ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
CanadaWhat do you do?
Before I came to the US, I worked in various historic sites and museums doing all sorts of stuff, from research to exhibits to co-ordinating events to pretending to being a resident of a French fortress in 1744. Had loads of fun, miss it terribly, terribly, terribly.

I have had a couple of jobs since moving here, the two main ones was a stint in medical records for a home health care company, and my current job as a project co-ordinator for a division in an environmental engineering firm. I try not to focus on the fact that I help to manage projects worth millions of dollars! wacko.gif
CassieFemaleCanada2009-04-17 17:06:00
Canadawhy did u choose to live in US instead of Canada?
When discussing where we would live, J already had a house and great-paying job here. As I primarily worked jobs that were seasonal in nature, it made more sense for me to move down there, work together to get rid of debts (only the house and car to go!!), and then seriously consider moving back to Canada. The biggest concern that I had was health care coverage -- I take daily medication and need consistent monitoring, so I was worried about whether or not we could afford my potential expenses. If he didn't have enough insurance, he was completely prepared to move to Canada. We plan to move back eventually so both of us can have dual citizenship.
CassieFemaleCanada2009-04-17 17:16:00
CanadaMoving your stuff prior to K1 Approval
I mailed 3 huge boxes of stuff -- mostly clothes, some wedding stuff, and odds and ends -- to my future mom-in-law, and got through ok. Friends of ours who had driven from Michigan that summer (they come for 3 months) also took a couple of boxes home with them and mailed them for me once back in the US. Other than that, I didn't bother much with having my stuff there before I moved. It was easier to have it all shipped at once after I moved down there.
CassieFemaleCanada2009-05-08 10:31:00
CanadaPaying off debt/loans after immigrating to the U.S.- legal?
We used to use PayPal until the fees just ticked me off, and for some reason my hubby didn't trust the idea of CustomHouse (don't ask!). So we came with an alternative solution -- I put my father on my chequing account, and then sent him a year's worth of cheques on my American account at a time to cover my student loan and life insurance payments. Every month he would deposit my cheques (made out to him) and then the payments would auto-debit from the account. We paid off the last of my student loan this week yay!!!!!

The best part about it for me is getting the exchange rate added on the cheque amount which has added up! It has been convenient for us to keep open the Canadian account when we travel back to Canada -- we don't need to worry about carrying traveler's cheques or running around exchanging money, we just use my debit card. smile.gif


CassieFemaleCanada2009-05-06 19:31:00
CanadaOk, my very smart Canadian peeps!
Thanks for the input guys, I will let her know not to bother with the K3!
CassieFemaleCanada2009-05-08 22:37:00
CanadaOk, my very smart Canadian peeps!
Ok, so I was contacted by the daughter of a friend of my mom's (actually, I used to babysit her many moons ago) who is starting the immigration process through spousal visas.

it's the classic story:
US boy meets Canadian girl in the US

boy and girl fall in love

boy (who happens to be a lawyer) consults various immigration officials who tell him to tell girl something along the lines of "she can come to the US on a visitor's visa, wait three months, then apply for a spousal visa" (this is what she told me they said, not sure if that is exactly what they said, anywho)

boy and girl go and get married in Canada

boy and girl try to cross the border and she is turned back

boy and girl are now applying for the spousal visa!


So she has contacted me, knowing that I have experience with US immigration. Along with recommending this lovely site, I want to answer some of her questions as best as I can, and I haven't been on the site much (darn job!) so I am a bit out of touch with trends and timelines at the moment. Can you all help me?? smile.gif

has K3 processing speeded up at all in the last 6 months? They are filling out the I-130 as we speak, and plan on doing the K3 as well. If there is no point in having both petitions going at once, I'd like to let them know. How long on average is the entire process taking at the moment? I do believe he's in Florida, so they would be going through VSC, yeah?

as far as the medical goes, is it still good for up to a year? how hard is it to get a medical in Montreal? can you get it done while in town for the interview, or does it have to be done and sent in before an interview date is set? She's in Nova Scotia, so it would mean possibly two trips to Montreal and they need to plan expenses.

Like I said, I will be directing them to VJ in my reply email, but I want to prep them a bit with some realistic timelines, so any help you can give, that would be fantastic!

