What we do to keep our families close

[thetreble 19]

Also when my friends are having a girls night out, when I find that stuff out it hurts. I know I'm not being purposely excluded but I feel that way sometimes.

This sucks. Dealing with it is ALWAYS hard. I have such good friends back home and we are slowly growing apart due to every one being all over the place. But when we are all in ONE place, I try my hardest to see every one I can. But you have us now so we will just have to make up for it

So now I am a born again hugger.

I hug people when I say hello. I hug people when I say goodbye. Because you never know what is going to happen. I never used to be a huggy person, but when my grandfather died I learned to be. I hug my son as much as I can... tell him I love you as much as I can.

It's true. I have hugged Nevada. She likes to hug.

[Marilyn. 340]

I probbaly don't do enough to stay in touch with my family... I do talk to my mom once or twice a month for an hour or so at a time.. we really should talk more but my mom is still busy raising my younger 3 sibs..

[Krikit 1,165]

Hugs for everyone!!!!

Oh, and I am stealing this hugs song from Spirit. I this video.

My family and friends and I are huge huggers.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

This is something I try not to think about too much... my family is really close and I'm going to miss them all so much, especially my mom. But, we just got one of those digital phone packages that give you unlimited calling between Canada and the US, so my mom can call me constantly (like I know she will) and my dad won't faint because of million dollar phone bills. My fiance has a North American phone plan as well, so between those two things i'm sure keeping in contact won't be that big of a deal.

My dad has facebook but he doesn't know how to use it, and my mom refuses to join... But it will probably be the best way to keep in contact with my little sis who is 15. And of course, MSN is very handy... I've heard a lot about skype but I've never used it, am I missing out? We just do video chat on MSN, it seems like skype is basically the same thing...

[SapphireDreams 71]

This is something I try not to think about too much... my family is really close and I'm going to miss them all so much, especially my mom. But, we just got one of those digital phone packages that give you unlimited calling between Canada and the US, so my mom can call me constantly (like I know she will) and my dad won't faint because of million dollar phone bills. My fiance has a North American phone plan as well, so between those two things i'm sure keeping in contact won't be that big of a deal.

My dad has facebook but he doesn't know how to use it, and my mom refuses to join... But it will probably be the best way to keep in contact with my little sis who is 15. And of course, MSN is very handy... I've heard a lot about skype but I've never used it, am I missing out? We just do video chat on MSN, it seems like skype is basically the same thing...

I find the quality of sound and video on Skype much better than MSN. They both do the same thing, but yeah Skype is just smoother for us.

[July09Bride 1]

This is something I try not to think about too much... my family is really close and I'm going to miss them all so much, especially my mom. But, we just got one of those digital phone packages that give you unlimited calling between Canada and the US, so my mom can call me constantly (like I know she will) and my dad won't faint because of million dollar phone bills. My fiance has a North American phone plan as well, so between those two things i'm sure keeping in contact won't be that big of a deal.

My dad has facebook but he doesn't know how to use it, and my mom refuses to join... But it will probably be the best way to keep in contact with my little sis who is 15. And of course, MSN is very handy... I've heard a lot about skype but I've never used it, am I missing out? We just do video chat on MSN, it seems like skype is basically the same thing...

I find the quality of sound and video on Skype much better than MSN. They both do the same thing, but yeah Skype is just smoother for us.

I agree. Skype is free, terrific video and sound quality. Plus, as you're talking, you can send files, etc. Their transfer rate for files, is pretty good, too (assuming you have a good Internet upload speed!).

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Thank heavens for email and free long distance calling plans. My Dad and I are in daily communication on line even if it is only sending jokes or emails back and forth. We generally talk on the phone at least once a week for about an hour or so - and Joe also talks with Dad for a while too - they share a lot of interests in common and get along great. My brother and I are in somewhat regular email communication and we talk on the phone every month or so but we are not nearly as close as Dad and me. My Dad and brother are in pretty regular communication though - they live about 2 hours apart - and visit with each other regularly so I always get 'brother' updates about his family from Dad, and vice versa.

As I said at the beginning, thank heavens for email and free long distance calling plans. I also email some of my cousins and my aunt pretty regularly too.

