Leaving the US today, :(

[Gemmie 142]

I still get nauseous when we go near the airport. That feeling of saying goodbye is the worst. We often spent 4-6 weeks together at a time, the longest we lived together was 2 months. He would have such a job trying to stay positive with me moping around.. and airport staff started recognizing us.

Strangely, I hated counting down in days. Hearing "90 days" seemed toooooo far. I found it easier to count in weeks as I had a set routine going (classes in day, Tuesday nights with my girls, Saturday nights out, etc) and time seemed quicker when thinking of it as "9 weeks".

[Andy and Kayla 45]

Wow, I'm really touched by all the replies. It was definitely hard but I'm safely back in Ontario now, and waiting til the end of March (which is our next target visit week)

Things are ALWAYS much better when you have a date to look forward to. Of course, my wife would always get annoyed when we'd talk each night and I'd say, "Twenty more days!" or somesuch. Then again, she's probably getting annoyed NOW when I'm saying, "Fifteen more days!" regarding my interview date.

Hehe, like a couple other people have also said, we totally do this too. I dunno about you guys but when we're talking and the clock hits midnight, we'll cheer and drop the number down. It's so dorky, but it makes us happy.

I know how you feel.

Before I moved here I visited my husband for 12 weeks to see if we can actually live together without having many problems. That was really hard to come home from.

That was a big part of what we were trying to do, too. We're very lucky to be able to visit for so long and to only be about 800 miles apart (some on here are much more than that, even between US and Canada). We both have flexible jobs and so while it definitely doesn't make the departures any easier, it is comforting to know that we could see each other much less.

Just curious, where in NC does Andy live? My husband lived there when we first met. It's a great state, I want to go back and visit sooner rather than later!

Near Charlotte - I really liked it there, it is a beautiful area.

I've said it a few times in various threads, but I'll say it again: if a couple's relationship can survive while being mostly apart during the long immigration process, it's a sign that you can face virtually any hardship together. I'd love to see statistics of spousal immigration marriage success rates versus regular, domestic marriage success rates. If the national average hovers around 50%, I'd be willing to bet that spousal immigration marriage success rates would be closer to 80%.

Totally. It really puts the relationship to the test early on and this is actually something we've talked about and found some comfort in - at least we'll be stronger as a couple in the end than we might have been if we were close.

it's always hard to separate..even though i would promise david i wouldn't cry i would every time i had to stop looking at him at the airport

I definitely know what you mean. I'm a big baby, too, the day before I left we could just mention the airport and I'd tear up - so you can imagine how well we held up at the airport. Hee.

[antda 13]

Hi Andy and Kayla,

Aww..Sorry to hear that you had to leave the US..

Don't worry...Your next visit will be sooner than you think!

Before you know it, this immigration process will be in the past....

And someday you'll be saying..."I'm leaving Canada today", instead....lol....

In the meantime, treasure each and every moment of your long distance relationship...

Keep in touch with your significant other..

And remember: Distance makes the heart grow fonder!

(funny...now I'm starting to miss our 'long distance' days....lol....it was sure a different aspect our relationship...lol..)

Good luck with the rest of you journey too. And hope that you'll be back in the USA soon!

Ant

P.S. Cool that you will live in the Charlotte area.....(I have relatives there...)...beautiful indeed!

Lol..Famous for NASCAR too...Lowe's Speedway, anyone?

Silly questions...Is it snowing in Charlotte? (lol...I was stuck there last year during the 'snowstorm'....What a laugh that they shut the entire city down for a mere 2-3 inches of snow!).......

By the way, which part of Ontario are you from? (I used to be from Ontario too)

Edited February 19, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[lilacvioletiris 11]

Hehe, like a couple other people have also said, we totally do this too. I dunno about you guys but when we're talking and the clock hits midnight, we'll cheer and drop the number down. It's so dorky, but it makes us happy.

My fiance' and I totally do this too. He even gets so exact as to say how many hours once the week of our visit comes. I think it is cute. I totally LOVE it that we want to spend the time together and can't wait for the next time we visit.