CassieFemaleCanada2009-05-08 10:23:00
CanadaI passed!!!
Somehow I missed this too! Congrats flames!!! You are gonna be a fantastic nurse!! good.gif

QUOTE (flames9 @ May 4 2009, 09:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Howdy, just thought I would state I passed my final exam today, so that brings my schooling to a closure (for now) Stil have to study for the NCLEX. As well we take off tomorrow to Vancouver, a few days in Kamloops,then our Alaskan cruise, so you won't see me much over the next 2 weeks. If anyone asks if they can visit their spouse while the visa application is ongoing, or where to pick up their background check, just tell them they have to wait to may 18! lol Cheers



laughing.gif laughing.gif laughing.gif



CassieFemaleCanada2009-05-08 10:25:00
CanadaMy little Can-Am bambino is ONE today!!!
QUOTE (JillA @ May 8 2009, 09:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Awww HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! I can picture him smooshing cake in his face or something laughing.gif



Aye, me too.....and we want to see pics!!!! smile.gif

Happy Birthday!!
CassieFemaleCanada2009-05-08 10:42:00
CanadaDoes anyone know if Neo Citron is available in the USA.
QUOTE (*Len* @ Oct 1 2008, 11:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (zyggy @ Oct 1 2008, 08:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
They do have it in the US but it's branded as Theraflu, and they are the same. They come from the same factory, just different name.


Exactly. Some of which I could so use right now...


Myself as well. sad.gif
CassieFemaleCanada2008-10-01 22:57:00
CanadaCan I cash a canadian check in USA?
our bank freaks out when I bring a Canadian cheque ($25 processing fee, it takes ages to clear, etc etc). When my grandparents want to give me money for my birthday or whatever, they give it to my parents and they deposit it in my Canadian account. It's nice to have when we travel to Canada and we need cash once we hit the border.
CassieFemaleCanada2009-05-08 22:35:00
CanadaHomesick
QUOTE (MsZ @ Nov 2 2008, 09:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I'm wondering what all of you expected things to be like.


An adventure, a wonderful adventure with my new husband.

Which it has been.

I also expected to miss my family, my friends, my career, and places that are of particular importance to me.

Which also has happened.

What I didn't expect was the panic attacks, both of my parents being diagnosed with cancer within a year of each other, and the intensity of how much I would miss all things familiar and Canadian.

There are certain things you can plan for and imagine, and yet be wrong about it (either you overestimate or underestimate. And life has a funny way of working it all out.
CassieFemaleCanada2008-11-02 21:59:00
CanadaHomesick
3 weeks after I got to the US and got married, it was American Thanksgiving. The in-laws had a smoked turkey and cornbread. I could hardly eat because I missed "real" turkey and homemade dressing! I laugh about it now, but at that point it felt like the end of the world.
CassieFemaleCanada2008-11-01 21:00:00
CanadaDoing the whole dual citizen thing......
QUOTE (Reba @ May 9 2009, 09:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I guess it depends on how you define it yourself. Is citizenship a piece of paper, or a state of being? For me it is a state of being, and I just can't "be American". I just can't. And I wouldn't be here at all if my husband hadn't been deemed inadmissable by Canadian immgration. Even *he* doesn't like it here, and would prefer to be in Canada.

To me the oath is not just a bunch of words within a means to an end. If I were to say them, I'd have to really mean them. And there's no way I can forsee that ever happening. There are just too many things to disagree with.



Aye Reba, you've expressed exactly where I am at. I take promises/commitments/etc seriously, and by taking that oath -- that's a big commitment. And right now, the US looks the other way by me keeping my Canadian citizenship, but what happens when that is no longer the case? Would my choice whether or not to become a citizen be any different?
CassieFemaleCanada2009-05-10 08:20:00
CanadaDoing the whole dual citizen thing......
QUOTE (ashenflowers @ May 8 2009, 08:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I think I'd want to start yelling Vive le Canada! afterwards... LOL


Hehehe that is what I was thinking too -- I can see myself raising my other hand afterwards and saying "can I add a caveat to that? Um, Canada, I don't really mean this -- see, look, my fingers are crossed" LOL
CassieFemaleCanada2009-05-08 22:32:00
CanadaDoing the whole dual citizen thing......
QUOTE (Kathryn41 @ May 8 2009, 07:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I feel the same way - and I submitted my application for citizenship last week. The cheque cleared today. I thought long and hard as well - and it is the same thing - the oath. I will say the words but in my heart of hearts I will always be Canadian first. If the US didn't make it so darned hard being a PR in the US then it wouldn't be an issue, but like our choice to live in the US, this choice too is for pragmatic reasons. That being said, I fully intend to be a good US citizen but I would be a good citizen in whatever community I live regardless of citizenship - it is just something in which I believe.

