Newbies to the US from Canada: Anyone else having trouble adjusting?

[NikLR 13,227]

I saw lots of wild animals in Canada, both where I grew up in BC and in Central Alberta. Hubs and I both agree that we're moving to BC if we ever move to Canada. (Specifically the Okanagan.) I think you're right that it depends on the human population density vs forested areas.

[warlord 73]

Interesting perspective, maybe I should move to Denver then! Did you hike much in Canada? That's weird. I guess I can't expect much in nature from NJ, isn't it the most densely populated state in the country?

Yeah I used to go out all the time when I was in Canada, I just never really saw much of anything that stood out. Can't speak much for NJ, anytime I've been there it was just hiking to go get beer. Norther NJ has better hiking options though.

I just love the diversity of the wildlife in the US. Just last week I was hiking near my friends place in Florida and ended up seeing 15 gators along the path (and on it), osprey and lots of other cool things. I love looking for snakes and seeing a Western Diamondback or a Prairie Rattler or small pygmy rattler are great finds. Plus at night I can look for scorpions with my black light.

I've hiked in a lot of states and always amazed at how much the wildlife here is so diverse depending on where you go...

[amicablebride 25]

I moved to the US in October... and it seems like everything is just going wrong! Is anyone else feeling the same way? I'd love to talk to some other Canadians.

My AOS is messed up, missing my family, problems with health care. aka I just got an unexpected medical bill in the mail for 2 grand... can't work yet, haven't made any friends.. And a million other things have gone wrong lately of a more personal nature.

Not to mention, I miss Tim Horton's so much! Ketchup chips! Hickory sticks! Driving here scares me because the roads are so busy. And people constantly make fun of my accent It took ten months to get my visa and I thought we were so prepared... HAHA, no. I think I miss OHIP most of all. People here don't eat fish and chips.. they don't know what coffee crisp is.. and they do rock, paper, scissors differently. I feel like I am learning something new and totally unexpected about American life every day, and my whole life people have told me our countries are so similar. I miss sidewalks and bus service, too! And being able to actually walk places!

Can anyone relate?

Fellow Canadian!! That's so funny you mentioned ketchup chips and hickory sticks! You don't realize how much you love those until you can't find them anywhere! I never crave those when I'm in Canada.. but I think about them a lot when I'm here.

The lady at McDonalds looked at me weird when I asked for packets of vinegar for my fries. They don't put vinegar on fries here! Or gravy!

I miss Dads Cookies (especially Goodie rings).

I miss the "Canadian accent" and I cringe when people tell me I have one. I feel comfort when I see / hear Canadians on TV.

I feel like Americans are very ignorant about how the rest of the world works. They think Canada is in Vancouver.

I mailed a package (USPS) to my mom for her birthday. It clearly had her address, city, province, postal code, and CA for Canada. I tracked it a few days later and it was sent to Switzerland! Marked as undeliverable and sent back to me. I went back to the post office and the clueless woman was like "where was it supposed to go?". If you work in a Post Office, you should probably know what a Canadian address looks like. Word of caution: when mailing ANYTHING back home, spell out CANADA.

Speaking of which, I'm terrified of getting sick or into an accident here. I have no health insurance yet, and the cheapest I could find was $90 a month, but with a $50 co-pay each doctor's visit plus only 70% reimbursement and tons of confusing restrictions. Such a rip-off! Health care should be a RIGHT, not a privilege.

Car insurance is atrocious. With MPI (Manitoba Public Insurance), I pay $109 CAD / month. For the same plan, here, even with Geico and these supposedly "great" car insurances, the cheapest is like $170 a month (for the first 2 months) and goes upwards to $220 / month -- USD!

I miss bus service and being able to walk places too.

Oh, and for my wedding... my family wants to come down here, but we all have to do our own hair. In Manitoba, we could get our hair professionally curled for $30 each. Not here! Everywhere I've looked and called around to, they want $55 USD+ for any kind of hairstyling. That's if you avoid telling them it's for a wedding. Bridesmaids hair / wedding attendant hair is $75+.

