I wish I would have known...

[Krikit 1,165]

I was on a business trip to the Green Bay, Wisconsin area from Southern Ontario one time. The locals told me that it must be freezing up there in Canada and that I must be enjoying their nice weather. I told them "Actually, you're farther north than I am." They were stunned.

[Neoalissa 1]

I was on a business trip to the Green Bay, Wisconsin area from Southern Ontario one time. The locals told me that it must be freezing up there in Canada and that I must be enjoying their nice weather. I told them "Actually, you're farther north than I am." They were stunned.

lol Thats funny, I live in Southern Ontario and I told my fiance that He lives further north then me, He looked at me like I didnt know what i was talking about. Had to pull out a map and show him where North Dakota is and where I am haha. Is it true that they do not teach Americans about Canada? Maybe thats why they make up silly things like we all live in Igloos and have dog sled teams insted of cars..I have been asked about both.

[CanadaLove 16]

^ You can't forget about the snow ants. What? Never heard of snow ants? Well, the South has fire ants, the North has carpenter ants, and so Canada has snow ants. Clear things with red eyes. They're worse than the South American army ants - a large swarm can take down a moose in less than a minute! The migrations are the reason there are so many potholes in the streets.

I have gotten SO many people believing there's such a thing. I usually blow it by choking back a laugh, though. I need to work on my pa-pa-pa poker face!

And it's not so much that the American schools don't teach about Canada specifically (they don't, and I think that's sad, we should be learning about our geographical neighbors) but they don't teach geography. My sisters (3 and 6 years younger than I am respectively) can't tell you anything about US geography, much less world. I think the only reason I can is due to two things: my US puzzle map I would play with obsessively, and loving the PBS show Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Thank-you for clearing up the mystery of potholes.

Loved Carmen San Diego when my daughter was little...cool for kids (and maybe a few adults)

^ You can't forget about the snow ants. What? Never heard of snow ants? Well, the South has fire ants, the North has carpenter ants, and so Canada has snow ants. Clear things with red eyes. They're worse than the South American army ants - a large swarm can take down a moose in less than a minute! The migrations are the reason there are so many potholes in the streets.

I have gotten SO many people believing there's such a thing. I usually blow it by choking back a laugh, though. I need to work on my pa-pa-pa poker face!

And it's not so much that the American schools don't teach about Canada specifically (they don't, and I think that's sad, we should be learning about our geographical neighbors) but they don't teach geography. My sisters (3 and 6 years younger than I am respectively) can't tell you anything about US geography, much less world. I think the only reason I can is due to two things: my US puzzle map I would play with obsessively, and loving the PBS show Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?.

[Colleens 40]

Thank-you for clearing up the mystery of potholes.

Loved Carmen San Diego when my daughter was little...cool for kids (and maybe a few adults)

I remember watching that show when I started college...

[CanadaLove 16]

I remember watching that show when I started college...

I may or may not have the extended version of the theme song somewhere. I also had a sad when I found out the woman who played The Chief died (Lynne Thigpen a few years back, was very young IIRC).

[Jill & Jeff 3]

I may or may not have the extended version of the theme song somewhere. I also had a sad when I found out the woman who played The Chief died (Lynne Thigpen a few years back, was very young IIRC).

Oh wow, I had no idea that actress had died.

[teday 0]

Big hugs to you!

I will be moving ( once my visa arrives ) to Virginia as well.

I feel your pain. I have had to adjust to life in a new country in the past as well and sometimes I think the more subtle the cultural differences the harder it is to adjust. When you are expecting culture shock , you deal with it but when things seem to similar and yet not , it seems to take longer to adjust. Hang in there.

Moving cities is hard enough.......you've moved to a new country!!! Be proud of what you have done. It will take time but you will find where you belong ( work , play , friends ).

Take it all in, think of it all as a new adventure everyday - oh my I am sounding corny - sorry -

Thinking of you. Been there AND about to do it again.