So, I too will cross my fingers and toes. I'm thinking of wearing the flag pin that has both the US and Canadian flag together on it as well as that is the true state of affairs. It is not either/or - it is both.



I am glad that I am not the only one that feels this way, thanks everyone for the dialogue. I am with you Kathryn, I am not doing this for the love of the US, but because it makes life easier in the long run (in my mind, at least). I guess if those words weren't in the oath I wouldn't care so much, but I guess I feel like it's one more thing I am turning my back on (figuratively speaking) and I am not sure I want to go there. I guess I will sit on it some more and see how I feel once we have the fee saved up.
CassieFemaleCanada2009-05-08 22:30:00
CanadaDoing the whole dual citizen thing......
So I am on the verge of pulling the trigger and starting the gathering of the paperwork and stuff for naturalization.

Our plan was always for both of us to eventually get dual citizenship (or at least me) so that we could be in either country without worrying about paperwork. I'm all for that, J is all for that, and I was all gung-ho until the other night when I read the oath I would have to repeat. I mean, really read it.

And I don't think I can do it. I don't think that I can go there and stand up and say:

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen..."

Now I know that Canada doesn't care, I won't lose my Canadian citizenship by doing this, but I am having a hard time wrapping my brain around saying those particular words and meaning it and swearing to it and all that good stuff.

Am I the only one who feels this way? Have any of you guys thought about it?

Your thoughts are welcomed!
CassieFemaleCanada2009-05-08 10:51:00
CanadaGrocery Items Unavailable in the US
QUOTE (MarilynP @ May 1 2008, 01:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
as anyone seen Mr. Big bars down here?? I really miss those... . and my hubby has never heard of them ....


as soon as I got off the plane at Pearson 2 weeks ago, I made a beeline to one of those little magazine/snack stores they have all over the airport and promptly bought a Mr. Big bar. blush.gif Those suckers are soooooooo good!

I brought back a bag of ketchup chips so that my hubby can try them out.
CassieFemaleCanada2008-05-01 16:32:00
CanadaGrocery Items Unavailable in the US
Jam Jams are great! Oh, and chicken bones from Ganong, has anyone seen those around?
CassieFemaleCanada2008-01-22 23:24:00
CanadaGrocery Items Unavailable in the US
QUOTE (Krikit @ Jan 22 2008, 06:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Cassie @ Jan 22 2008, 04:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have yet to find a good substitute for the Kraft pizza dough/sauce in a box mix sad.gif

I'll add it to the list. I have found if you ask at the bakery counter they'll give you the pizza dough. I've also found Boboli Pizza Sauce to be a good substitute. They may even have the dough available because they carry an entire Italian range. Not sure.



the dough was something you mixed yourself -- came with a packet of dough mix, tomato sauce, and in the deluxe version a packet of herbs and a packet of grated parmasan cheese. Good stuff. I personally don't like pre-made dough, usually find it to be too tough. sad.gif
CassieFemaleCanada2008-01-22 19:03:00
CanadaGrocery Items Unavailable in the US
I have yet to find a good substitute for the Kraft pizza dough/sauce in a box mix sad.gif
CassieFemaleCanada2008-01-22 16:59:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
I made a yummy stew in my crockpot, using green onions and herbs from our garden.
CassieFemaleCanada2009-05-10 20:38:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
simple supper here: chili beef macaroni stuff, and then a blueberry muffin after as I was making them for tomorrow's brunch.
CassieFemaleCanada2009-05-08 22:39:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
I hear you Marilyn, I am going tomorrow morning for that exact reason! yes.gif
CassieFemaleCanada2008-11-24 20:24:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
I'm on the board of a non-profit organization that currently runs an after-school program for kids in a neglected area of town. We hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for them and their families tonight and on the menu was: smoked turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, gravy, and dessert. The kids made the bread and butter from scratch -- they did a great job! smile.gif
CassieFemaleCanada2008-11-24 20:19:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
We had Subway subs and they tasted soooo good because we were sooooooo hungry.
CassieFemaleCanada2008-11-19 22:29:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
homemade chili, SO good! smile.gif
CassieFemaleCanada2008-11-18 19:31:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
QUOTE (BH45 @ Nov 14 2008, 07:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thinking it will be a pizza night when hubby gets home after 8 p.m. We haven't had pizza in over a month!!!!



