How have your family and friends reacted to your plans ?

[Lou Lou 1]

Before I left, she told me how much she was going to miss me. I told her that I would miss her too. Obviously, as my best friend, she was the first person who knew about my soon to be fiance. She was happy initially but then started to say 'How much do you know about this man?' I was know she was anxious for me and wanted to protect me. I told her than the process takes some time anyway (in my case, 11 months from NOA1 until entering the US on the K1 visa). What also annoyed me at the time of telling her was I told her that she could not tell anyone about my plans. She told at least two other people. I also think what has happened to me is making her reflect on her own life. She has a record of dating users. The last one led her to have to get an IVA! So now she has no money and the bloke has scarpered.

I will keep trying. I ask her for her news in my emails to her as well as giving her my news but I get nothing back. But I will keep trying.

Ah, that's a shame, Anna. Sounds like you're doing more than enough. Too bad. She's missing out on a good friend.

[Kiwinyc 62]

I've lived in 4 countries already (including the U.S for 8 yrs in my 20's) so people weren't surprised that I am going back. (I am, I never expected the American I dated in NYC for three weeks in 1994 would come back into my life) The most comments were because this time it's to Texas and there have been a few conversations about rednecks, gun control, women's rights, SXSW and the differences between Austin & the rest of Texas.

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

I'm intrigued as to which of my friends will drift away once I'm in the US and which ones will make the effort to stay in touch. Also who I'll want to stay in touch with! How have other people got on with UK based friends once they've left? Making new friends in the US is something that I'm actually nervous about... I'm either really good with people or socially awkward depending on what mood I'm in! Could be an interesting first couple of years...

[Master Semaj 2]

Since leaving college and going into work and the usual sort of "adult life" I've drifted away from most of the friends I once had. I'm only especially still close to one of them, but he is in his own situation where his mum married an American and she moved with him back to the US to live, but since my friend/her son is a legal adult, he can't get the easy route a minor or infant would have. But they have already filed for him to immigrate over there, it's all just in the pipeline. He'll end up on the other side of the US to me though but it'd still be more accessible than still being in the UK.

He's always been supportive about my relationship, wishes me well and cares about my well being. (yeah, I embrace the bromance haha)

Family wise, I think they have had plenty of time to deal with it all (several years) but I don't think they're too fussed over it all. As the oldest child, I've mostly fended for myself anyway and gone about my own business, and having had to spend longer under their roof as their way to help and support me through saving up and preparing for this big move, I am ready to get out of here now and really start the next chapter in my life with my wife-to-be.

Edited October 14, 2013 by Master Semaj