Immigrant's first day/week here in the US

[EminTX 131]

I have been thinking about this a lot. When my other half gets here, I want his first day and his first week to be very special. I know the first day will be exhausting, but there are still some things we can do.

I've thought about:

First day:

Better doughnuts than airport Dunkin Doughnuts

Ethnic food for dinner from a culture that he has never tried (Example--he is interested in trying middle eastern food)

Wal-mart to see ACTUAL People of Walmart and various Wal-Creatures

Going for a walk in the evening on the bayou near our home to watch the sun go down

First week:

Going to a nearby touristy place (a island nearby to see how our beach is different)

Outdoor concert

Park to BBQ

Get a dog

Buy a shirt that says "Made in America" for each of us to wear to celebrate that our marriage will be made in America

Buy a new bed together

Explore the public transportation system that feeds our neighborhood

I would love to know about other's experiences and ideas. Give 'em to me.

[TBoneTX 45,014]

First thing after getting home, let him take a long shower with the finest soap & shampoo that you can get, and with a fluffy towel thereafter, si man. Then, it depends: let him sleep?

When Mrs. T-B.-to-be came off the plane, she was beyond exhaustion. The first full day, she was coughing like a #######. Because we weren't yet married and she wasn't on my insurance, we had to find a health clinic and pay for full-price prescriptions.

Turns out that she had attended three nearly all-night "despedidas" (going-away parties) in three different Ecuadorian cities over the preceding nights, and she had come down with an acute bronchial infection, sigh man.

Edited September 26, 2011 by TBoneTX

[yachachiq12 43]

Sounds like our first day! My husband likes doing shopping tourism. In addition to the delight he gets out of "Wal-creatures" and Southerners in any setting, he is always amazed by any kind of big box store. Even when we can't buy anything he likes to see places like Best Buy because of the variety available and then discount chains are really entertaining for him (like, how can you buy brand name clothes so cheap?!). Garage sales and estate sales are a major novelty for us since people in Peru keep everything (even the deceased's things) forever. And antique stores are great fun -- you just don't see that stuff down there. Another big hit was when my sister dragged us to Busch Gardens. You know there are no roller coasters like that in Peru! And take a drive through the fanciest neighborhood you can find to look at the McMansions. I know my husband would be really interested in the Rothko Chapel you have there in Houston, too.

On the flipside, TBone has a great point regarding exhaustion. Additionally, my effervescent, outgoing spouse had a very hard time the first few days. You may see some sadness and silence that's out of character as he mourns the loss of his country and family (even though it's not forever) and deals with the fish out of water phenomenon (unless he's lived here before). And, you know how your bowels are upset when you travel there? He will have some of that -- likely to a lesser degree -- so go easy on him!

[Fandango 1,439]

You want to bring him to Wal_Mart on his first day here?

[natty bumppo 293]

First thing after getting home, let him take a long shower with the finest soap & shampoo that you can get, and with a fluffy towel thereafter, si man. Then, it depends: let him sleep?

ita ...

1st day ... make sure the fridge is stocked with foods he likes and simply kick back and relax. there will be lots of stress and excitement (for both of you).

just do what comes naturally ... the other things can/ will happen in due time.

don't overwhelm the poor guy (unless it occurs in the more intimate setting ... )

Edited September 26, 2011 by natty bumppo

[misterbigtoe 45]

I have been thinking about this a lot. When my other half gets here, I want his first day and his first week to be very special.

I would love to know about other's experiences and ideas. Give 'em to me.

We returned to the states together from central Asia............12 hour time difference on top of several nights of going away soirees! With days and nights switched, sheer exhaustion and lag dictated about three days of lethargy and sleep!

My wife's favorite part was probably getting to meet the rest of her American family...........going through photo albums.............and only then.....Walmart!

[faithinGod 8]

I have been thinking about this a lot. When my other half gets here, I want his first day and his first week to be very special. I know the first day will be exhausting, but there are still some things we can do.

I've thought about:

First day:

Better doughnuts than airport Dunkin Doughnuts

Ethnic food for dinner from a culture that he has never tried (Example--he is interested in trying middle eastern food)

Wal-mart to see ACTUAL People of Walmart and various Wal-Creatures

Going for a walk in the evening on the bayou near our home to watch the sun go down

First week:

Going to a nearby touristy place (a island nearby to see how our beach is different)

Outdoor concert

Park to BBQ

Get a dog

Buy a shirt that says "Made in America" for each of us to wear to celebrate that our marriage will be made in America

Buy a new bed together

Explore the public transportation system that feeds our neighborhood

I would love to know about other's experiences and ideas. Give 'em to me.

All i did on my first day here was sleep...all day. I was exhausted , i had a 22 hours trip with 2 layovers .Second and 3rd day were a little better but still jetlagged.

[EminTX 131]

When I first flew to South America, my first day of travel was nearly 30 hours due to layovers and weather problems. I arrived so ill that I could barely walk. I don't remember anything from the taxi at the airport to waking up under the covers of the bed several hours later. But...BUT...This was my FIRST DAY IN SOUTH AMERICA. I absolutely did not want it to be spent completely in bed. Yes, we will rest, but we will also have some activity to remember for ever. Together.

