March (2012) filers...

[islandgal 74]

it is the same for me. ive been here quite a few times and i actually studied english at university, since i am an ESL teacher (which included a few culture-classes) BUT theres just sooo much i still need to learn/or that i am still not 100% comfortable with. i never know how much to tip, i think it's weird that in some stores the shop assistant has to unlock the door to the dressing room for you, just today my fiance explained how to get gas and i wouldnt even know how to send a letter! (like, where to go, how much it is and everything... i mean - it is easy to figure out and i would probably go to one of the ups or fedex stores, but still: i dont actually KNOW it). also the whole banking/credit card system and everything about health insurance and things like that.... i NOW know how to use the washer and dryer (but i didnt righ away), i had trouble locking or front door the first time i did it (in germany we just turn the key a couple of times all the way around and then its locked - here we just do half a turn and then turn it back and then its locked ). i still have to get used to driving an automatic car and sometimes am not really sure about the traffic rules or have to really concentrate to get it right (in germany, when theres no signs, the person on the right has the right of way, here its the bigger street... i still stop for lots of cars, even though i have the right of way) and i am SHOCKED by how many crimes occur where i live. there were 4 shootings in this area (luckily this doesnt mean my neighborhood, but the whole metropolitan area, but still ) within the last 3 days and it is hard for me to get used to not being able to walk around outside alone after it gets dark wherever i want to.

i just start noticing what a safe place germany is!!!!

so, to those of you who are the usc: please be patient with your fiance(e) - it can be very frustrating at times and you actually feel like a 12 year old kid that has to learn how to live on your own all over again. and that's even though the differences between germany and the us arent THAT big... i can only imagine how frustrating and exhausting it must be for people whose countries are a lot more different than the us!

alright - back to baking christmas cookies (thats another thing... all the different measurments...ugh... ).

goodnight

Ahhh yes.. The measurements and posted distance on the highways (miles vs kilometers) and the weather (Fahrenheit vs Celsius).... It's a very big adjustment for everyone... Yes, we'll be patient and thanks for the reminder... Like Tigerflower said, keep the stories and reminders coming.

Come on VSC! Enough already -- praying for approvals for Andie, Rong&David and Res4688.

[TigerFlower 61]

Ahhh yes.. The measurements and posted distance on the highways (miles vs kilometers) and the weather (Fahrenheit vs Celsius).... It's a very big adjustment for everyone... Yes, we'll be patient and thanks for the reminder... Like Tigerflower said, keep the stories and reminders coming.

Come on VSC! Enough already -- praying for approvals for Andie, Rong&David and Res4688.

Amen!!!

[lovebirds85 12]

Hello there friends it’s been awhile since I last posted here. So I have been here in Florida for almost two weeks already. So far so good. I am slowly getting used to living here although it is my second time in the USA. My POE was Miami – it was not so bad except for the 2 hours wait.

For all of the USA citizens here – please, try to be patient with your foreigner love. For people like me who come from smaller countries most of the things seem quite strange – the heavy traffic, the HUGE bottles of milk /3 or 5 liters/ the toilet paper /HUGE/ etc but the good thing is that everything is cheaper than Europe especially shoes and clothes /yepaaa for TJ Max /

So far my fiancé has added me to his bank account and I already have a debit card /huge mistake from his side / Next week we will get our marriage license and we plan to get married around Christmas on the beach.

[Kaaha 6]

Come on VSC! Enough already -- praying for approvals for Andie, Rong&David and Res4688.

Ditto!

The worst thing for me is Celsius-Fahrenheit. I'm never gonna learn it! And kitchen measurements are a nightmare as well! I guess I'll have to rewrite my Christmas recipes before I go

[Andie 147]

Hello there friends it’s been awhile since I last posted here. So I have been here in Florida for almost two weeks already. So far so good. I am slowly getting used to living here although it is my second time in the USA. My POE was Miami – it was not so bad except for the 2 hours wait.

For all of the USA citizens here – please, try to be patient with your foreigner love. For people like me who come from smaller countries most of the things seem quite strange – the heavy traffic, the HUGE bottles of milk /3 or 5 liters/ the toilet paper /HUGE/ etc but the good thing is that everything is cheaper than Europe especially shoes and clothes /yepaaa for TJ Max /

So far my fiancé has added me to his bank account and I already have a debit card /huge mistake from his side / Next week we will get our marriage license and we plan to get married around Christmas on the beach.

