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

[bloopygirl 20]

Loki Go - You are so right, the peanut butter here is so gross.. and most of their chocolate too hahahaha

md catelli - I am sorry you are feeling bored and isolated I hope you can find some friends or a hobby soon... I would probably feel the same way since I'm stuck at home too, except I'm a loner most of the time.

Becca - I'm so sorry you are missing your dogs. I know how you feel, I miss my parents' dogs too, they had three and one passed away before Christmas...and I took my cat here from Canada and we had to put him down last month. So awful! It sucks that you don't like Italian food, but they have some really awesome sushi restaurants around here too if you like that!

I don't like maltesers but I was so shocked yesterday: my mom mailed me a box with hickory sticks and arrowroot cookies LOL. I love her!

Darnell - those are some great suggestions, I'll look into them.. thanks!

Clifford - good look immigrating, I hope it goes smoothly for you and you aren't too homesick

[broppy 204]

Just went through my POE and waiting for my flight.

Picked up a bag of Maltesers and a box of smarties!

Glad to hear you made it through. I guess the wedding's the next big step - all the best.

I'm a Brit, so already had trouble adjusting to Canada. The biggest things I would miss are Marmite and Fisherman's Friends, but I've managed to find them both north and south of the border. One thing I will miss down here, though, is proper bank notes - hopefully one day the US will wise up and start printing them in different colours. And coming from Calgary, it'll take a while to get used to TV schedules - I'm so used to US networks saying things "9/8 central" and knowing that it really means 7 or 10.

[bloopygirl 20]

Glad to hear you made it through. I guess the wedding's the next big step - all the best.

I'm a Brit, so already had trouble adjusting to Canada. The biggest things I would miss are Marmite and Fisherman's Friends, but I've managed to find them both north and south of the border. One thing I will miss down here, though, is proper bank notes - hopefully one day the US will wise up and start printing them in different colours. And coming from Calgary, it'll take a while to get used to TV schedules - I'm so used to US networks saying things "9/8 central" and knowing that it really means 7 or 10.

all good points.. speaking of money, if I buy something and the change is like 1.30, I always expect to get only coins. Nope! lol

And it's weird going to my bank here.. they expect you to fill out a deposit slip or something.. my bank in Canada was just like "put your card in the machine and then gimme your money"

[broppy 204]

all good points.. speaking of money, if I buy something and the change is like 1.30, I always expect to get only coins. Nope! lol

And it's weird going to my bank here.. they expect you to fill out a deposit slip or something.. my bank in Canada was just like "put your card in the machine and then gimme your money"

Don't get me started about banks. This'll turn into a "what I miss about Europe" thread. Online banking is unbelievably insecure here in the US. It seems with just a name, account number, and routing code (all printed on cheques), you can make all kinds of payments online (at least, that's how I paid the IV, AOS, and green card fees). Back home, virtually all banking transactions were done online and secured using the chip on your debit/credit card and a little keypad/card reader to enter and generate one-time codes to logon to online banking and to authenticate each transaction.

[NikLR 13,232]

There is a reason there is a higher rate of identity theft here. But people hate change too. They get so annoyed when they have to spend an extra 10-20 seconds using a chip card. Or if they need a pin (lord forbid) for their chip card. I had a lady walk out on me because there isn't another option on some cards. Lady this isn't my issue, nor my store's issue... go talk to yer bank!

[HollywoodNorth 22]

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]

[Transborderwife 4,666]

So true! Swiss Chalet is amazing

[bloopygirl 20]

OMG, yeah, I can't wait to visit my parents and eat a delicious quarter chicken dinner from swiss chalet. Remember when they used to have the roasted veggie side? Those were the best.

I also miss Value Village! Goodwill in my town sucks. Half my clothes are from VV... no way I am paying twenty or thirty dollars for a skirt at a real store

Edited January 27, 2016 by bloopygirl

[Transborderwife 4,666]

I have noticed thrift shops here are rather umm...ghetto compared to ones in Canada.

[bloopygirl 20]

LOL, yeah... that's one way to put it.. Very different.

[HollywoodNorth 22]

I found Ross was a good replacement for those sometimes, I'm not if Ross is in every state though.

[mdcatelli 16]

Loki Go - You are so right, the peanut butter here is so gross.. and most of their chocolate too hahahaha

md catelli - I am sorry you are feeling bored and isolated I hope you can find some friends or a hobby soon... I would probably feel the same way since I'm stuck at home too, except I'm a loner most of the time.

Becca - I'm so sorry you are missing your dogs. I know how you feel, I miss my parents' dogs too, they had three and one passed away before Christmas...and I took my cat here from Canada and we had to put him down last month. So awful! It sucks that you don't like Italian food, but they have some really awesome sushi restaurants around here too if you like that!

I don't like maltesers but I was so shocked yesterday: my mom mailed me a box with hickory sticks and arrowroot cookies LOL. I love her!

Darnell - those are some great suggestions, I'll look into them.. thanks!

Clifford - good look immigrating, I hope it goes smoothly for you and you aren't too homesick

Joining the Curling league is definitely helping. It is getting me out of the house and I'm meeting people. A few Canadians in my league too.

I also miss my Tim's coffee (From what I recall, the last time I had Tim's was on the 30th of September, so 4 months ago) and the 7-Eleven $1 Medium coffee. My prework regulars were stopping at one of those before hopping on the bus to work.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

I found Ross was a good replacement for those sometimes, I'm not if Ross is in every state though.

Love Ross! Like winners but better ☺️

Here in Florida we ha e a gas station called Wawa...it believe it or not gives tims a run for its money!

[Ms Hogan 295]

Mad & J - thanks for the suggestion. I might do a prenatal class here actually. That's a good idea. I joined a hiking group on meetup which has been a good way of meeting people.

Ms hogan- I'm in New Jersey. How about you?

Cleveland, ewwww. But it is OK. I miss Toronto's OPTIONS... so much to do... entertainment, restaurants... and I miss driving to cottage country.

[bloopygirl 20]

I love Wawa but I still think Tim hortons is better!