Walk tall!

[Veronik 19]

Big hugs to you!

I will be moving ( once my visa arrives ) to Virginia as well.

I feel your pain. I have had to adjust to life in a new country in the past as well and sometimes I think the more subtle the cultural differences the harder it is to adjust. When you are expecting culture shock , you deal with it but when things seem to similar and yet not , it seems to take longer to adjust. Hang in there.

Moving cities is hard enough.......you've moved to a new country!!! Be proud of what you have done. It will take time but you will find where you belong ( work , play , friends ).

Take it all in, think of it all as a new adventure everyday - oh my I am sounding corny - sorry -

Thinking of you. Been there AND about to do it again.

Walk tall!

Thanks for the pep talk! Where about in Virginia are you moving to?

[teday 0]

I'll be in Harrisonburg. I think it is about 2 hours from Richmond.

[Sprailenes 47]

I wish I would have known a lot of things too. Before moving here the excitement of visits clouded my judgement... who knew it would be worse than real life because you start without a job, living off of what savings you have and going through heaps of paper work and learning to get around etc etc. It's the toughest thing I have ever had to endure.

Before I moved here, I really thought I'd get a great job and things would be perfect. When driving around we'd drive by a development every day and say "We're going to live there!"

Reality kicked in.

I moved here and we lived with my in-laws for a year - that wasn't easy.

Then it came time for me to work and I found myself working the front desk at a hotel - college degree and all checking people in to rooms- that wasn't easy either.

We wanted to save up for a house and not rent - but that didn't happen either - ended up renting for two years.

But we did what we had to do.

Eventually after working at the hotel - I was able to find a better job somewhere else. It took about 6 months but it happened.

Oh and that development we'd always look at... we bought a condo in there a year ago and live there now.

Things do turn around. But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do and it's not always going to be what you'd consider ideal, but things do turn around.

Living with in-laws though... if I could suggest anything to anyone - don't do it... even if in-laws are great it's an unnecessary strain on your marriage.

Edited June 1, 2011 by Sprailenes

[Moosker 7]

Sigh. I just got back from a lovely weekend at home for a wedding and loved every minute of it! I'm so thankful that I'm only about 9-10 hours away from home, a quick 50 minute flight. So many people are much farther, but I do wish I lived much closer! I don't necessarily have to live IN Canada, but I'd love to live much closer to my parents for sure.

Has anyone ever looked into a local Canadian group on meetup.com? I need to try it out one of these days....

Hope everyone is smiling today

[Veronik 19]

Sigh. I just got back from a lovely weekend at home for a wedding and loved every minute of it! I'm so thankful that I'm only about 9-10 hours away from home, a quick 50 minute flight. So many people are much farther, but I do wish I lived much closer! I don't necessarily have to live IN Canada, but I'd love to live much closer to my parents for sure.

Has anyone ever looked into a local Canadian group on meetup.com? I need to try it out one of these days....

Hope everyone is smiling today

Awww... Lucky you!

I feel a lot better now, especially since coming back from our visit two weeks ago. Chris and I talked, and we'll be going back for a long weekend in October. We'll probably drive, because it's way cheaper. And we also want to bring the dog.

It's crazy how a quick visit can help on so many levels! I feel like I have hope now, I feel more positive about my environment and the people. I think I waited too long before going for a visit. I've learned my lesson, every 6 months for me for sure! Keeps me sane!

[Moosker 7]

Yes! And it totally helps to have a trip to look forward to. It always keeps me positive

Edited June 8, 2011 by Moosker

[thetreble 19]

Trips do help to alleviate some of the hardships. But sometimes I find when I have to leave I feel like crying, but just end up kind of sulking for a few days. I then try to convince Jared that moving to Canada would be the right thing to do. hahah Then I get back into the swing of things again.

If the two countries werent so gosh darn different, it wouldn't be bad at all!