MAY 2010

[ValerieA 350]

Same here!! I never had any thoughts or wishes about living in the US, visiting, Yes, but living here, Never!! I'm actually trying to convince my hubby to move to Europe, even Canada actually. The south just gets the best of me sometimes, and I do appreciate free health care and all the other perks you get in a "socialist" country.

Yeah, and they really don't understand universal health care here - I understand there is a cost to it, taxes are fairly high in Canada, but I don't mind paying a little bit more so those who are less fortunate than me can be healthy, too. And being able to just walk into a doctor and get taken care of, with no hassle or BS, is so liberating. No worries about having the co-pay (if you have health insurance) and if the doctor is in-service or whatever they call it. I wish Obama would have taken a hard line and gotten a real health care reform through. I don't understand all the ins and outs of what he got in, but the fine for not having insurance troubles me.

Hubby and I are going to re-evaluate in a few years, when his kids are older. We may move to Canada. He loved TO just as much as I did when he visited me there. But, he has never been there during winter, and he whines when it gets cold here in Houston. We are going to SK in November for my parents' 50th anniversary, so that will be his first experience of cold - should be about -15C (so still not bad) with snow.

Yea not sure if they did anything it was about three weeks since I've called. However today my father in law will call on my behalf. He's a police captain here in kansas city and he knows this congressman. Let's really hope this works.

Yes, use any and all connections possible! I'm guessing this will REALLY work!

[hoppla 1]

Yeah, and they really don't understand universal health care here - I understand there is a cost to it, taxes are fairly high in Canada, but I don't mind paying a little bit more so those who are less fortunate than me can be healthy, too. And being able to just walk into a doctor and get taken care of, with no hassle or BS, is so liberating. No worries about having the co-pay (if you have health insurance) and if the doctor is in-service or whatever they call it. I wish Obama would have taken a hard line and gotten a real health care reform through. I don't understand all the ins and outs of what he got in, but the fine for not having insurance troubles me.

Hubby and I are going to re-evaluate in a few years, when his kids are older. We may move to Canada. He loved TO just as much as I did when he visited me there. But, he has never been there during winter, and he whines when it gets cold here in Houston. We are going to SK in November for my parents' 50th anniversary, so that will be his first experience of cold - should be about -15C (so still not bad) wit

Oh, don't get me started! I agree Obama should have been harder on getting the actual governmental health care. I pay more taxes in Sweden, but the difference is non-existent if you compare it to what you get for it.

We will re-evaluate as well when we have kids, I do NOT want my kids to go to school here. He is the same as your hubby though, Texas winter is as cold as he can go. We are going to visit Sweden first thing when I get my GC, during the summer the first time

[ValerieA 350]

Oh, don't get me started! I agree Obama should have been harder on getting the actual governmental health care. I pay more taxes in Sweden, but the difference is non-existent if you compare it to what you get for it.

We will re-evaluate as well when we have kids, I do NOT want my kids to go to school here. He is the same as your hubby though, Texas winter is as cold as he can go. We are going to visit Sweden first thing when I get my GC, during the summer the first time

I want to visit Sweden. One of my uncles went there and I think he found out where our family's farm and everything was. I'd kinda like to do the same thing. But yes, in summer. I worry that my blood is going to thin too much living here. I ended up refusing to go back to SK after September when I lived in TO because it was just too darned cold. But, I can adapt pretty quickly, I think, if I went back.

The schools here are scary. I don't think they were much better in Toronto, though. If I had my druthers, I would raise any of my hypothetical children in the same small town in SK that I grew up in. A great education, albeit limited in that they can only offer core classes because there were only 192 kids from K-12 (I have heard that there are only 100 now). And they can have a lot more freedom in a small town.

[hoppla 1]

I want to visit Sweden. One of my uncles went there and I think he found out where our family's farm and everything was. I'd kinda like to do the same thing. But yes, in summer. I worry that my blood is going to thin too much living here. I ended up refusing to go back to SK after September when I lived in TO because it was just too darned cold. But, I can adapt pretty quickly, I think, if I went back.

The schools here are scary. I don't think they were much better in Toronto, though. If I had my druthers, I would raise any of my hypothetical children in the same small town in SK that I grew up in. A great education, albeit limited in that they can only offer core classes because there were only 192 kids from K-12 (I have heard that there are only 100 now). And they can have a lot more freedom in a small town.