[Andy and Kayla 45]

Hi Andy and Kayla,

Aww..Sorry to hear that you had to leave the US..

Don't worry...Your next visit will be sooner than you think!

Before you know it, this immigration process will be in the past....

And someday you'll be saying..."I'm leaving Canada today", instead....lol....

In the meantime, treasure each and every moment of your long distance relationship...

Keep in touch with your significant other..

And remember: Distance makes the heart grow fonder!

(funny...now I'm starting to miss our 'long distance' days....lol....it was sure a different aspect our relationship...lol..)

Good luck with the rest of you journey too. And hope that you'll be back in the USA soon!

Ant

P.S. Cool that you will live in the Charlotte area.....(I have relatives there...)...beautiful indeed!

Lol..Famous for NASCAR too...Lowe's Speedway, anyone?

Silly questions...Is it snowing in Charlotte? (lol...I was stuck there last year during the 'snowstorm'....What a laugh that they shut the entire city down for a mere 2-3 inches of snow!).......

By the way, which part of Ontario are you from? (I used to be from Ontario too)

Thanks Ant, We know it'll all be behind us one day, it's definitely a big help to think about everything to come.

While I was there, it snowed twice, once where it stayed and was icy the next couple days and the other time, the day the Olympics started, and it snowed a bit then but it was gone the next day. Yesterday it was a bit chilly but sunny and I think next week it's supposed to be back up in the 50s (go figure ).

And I'm originally from Brantford, but I'm now in Cambridge which is about 30-40 minutes from there and about an hour or so from Toronto. Whereabouts did you live?

My fiance' and I totally do this too. He even gets so exact as to say how many hours once the week of our visit comes. I think it is cute. I totally LOVE it that we want to spend the time together and can't wait for the next time we visit.

Well at least it isn't just us,

[antda 13]

Thanks Ant, We know it'll all be behind us one day, it's definitely a big help to think about everything to come.

While I was there, it snowed twice, once where it stayed and was icy the next couple days and the other time, the day the Olympics started, and it snowed a bit then but it was gone the next day. Yesterday it was a bit chilly but sunny and I think next week it's supposed to be back up in the 50s (go figure ).

And I'm originally from Brantford, but I'm now in Cambridge which is about 30-40 minutes from there and about an hour or so from Toronto. Whereabouts did you live?

AndyandKayla-Don't worry...It will be behind you someday...Then you'll be wishing to be long-distance again...(just kidding...but yeah..I miss those online chats that me and my husband used to have back in our old long-distance days for about six years or so...lol...)

Good to hear that it snowed in NC...lol..'feels like home in Canada' with all that snow, doesn't it? Did they shut the city down this time again?

I'm originally from Toronto...But I've heard of Brantford and Cambridge before...

Lol...The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Cambridge...African Lion Safari...(lol..sorry..those cheesy commercials with the lion.....)

But yeah..Brantford and Cambridge...It's a nice place to live/visit...

Nevertheless..Enjoy your long-distance days...And most importantly of all: Enjoy every moment of your relationship! The near, far, and everything else in between....

Ant

Edited February 19, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[Pauley 2]

Lol...The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Cambridge...African Lion Safari...(lol..sorry..those cheesy commercials with the lion.....)

I remember those commercials! They'd be on all the time on Buffalo broadcast TV, before 1) my parents got satellite and 2) I moved to Rochester.

[JlovesA 109]

And I'm originally from Brantford, but I'm now in Cambridge

Former Sarnian here...it amuses me that so many people here are from southern Ontario but it makes sense considering the proximity to the USA, I guess.

[antda 13]

I remember those commercials! They'd be on all the time on Buffalo broadcast TV, before 1) my parents got satellite and 2) I moved to Rochester.

Pauley-Lol....I still see them (lol..I get Buffalo tv...)...Guess I can't get away from the lion! He follows me everywhere I go....Canada and the USA!

Lol...Funny too...as a child, I went to African Lion Safari...Gotta love the monkeys jumping on the car!

Hmm...Maybe I should take my son up there someday.....Should be a fun road trip!

