spanish with the help of my hubby, books and audios and with the help of my Latino co-workers.

4. I'm learning to cook all the Filipino recipes I never learned in the Philippines. My pansit is a big hit at work. The white people love my pansit.

5. I already met all my husband's relatives. We had a big reunion in May 2008. They accepted me as a member of the family and made me feel welcomed.

5.Me and my husband are members of the Filipino-American Community in Sonoma County and we get together for special events.

6. We found a good Catholic church where the reverend is cool and he plays the organ during mass.

7. This is the second Halloween for me.

8.We found a good Asian store where I get my pansit noodles, Datu Puti vinegar, Silver Swan soy sauce and Rufina patis.

Things I have yet to accomplish:

1. Get my driver's license.

2. I haven't seen snow yet.

3. Curve a jack-o-lantern.

4. Have a baby maybe.

5.Find a better paying job with full medical and dental benefits.

Some bad things about my experience.

1. I miss my family. I missed my brother's wedding last October 15 in Manila.

2. It's so cold in the winter and so hot in the summer. I am not acclimated yet.

3. During the Springtime, I got hay fever. I hate it.

4. Everything is expensive in California. If you try to keep converting everything in peso, you'll go crazy.

5.Relatives always asking for money. My husband is not happy about it.

[Jasman0717 9]

Claudeth has been here for three years now and didn't have any problems adjusting. She tried a couple of jobs, one at the Hyatt and one at Sears, but didn't like them too much so has stayed at home for the last year and a half. She is looking at going to college. She wants to start a business in the Philippines and I told her I would help her if she acquired the knowledge to run a business.

We found several Filipino communities here in southern California. Our favorite is the area in Cerritos. They have a Jollibee, a Goldilocks and a huge grocery store that caters to Filipinos.

If you do anything, I really recommend you find the Filipino communities in your area. Claudeth is a strong person so really didn't get homesick but I can always count on a huge smile on her face whenever I take her to Cerritos.

Good luck to everyone

[andrew&evelyn 6]

I'm a member here since 2006 and so my husband. And i visit almost everyday, it's great to see how people get so excited to be with thier man.

I been here in US for 1 year and 5 months and we are married for 1 year and 4 months. Being married to my husband is one of the best decision I've ever made in my life. I can't say that we are a perfect couple as we had shared our own moments of misunderstanding and the diffrence of up bringing and cultural differences. But I'm so lucky to have a husband who is very understanding whenever my bratness is attacking me. My hubby is the only child and most or I can say all his relatives both from mother and father side is from other country...I don't have any problem dealing with them. My Mother in law leave in AZ and we are in CA, but she is very nice and very kind lady so I can say that I'm lucky with my inlaw.

some of the accomplishment since I came here..

1. I'm happily married to my husband

2. I'm a fulltime wife

3. No need to work. I'am my own boss

4. Got my greeen card (he can't kick me out anyomre )

5. I know how to drive now

6.We just got our brand new house

7 And I met my classmate since elementary here. After we graduated high school we never heard anything from each other since then. But then we find that we just leave 15 minutes away from each other here.

8....More to come maybe a baby soon

Negative things:

1. I'm away from my family

2.No jeepneys and buses

3. No turo-turo and karinderya at the side of the road

4. Hubby don't eat filipino food

5. I lose weight

6. Hair cut so expensive

7 Extreme hot and cold

8. No neighbors to talk about showbiz chika

9 Can't find jeans that fit me perfectly

10. Don't celebrate christmass as early like in the Philippines

Wow! Can't believed I have lots of negative than positive..well thats only tell's us that married life is not always a bed of roses. But as long as your comitted to each other you will survives any bumps ahead of the roads.

God bless everyone. I wish you all the best in your married life.

To my husband: I love you so much always and forever. Thank you for coming into my life.

Evelyn

[o0pink0o 3]

I haven't accomplished alot yet since i have been here for only a month and 5 days my husband and i have known each other for 6 months before everything got romantic between us he then visited me 4 times since 2006. We got married on Feb. 2007 and we will be 2 years next year

I am so blessed to have a wonderful in-laws who accepted and and love me so much We just had our US wedding reception last sunday which is sponsored by his aunt My dad-in-law always tour me everywhere when my hubby is at work. I often see my mom-in-law and i sooo love hugging her we almost share the same interest in watching movies. We are both cry baby that is why i love her My sisters-in-law's houses are just 5 steps away from us so i see them most of the time and so there are lots of kids here too in our house caz my nephews and nieces loves to come over in our house.

One of my sister-in-law taught me how to drive and my dad-in-law will buy me driving lesson book. i learned how to cook rice lol! and to bake cake i also learned how to do the laundry lol! i am getting familiar now with streets here in our neighborhood and i met some of our neighbors i feel like i am a wifey now as i prepare the stuff that my husband needs before going to work, i prepare meals, i do the laundry and clean our house and yeah i love doing those stuff caz they make me feel like i am a wifey

I didn't had jet lag and i am not YET getting homesick. I think the reasons why i am not YET getting homesick is because I always call my fam in the Pinas and i always chat to my sisters and friends and mostly because I FEEL LOVED HERE BY MY HUBBY AND HIS FAM

We haven't started processing any papers as we want to spend more time to each other plus we want to stay away from the immigration for the mean time hehe but yeah! we will start filing EAD next month hehe. I seldom visit VJ now (although i want to visit more often) because of the things that makes me busy here in the US.

Things are WAY ALOT easier now that i am with my husband. Of course, i won't deny that i miss Pinas too but not to the point that i wanna go back there soon. I am loving my life here in the US because i am finally with my husband and we are planning to have our own family too

[jego ryu 0]

im very happy and contented here nainlove ako sa place na to grabe.......miss ko lang family ko pinas..i wish nandito sila..i miss my car and my house there too...