Sweden is beautiful, I love it!! I do think that I'm forgetting about things I didn't like when living there (like the long winters) but overall I'd prefer living in Sweden, or at least Europe. My hubby is a true Texan though and has never lived abroad, so we have to take baby steps

Schools in Sweden are not perfect but so much better than here, and they are free including university. Also, there is free healthy school food til 12th grade. I would also like to raise my kids in a small town, where they can have freedom, feel secure and play outside.

Edited June 29, 2010 by hoppla

[Leigh Ann 8]

Haha! I get the same thing...but you're from Sweden (the times when they actually get it right and don't confuse it with Switzerland...I warn you, never make that mistake!!)!!!!! I've stopped explaining it to people.

Oh dear. Sometimes I'm embarrassed on behalf of my fellow Americans.

We keep getting asked if my husband has found a job yet, and I get so frustrated b/c he's dying to work - but can't - and people just don't really get that at all. So now they think he's lazy, which he's not.

[ValerieA 350]

Oh dear. Sometimes I'm embarrassed on behalf of my fellow Americans.

We keep getting asked if my husband has found a job yet, and I get so frustrated b/c he's dying to work - but can't - and people just don't really get that at all. So now they think he's lazy, which he's not.

People are making all sorts of stupid assumptions, aren't they? Just because they don't understand the process, and refuse to believe it takes this long.

[engineer21 51]

ha! It's not just people here. My mom thought that it would only take a month! My brother set the date to his wedding less than 2 months after mine, so I couldn't go. They didn't seem to understand that even if I sent my AOS the day after our wedding I still wouldn't have my GC now!!

[ValerieA 350]

And really, this process is nothing. From NOA1 to interview, it will only be 76 days for me, so 2.5 months. I started in Oct with the CR-1 process, and spent 4 months waiting just for my NOA2. That whole process tends to take 9 months for a Canadian. Absolutely insane.

[besaangel 18]

I agree with NOT wanting our kids to go to school here. Its a hard decision because my parents sacrificed our residency all in the name of proper education. She sent my brother and I back to Jamaica for junior and high school which made a big difference. I finished at 16 yrs old and of course when I came back here, was told I was "too young". Aside from that, when I did start college, I got exempt from a lot of classes and made even advanced Biology classes a breeze; all because I got one of the best core education.

If my kids aren't going home for school, I might get them in private school, christian education or home school (ma mom's a teacher so that's great)

[engineer21 51]

And really, this process is nothing. From NOA1 to interview, it will only be 76 days for me, so 2.5 months. I started in Oct with the CR-1 process, and spent 4 months waiting just for my NOA2. That whole process tends to take 9 months for a Canadian. Absolutely insane.

Wait.. if you did the CR-1 process you don't need to AOS do you? Or did you abandon the CR-1 midway?

Oh nevermind.. just read your timeline in your signature..

Edited June 29, 2010 by engineer21

[ValerieA 350]

I'd do home school, but I am too impatient. I'd rather save my battles for "Do your homework! Clean your room! Don't do THAT to the cat!" but private school is very expensive here. I'm thinking the little buggers are screwed.

[ValerieA 350]

Wait.. if you did the CR-1 process you don't need to AOS do you? Or did you abandon the CR-1 midway?

I had to abandon it because I needed a criminal record check from Canada (only had the police certificate) and that was going to mean probably 9 months without hubby. Before I actually came here, I figured I would be able to do a few months without him. When actually faced with a 9-month separation, we couldn't handle it. Especially since we are trying to get pregnant and I am old, so I don't have much time. (41).

[engineer21 51]

Don't do THAT to the cat!

[ValerieA 350]

Hey, my cats are already traumatized enough by me. They will need some serious protection from our children.

The other night, there was a stray cat sleeping on one of the chairs in a common area, right below our apartment. Hubby and I were outside, looking down at him. Hubby looks at me and says "Bet I can spit on him". Next 5 minutes ended up being a "spit on the cat" contest. Hubby won.

We really shouldn't have children.

[engineer21 51]

Hey, my cats are already traumatized enough by me. They will need some serious protection from our children.

The other night, there was a stray cat sleeping on one of the chairs in a common area, right below our apartment. Hubby and I were outside, looking down at him. Hubby looks at me and says "Bet I can spit on him". Next 5 minutes ended up being a "spit on the cat" contest. Hubby won.

We really shouldn't have children.

Bwahahah!! too funny! Nah, I think thats all the more reason to have kids.

You have to be in touch with your inner child to raise one

Too many parents seems to have forgotten they were once children too (Ahem, like my mother..)