How do you cope with moving to the US?

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

United States is the best country in the whole world. You will love it.

I enjoy your humor.

[owlboxes 10]

I'm facing the same jitters right now. I'm leaving in twelve days, and leaving behind my father and sister, my extended family, my beloved pets (three cats) and all of my friends. I don't care so much about the job, or the environment, or anything like that, but losing that support system makes me anxious. The truth is though...no matter the distance, you never lose that support system. The people you love will love you all the same whether you're here, or there, or anywhere else. With skype and phones and letters, there is ALWAYS a way to stay in touch. It takes a strong person to make such a huge move, but know that you're never alone. You won't lose these people -- and absence makes the heart grow fonder!

[Novembro 1,763]

Stay busy. Throw yourself into things. Find clubs, meetings, people to see. Download the meetup app. Take a class, build a garden in your new home (if you are moving into an apartment then look for co-ops plots in your city/town). Look for other people in your situation and don't get bogged down by the change.

Make this move what you want it to be!

Good luck

[indiana_sweetie 120]

Hi all.

I am getting closer and closer to my final Visa Interview. And I am already anxious and nervous about moving to the USA. I am from Bavaria, Germany. Very traditional, from a small village. Ive got my life here, a job, house, ive got 2 horses and a horse paddock. Ive got a nice garden. And I am giving that all up to be with the woman I love who lives in Phoenix Arizona. Sure I know I love her and she loves me.

Sure I know I want to be with her. Sure I think life in America offers much. But it is the act of relocation, the final weeks before leaving, leaving everything behind, while moving into the big unknown... the southwestern Desert is of course like a different planet for a southern bavarian like me. I leave my family, the environment, the austrian Alps where I go hiking and fishing a lot, etc.

Its hard. I feel Anxiety. I am nervous. I feel this pressure on my shoulders. How do you cope with that, how did you cope with that? What kind of advice can you possibly give?

Thanks all.

I can understand what you are going through, and yes, Arizona will be a big change. My best advice is to take the opportunity to learn about the desert. You will see magnificent sunsets, unusual wildlife, and beautiful rocks. Later when you move to Wisconsin you can reflect back on your desert life as a unique experience. I lived in the desert for 8 years and it remains one of the best times of my life. Wisconsin is beautiful. That is something you can look forward to. Stay close to your family with skype or whatever you choose, and give yourself time to adjust. It's normal to miss what you leave behind. You can still embrace your new life, you can do both, it's normal. My husband has been in the USA about a year and a half now. We both miss certain things about his country, and we both know certain things are better there and other things are better here. He chose to live here, he is happy here. Best of luck with your move and your new life! Welcome to America.

[T&T&T 31]

just wondering why your fiancée did not move to Germany?

[valverdeveslings 10]

There are some great German bakeries and restaurants in Phoenix... it's easy to find German products and everything! I studied abroad in Germany and when I came back I went to all those places and it was really nice, they'll speak to you in German

Oh and don't get overwhelmed by the heat in AZ, it will pass.

Best of luck!

[Erica & L 50]

I miss my friends a lot and can't wait until we move closer to Canada, and the healthcare system here is absolutely appalling. I moved from a big progressive city, very LGBT friendly, to a small town in Alabama. A bit of a culture shock to say the least. The US is only a temporary solution as my wife and I would both prefer to live in Canada. She loves it there more than I do, really.

[JoBri 548]

I lived in Germany for 5 years, both as military and as a civilian, and it was hard for me to come back to the USA. I came back because my parents live here and I didnt want to live the rest of my life so far away from them.

So I sacrificed life in Germany to be back home with family at that time, and I am an American. Now, if I had to leave to be with the love of my life, then you can be sure I would be even more ready to do that as well. I think it comes down to making a decision of what is the most important thing to you. Then you have to look at everything else as immaterial in comparison.

[raven52 233]

Hope you make it in AZ, as it is "hot as Hades".,.,.,.most of the time!