African Lion Safari....Between Hamilton and Cambridge.....Roar!

Lol..Btw..Speaking of cheesy animal commercials....Anyone else seen the Marineland commercials...

Those whales, bolugas (sp), deer, and other creatures follow me everywhere I go too...Canada and the USA!

In Niagara Falls Ontario...Marineland is the place to go.....

Hmm...Maybe I should take my son up there someday.....Should be a fun road trip!

Former Sarnian here...it amuses me that so many people here are from southern Ontario but it makes sense considering the proximity to the USA, I guess.

JlovesA-Yup..."So close and so far...." No surprise really.....Too bad there is the border and the USCIS to deal with in between all of this...

Nice to meet another person from Ontario!

Ant

Edited February 19, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[Andy and Kayla 45]

AndyandKayla-Don't worry...It will be behind you someday...Then you'll be wishing to be long-distance again...(just kidding...but yeah..I miss those online chats that me and my husband used to have back in our old long-distance days for about six years or so...lol...)

Good to hear that it snowed in NC...lol..'feels like home in Canada' with all that snow, doesn't it? Did they shut the city down this time again?

I'm originally from Toronto...But I've heard of Brantford and Cambridge before...

Lol...The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Cambridge...African Lion Safari...(lol..sorry..those cheesy commercials with the lion.....)

But yeah..Brantford and Cambridge...It's a nice place to live/visit...

Nevertheless..Enjoy your long-distance days...And most importantly of all: Enjoy every moment of your relationship! The near, far, and everything else in between....

Ant

LOL, those commercials are pretty cheese, even though I thought ALS was pretty cool when I went as a kid.

And yeah, between that and Celine Dion's song That's the Way It Is coming on the Georgia mall I went to, it was almost like home. We didn't go out much the first day after the first storm, but it snowed on Friday and we tried to go out for dinner Sunday and grab a movie from Blockbuster and Blockbuster closed early along with every restaurant we could find - we ended up just hitting Wal-Mart and making our own dinner (which was awesome anyway) but yeah, Andy said that they closed down a lot with that kind of weather but it was weird for me, as a Canadian He's a little more used to it than a lot of people in the area because he was in PA as a kid and he did some pretty intense driving through Buffalo during a storm after the holidays, though, so that's good.

[antda 13]

LOL, those commercials are pretty cheese, even though I thought ALS was pretty cool when I went as a kid.

And yeah, between that and Celine Dion's song That's the Way It Is coming on the Georgia mall I went to, it was almost like home. We didn't go out much the first day after the first storm, but it snowed on Friday and we tried to go out for dinner Sunday and grab a movie from Blockbuster and Blockbuster closed early along with every restaurant we could find - we ended up just hitting Wal-Mart and making our own dinner (which was awesome anyway) but yeah, Andy said that they closed down a lot with that kind of weather but it was weird for me, as a Canadian He's a little more used to it than a lot of people in the area because he was in PA as a kid and he did some pretty intense driving through Buffalo during a storm after the holidays, though, so that's good.

AndyandKayla-Lol...I thought the commercials were cheesy too..But to any kid...African Lion Safari is pretty cool! Lucky that you got to go as a kid too...Since you live so close by! I hope to take my kid there someday too....I can't believe the place is still there, after so many years! I remember going as a kid...and now I want to take my kid...Wow...Can't wait to see those monkeys jumping on the car again!

"Thats the way it is...Don't give up on your faith...Love comes to those who believe it.....And that's the way it is" (sorry..I'm a Celine Dion fan too..What Canadian isn't..lol...now I have that song in my head.... )...I agree, That's the Way it Is! Don't give up! Your journey will be over before you know it, and you'll be reunited with your loved one before you know it....

Aww..Thats too bad that you didn't go out on Sunday for Valentine's Day...But nevertheless, homemade dinners are fun too. If it makes you feel any better, those were pretty much my plans this year too...Too much snow and bad weather for us to go out...(lol..and we couldn't find a babysitter). Homemade Wal-Mart dinner with some extra treats here too....Nevertheless, it was fun....Personally, I think homemade dinners are jsut as good (if not better) than going out...More personalized..and more time and care put to things...You know what I mean?