homemade turkey pepperoni pizza going on in our house tonight smile.gif
CassieFemaleCanada2008-11-14 19:53:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
QUOTE (trailmix @ Nov 7 2008, 12:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Emancipation @ Nov 7 2008, 11:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Cassie @ Nov 7 2008, 10:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Not sure what we are gonna have for supper tonight, my husband has announced that he is surprising me with a little road trip to celebrate our anniversary! yay! So I will report back tomorrow with our culinary adventures smile.gif

Happy Anniversary!! smile.gif


Yes, happy anniversary Cassie! I wonder where you guys will end up, sounds like a fun night smile.gif



thanks everyone -- 4 years has flown by fast smile.gif

Ok, so we ended up driving up north to Lawrence, Kansas (home of the University of Kansas, and The Yarn Barn, an amazing knitting/spinning/weaving store). I have always wanted to go to the Yarn Barn, so he booked a suite with a jacuzzi tub and off we went.

Friday lunch was Mexican in Bartlesville. The DH used to work there and raved about this particular Mexican restaurant. He had chicken quesadillas, I had some kind of combo plate. He was so happy (it was pretty good, he let me have a forkful), but I was underwhelmed, my combo plate wasn't anything to write home about.

Friday night was italian, at a place in Lawrence. I would call it a fancier version of Olive Garden. Salad was great, bruschetta was excellent, breadsticks were fabulous. DH had sirloin and fettucine alfredo, both of which were excellent. I had angel hair pasta with basil pesto, and garlic rosemary chicken, which again was disappointing. The chicken was dry, and the pasta was more oily than pesto-ey, if that makes sense.

Today's lunch was chips (yeah yeah, not so nutritious tongue.gif), supper was barbeque in Bartlesville -- again, not bad. Their special sauce was delish, I must say.

Food speaking, the weekend was meh. Now, the rest of it was pretty good, I must say -- had lots of fun at the Yarn Barn (oh, how I need to win Publisher's Clearing House!), and at the used bookstore, and our suite was pretty nice too, so we had a good time smile.gif
CassieFemaleCanada2008-11-08 21:24:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
Not sure what we are gonna have for supper tonight, my husband has announced that he is surprising me with a little road trip to celebrate our anniversary! yay! So I will report back tomorrow with our culinary adventures smile.gif
CassieFemaleCanada2008-11-07 10:57:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
Threw a whole chicken in a crockpot for four hours, and presto! Poached chicken goodness smile.gif
CassieFemaleCanada2008-11-02 21:38:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
I'm making marinated turkey breast loins, dressing, salad, mashed sweet potatoes, whole cranberry sauce, and cornbread. Yum.
CassieFemaleCanada2008-10-12 14:25:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
grilled sausage and salad. yum!
CassieFemaleCanada2008-10-11 14:47:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
QUOTE (Krikit @ Oct 6 2008, 08:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I love roasties. luv.gif That's not weird at all. laughing.gif


ok good *phew* LOL
CassieFemaleCanada2008-10-06 20:02:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
I know this sounds weird, but I had a big plate of roasted potatoes.
CassieFemaleCanada2008-10-06 19:49:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
I had leftovers from a concoction made last night: shredded chicken mixed with honey, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, water, salt & pepper, heated up and served over pasta. Yummy. smile.gif

Edited by Cassie, 01 October 2008 - 09:57 PM.

CassieFemaleCanada2008-10-01 21:57:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
I chopped up some leftover grilled italian sausage, sauteed it in a smidge of olive oil, mixed it with sauce and put it on whole wheat pasta. Yum smile.gif
CassieFemaleCanada2008-09-26 21:05:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
I'm cooking a whole chicken in the slow cooker as we speak, and oh man does it smell good!
CassieFemaleCanada2008-09-14 15:50:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
ooh that sounds yummy Marilyn!
CassieFemaleCanada2008-09-07 16:53:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
If anyone has a good ground turkey recipe, I'm all ears smile.gif
CassieFemaleCanada2008-09-07 16:10:00
CanadaWhat's For Dinner?
If a recipe (like my carrot cake or muffins) calls for a lot of oil, I substitute half the amount with applesauce. Cuts the fat and calories, makes them moister, yet still keeps some of the oil's effects on the end result.
CassieFemaleCanada2008-08-29 11:37:00