How is everyone preparing themselves for the move?

[JamalNTam 1]

Everyone is so caught up in actually getting the visa approved - do we actully sit back and think what it will be like to actually move to the states and leave what we know behind? I've read through some threads and there are so many people who have arrived and just feel lost and dont know what they did!! So just wondering what people do to prepare themselves before they move to the states to be with their love?

Well - I'm just waiting to start my life in the states and I cant wait. I was there for 2 months when Jamal moved to Tucson so we decorated the apartment together, bought the furniture together - and I really feel like our apartment is my home! Even though I'm back in the UK most of my clothes and alot of my belongings are over with Jamal, hanging up in the closet! We have saved money and have enough to buy me my 1st car when I eventually get there (you NEED a car in AZ) so I'll even have my own car waiting for me (just need to pass the test - which is really not hard at all in AZ so I've concidered that done - especially since AZ allows you to keep your licence once your visa expires if you do AOS). When I was over there I met several people so I've already got my girls over there who I can go see when I need a girlie night out or a shopping trip. We've also looked into collge for me and have found that because I'll be a military spouse, Pima college will allow me to register and pay local rates, even when I havent received my greencard but going through AOS - so I'll be starting college in the fall. I'm hoping to get there in June sometime (fingers crossed) and my family will be flying out in June/July for the wedding. Also several of my friends from the UK are going to visit in August (bad for them since it'll be so hot) so I wont be bored before I start college. I feel lucky that I've had the op to spent a fair amount of time in the place that I already concider my home! I know that being in the UK is a temperary thing (even though it will be a long time!) and I just wanna get my visa and start my life in Tucson, with my bestfriend and soon to be husband (I've already started trying on wedding dresses!)

I guess I was lucky too coz of the fact that when Jamal was stationed in the UK we used to go to the US air base everyweek - this is where we did our food shopping - so going grocery shopping in the states will be the norm for me - I'm adjusted to all the the US food brands (since thats all we ate last year) and using $'s is 2nd nature to me!

[KarenCee 3]

That's similar to what we did. Joel met a few people while he was here visiting and that's helped with his adjustment. He left some of his things here, and slowly over time began to ship his belongings here. We would buy stuff together and it made this whole process seem a bit easier, knowing in the end he would be here permanently. It's good that you had the opportunity to make friends and have money already saved up...so many come here with nothing, knowing no one and have no idea how to get around. Joel familiarized himself with the area we're in now and that helped a great deal...he didn't feel so housebound.

[jmwprof03 0]

Well, the fact that you have already visited the states puts you at a very great advantage, woman! I think that already helps you feel the place out and put aside any fear of the unknown. Plus, I think that your participation in buying furniture and being part of choices in the place you both will call home is quite a good thing. Feeling like home is very important to each and every one of us. When my now husband was still in Colombia, he and I would set up photo dates on Saturday afternoons. We would give each other 2 hours to go around our neighborhoods (me in Chicgao and he in Bogota) and take pics to send to the other person so that we could learn about our respective cities. Sometimes, I would take odd photos of the apartment or of signs on the street or even pics of the old polish ladies crosing the street. Those photos really helped Carlos feel connected to the city he was going to soon be calling home. Another tactic that helped us was just including Carlos in decisions I was making here be it changing internet providers or remodeling something. My thought was that including him would only help him feel part of things going on here. I think that time just helps, too. By that I mean that with time you can wrap your head around moving to a differnt country. And, time allows you to begin to close accounts in your own country and say goodbye's to people. Basically, with time, you can accept the impending change making the move very enjoyable instead of filled with fear and stress. Good luck and I wish you mch peace and love.