How well do you communicate with your spouse

[misterbigtoe 45]

Already exchanged 3 text messages and met on G-mail video/voice messenger for 15 minutes before my wife and son went to bed. Can't start our days without wishing sweet dreams to our mate.

If you are using video / voice (skype, yahoo messenger, aim, g-mail), which do you use? We prefer Yahoo as it is a little more fun with all the audibles and photo/file sharing capabilities. but ususally use G-mail because her slow internet connection results in halting video,freezeups and dsconnects too frequently with Yahoo. Those fun little gadgets slow things down sometimes.

How much do you think you spend monthly on communication while separated awaiting reunion? I think we are 300$+........... that is just a tiny part of the real financial cost all of us bear for this cumbersome process.

[truebrit 4]

Already exchanged 3 text messages and met on G-mail video/voice messenger for 15 minutes before my wife and son went to bed. Can't start our days without wishing sweet dreams to our mate.

If you are using video / voice (skype, yahoo messenger, aim, g-mail), which do you use? We prefer Yahoo as it is a little more fun with all the audibles and photo/file sharing capabilities. but ususally use G-mail because her slow internet connection results in halting video,freezeups and dsconnects too frequently with Yahoo. Those fun little gadgets slow things down sometimes.

How much do you think you spend monthly on communication while separated awaiting reunion? I think we are 300........... that is just a tiny part of the real financial cost all of us bear for this cumbersome process.

we use 'OOVOO' as we found lots of problems recently with 'MSN' we also email.

hubby is on 'ATT' with his phone and i send texts through email directly to his phone...kinda cool that!

i have '02' package on my phone which allows (for ten pounds a month) 3000 mins to 3 favourite international numbers...i call him at every bus terminus i stand at, at least 15 times a day.

i have 'orange' for my ISP and they also have an international phone package.

we also have a few webcams connected around our properties so we can see each other arrive and leave for work etc....we have done this for years...since 2004....i can also view his cams on my phone, if i choose....but 'orange' are not really keen on this.

we are connected 24/7 to each other.

my hubby also has his truck rigged with cameras, but he has yet to find a provider who will allow him to broadcast live...that would be sooooo cool!!

both of us are true GEEKS!!

Edited December 5, 2010 by truebrit

[jandk 6]

Skype all the way, your able to use skype mobile so its pretty convenient.

[misterbigtoe 45]

we are connected 24/7 to each other.

my hubby also has his truck rigged with cameras, but he has yet to find a provider who will allow him to broadcast live...that would be sooooo cool!!

both of us are true GEEKS!!

WOW, kinda cool with the webcams.

Best deal I have found on the voice/text combo for us is that I have ATT 600 minutes per month with rollover units and free calling to my 5 favorite numbers. International access number is one of my 5 and I use Nobel prepaid for international access. I also buy 100 text for 10 bucks and then have a reduced rate for the remainder of my outgoings. Voice rates to Mongolia are terrible.........as high as 3 bucks per minute direct dialing and over a buck for most direct dial international plans. So I use a prepaid that gets me to around a dime a minute.

I also maintain a Mongolian cell number with international text roaming on the same system(Mobicom) with my wife. This means she can text me for a few pennies, I can receive for free and she can ring my phone as long as it is active so I can return her call

[Brandi n Michael 8]

When we were apart we used Skype (very little yahoo) and also blackberry messenger as it didn't cost us anything but it isn't provable communication as far as I know. We both had free long distance with our plans so a maximum of $20 because I added an international text thingy to my Rogers plan. We also emailed a lot. To prove relationship communication every month we would print the skype log, and our phone bills and print off emails (not the very personal ones but the day to day things)

Brandi

[Ribs & Beans 19]

We use gmail chat--I prefer it because it includes free voice/video (like Skype), but it also archives our chat conversations (easy to print out later for the interview). It also keeps me from having to open up a separate program; I just open my email.

For phone, we use Rebtel. I created an account, entered his number, and they give me a local (to me) number to dial to reach him. Now I pay Rebtel 7 cents a minute, instead of 25 cents a minute to T-Mobile.

[Robert87 2]

I and my fiancee are 24/7 connected since we both have yahoo messenger capable phones. we talk alot on facebook and gmail.. we have tried skype, but we are more comfortale with gmail. I bought a magic jack that allows me to call her anytime for free within 1 year from subscription. isnt that cool?

[pushbrk 12,876]

I answered in the past tense, since my wife has been in the USA several years already. We have a niece coming on an F1 to live with us and I got her a new 4G MyTouch from T-Mobile. Since it has both forward and rear facing cameras and WIFI, (or 4g from wherever it's available) she'll be able to video conference with her parents and friends directly from the phone. Doesn't the latest or next I-Phone have the same capability?

My wife and I used Yahoo messenger back in the day. Personally, I don't care for Skype because it the installation takes control of any phone number it sees on my computer screen often making them unreadable or difficult to copy and paste to my address book when needed.