I miss home cooked meals and Canadian values of sitting down to eat supper together. First off, people look at me funny when I say supper. It's supposed to be dinner. My fiance and his family eat on the go. They eat tons of frozen, microwavable meals or at restaurants. My family on the west coast (Washington) are the same way. Maybe not all American families are like this, but it seems that convenience and laziness prevail over cooking a meal and eating together.

People look at me weird when I say I'm going to phone someone. You don't say "phone", you say "call".

I miss my friends, I miss late night fun (most restaurants close by midnight on weekends, and by 8 or 9 on weeknights). Everyone I've met near me (so far) seems really fake.

Anyway, enough of a rant from me lol. Canada will always be my home. It sucks having to feel homesick, but I feel more comfort that there are other Canadians in this country who are going through the same withdrawals and missing the same things :-).

[amicablebride 25]

The majority of the time it's the boredom that gets to me. My life in Winnipeg was filled with work and going to the gym and having a social life. Here all I do is sit at home all day and pretty much do nothing, since I know no-one and don't have a vehicle of my own yet. The freeways don't bother me now, I've gotten over that fear. I did join a curling league to get myself out of the house, so that's helping with the cabin fever. And my sister is visiting me in two weeks so that'll be nice

Living in a foreign country, away from practically everyone you know is isolating. I'm looking forward to being able to work eventually, even if I have no idea what type of job I'll end up in.

Fellow Winnipegger! I am surprised you found a curling league in the states! Where I am (New England) they don't know what curling is! I know what you mean about the boredom. I'm going through the same thing. When I was bored or lonely in Winnipeg, I went for a massage at the Clarion (Blue Cross paid 80%) and I could use the mineral pool, hot tub and sauna for free (and eat all the cookies and veggies I wanted)! It was nice to relax and pamper myself on the cheap! Here... there's NO such thing. If you want a spa experience like that, you're gonna drive an hour away and pay big.

I miss my friends, I miss the nightlife, I miss my family. I miss my job. I miss knowing where everything is! I drive around here aimlessly and get lost. I've met some people here but they all seem kind of fake and already caught up in their own lives. The pay here is a lot lower than any job I've had in Canada. Even working as a waitress in Winnipeg, you get minimum wage plus tip! Here, they only get paid tips. I was a teacher, but the pay here is low, they're educated differently, and I need a state license. So... with wedding planning and the visa process... I probably won't get a job until next year unless I do something else.

My in-laws do not include me in anything. All I have is my fiance. We are planning a full-out wedding, and even though the in-laws are paying for it and my immediate family is coming -- it still makes me sick thinking what if I feel homesick like this all the time? What if my family never comes back to visit (it's really expensive to travel). What if when we have kids, I feel even more trapped? So many worries. I can barely concentrate on planning the wedding. And having no help makes it seem like the wedding isn't going to be that wonderful. A bride should always be excited about her big day!

It's hard having no bridal shower, no engagement party, no bridesmaids, etc.I thought I wouldn't need any of that stuff since I am marrying a wonderful man. But at the same time, I thought it would be soo kind and sweet of the sister-in-law and mother-in-law if they put together the smallest little things for me. She's getting married in 8 months and her wedding is such a huge deal... whereas mine is like.... non-existant. Just something people are squeezing into their Sunday afternoon when they'd be doing nothing else anyways.

I would feel more included in the family if they showed some excitement and put some importance on our day. I'd feel important and appreciated (after all, I didn't make my fiance move away... I moved here for him). But, it is what it is.

I DON'T miss -40 temps. But here in Connecticut, it snows and they shut down the entire city, schools closed down everything. It makes me realize how tough we were as Manitobans!

Keep your head up! Us Winnipeggers were bred to be tough, compassionate and friendly! Stay true to who you are and just know that you're not alone! :-)

[TheRowgles 10]

Fellow Winnipegger! I am surprised you found a curling league in the states! Where I am (New England) they don't know what curling is! I know what you mean about the boredom. I'm going through the same thing. When I was bored or lonely in Winnipeg, I went for a massage at the Clarion (Blue Cross paid 80%) and I could use the mineral pool, hot tub and sauna for free (and eat all the cookies and veggies I wanted)! It was nice to relax and pamper myself on the cheap! Here... there's NO such thing. If you want a spa experience like that, you're gonna drive an hour away and pay big.

