Moving from Caribbean to cold!

[DRbound 38]

For those fiancees and spouses of citizens living in the colder parts of the US and originally from much warmer climates, how have you adjusted to the weather?

I am trying to get an idea of how my fiancee, who has never left her island, would respond to the climate - does it send people into depression or are you guys finding ways to adapt and be happy during the winters?

If you had a choice to live in a warmer climate here - say the carolinas, with your USC husband, or in the tundra (like it is 3-4 months out of the year in Maine) near the family of your husband, which would you choose?

Of course i have talked to my fiancee about this and she is unsure how she would take the cold weather but i am thinking about moving from the carolinas back to Maine where i am from and most of my family reside.

Edited January 17, 2014 by DRbound

[Darnell 8,479]

Most likely she'll have symptoms of SAD, so plan accordingly.

[BethAnn and Omar 42]

My husband came from Jamaica. He arrived on December 23rd. He is doing okay with the cold weather in Connecticut but he does complain that he is cold a lot. He wears his hat and gloves in the house lol.

[CJC 18]

Hi DRbound

Speaking from my own experience, the Winter isn't an issue for me at all now and I arrived in Wisconsin at the end of November last year from Australia. I had never experienced snow/freezing cold before and I love it. The first couple of weeks were confronting physically (my ears and nose nearly snap froze...eek!) but now, I am completely at home and at peace with the different climate.

For me it was all about learning to let go and embracing my new life here with my man - in other words, mostly attitudinal.

It is really great that you are being so thoughtful about your partner's comfort, my husband was/is the same for me. He made sure I had the right clothes and set the internal heating appropriately from the get go which helped with the adjustment.

Watching the snow fall and hearing it crunching under my feet is amazing, but best of all, my husband and I are together.....and that is really all that matters to me.

[DRbound 38]

Thanks you guys/gals i appreciate the feedback. I certainly don't want my wife to be uncomfortable!

[Bill & Ivy 6]

My fiance is from the Philippines, so for her anything much under 85 degrees, and she is cold. She loves it warm, and I am the complete opposite, I like it cooler, we live in Virginia, so we have some winter weather here, but so far very little snow, and only a few really cold days since she arrived. I am self-employed and work from home so I think that helps since most of the time I am home. A hobby is a big help also, if there is something she likes to do or might be interested in learning to do. I have quite a bit of land, so we try and go out into the woods for longs walks for an hour or two each day, which we both enjoy. We try to go someplace at least every other day, and she wants to see all the surrounding areas, and hopefully she will try to learn to drive once she is able to.

Just try to help her to find something to occupy some of her time, and spend as much time with her in the beginning especially. They will gradually acclimate better to the cold temperatures as time passes, but it does seem hard or her, since she had hardly ever been in any place that was cold before. A couple more months, and it will be warming up some, but in the mean time get used to her probably wearing lots of warm clothes inside the house, and you may have to invest in an electric blanket for your bed, we did, just make sure you get one that has dual temp. controls.

[Jon York 156]

Just turn the heat up and have some good warm clothes for her to wear outside!

I live in New York and there are seemingly millions of people here from very hot places. They always say they hate the cold. But, I find they don't really know how to dress for it. When I talk to somebody who says that, I ask them why they don't dress warmer. And the women almost always say, because it doesn't look fashionable. So, the first thing I'm going to tell my fiance (also from a hot place) when she gets here, is to forget about how she looks and just make sure she's warm! Knowing her she'll probably be able to do both!

I would say as long as your house is warm, just make sure she's dressed for the weather when she goes out and she'll probably be fine. But remember, you'll probably have to make sure she's more dressed for the cold than you would normally be. Buy her those neck warmer things so her neck won't feel cold. You might not even think of that for yourself - but small things like that will make a big difference to her.

Edited January 18, 2014 by Jon York

[Ilovemyman 147]

Ivam from DR, here we have good weather all the year, but I know when I arrive to PA, it will be diferent but a good thing is that I will be wirh my love.

My fiance and I have talked about the snow, cold weather, so the first thing is get preper for the change, the change start in the mind.

Move to usa is a new experience, everybody who move to a new place need to be open to changements.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Most likely she'll have symptoms of SAD, so plan accordingly.

I second this - and in combination with being homesick it could be rough

[DRbound 38]

I second this - and in combination with being homesick it could be rough

She honestly believes she will have no problem being away from family. Cites the fact that she has been split from them in the past to go to private school as a child (public school in DR is a joke). I want to believe her that she will have no problem but i will try to be as mentally prepared as i can. And ill be sure to do the electric blanket thing lol!

[kev_n_jena 89]

For those fiancees and spouses of citizens living in the colder parts of the US and originally from much warmer climates, how have you adjusted to the weather?

I am trying to get an idea of how my fiancee, who has never left her island, would respond to the climate - does it send people into depression or are you guys finding ways to adapt and be happy during the winters?

If you had a choice to live in a warmer climate here - say the carolinas, with your USC husband, or in the tundra (like it is 3-4 months out of the year in Maine) near the family of your husband, which would you choose?

Of course i have talked to my fiancee about this and she is unsure how she would take the cold weather but i am thinking about moving from the carolinas back to Maine where i am from and most of my family reside.

It's really depends on the individual. She won't know until she experiences it and individual results will vary. I suggest you have plenty of lotions on hand for dry skin though and conditioner for dry hair, especially if you have forced air heat.Cuddl Dud brand women's underwear are great too if you can find them.

Jena handles the cold as well as I do and she had probably never felt anything below 65 F. until her first winter here. I pulled her and our son around on a sled with our tractor last Sunday and she said she was sweating.

[Xanax 349]

I moved from Australia to Minnesota. The snow is horrible! The -50f windchill is a killer! Warm blankets, heating, getting out of the house, experiencing "fun" winter activities have all helped me. Also vacationing somewhere warm for part of the winter (last year it snowed oct- may) helped a lot.