Yes.. things are cheaper than here in NZ as well. The wedding on the beach sounds really nice.. I see your POE was Miami.. so is that where you're living?

[Andie 147]

Ditto!

The worst thing for me is Celsius-Fahrenheit. I'm never gonna learn it! And kitchen measurements are a nightmare as well! I guess I'll have to rewrite my Christmas recipes before I go

To convert temperatures from Celsius to Fahrenheit I just double it and add 30 (or Fahrenheit to Celsius, take off 30 and divide by 2). Not sure if it's exact but pretty close.

[lovebirds85 12]

Yes.. things are cheaper than here in NZ as well. The wedding on the beach sounds really nice.. I see your POE was Miami.. so is that where you're living?

Hollywood Fl

[Andie 147]

Hollywood Fl

oh ok.. I'll be up at West Palm Beach if I ever get back there... haha

[Kaaha 6]

To convert temperatures from Celsius to Fahrenheit I just double it and add 30 (or Fahrenheit to Celsius, take off 30 and divide by 2). Not sure if it's exact but pretty close.

Thank you That's easier than looking for my phone and converting it hhaha

[tin-jen 6]

To convert temperatures from Celsius to Fahrenheit I just double it and add 30 (or Fahrenheit to Celsius, take off 30 and divide by 2). Not sure if it's exact but pretty close.

thank you! sounds like a really good trick!

and the recipes... yeah.... its taking forever to bake something or even to shop for it... when you go to the store you have to convert everything you need from grams to ounces and then when you bake convert it into cups... :-/ so annyoing.. and then 1 cup of powedered sugar of course is not the same as 1 cup of ground almonds... but i made the first to batches of cookies and they came out pretty well

now, off to the mall and practice driving a little more....

oh another new thing that happened to me and confused me for a few seconds: last time i bought clothes the girl asked me whether i wanted my receipt in the bag or have it emailed to me... i didnt expect a question like that at all so i had to think about it for a few seconds and they were probably thinking "why is she taking so long... its not THAT important"... haha....

but i am learning new things each day...

yes, uscs, be patient with us!

[Kaaha 6]

[TigerFlower 61]

Nice!

[Luckyzmbr 0]

Update on our status since I haven't had time to log onto visajourney in about a month.

My fiancée got her visa about 10 days ago, and will be here on Tuesday of this week. I'm just trying to fathom what this will be like. We talk and skype every day, but this isn't like dating someone for 3 years and going to movies or the park.

I know everything will be great. My family is very supportive of this whole process and cannot wait to meet her.

I just keep getting lost in thought. 2 days and I'll see my tkbili in person.

She's flying out in less than 30 hours from now.

Reviews of Chicago POE make it sound rather painless. I hope the wait isn't long. Well, it's been since March since we've applied, so what's another few hours?

Ha. I've already gone crazy waiting.

I'm very thankful for this site with all of the guides and helpful people.

I have saved the social security number information to my computer already.

We're planning on our wedding on January 19. It's too bad all of this is taking place during the holidays. But, at least we aren't fighting as many people since most marry during the warmer seasons.

[tin-jen 6]

oh, btw - in case my fiance reads this, he is doing a great job showing me everything and explaining everything to me. he is actually very very patient and understanding!

[islandgal 74]

Update on our status since I haven't had time to log onto visajourney in about a month.

My fiancée got her visa about 10 days ago, and will be here on Tuesday of this week. I'm just trying to fathom what this will be like. We talk and skype every day, but this isn't like dating someone for 3 years and going to movies or the park.

I know everything will be great. My family is very supportive of this whole process and cannot wait to meet her.

I just keep getting lost in thought. 2 days and I'll see my tkbili in person.

She's flying out in less than 30 hours from now.

Reviews of Chicago POE make it sound rather painless. I hope the wait isn't long. Well, it's been since March since we've applied, so what's another few hours?

Ha. I've already gone crazy waiting.

I'm very thankful for this site with all of the guides and helpful people.

I have saved the social security number information to my computer already.

We're planning on our wedding on January 19. It's too bad all of this is taking place during the holidays. But, at least we aren't fighting as many people since most marry during the warmer seasons.

Yeah! Congrats