I miss my friends, I miss the nightlife, I miss my family. I miss my job. I miss knowing where everything is! I drive around here aimlessly and get lost. I've met some people here but they all seem kind of fake and already caught up in their own lives. The pay here is a lot lower than any job I've had in Canada. Even working as a waitress in Winnipeg, you get minimum wage plus tip! Here, they only get paid tips. I was a teacher, but the pay here is low, they're educated differently, and I need a state license. So... with wedding planning and the visa process... I probably won't get a job until next year unless I do something else.

My in-laws do not include me in anything. All I have is my fiance. We are planning a full-out wedding, and even though the in-laws are paying for it and my immediate family is coming -- it still makes me sick thinking what if I feel homesick like this all the time? What if my family never comes back to visit (it's really expensive to travel). What if when we have kids, I feel even more trapped? So many worries. I can barely concentrate on planning the wedding. And having no help makes it seem like the wedding isn't going to be that wonderful. A bride should always be excited about her big day!

It's hard having no bridal shower, no engagement party, no bridesmaids, etc.I thought I wouldn't need any of that stuff since I am marrying a wonderful man. But at the same time, I thought it would be soo kind and sweet of the sister-in-law and mother-in-law if they put together the smallest little things for me. She's getting married in 8 months and her wedding is such a huge deal... whereas mine is like.... non-existant. Just something people are squeezing into their Sunday afternoon when they'd be doing nothing else anyways.

I would feel more included in the family if they showed some excitement and put some importance on our day. I'd feel important and appreciated (after all, I didn't make my fiance move away... I moved here for him). But, it is what it is.

I DON'T miss -40 temps. But here in Connecticut, it snows and they shut down the entire city, schools closed down everything. It makes me realize how tough we were as Manitobans!

Keep your head up! Us Winnipeggers were bred to be tough, compassionate and friendly! Stay true to who you are and just know that you're not alone! :-)

Hey I'm also living in (eastern) CT now. I also was a teacher back in Canada and you're right there is a huge process to be certified in this state. I spoke to a superintendent of one of the school boards around here (my husband worked on his boat) and he pretty much outlined everything I'd need to do to get certified here (mainly sending in transcripts to a special agency to see how it fairs here--I'd probably have to take an American history course at some point... oh and that dreaded praxis test) but he also said there's many other jobs in schools here that don't require a CT certificate (i.e. paraprofessionals and tutors in schools) I know in bigger cities like Hartford the pay for paraprofessionals can be a lot higher than where I live. So that's something to think about when you do have your work authorization and looking for work in your field but not quite certified yet.

That's funny you said that about the snow and shutting everything down, not used to that either from Toronto (except when they called the army in one storm...) no -40 temps but the big freeze is coming this weekend!

[mdcatelli 16]

Fellow Winnipegger! I am surprised you found a curling league in the states! Where I am (New England) they don't know what curling is! I know what you mean about the boredom. I'm going through the same thing. When I was bored or lonely in Winnipeg, I went for a massage at the Clarion (Blue Cross paid 80%) and I could use the mineral pool, hot tub and sauna for free (and eat all the cookies and veggies I wanted)! It was nice to relax and pamper myself on the cheap! Here... there's NO such thing. If you want a spa experience like that, you're gonna drive an hour away and pay big.

I miss my friends, I miss the nightlife, I miss my family. I miss my job. I miss knowing where everything is! I drive around here aimlessly and get lost. I've met some people here but they all seem kind of fake and already caught up in their own lives. The pay here is a lot lower than any job I've had in Canada. Even working as a waitress in Winnipeg, you get minimum wage plus tip! Here, they only get paid tips. I was a teacher, but the pay here is low, they're educated differently, and I need a state license. So... with wedding planning and the visa process... I probably won't get a job until next year unless I do something else.

My in-laws do not include me in anything. All I have is my fiance. We are planning a full-out wedding, and even though the in-laws are paying for it and my immediate family is coming -- it still makes me sick thinking what if I feel homesick like this all the time? What if my family never comes back to visit (it's really expensive to travel). What if when we have kids, I feel even more trapped? So many worries. I can barely concentrate on planning the wedding. And having no help makes it seem like the wedding isn't going to be that wonderful. A bride should always be excited about her big day!

