Homesickness

[Hugglebuggles 60]

I didn't feel homesick until I had been here for over 2 years. Is that weird? I was always fine.. a little sad every now and then, but completely fine. When we went to Canada this past August, I came home and I was so depressed for over a week. I had been home several times before that, and nothing out of the ordinary happened... it just hit me like a brick wall. I love living here, life is good and my marriage is fantastic. But home is where the heart is... and home will probably always be Canada.

You are SO not alone. I've been here for almost 2 years and I still feel out of sorts. Canada will always be my home and in my heart. I'm happy here. So far things are going well. But I love my canada. Always will.

Well put lgg! I agree.

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

I think you forgot Edmonton, but being a Calgarian born and raised I found that amusing.

Okay, okay. Edmonton qualifies, and I suppose Ottawa does too. But that's it! No more! I'm sure someone from Halifax or Winnipeg will start sniffing around this thread, insisting they're a top Canadian city, but I'm capping it at six and that's that!

[maplestar 2]

I didn't feel homesick until I had been here for over 2 years. Is that weird? I was always fine.. a little sad every now and then, but completely fine. When we went to Canada this past August, I came home and I was so depressed for over a week. I had been home several times before that, and nothing out of the ordinary happened... it just hit me like a brick wall. I love living here, life is good and my marriage is fantastic. But home is where the heart is... and home will probably always be Canada.

I'm kind of dreading that first real experience of going back home. I've only been to Canada once in the nearly three years I've lived in the US, but that was a quick and stressful trip, really to say my goodbyes to my grandmother who'd been diagnosed with cancer and given six months to live at most (although that's nearly 18 months ago now and she's still alive). So it was long enough to reconnect with some extended family and get a taste of Tim Hortons and see bilingual signs, but not much else. Even that was where my aunt lives, not the hometown where I lived most of my life before moving down here and where my parents still live.

What really causes my homesickness are the family funerals. And made worse with the one I missed over the weekend, because I had just driven from Virginia to Florida last month to be at my wife's grandmother's funeral. And going to this one would only be about an hour longer than that trip. But I didn't get my driver's license until I moved down here (since in Canada I lived in small towns where I could mostly walk and could never have afforded a car, anyway), so I have zero winter driving experience, so driving up to eastern Ontario in December would not be something I'd be comfortable doing (unless my wife was behind the wheel. Besides, my green card expired the day after the funeral, and I didn't want to have the worries about not getting back in, since I don't have my NOA back for removing conditions.

The only other things are foods. Haven't found anything quite as good as Shreddies for breakfast. And I need to try to either make (or convince my wife to make) tourtieres, butter tarts, and Nanaimo bars.

[Sandra&Matt 1]

The only other things are foods. Haven't found anything quite as good as Shreddies for breakfast. And I need to try to either make (or convince my wife to make) tourtieres, butter tarts, and Nanaimo bars.

I made Nanaimo bars for my husband's Thanksgiving potluck party at his work and he won second place out of 10 for desserts. I was thrilled that they went over so well. Must make some more to get ready for Christmas!

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I made Nanaimo bars for my husband's Thanksgiving potluck party at his work and he won second place out of 10 for desserts. I was thrilled that they went over so well. Must make some more to get ready for Christmas!

Have a recipe? My (USC) husband really likes them, but I'm not particualrly fond of coconut myself.

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Nice to see another Portsmouth resident here, Maplestar!

[Sandra&Matt 1]

Have a recipe? My (USC) husband really likes them, but I'm not particualrly fond of coconut myself.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Nanaimo-Bars-III/detail.aspx

[maplestar 2]

Nice to see another Portsmouth resident here, Maplestar!

Yes! I was shocked to see us both post on a thread...I was looking there "Portsmouth...Canada...I didn't post already, did I?"

[pocheros 101]

Can I rant in here? Something's been bugging me

Is anyone else kind of annoyed by the cheque card system? You know how in Canada you just enter your PIN every time you make a purchase and that protects you from random people picking up your card and using it, but here you just sign every time? I got ID'd at Goodwill for making a $2.99 purchase with my bank card the other day. Seriously How is IDing people randomly (because it doesn't happen terribly often) at all secure? Yet they have those cheque cards that ensures the merchant gets paid because the card is backed up by a credit company and puts the individual in danger of overdrawing their account (not that that happens to me, because I stay on top of my spending). It seems like in the US the system is designed to protects merchants, but in Canada it's designed to protect the individual.