[Jon York 156]

Hi all.

I am getting closer and closer to my final Visa Interview. And I am already anxious and nervous about moving to the USA. I am from Bavaria, Germany. Very traditional, from a small village. Ive got my life here, a job, house, ive got 2 horses and a horse paddock. Ive got a nice garden. And I am giving that all up to be with the woman I love who lives in Phoenix Arizona. Sure I know I love her and she loves me.

Sure I know I want to be with her. Sure I think life in America offers much. But it is the act of relocation, the final weeks before leaving, leaving everything behind, while moving into the big unknown... the southwestern Desert is of course like a different planet for a southern bavarian like me. I leave my family, the environment, the austrian Alps where I go hiking and fishing a lot, etc.

Its hard. I feel Anxiety. I am nervous. I feel this pressure on my shoulders. How do you cope with that, how did you cope with that? What kind of advice can you possibly give?

Thanks all.

I think I would be having very similar thoughts if I were the one moving to another country!

But don't worry. Arizona has mountains (you can see a mountain from any spot anywhere in Arizona). And they have cold weather in the north! And plenty of outdoor activities - including lots of hiking, lots of horseback riding, but not so much fishing. But you'll be relatively near the Rocky Mountains of the western United States, which are stunning like the Alps. And plenty of skiing not too far away too!

Just pretend you're going on a two-week vacation to Spain... and then you stay a little longer!

Edited July 11, 2014 by Jon York

[JoBri 548]

Finally- my tip for when you do move to the USA, don't focus on how things are different. Don't compare. Instead, try to find one thing every day that you like about your new home. Maybe it's a small coffee shop that happens to make really good scones, maybe one day it's a beautiful sunset, maybe a butterfly flew by your window. Whatever it is, no matter how small, focus on the positive.

Best wishes!

I saw what lucybelle said in her last paragraph, and I thought that was wonderful advice too. My wife from the Philippines was always comparing things in the USA to her home, usually more negative about the USA and so much more wonderful back home. And she pretty much mourned the loss of her career in moving here. It was her dream job, the one she set her sights on from a young age, and she finally got that right after we got married (in the Philippines). So she was only able to do that for a year before coming here. She was a principal of an elementary school at the age of 34 there, and very good at it too. It was very hard for her giving everything up. She had a pretty good life there, and she had to start over when she came here.

She still brings up from time to time what she "gave up" back in the Philippines. But she has found a new career field to her liking, and is working on becoming a nurse. That is her big focus now. And in time the rose colored glasses came off and she was able to see that not all the things she thought were so great about her former home were necessarily better than here in the USA. And she focused on the here and now, not the past. And she wrote down a poem and put it on the refrigerator door, something to the effect of when life is over, nothing will have mattered that much in life other than the love of family. I would post that poem here too, but I am not home right now.

When I was away from home in the military I would immerse myself in the culture and try to experience it to the fullest. But it wasnt real joy because I lacked someone most special to share it with. Think to yourself how it is not just this huge new world you are stepping into, alone, but it is a huge new world that you will get the chance to savor together with your best friend and love of your life.

[WickedGriffin 1]

thank you all so much! you all are great!!!

[JnRMo 16]

I enjoy your humor.

'Murica

[nitsirk7562 82]

The nice thing about moving to the US is the variety of geography. I tell my fiancé this a lot! My hometown gets a ridiculous amount of snow and my fiancé comes from Mumbai and has never seen any. That will be a big adjustment for him, but I always tell him that there has to be some state that he'd like even if he despises New York. He's coming all this way to be with me, I have no trouble relocating for him to be more comfortable! It sounds like your fiancée is willing to make a move for you, too.

Before you come, learn to cook your favorite dish. Tasting food from home is extremely comforting!

[Mr. Borkström 63]

What kind of advice can you possibly give?

Skype! Or Facetime. Or whatever. Once you've moved, try to talk to your family and friends as often as you can. That's what I miss the most; my family and friends.