[Skye_Cohen 1]

great topic!

no cheap fast internet in my wifes locale so phone, i have T-moble with my fav's that means 5 free numbers, one is an LA area code intl. access number from smartvoip i buy credits with them and it costs me 3.5 euro cents per min to a landline or 5.5 to a cell. She then uses a type of cell phone called Flexi which has a landline style phone number to get the cheaper rate.

for texting T-mobile just came out with a free text intl. plan, great for me but that "Flexi" phone i mentioned earlier is really expensive for texting so she uses a different cell phone for texting me as well as for local calls (XL for any indonesians out there).

Also for her to call me she uses that XL phone but dials(special for XL) 010001 then my area code and phone number giving her cheaper intl rates!

[coraliesolms 47]

Skype skype and more skype!! I could move my laptop around and my hubby and I chatted while I did laundry...cooked...watched the oscars.. it was like having him there with me all the time. (Except of course for the cuddles... missed those alot!)

[truebrit 4]

(Except of course for the cuddles... missed those alot!)

yup...i told him some news the other night and he said 'i am here for you, your not dealing with this on your own' my response was ' i am dealing on my own, because i am on my own here' ive never felt so alone.

nothing hurts more than when your feeling so down (not with this process) and you other half is 'visually' there...but not 'physically' there to hold you tight and say everything will be ok...

we have done this webchat thing for so long and only had a 'couple of years' physically together, it is hard...really hard now...the first time (pre K1) wasnt too bad, but niether of us realised, wanted (or were prepared) for this second time...knowing what we have together, as a couple...we have nothing apart...nothing 'physical', which matters a lot to me.

these past 18 months have been the hardest months of my life, i am married, for the first time in my life, and i am so far away from him...being a telephone call or web image away from my husband and family just isnt kicking it with me! but...we do what we do until such time as the US government decide our fate! <---((hmmm...my signature me thinks...lol))

i dread to think how either of us would cope if i got a denial from the consulate, and i really dont understand how they can be so cold in dishing out denials anyway!

[coraliesolms 47]

I know its tough... think though, since you guys have been married for so long.. you will get a 10 yr GC instead of a conditional one!! This means you wont have to deal with immigration again until you decide to naturalize.

Holding thumbs for a speedy process for you!

[jrmejia 31]

Hello VJers,

We spend an average of 2 to 4hrs daily (7 days at week) communicating. We use (YM with webCam, MSN, facebook, or email). Phone calls maybe 2 to 3 per week.

We don't chat more because of the time difference .

Note: My work and her work very demanding. Too many people walking in and out of my office I have to be careful while at work. When I am home it is her sleeping time. 9 hrs difference (between usa and dubai)

Edited December 6, 2010 by jrmejia

[FawkThisSite 13]

I answered in the past tense, since my wife has been in the USA several years already. We have a niece coming on an F1 to live with us and I got her a new 4G MyTouch from T-Mobile. Since it has both forward and rear facing cameras and WIFI, (or 4g from wherever it's available) she'll be able to video conference with her parents and friends directly from the phone. Doesn't the latest or next I-Phone have the same capability?

My wife and I used Yahoo messenger back in the day. Personally, I don't care for Skype because it the installation takes control of any phone number it sees on my computer screen often making them unreadable or difficult to copy and paste to my address book when needed.

I work for Verizon. Yes it does have that capability, ONLY through WIFI. Not through your carriers 3G OR 4G network. Common misconception. They fail to mention that in the commercials and while they are getting you to shell out hundreds of dollars. Would be nice to know up front that you are required to be at a WIFI spot, also that if the other end is using a similar phone, THAT person needs to be at a WIFI spot too. How many times during the day does that happen, unless you are at home at the same time.

I use Skype at home, at work, and I also have Skype Mobile on my Droid. ALWAYS connected.

I started talking to her at 7:30AM and JUST got off the Skype Video about five minutes ago. Can't wait until she is home.

[misterbigtoe 45]

yup...i told him some news the other night and he said 'i am here for you, your not dealing with this on your own' my response was ' i am dealing on my own, because i am on my own here' ive never felt so alone.

nothing hurts more than when your feeling so down (not with this process) and you other half is 'visually' there...but not 'physically' there to hold you tight and say everything will be ok...

we have done this webchat thing for so long and only had a 'couple of years' physically together, it is hard...really hard now...the first time (pre K1) wasnt too bad, but niether of us realised, wanted (or were prepared) for this second time...knowing what we have together, as a couple...we have nothing apart...nothing 'physical', which matters a lot to me.

these past 18 months have been the hardest months of my life, i am married, for the first time in my life, and i am so far away from him...being a telephone call or web image away from my husband and family just isnt kicking it with me! but...we do what we do until such time as the US government decide our fate! <---((hmmm...my signature me thinks...lol))

i dread to think how either of us would cope if i got a denial from the consulate, and i really dont understand how they can be so cold in dishing out denials anyway!