You moved to the U.S. to be with your SO

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Living with the in laws hasn't been very difficult on my end. Like Sapphire has experienced, my in laws are pretty quiet, they keep to themselves and give us a lot of space. We also have the entire basement to ourselves, which is pretty isolated from the rest of home, so we have the privacy we want when we want it. In the meantime we have been able to save some money, pay off existing debts, and live the way we want. Trying to manage a budget and live like adults is going to be very hard for us... which is part of the reason we moved in here to begin with. We are both extraordinarily bad with managing money. We buy expensive things we can't really afford, we go out shopping, to dinner and movies constantly, and we both love going to NHL and MLB games, which gets pretty expensive. We can't live like that and pay a mortgage at the same time, at least on his income alone. I guess I'm just not ready to grow up yet... even though I'm married and 22 years old. That girl in that other thread was right, I'm childish

But living in a house with other people has helped me maintain my sanity some days. When I'm home alone all day, I have my in laws puppies to play with! I've never had a dog since I'm so allergic to them, so its pretty neat to have Zeke the golden retriever to play fetch with! I just have to limit my exposure or its bad.

[The_Dude 1,142]

I really couldn't imagine having to live with my parents, or my in-laws after getting married. There would be blood.

[Holliday 4]

I like this thread. I just moved 2 weeks ago, so it's nice to hear about the experiences of others.

So far for me it's been pretty good. I'm comfortable in my new home. By that I mean I'm comfortable in my apartment... not necessarily the city. I have no problems getting around here at all, but most of the time I feel like I don't want to go anywhere. Heh. It's still too hot (it was over 100 degrees yesterday. It's almost friggin October! What's with that?!) and I do find it really frustrating here still. It's the little things, and they probably sound petty, but it gets overwhelming. I wouldn't say that I'm homesick (yet), but I do get annoyed by things...

Like grocery shopping. It's sooo frustrating to go grocery shopping and not find hardly any brands that I'm familiar with. It's like I have to think hard about each purchase because everything is unfamiliar. I can't just grocery shop on autopilot like I used to! I feel like a child sometimes because I don't know what the heck anything is. And I hate that I can't find things. Why can't I find any sesame seed bagels, for example. Is that strange? Aren't they common? It's a big grocery store, damn it! Why can't I find normal bread? What the hell is a sausage roll? And why is there canned sausage? Why the heck do turnips look like THAT?! And I'm still pissed that there are no yellow beans here. I like yellow beans. I also reallllly miss Mango/Melon flavour Aquafina Plus. My husband discovered that Snapple has a suitable mango-flavoured equivalent, but it's not the same, and it's kinda hard to find.

Also, the accents get to me. Everyone sounds different. Well, they all sound the same as each other, but different from what I'm used to. I'd be way happier if there was even a variety of accents (or languages) like what I'm used to from home. Also, I'm sick of not being able to understand people sometimes. At home I was used to not being able to understand someone because they were speaking a language that I don't know, and that was cool, because I didn't expect to understand them. But here, we're speaking the SAME language... apparently. It makes me feel like a bit of an idiot sometimes. I just want something to seem familiar to me, you know? And it will, in time. I know that it's not going to get any better by avoiding things, and I know I'm not doing myself any favours by staying at home most of the time, but it's what I feel like doing for now. It still feels like I'm on vacation, and I'd like to stick with that for a while.

I never thought I'd say this, but I miss Canadian TV! I didn't even watch much TV at home (except for hockey and TSN and Sportsnet), but I'd love to be able to watch TV without seeing an ad for the world's biggest, greasiest burger, followed by an ad for weight loss/cholesterol management medication, followed by a commercial that says "have you or a member of your family been treated with *insert name of medication from the previous commercial here*? If you have experienced any of the following side effects *insert list of side effects*, the legal team of *insert name of some law firm here* may be able to help YOU get the money that YOU are ENTITLED to." It can get a little trying at times. I'd much prefer the familiar Home Hardware ads, and the numerous beer commercials, and ads for really lame CBC shows, etc.

Anyway, all that petty negativity aside, I'm doing ok. I don't like my surroundings (yet), but I LOVE living with my husband, so it's worth it, without question.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Mel is having the same issues with the market. One of the things that first got her going was the placement of things. Some of the aisle arrangements are the same, but then we'll get down the list to something and it should be on an aisle, but it's not. I don't really know myself because I normally just wander around and pick stuff that I want. We'll end up meandering around the store for 15 minutes looking for it, then the ensuing converstation about how illogical it is to have it placed there.

[Rhiannercakes 14]

Mel is having the same issues with the market. One of the things that first got her going was the placement of things. Some of the aisle arrangements are the same, but then we'll get down the list to something and it should be on an aisle, but it's not. I don't really know myself because I normally just wander around and pick stuff that I want. We'll end up meandering around the store for 15 minutes looking for it, then the ensuing converstation about how illogical it is to have it placed there.

I know that feeling.

My fiance and I have had conversations about food placement on shelves all the time.

