How did you (or do you) fill your time while waiting for your EAD/AOS?

[Yareth 162]

I have been in the US for about five months now - and I love being with my partner. However, the wait for a work permit is starting to drag. I picked up hobbies (crochet, cross-stitching), have been studying Spanish, volunteer when possible and keep the house in order. However, I am still bored out of my mind. So I wondered: How did you all fill the lengthy period of waiting for your EAD/AOS to come through?

[EatBulaga 454]

45 minutes ago, Yareth said:

I have been in the US for about five months now - and I love being with my partner. However, the wait for a work permit is starting to drag. I picked up hobbies (crochet, cross-stitching), have been studying Spanish, volunteer when possible and keep the house in order. However, I am still bored out of my mind. So I wondered: How did you all fill the lengthy period of waiting for your EAD/AOS to come through?

 

I recommend studying Khan Academy Personal Finance and Financial Literary courses to understand the US money culture.

 

Also, there are plenty of professional certifications or licenses you can work on like real estate license, driver license, food handler certification, etc.

[Boiler 46,779]

It wasn't so long back then, played a lot of Squash, altitude was a big change and a few cycle rides and tried out all the breweries, Dog was walked a lot, and a lot of House minor repairs, gardening etc etc.

[TBoneTX 46,836]

Study something heavy and deep (nuclear physics?  ha).

Violent physical exercise helps to burn off mental energy.

Become absolutely fluent in Spanish -- when done, you can write your own employment ticket.

 

Introduce yourself to as many people as possible, in every venue possible.

Along this line, here's some advice from an inactive member:

---
Each city has a chamber of commerce. Find it.

Once you find it - talk with the secretary - tell her you want a schedule of events and let her know you'd like to attend.

Then - go in person to the Chamber of Commerce Office - talk with the President of the Chamber, tell him/her you want to volunteer at several of their events.

Attendees at chamber events are business owners and sales geeks, all looking for new business.  It usually is an informal-enough gathering where you can approach people and talk with them.

Now, the cool thing about being a volunteer there - is that you will be talking to everyone at least once - you might be at the reception table, you might be at the greeters' table, you might help to run the audio/video system - whatever - but - the point is that you can meet everyone there, face to face.

Attend 2 or 3 of these, and folk remember you. When folk remember you, they will remember you are seeking employment and will consider you, because you're just not some name on a piece of paper - they met you at a chamber event and know that you were volunteering, helping out the chamber.

Go Get Em, and Good Luck!

PS - live in a really small town? go to the biggest town that's within 15 miles of your house.

[Yareth 162]

Very good suggestions so far :). Thanks everybody!

[SL2024 206]

I have been doing housework, weekly video calls with my family, hanging out with my wife family and friends where we can, playing video games, reading books, watch TV series (I have watched quite a bit of Baseball games on TV recently as well), we have done short trips away (done a few days visiting the Central Coast of California in February and a couple of days doing Marin County in California a week ago), walking, hiking and we have gone to Baseball, Ice Hockey and Football games.

 

I have just signed up to the gym my wife goes to (I was exercising from home but I began to get bored of that) and I am also learning Spanish as well.

 

I definitely understand how you feel though as there are days where I do get bored as well.

[hplusj 408]

All of what you're doing is great, the one missing component in my opinion is developing your social circle.  Friends stateside are important for personal wellbeing and marital health.  Get to making friends while engaging in your community, whether it's volunteering or joining activity groups.  Making adult friends in the US has a host of unique challenges depending on where you live.  Make it your goal to conquer them.