(In Quito, my buddy had gotten dinner for me. Chinese food! hahaha.) We then simply walked about a block down, stopped in a little store to buy some drinks, then walked back. It wasn't much, but I got to actually see and taste the air, look at the people, check out the driving habits, meet a zillion dogs in their little sweaters, and get a bit of exposure. It was magical.

His flight should arrive around 7am after approx 9-10 hours of total travel time (check in, 6 1/2 hour flight, customs, exiting airport). Yes, he'll be tired, but he can't sleep 15 hours, either.

I do like the luxurious shower idea. We don't intend to overdo it at all, and we have both the Neighborhood Wal-Mart stores and the Bigger-than-the-average-village-Wal-Mart stores, too. We'd start small. One of those is only a mile from here and would be nice for that evening walk.

I intend to greet him in the airport with a handful of helium balloons. I was so stressed out trying to find him in the crowd the first time and I certainly don't want him to have that experience here. The airport at that time of morning is about an hour from our home here. Shower, light grub, zzzzzzz, then in the evening...

[Glyn and Kathy 288]

Is he in the same time zone??? I would think so...if not, pretty close. How about a light breakfast (donuts are awful greasy after a long flight) and then home to that shower that everyone keeps mentioning. A nap (not too long or neither of you will sleep that night), chilling together and just relaxing and enjoying being together. Nice dinner and then the stroll on the beach. Wal-Mart may scare the heck out of him...LMAO.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

This thread made me laugh about the plans I dreamed about that went awry. If you're in Houston, then you remember Hurricane Ike. I lived on the coast and was under mandatory evacuation. So instead of getting the house all perfect for the homecoming, I was packing up my most valuable treasures to take with me. Then I secured tier 2 valuables that were getting left behind to the upstairs in case of flooding...rolling up expensive rugs, wrapping large pictures in garbage bags in case water came in from a hole in the roof or broken windows. After returning there was no gas, no stores, no internet or air conditioning. There were massive tree limbs, roof shingles, etc to clear out of the yard and the whole refrigerator to empty out and discard.

So my fiance had an accident and broke his collarbone and ribs and needed help packing for the shippers coming in 3 days. He was in an arm sling and in bad pain. I left immediately and stayed the 10 days until his flight. We returned together. The house was filthy and still in disarray from protecting things. The linens were dirty...no washer/dryer with no electricity. Nothing in the refrigerator. Only food was some FEMA handouts like pop-tarts. Fence blown down. The only leak in the house was in his closet and it had gotten smelly and moldy. Yuck! Happy Homecoming...now help me get this place in order!! We managed to put together a great little wedding just 5 days later with about a dozen friends. The town had limped back to life while I was away. Nope. It wasn't what I had in mind, but we've survived beautifully for 3 years (next week) and moved 75 miles north so no more evacuating!

[TBoneTX 45,014]

This thread made me laugh about the plans I dreamed about that went awry. [...] It wasn't what I had in mind, but we've survived beautifully for 3 years (next week) and moved 75 miles north so no more evacuating!

Now, the above is true love, si man! I too disliked Ike, boo man. I had about two weeks to up-clean everything (no interior damage, fortunately). During six days without power, I most missed (surprisingly) the hair-dryer and the cat's electronic litterbox. Even when the power came back on, I reflexively kept reaching for the flashlight instead of the light switch, si man.

The worst thing about Ike is that it was not a hurricane, but rather a himmicane, see man.

[fozzie 41]

Be at it like rabbits for the first 6 days, then rest on the 7th day.

[katie & sifa 25]

I would say just try to not plan too much. Sifa landed here, after multiple delays, at about 1 in the morning and then it snowed the next day (in Dallas!), so I was glad we hadn't planned anything. We were both just completely wiped out and spent the next day alternating between napping and watching movies We had plenty of time later for his first experiences with US culture.

I will also say this: I grew up in the US, but I lived in Kenya from 2006 - 2008 and when I first came back Wal-mart (heck, the regular grocery store!) was pretty overwhelming for me. The stores are HUGE here compared to there, there are so many people and so many CHOICES! I couldn't take it. I remember going to Target to buy clothes my 2nd day back here (long story, but I was evacuated from Kenya so I had no appropriate clothing for February weather!) and having to leave with hardly anything because it was just too much and it completely exhausted me. Maybe not everyone reacts that way, and maybe Peru is different but...just a thought.

[cherryswife 3]

How very thoughtful of you!

I am another foreigner who absolutely loves all things Wal-Mart! In fact, I was surprised at Americans' reactions when I happened to express my amazement of Wal-Mart. I have since learnt it is best kept secret. So I will put my hand up in support of your Wal-Mart idea.

Love the idea of luxurious soaps/shampoos and fluffy towels. Make it be a shower he remembers forever.

Enjoy!

[monyfer 27]

My future hubs has been to the US a bunch so there isn't going to be a lot of novel things for him to do that he hasn't already done/seen/tried. We'll be moving into our new place, probably go out to eat, get our marriage license, etc. We have a friend's wedding that weekend. We'll probably stop by Target so he can get all the personal items he needs. At some point we need to go to Ikea to pick up furniture for the new place. General domestic stuff like that.