I really miss the convenience of the Interac/PIN system. It's annoying that I have to bring my ID with me every time I want to make a purchase, though I suspect being ID'd for small purchases at Goodwill and McDonalds is more common in Las Vegas than other areas of the US. o___O

Edited December 15, 2011 by pocheros

[canada_socks 97]

I also miss interac so much!

[SapphireDreams 71]

I'm the opposite, I hate interac. I use credit for everything. I especially love being able to shop online or go to a restaurant and pay credit using my debit card.

Pins are not safer in my opinion. Someone can always be looking over your shoulder or find ways to get your money.

At least with visa or mastercard attached to my card, I'm protected by them if something were to happen.

Ever had your pin stolen and money taken out of your bank in Canada? Take WEEKS to get it resolved.

That being said, I carry cash a lot more in the US than I ever did in Canada. I don't like to use my debit card for small purchases if I don't have to.

[at long last 58]

I haven't actually moved but mentally I'm not here in Canada. I have spent the 6 months at our CT home for the past two years and now waiting for this process is just the final step. I will look forward to coming back to visit family and it is beautiful (I live on Vancouver Island) But I feel at long last I have found where and with whom I felt totally at home. Home is where the heart is and mine is definitely with Glenn wherever that may be. And speaking of Nanaimo Bars... I was born and raised in Nanaimo, BC and they are an awesome tasty over sweet delight.

My most favourite Christmas gift last christmas....

After we had opened our gifts (we did it on Christmas Eve because.. well it was only the two of us and we had a few glasses of wine) Glenn disappeared and then came in to the room gave me a card that said inside to go out onto the deck and look out to the water( house right on the water) I did that and then I hear him playing "oh Canada " on his trumpet. I burst into tears at the thoughtfulness of his gift to me, and the sounds over the water were truly beautiful.

my memories as we are apart this holiday season.

Terri

[Udella&Wiz 325]

It's 'check' card Just saying

I've only been id'd once or twice - at a 5&Below of all places. I love that I can now pay everywhere with my card - although I think that's a sign of the times vs anything else. I can pay for my $3.50 Starbucks with a swipe of my card...love it. Usually purchases under a certain amount (at some retailers) don't even require a PIN, I think that's kind of hand..

I find it more convenient because now I can use my VISA/debit card to pay anywhere like at Amazon whereas before I had to pay with my VISA and transfer money over to pay for it from teh bank. I love that my purchases come right out of checking/ chequing account .

I don't really find it that different.

Can I rant in here? Something's been bugging me

Is anyone else kind of annoyed by the cheque card system? You know how in Canada you just enter your PIN every time you make a purchase and that protects you from random people picking up your card and using it, but here you just sign every time? I got ID'd at Goodwill for making a $2.99 purchase with my bank card the other day. Seriously How is IDing people randomly (because it doesn't happen terribly often) at all secure? Yet they have those cheque cards that ensures the merchant gets paid because the card is backed up by a credit company and puts the individual in danger of overdrawing their account (not that that happens to me, because I stay on top of my spending). It seems like in the US the system is designed to protects merchants, but in Canada it's designed to protect the individual.

I really miss the convenience of the Interac/PIN system. It's annoying that I have to bring my ID with me every time I want to make a purchase, though I suspect being ID'd for small purchases at Goodwill and McDonalds is more common in Las Vegas than other areas of the US. o___O

[VanessaTony 3,567]

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Nanaimo-Bars-III/detail.aspx

Thanks for this! I can't say i've ever eaten these but they sound yummy. My friend brought over some custard powder from Aus so I'm set in that department.

Qn though - is "flaked coconut" the same as desiccated? Or is that still the wet coconut stuff? I have desiccated still (from mum mailing it a while ago) but my supply is dwindling and I have yet to find a supply here (except online).

[Sandra&Matt 1]

Thanks for this! I can't say i've ever eaten these but they sound yummy. My friend brought over some custard powder from Aus so I'm set in that department.

Qn though - is "flaked coconut" the same as desiccated? Or is that still the wet coconut stuff? I have desiccated still (from mum mailing it a while ago) but my supply is dwindling and I have yet to find a supply here (except online).

You're welcome. It's the dry coconut you can buy in the baking aisle at the supermarket. I thought I'd have a hard time finding custard powder in Houston but there are lots of British immigrants so sometimes it's with the specialty foods.