Edited March 26, 2009 by Kathryn41

[July09Bride 1]

When I moved to Michigan, I moved away from my family. I had no family here... they were all back in Arizona. I missed Sunday afternoon bar-b-ques, Saturday swim days at one of my family members' home with a pool, my dad's grilling (especially his steak), nephews and neices birthdays.... It was really hard. I'd drive home from Canada on Sunday afternoons and see all these families outside with their bar-b-ques and whatnot. I can remember crying many, many, many times while driving. I'd have to get it to gether to cross at the border. Then, I'd start driving again, and see families gathered here in the US, too. The crying would start all over. What helped me get through it all was knowing I could call or email at anytime. My mom and I would set a pre-determined call time each week... we basically knew when to call each day of the week in order to reach the other person. It's much easier now. My parents bought a place here about 10 minutes away from me and they spend their summers here now. Plus, they're more apt to visit over fall/winter holidays, too. Now, I get to have summer Sunday bar-b-ques again. Especially since my fiance' isn't over here yet, it makes things easier still.

I think I've spent the past 8+ years camped on a telephone in the evening/night time... talking to either my mom or fiance to make it through the quiet lonely times. Video makes it much easier. LOVE Skype!

[shawna7 4]

I agree..thank goodness for long distance!!

Between my parents in Edmonton..and my daughter and her 2 babies in Toronto..I'm on the phone alot!..lol

Its been over a year now..missing everyone never goes away..just ups and downs, but I go to Toronto every 6 weeks now..so that makes things ALOT easier!

sniff..now I'm missing them just thinking about it..**sigh**

[thetreble 19]

but I go to Toronto every 6 weeks now..so that makes things ALOT easier!

This is great. I think it's important to go back as much as you can. I feel lucky that I'm only an 8 hour drive away. I know some people are way too far to go back more than once a year. I also get quite a few days off of work so that helps me too.

[shawna7 4]

but I go to Toronto every 6 weeks now..so that makes things ALOT easier!

This is great. I think it's important to go back as much as you can. I feel lucky that I'm only an 8 hour drive away. I know some people are way too far to go back more than once a year. I also get quite a few days off of work so that helps me too.

I'm very lucky that I can go back as often as I do..When I started working in the states.I told them, I go home every 6 weeks, its non-negotiable..(I can do that..lol.I'm a hairstylist)it takes me most of a day to get there...I'm in Charleston..there is no direct flts anywhere! but its worth every miserable moment in the airport!hehe

[Marilyn. 340]

I wish I could go back to visit more.. I have been twice in 4 years.. and my parents have been down here twice...

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

This is how I keep in touch with everyone when we are "far apart":

E-mail: My favourite method of communication. It's inexpensive, quick, and the best way I find that I can express myself with. It works with most people, as nowadays everyone seems to have access to the internet and e-mail...

I used to have instant messagers (yahoo and msn) too. However, I stopped doing that, since I had received viruses from those programs before...

Road Trips/In-Person Visits: Yup, we got to love those! A perfect excuse to travel! With the warmer weather coming up, we'll do more of that. My husband and I love travelling by car, as there are so many places to stop and along the way to see, indeed! I just have to make sure that I do most of my travelling before I'm further along in the pregnancy this summer...(lol...I don't think having a baby on the road is a good idea).

By the way, I'm going to visit Canada in April and North Carolina in May, so those should be fun road trips, coming up for us too! (lol..and I hope nothing goes wrong this time around either). Funny how people Canada is closer to me (3 hours) than people North Carolina USA (13 hours) is, even though I'm in USA (New York State) now...

Snail-Mail: I started doing more of that recently, especially more so for my Mother-In-Law just moved long distance recently and doesn't use the internet. I enjoy getting letters in the mail, and yes, it does give me something else to look forward to in the mail (lol..besides my 10yr green card, that is)....

Telephone: My least favourite method of communication, but sometimes I have to resort to this. Lol..this holds true especially for my Granny, who doesn't understand English, and I can't write a letter in her other language, so telephone is the only way to communicate with her...

VisaJourney: Ok, so you are all my "online immigration family", and yes, I like posting online here to "keep in touch with you all....

Remember..."Distance is no obstacle, especially with 'keeping in touch' with our loved ones..."...

Ant (Still keeping in-touch with family....)

Edited March 28, 2009 by AntandD