And the most important thing of all..Is that you spent time together with your significant other..And that's all that matters, regardless of what you do..

I know what you mean about the snow thing too....It felt weird for us too....coming from Canada and Western NYS...Where we get a lot of snow...

And there they complain about getting just a mere few inches....lol....

Thought it was funny too..When I went in the "snowstorm"...some local NCer asked..."Are you going to to be ok driving up the hill in the snow?"

We then had to remind them that we were from NYS and Canada.....lol......

Good for the kids in NC though..they get a snow day for a mere few inches...But try getting anything done there when it snows...forget about it...

Oh yeah...Sure a transition to go from Canada/NYS weather to NC weather......Nevertheless..expect the ocassional snowstrom from time to time...

And be prepared for a good laugh when the city shuts down again!

Either way, glad that you enjoyed your visit here in the USA..."snowstorms in Charlotte" and all.....

Definitely makes you feel more like "Canada/home" when it snows there, indeed!

Ant

Edited February 20, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[Andy and Kayla 45]

AndyandKayla-Lol...I thought the commercials were cheesy too..But to any kid...African Lion Safari is pretty cool! Lucky that you got to go as a kid too...Since you live so close by! I hope to take my kid there someday too....I can't believe the place is still there, after so many years! I remember going as a kid...and now I want to take my kid...Wow...Can't wait to see those monkeys jumping on the car again!

"Thats the way it is...Don't give up on your faith...Love comes to those who believe it.....And that's the way it is" (sorry..I'm a Celine Dion fan too..What Canadian isn't..lol...now I have that song in my head.... )...I agree, That's the Way it Is! Don't give up! Your journey will be over before you know it, and you'll be reunited with your loved one before you know it....

Aww..Thats too bad that you didn't go out on Sunday for Valentine's Day...But nevertheless, homemade dinners are fun too. If it makes you feel any better, those were pretty much my plans this year too...Too much snow and bad weather for us to go out...(lol..and we couldn't find a babysitter). Homemade Wal-Mart dinner with some extra treats here too....Nevertheless, it was fun....Personally, I think homemade dinners are jsut as good (if not better) than going out...More personalized..and more time and care put to things...You know what I mean?

And the most important thing of all..Is that you spent time together with your significant other..And that's all that matters, regardless of what you do..

I know what you mean about the snow thing too....It felt weird for us too....coming from Canada and Western NYS...Where we get a lot of snow...

And there they complain about getting just a mere few inches....lol....

Thought it was funny too..When I went in the "snowstorm"...some local NCer asked..."Are you going to to be ok driving up the hill in the snow?"

We then had to remind them that we were from NYS and Canada.....lol......

Good for the kids in NC though..they get a snow day for a mere few inches...But try getting anything done there when it snows...forget about it...

Oh yeah...Sure a transition to go from Canada/NYS weather to NC weather......Nevertheless..expect the ocassional snowstrom from time to time...

And be prepared for a good laugh when the city shuts down again!

Either way, glad that you enjoyed your visit here in the USA..."snowstorms in Charlotte" and all.....

Definitely makes you feel more like "Canada/home" when it snows there, indeed!

Ant

You know, that song was me and my stepsister's favourite song for about a year and a half when it came out, and I still know it by heart, and I have never made that connection with the lyrics before. That's pretty awesome!

Luckily, the Sunday with the snow wasn't Valentine's Day, though we did stay in Valentine's Day (steaks, asparagus and roasted potatoes with spinach - it was AWESOME - and homemade raspberry white chocolate cheesecake and wine later - which was also AWESOME) though we did go to a nice dinner the week before Valentine's Day because it gets so busy around that area on weekends, we knew Valentine's Day would be nuts.

And it definitely does, I'm kind of a wuss, I like the warm weather, but I'm sure once I'm down there all the time I'll miss Canadian snow a little bit. We'll still visit my family though so I'll get my fix (for Timmies, too).