It's hard having no bridal shower, no engagement party, no bridesmaids, etc.I thought I wouldn't need any of that stuff since I am marrying a wonderful man. But at the same time, I thought it would be soo kind and sweet of the sister-in-law and mother-in-law if they put together the smallest little things for me. She's getting married in 8 months and her wedding is such a huge deal... whereas mine is like.... non-existant. Just something people are squeezing into their Sunday afternoon when they'd be doing nothing else anyways.

I would feel more included in the family if they showed some excitement and put some importance on our day. I'd feel important and appreciated (after all, I didn't make my fiance move away... I moved here for him). But, it is what it is.

I DON'T miss -40 temps. But here in Connecticut, it snows and they shut down the entire city, schools closed down everything. It makes me realize how tough we were as Manitobans!

Keep your head up! Us Winnipeggers were bred to be tough, compassionate and friendly! Stay true to who you are and just know that you're not alone! :-)

I am actually originally from a small town about an hour Northeast of Winnipeg, but had lived in Winnipeg since 06, so it had been my home for the past 9 years.

The curling rink isn't a true curling rink, as it's on hockey ice but they pebble it and have the lines and it's an acceptable rink. It's not always consistent but it does the job. It makes me appreciate what I had at home with the designated rink. I have never been to the Clarion, but that does sound lovely. Bored or lonely often meant Tim's at 7:30, Pembina and Grant, with my bestie.

I miss my friends too, and the gym, and my job. I had worked at the same daycare as an ECE for 4 years and it was hard to leave the kids after that time. I'm not looking forward to getting paid so low either. I see how Servers could be annoyed here with no actual wage and just tips, I would't want to be a waitress if that were the case. I think I'm taking this opportunity to try something new. My education seems difficult to transfer over and there's no way I'm doing a daycare job at minimum wage after all the years I've put in at school.

That sucks that your in-laws dont' include you in anything. I'm lucky to have amazing ones who are quite helpful. My husbands mom pretty much planned our wedding. We got married on a yacht in the San Diego bay in November and it was an amazing day. We had 36 guests. I was strangely okay wiht not having a wedding party, or a bridal shower. The in-laws had a welcome home dinner for me when I got here and it was so nice. I wish your inlaws would be more welcoming. I don't think they realize how Isolating being in a new place and knowing no one truly is.

I am quite thankful for the lack of snow, but I agree with school being closed over a small snow is ridiculous. It had been wet here recently with the el nino rains so curling was cancelled one night. I've never had curling cancelled because of snow or the temperature but they're cancellng it because of rain?

P.S totally agree about the Phone comment, I said it once around my husbands friend in like 2009 and they wouldn't stop saying "E.T. Phone home" for the longest time.

[iPod 89]

I got so excited when I saw All-Dressed Ruffles at Ralphs the other day. I was jumping up and down and screaming in the aisle.

Like another poster already mentioned, World Plus has some Canadian candies.

One thing they don't have is Allan's Hot Lips. I used to eat bags of those candies.

I also miss those spicy fish candies and Swedish berries.

The good thing is that I don't eat as much candy as I used to because I don't like the ones here.

I also get the hey! jokes all the time. The funny thing is that I'm French Canadian, so we don't say that. I didn't even know what they what they meant by hey!

To the OP: don't worry, it's hard for everybody to adapt, but in time you will adjust to this new way of life. Good luck!

[iPod 89]

I really missed Swiss Chalet

The biggest change for me, when I was on work visas in the US for 9 years, was the banking as someone else mentioned, a bit backwards and behind the times, but I got used to it.

When I moved to Los Angeles from Toronto in 2005, it was a bit hectic at first, but I visited LA before while on convention visits, so it wasn't totally alien to me.

I worked in the film industry, so I managed to make a lot of friends at work, it was a bit of an easier transition, since most of my co-workers were also new to the city, and even had a few former co-workers from Canada that showed up which kind of gave us a support group.

Over the years, I got into a few hobbies, painting and off road driving so I met many local friends and that helped alot.