Though, there's some things here that make no sense placement wise on grocery shelves too.

[Krikit 1,165]

I've had those rants too. And I am in complete agreement with what Holliday said.

[Bern. 3]

Mel is having the same issues with the market. One of the things that first got her going was the placement of things. Some of the aisle arrangements are the same, but then we'll get down the list to something and it should be on an aisle, but it's not. I don't really know myself because I normally just wander around and pick stuff that I want. We'll end up meandering around the store for 15 minutes looking for it, then the ensuing converstation about how illogical it is to have it placed there.

I know that feeling.

My fiance and I have had conversations about food placement on shelves all the time.

Though, there's some things here that make no sense placement wise on grocery shelves too.

I completely agree. I couldn't find nearly anything I was looking for. I'm going to hate losing all the brands I know and love when I move down to Texas.

[MrsCat 6]

It was my 1 year anniversary in HI a few days ago. Being here has been difficult. More pronounced some days than others. Some days I love living here. Other days, I just drive home from work and want to cry the whole way home.

I was just getting set in my life when I moved and at that age when change is no longer exciting, but rather an adjustment at best and bother at worst. Leaving behind my family, friends, a career I spent 7 years in school for; it was a lot to give up all at once. I'm resentful some days.

Being in the middle of the Pacific has its own unique challenges. My grandmother past away 3 weeks ago and I couldn't go to the funeral. I mean, I guess I could have but she lived in the NWT and flying home in time for the funeral would have cost around $3000. I never imagined I would have to choose to not go to my grandmother's funeral. I felt awful. I still do. I knew when I left that she would probably pass away while I was one this rock, I just never expected to not be able to go home.

Starting a new job has been good. Its probably been the most helpful thing in adjusting. Focusing on someone else's difficulties and challenges really puts things in perspective most days. I have a wonderful coworker whose taken me under her wing and teaches me all sorts of things about her Hawaiian ancestry and culture. I know she is someone I'll be friends with no matter where we are in this world.

And last but certainly not least, I always imagined moving to the US and having a family like mine to somewhat replace the one I was leaving. Not that my family is fantastic, leave-it-to-Beaveresque, cause we're dysfunctional as sh!t but my husband's family really could care less to have anything to do with us. His mother came here on vacation, and if we hadn't travelled 2.5 hours to the other side of the island, we'd never have known that she was even here. Chris' brothers never call, ask how we're doing, or when we're coming for a visit. My father-in-law (whom I adore) doesn't care to see us, unless we're going to see him.

[Marilyn. 340]

I am still adjusting 4 years later.. it has more to do with missing my family though which has gotten worse more so because of all the stuff I have gone through since moving here.. sometimes you just need your mom..

the different food brands etc was hard to get used to at first but now it doesn't bother me and I know where to go in the store to get what I want.. the only things I really miss are all-dressed chips, Mr Big bars and pizza pops.. oh and McCain's frozen cakes..

[Krikit 1,165]

Being in the middle of the Pacific has its own unique challenges. My grandmother past away 3 weeks ago and I couldn't go to the funeral. I mean, I guess I could have but she lived in the NWT and flying home in time for the funeral would have cost around $3000. I never imagined I would have to choose to not go to my grandmother's funeral. I felt awful. I still do. I knew when I left that she would probably pass away while I was one this rock, I just never expected to not be able to go home.

Awww. That made me so sad, Cat. I am so sorry.

[Emancipation 2]

Mel is having the same issues with the market. One of the things that first got her going was the placement of things. Some of the aisle arrangements are the same, but then we'll get down the list to something and it should be on an aisle, but it's not. I don't really know myself because I normally just wander around and pick stuff that I want. We'll end up meandering around the store for 15 minutes looking for it, then the ensuing converstation about how illogical it is to have it placed there.

YESSSSSS it drives me NUTTERS that they put raisins in the produce aisle.. BAKING AISLE PEOPLE!!!!!

[Krikit 1,165]

I know. None of it is logical to me. Luckily, the employees are really good about knowing and showing you where things are. I couldn't find horseradish for the longest time! Of course it's in the bacon section. Or the egg section if you're at Publix. Who wouldn't know that?

Edited September 29, 2009 by Krikit

[JillA 2]

As for food items and different brands, I've been pretty lucky finding most things I want. Of course I always bring back my HFCS free salad dressing, Shreddies, chips & wine gums from home, but got so lucky with Wegmans (sorry Krikit). They have a large import section and sell so much stuff from home, it makes me happy to shop there!

[Krikit 1,165]

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Ack - they are remodelling our Giant Gorcey store and it pisses me off - i just finally knew where everything was - as misplaced as it was.....and not they're IMPROVING it?

So now they've moved bread in the same aisle across from Lunch meat - cuz everybody knows if I'm buying lunch meat, i must need bread for my sandwich, right?? We have an olive bar now - yipee, very metro sexual for Centreville VA, and I do love olives...but I ain't buying them when I've seen little kids run up, hang on the edge and sneeze on them

Anywho - grocery store = stupid some days