[Tunji&Toyin 0]

I'll have to update you on my wife's progress next year! But these stories have been great! Thanks.

[LOSTGURL--SOPHIA 2]

hear stories from different people who are now enjoying life with their husband.. How are you guys coping with place, food, weather, relationship, inlaws.etc..?

WITH MARIO.. VERY HAPPY we have never been apart since the time we first met apr2006 to aug 2008..inspite of the hardships we've gone through--CR1 PROCESS, CRBA PROCESS, OVERSTAYING AND PENALTIES , TICKETS... god is with us althroughout this trial and im very happy that his back again here in US with his family and me.. except that we are apart and still awaiting CRBA PROCEDURES for sophia mae our 1 year and 4 months old baby...

place: from albany ca ( near san francisco bay area lived with my father and my younger sister ) very cold ; to metairie, new orleans louisiana --fair weather like philippines,

food: oh i LOVE crawfish and Cafe Du Monde Beignets , canes chicken --smoothie king

inlaws: very good to me

work: ca ( housekeeper and caregiver $15/hr -- but big tax deducted ) ; la ( hard to find one )

learned how to drive ; speak and understand little spanish ; how to use vacuum ; their awesome washing machines and dryers ; dishwasher ; and walk long miles pag walang car

i miss kwekkwek; fishball; mangoes ; kalamansi; all types of fish ; seasoning--patis,bagoong isda ; scramble ; pizza ng pinas greenwich; 3m ; working sa callcenter ; tricyle; pedicab; mrt/lrt ; dyip --dito waiting lage ang bus at train. tahimik, di tulad saten laging buhay ang life ; maraming katsikahan lahat dito busy ill be happy pag nandito na buong family ko

[lokashadow04 0]

"I just got here in houston tx,not even close to a month.my son got adjusted so quick...he really love's here!!!and i do too...the hardest/tough part is my hubby needs to go back overseas and leave us so soon...meaning to say,its just gonna be my son and i.hubby did all his hardest very BEST to make my driving perfect coz he said im a bad driver..he makes sure everything is organize,foods,bills and etc and that we are safe.like having security alarm system,he set gps on our car,have friends will come down to visit and check us every 2 weeks,neighbors are all nice.and offered me a help..for now its so hard on my part coz i have to do/make everything in my own now coz hubby left today already..and he'll be back every 4 months.i dont have my ssn yet but we applied already,and preparing aos and have plan to file next month/nov...no licence yet,,reading book for texas law driving b4 i get permit...i drove at midnight to buy groceries at 24 hrs wallmart but from now on i doubt to do this again.im kinda scared going out alone @ midnight;so have to be brave to drive at daytime...started back on chat to our vj texans family and hrs on talking on the phone.he hehehe..

Till then & God bless,

Irene

[mNr 0]

I've been here in US for 4 mos now and so far I dont have a hard time adjusting to my new environment I love thier food although I seldom cook rice now thats okay for me because what i did is I cook a lot of rice and put that in a plastic container so if I feel like I want rice i just transfer some in my plate then reheat in microwave hahaha call that laziness but its gas saving for us because my husband eat rice twice or thrice a month and I have to have rice at least 6 times a week hahhaha (including my lunch and dinner).

My husband love to cook his favorite grilled food,he loves camping so usually we camped twice a month even now that the weather is changing we still go camping and he would take me to the lake,evenif Im freez to death and with my doubled jackets and pants they wont help a bit but he and his brother and friend are just wearing shorts ...

About my inlaws they are all so warm to me they make mefeel that I really belong to thier family of course Im missing my families in the Philippines but Im going to see them again hopefully next summer when I get my children,as of now we are enjoying the two of us together going out for a walk with our dog,go out once in a while for a dinner or watch a movie,do the yard works together his mowing while im planting the flowers or help help him clean his truck or the boat,exchanging some silly jokes and making fun with each other watch with him the NASCAR (his favorite of all that there is on the television) or buy a sunday paper and cut out all the discount coupons that we can use for groceries and some other things we need and sooo many things that we both enjoyed doing together.

MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

1. Happy wife

2.my AOS papers are in the process right now

3. I've just done my biometrics last Sept.8

4. Learning how to cook foods for the holidays

5. Im baking cakes and cookies whewww

6.Just joined their church

7. Learning how to drive (so that i can go to the malls anytime they have thier big sale of the season hahahhahah )

8. Even if I stutter sometimes when I m talking to his firiends and family they all said im doing pretty well

9. And finally just yesterday I curved my first pumpkin ever,Im proud of that

(coz you know we dont do that in the Philippines)

Im looking forward to start working so that I can help my husband with some of the expenses and hopefully to see snow.......

[ChristophandEvan 0]

Hmmmmnnnn I've been here in US for one month and 12 days pa lang,recently married last Oct.18...i dont have problem adjusting with the foods coz my hubby let me cook rice always and go to Filipino Store in ForthWorth,in terms of being together,we get along very well and he knews na the 'raising of eyebrows and being quiet mood"ahahaha!But aside from that like everybody else in here nakakamiss ang Pinas but since there's an internet access,its lessen.I knew how to drive na, my experience driving in Pinas helped me build my confidence to drive here and i am aggressive to drive really here coz i knew how, but he is afraid as of now.Lolz..But sometimes he let me drive where theres no car park and no people..Geezzzzz...We attend Catholic Mass already here in our area in Granbury Texas.Anyways Hope to see some FilAm couples who live near me in Granbury Texas :