While I'm waiting for my green card processing here in Vancouver, I'm really missing California.

As for the Candy and snacks, check in a large city near you for any boutique candy stores that specialize in carrying imported candy. I found a place in Burbank, CA that had some Canadian chocolate bars! [Coffee Crisp and Smarties]

What store is that? Is it Rocket Fizz? I've never been inside, but I've seen it. Thanks!

Edited February 12, 2016 by iPod

[NikLR 13,227]

I forgot about the phone vs call thing

Oh i say you're welcome or no worries and people here say uh huh...

[amicablebride 25]

I am actually originally from a small town about an hour Northeast of Winnipeg, but had lived in Winnipeg since 06, so it had been my home for the past 9 years.

The curling rink isn't a true curling rink, as it's on hockey ice but they pebble it and have the lines and it's an acceptable rink. It's not always consistent but it does the job. It makes me appreciate what I had at home with the designated rink. I have never been to the Clarion, but that does sound lovely. Bored or lonely often meant Tim's at 7:30, Pembina and Grant, with my bestie.

I miss my friends too, and the gym, and my job. I had worked at the same daycare as an ECE for 4 years and it was hard to leave the kids after that time. I'm not looking forward to getting paid so low either. I see how Servers could be annoyed here with no actual wage and just tips, I would't want to be a waitress if that were the case. I think I'm taking this opportunity to try something new. My education seems difficult to transfer over and there's no way I'm doing a daycare job at minimum wage after all the years I've put in at school.

That sucks that your in-laws dont' include you in anything. I'm lucky to have amazing ones who are quite helpful. My husbands mom pretty much planned our wedding. We got married on a yacht in the San Diego bay in November and it was an amazing day. We had 36 guests. I was strangely okay wiht not having a wedding party, or a bridal shower. The in-laws had a welcome home dinner for me when I got here and it was so nice. I wish your inlaws would be more welcoming. I don't think they realize how Isolating being in a new place and knowing no one truly is.

I am quite thankful for the lack of snow, but I agree with school being closed over a small snow is ridiculous. It had been wet here recently with the el nino rains so curling was cancelled one night. I've never had curling cancelled because of snow or the temperature but they're cancellng it because of rain?

P.S totally agree about the Phone comment, I said it once around my husbands friend in like 2009 and they wouldn't stop saying "E.T. Phone home" for the longest time.

Haha yep that's one thing we can definitely relate too... American boys making fun of how we say certain things lol. I'm close to Long Island, Boston and New York where the accents are very nasaly and almost whiny sounding. So when I talk, I sound totally different than the local women.

Your wedding sounds like it was lovely. I would have been over the moon happy with something different like that. I think pushing a traditional ceremony and reception is difficult because you realize how much it's missing compared to other weddings of the same kind.

I, too, miss my Tim Hortons and gym outings! My bestie and I used to split the 500 salad at Joey's Polo or Kennaston and drink lemon water... gorgeous atmosphere and only cost us $6 each plus tip! Can't do things like that around here... people hate looking cheap in this state.

I can related to you about the teaching. I was going to get me ECE 3 during this long visa process but realized the pay for childcare workers sucks around here. I was a teacher but now I don't know what I'm going to do. Maybe be a para / teacher's assistant so I can still get summers off to travel back home + work in a large school where I can possibly make new friends / colleagues --- not to mention working with kids gives my life more purpose and happiness.

San Diego is gorgeous.... I love the temps and the beaches... been there once for a cruise to Mexico. But I've realized that no matter how awesome it is living somewhere (I used to live in Arizona for a few months) you get homesick! It's definitely easier when you have people who care about you, friends, and can make a place your home.

Things here have been canceled because of rain too, so I totally get how baffling it is that they'd cancel curling.

I went home for Christmas just this past December, and since I left my car here in Connecticut from previously driving it here, I had to take the transit bus from my mom's place in East K. to my doctor appointment in Garden City! Trudging through the snow with -30 winds blasting my face.... waiting for the BUS... that's something I don't think most Americans are capable of doing lol. At the time, I kept telling myself that would be the last time I'd ever have to suffer in the cold and snow like that :-).

