Anyone feel like they've made a huge mistake?

[OBX 51]

Word!

and Peachy, I hear you on the conservative thing -- I suppose it'd be like living in a small soccer mom kind of area in Ontario? I dunno, it's not so much which country I'm living in, it's a comparison between living in the city and living in small towns-ville. Don't get me wrong, i totally dig it and I'm close enough to the cities that I can get my fix but it sure does take some time getting used to. I feel like an animal in a zoo sometimes.

lgg I am experiencing something similar but in reverse. I'm not sure if it is really the move to the US from Canada that has been so difficult; rather it's moving from a town of less than 50,000 to central NJ where every city city blends into the next. I find all of the cars and people suffocating.

That being said Kathryn's original post resonates with me. There is something here in NJ that I can't put my finger on that just doesn't feel right.

Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories; good days or bad it's comforting to know the support is there.

Edited July 31, 2010 by OBX

[Galateia 1]

Agreed, please take the defensiveness elsewhere.

I started this thread because I am miserable here, not to get into a debate about whether or not the US is really as bad as I think it is. I understand why people get upset when their home is criticized, but a thread about whether coming here was a "HUGE MISTAKE" is *not* a thread for those who take said criticism personally.

In the OP, I said I hate it here, and I do. It is not homesickness for me, it is an acute dislike of where I am. Quoting crime stats is not going to change my FEELINGS, and this what this thread is about, FEELINGS. Therefore, we should be fee to express our feelings without having to DEFEND them. If I need to vent about the negative aspects of this country that causing me distress, I should be free to do so without getting censured by offended Americans.

I have "AMURKIA *bleep* YEAH!" shoved down my throat every day living here in Texas, and other than my spouse, there are few shoulders I can cry on because everyone here is rabidly pro-America on everything, even things I consider abhorrent. What's is there to cry about when you live in the AWESOMEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD! *shoots gun into the air*

[CanTex 1]

I think I have a funny/weird thing about being an alien/foreigner. I was just asked last week if Canada was not part of the

northern states in the USA, lol. So although some people never read about, travel from their homes except to the corner store,

some people just accept that you are here from "somewhere else". As the saying goes here in South Texas "I'm not from here, but

got here as fast as I could". People are nice or indifferent all over North America. I grew up in New Brunswick then lived in

Alberta for 35 years. I always refer to New Brunswick as "home". Now that I am here in Texas and I am asked "where ya'll come from"

I say east to west in Canada. Then the questions start and some people are really interested, mostly in the weather. How'd ya'll

deal with all that cold up yonder. lol. I love it!!! I love the heat here, I love the Hispanic/African American/Causcasian pool

of people. We all learn from each other, because as we all know that whether we are from Canada or the United States, if we look

far enough into our heritage most of us come from somewhere else. So try to enjoy each other's stories and try not to be defensive.

We say sment, they say ceeeeeement(concrete we have come to an alternative word). We say decals they say decales. We use the washroom - well that's where they do their laundry,and have restrooms to relieve themselves. We have so much fun in each other's sayings that we can't wait for the next get-to-gether to learn more, tease more and in the end just enjoy meeting new people from outside of our circles.

Oh and the females in my family want a man from the South, "Yes Mam, No Sir". Opening car doors, pulling out your chair and just being

a gentleman in general. I could rent my wonderful husband for Manners 101 to my sisters/sister-in-law anytime he would like to be there.

[Cdnwmn 0]

I'm on my way back in October after 8 years here. I won't get into it and will leave it at that.

[iPOTS 0]

I'm an American and I don't find anything in this thread offensive. I lived with my wife in Canada for a couple of years before we moved back down here so I know how hard it is to leave your home behind. It's also natural to compare where we are to where we were.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

lgg I am experiencing something similar but in reverse. I'm not sure if it is really the move to the US from Canada that has been so difficult; rather it's moving from a town of less than 50,000 to central NJ where every city city blends into the next. I find all of the cars and people suffocating.

I can definitely understand that. Moving from Welland to Denver was a big transition. We can almost fit the entire population of Welland in the Rockies baseball stadium Pretty interesting to look around and realize that this is what Welland would look like if we put everyone together!

Fortunately the suffocation thing went away for me, or at least became manageable. The nice thing about living here is that seclusion is just a short drive away. When city life gets to you, just take the car and drive up into the mountains.

[Cdnwmn 0]

Hugglebuggles you are from Welland? I'm from Niagara Falls.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Hugglebuggles you are from Welland? I'm from Niagara Falls.

And I lived in St. Catharines for 7 years before moving to Chatham .

[Cdnwmn 0]

I lived in Niagara Falls for 20 years, St. Catharines for 21, then Hamilton for 2 1/2 years. I'm going back to St. Catharines.

[ashenflowers 5]

And I lived in St. Catharines for 7 years before moving to Chatham .

And I lived 25 mins from Chatham before moving to London!

the hip bone's connected to the leg bone...

[Cdnwmn 0]

Lol. I'd like to eventually head up north...I think.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Hugglebuggles you are from Welland? I'm from Niagara Falls.

Yep! OBX and I are both from Welland.

And I went to Brock in St. Catharines

[ashenflowers 5]

Yep! OBX and I are both from Welland.

And I went to Brock in St. Catharines

My husband went to Brock!

the neck bones connected to the shoulder bone

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I'm an American and I don't find anything in this thread offensive. I lived with my wife in Canada for a couple of years before we moved back down here so I know how hard it is to leave your home behind. It's also natural to compare where we are to where we were.

Nicely put and thanks for the understanding words!

[CDAgirlMI 51]

I've been reading this thread since it started, not sure if I should add my piece...but I will.

I moved from Ontario to Michigan. Not a huge move mile-wise, but a huge move indeed. I've been here for just over 7 months. In my first few months I had some bad days (pretty much as you all have described & missing home). I would tell my fiance/husband why I was feeling sad. I couldn't keep those feelings inside for 2 reasons. 1. I'm BAD at hiding my feelings when I'm sad. 2. I wanted him to know. He is a great comforter.

But as the months went on, I started looking towards what was coming...AOS (couldn't wait to visit Canada), job searching, ordered a new car, weekend road trips with my husband. I still miss home & really think about it somedays (last week I went shopping for a new dress & got sad in the store thinking how it sucked doing that alone & how I would love for my best friend or mom to be there with me). But I can honestly say I'm happy.

I want to share something that happened just last night. My husband & I went to a wedding. The people I knew there were just aquaintances, so I didn't know if I would find the time long doing the small talk. BUT...I found out one of the guys that work with my husband's fiancee was Canadian & lived in Toronto! OMG...this would sound so lame to some people, but I felt (this stranger) comforting! She & I talked most of the night together & shared the same stories (getting lost in Detroit on our first visits to our boyfriends had us laughing!!). As well, a guy that works with my husband is also Canadian & talking about random stuff was awesome. Who knew you could feel so good from some strangers???

Btw, speaking of hook-ups...any Canadian Michiganders out there who wanna get together, I'm up for that!