By the way, I've been too lazy to put the plug back in the hood of my car, so it's been dangling out... everywhere I go, the first thing people say is, "why does your car have a plug?" Lol.... it's kind of fun messing around with people and telling them it's an electric hybrid. :-P

[mdcatelli 16]

I feel like California has similar accents at least, so I'm not noticeably Canadian unless I say eh or mention I'm from Canada.

Our wedding really was lovely. I wanted something DIFFERENT and that was exactly what we got. Fun was had by all and I'm happy with how everything went.

I also miss wing nights at Smitty's or Pony Corral. My husband and I are both cheap, so for his birthday Monday we are doing the whole taking advantage of getting free stuff for your birthday like free breakfast at Denny's and steak dinner at Black Angus Steak house.

Agreed about working with children. I'm looking forward to stopping by my old daycare for a visit with the kids. And to show them my wedding pictures. I really don't know what I"ll do next, and it sort of scares me a little bit.

Busing during the winter always sucks. I used to take the 77 from RRC to EK after school just to have a bus nap without having to transfer downtown even though that's the longest windiest bus in existance. I can'

t wait to get my own car and be able to go places willingly.

Oh and I miss the Forks and Festival du Voyageur and Canadian Thanksgiving. I'm sure I'll miss Folklorama and other things I do annually as well.

[NikLR 13,227]

Bahaha!

[bloopygirl 20]

Amicable Bride - I miss vinegar for the fries too!! My husband thinks it's insane. I also miss fish and chips shops. I want fish and chips with bread and butter and mushy peas and a pint of keith's! I make it at home sometimes but it's not the same. I also love Dad's Cookies. Oh my goodness, I can't believe your package ended up in Switzerland... WHAT!! I have heard of the post office mixing up Austria and Australia, but that's just nuts.

They have no idea about Canadian stuff at the USPS here.. our postal codes confuse them. I tried to explain, no, it's just a1a 1a1 format and I got a blank stare. Speaking of that, anytime my hubby is punching something into the GPS, I say "just use the postal code!!.. oh wait." Funny about the supper/dinner thing, my mom's family is originally from newfoundland and we also call it supper... I have gotten used to saying dinner over the years being born and raised in Ontario but my poppy would use that word for lunch.

I know how you feel about being isolated. I don't even have any in-laws here, my hubby was an only child and his parents have both passed. Does he have any other family or friends? I have become friends with his cousins, one of his aunts, and his best friend's wife. Or you could even get a job here even if it's just part-time and meet some friends that way! I hope you can have a great wedding regardless. It will take time but things will work out.

oh, yeah, nobody here knows what curling is either.

iPod - Funny I was just thinking about ordering swedish berries off of Amazon yesterday! I've been craving them like a mad man.

[chiggins82 88]

No Swedish berries? Here in Minnesota, people love them! I always remind them it's Canadian... they never believe me!

The words I most recently have been fun of saying... Pencil Crayon, Garborator, Eavestrough, Pop (oddly since Minnesota says Pop too...), Asphalt..

Even with all that, I get constant comments that I don't really sounds that Canadian.. So strange!

Even worse, the last time I went back to Canada, someone at a store said I sounded American... Noooo!!!

In Minnesota people drive like half speed if there is a snowflake falling and most people seem to stay home if they get a real snowfall... and they complain about the cold when it is like -10C.... I thought they were the tough ones in America when it came to winter... I basically feel like I am in the tropics compared to Edmonton!

[HollywoodNorth 22]

What store is that? Is it Rocket Fizz? I've never been inside, but I've seen it. Thanks!

Yes, Rocket Fizz next to Porto's on Magnolia Blvd.

Some of the Candy may be the UK/South African versions as well, Smarties in the US are powdered Candies in a twist roll similar to Rockets. Canadian/UK Smarties are your usual candy coated chocolate with an African version that is a chocolate bar with smarties embedded within them.

I wonder how many adjustment problems is adjusting from urban -> rural areas which can be an an issue just within Canada or the US on it's own, let alone changing countries and going from Urban Canada to rural USA or vice versa. It can be a challenge.

I found that doing anything possible to meet new friends via classes, hobbys, clubs goes a long way to help make new friends. That helps a lot.