ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
CanadaHow did you get by w/o working?
While our petition was in process, I started saving up money from my job to accommodate the jobless period. For moving expenses, I sold most of my stuff to help counter the UPS fees. As a farewell gift my family and close friends also gave me a sum of money to take with me smile.gif

EI is also a great way to get some money while jobless.
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-12 15:03:00
CanadaInterview date!
That's great news! Good luck at the interview biggrin.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-11 20:00:00
CanadaIt's here!
That's fantastic! Yay! biggrin.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-12 17:32:00
CanadaElf time!
Hehe, a bunch of friends posted this on our gaming forum. I laughed so hard I cried biggrin.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-13 15:53:00
CanadaMandatory to change surname when married to US Cit?
QUOTE (Aschaal03 @ Dec 14 2007, 02:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have to ask, even after fear of being laughed at, what is "zed"? (I'm the US side of this US-Canadian relationship).... and I have no idea what you're talking about!


Hehe.

Americans: X, Y, Zee.

Canadians: X, Y, Zed!
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-14 02:16:00
CanadaMandatory to change surname when married to US Cit?
QUOTE (MissStacey @ Dec 13 2007, 04:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have to admit- many people don't pronounce Mel's last name right. It drives me nuts.

I have a nice last name and I like it.


No one (okay, not a single caucasian person) could pronounce my maiden name properly, and it drove me nuts. Now everyone just asks me how to spell Bee's name. It throws them off when I get to the "zed" laughing.gif

What's Mel's last name, Stacey? Is it one of those "Frenchified" Louisiana names?

Edited by ~Nini~, 13 December 2007 - 04:29 PM.

~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-13 16:28:00
CanadaMandatory to change surname when married to US Cit?
Hell no.

...not that I'm a great example wink.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-13 15:53:00
CanadaMoving options!
I basically fit what I could into boxes and shipped it down (from Vancouver to Philadelphia) through UPS ground shipping. I also didn't have any furniture - just books, clothes, my computer and monitor, and various sentimentals. I sold most of the stuff I had before moving down so basically brought bare essentials. Total came down to $350 for five boxes.
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-09 01:21:00
CanadaRoad to Avonlea
I loved the Anne books when I was growing up. Devoured like a kid on milk and cookies biggrin.gif

The Anne movies were great too. Too bad that last one just downright sucked.
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-17 02:16:00
CanadaVaccination paperwork?
QUOTE (slamber2578 @ Dec 17 2007, 03:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I, however, was unable to find on the supplement that i was vaccinated for Pneumococcal so i made an appointment with the doctor for this wednesday to get the shot.. Is a doctors note saying i got the shot enough? or is there something specific they'll req as proof i got the shot? thanks


Don't need Pneumococcal, unless you're two years old or younger wink.gif

Here's a list of the vaccinations you'll need for your appropriate age group. Most often they're MMR, TD and chicken pox.

Edited by ~Nini~, 17 December 2007 - 03:55 PM.

~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-17 15:55:00
CanadaVaccination paperwork?
QUOTE (Toastburglar @ Dec 9 2007, 10:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
so then are you allowed to use doctors that aren't on the list?


Only for vaccinations, if you're intending to get your vaccinations done ahead of time you can use your family doctor. For the required medical examination, you'll need to use the USCIS-certified panel physician.
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-09 22:23:00
CanadaNOA1
Fantastic news, Laura! Now you're truly on the journey! biggrin.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-15 21:06:00
CanadaAnyone
QUOTE (JoeCanuk @ Dec 20 2007, 10:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Do ya like snow? And Amish buggies on the road? If so, you'll love it here. kicking.gif


*taps microphone*

Welcome, welcome, to snowy Pennsylvania! The air is crisp and the Amish are just a stone's throw from your back door! Here in the Keystone state, we have weekly farmers' markets from the local agricultural farms. Come celebrate our homegrown produce while wading through the snowy banks of Amish country! If you play nice, maybe you can hitch a joyride on our local horse-and-buggy team!
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-20 13:18:00
CanadaA whole new meaning to "freezing my butt off"
Oh man, that was hysterical! laughing.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-21 15:08:00
CanadaDrivers licence
Carla is a ninja! biggrin.gif

*needs to try that when she goes to the DMV*

Edited by ~Nini~, 20 December 2007 - 01:15 PM.

~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-20 13:14:00
CanadaDrivers licence
QUOTE (Goldylocks @ Dec 12 2007, 09:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Does anyone know what North Carolina's rules are for driver's licences??


Here's the link for the NC DMV and their listed requirements to get a license: http://www.ncdot.org...quirements.html


QUOTE (Aschaal03 @ Dec 13 2007, 08:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I would also be interested to know what the rules are for Illinois. I tried looking on the DMV site and all it mentions are out-of-state licenses, nothing about international ones. If anyone has this information I'd love it if you shared! smile.gif


From the Illinois DMV FAQs:

QUOTE
I will be working in/moving to Illinois. How do I obtain a driver's license?
Drivers moving to Illinois may use their valid driver's license from their home state or country for 90 days. You may obtain an Illinois driver's license or identification card only if you are becoming a legal resident of Illinois. If you have a valid driver's license from another state or country, you may use it to drive in Illinois throughout your stay (if you do not plan to become a permanent resident of this state). Illinois does not recognize the international driver's license.

To receive an Illinois driver's license or ID card, you must provide acceptable identification to prove name, date of birth, Illinois residency, Social Security Number and your signature for comparison.

To obtain an Illinois driver's license, you must successfully complete a vision screening, written examination and possibly a driving examination, and pay the appropriate fee. An Illinois driver's license is valid for four years. An Illinois ID card is valid for five years.


Acceptable documents for Illinois: http://www.cyberdriv...eptable_id.html

Edited by ~Nini~, 13 December 2007 - 09:15 PM.

~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-13 21:11:00
CanadaDrivers licence
PA will transfer the DL over, no problem.

I'm super happy about that, especially since I was stuck in the graduated driver's licensing program for so long back in BC sleep.gif

Edited by Nini & Bee, 12 December 2007 - 03:05 PM.

~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-12 15:05:00
CanadaFinally...
Oh, that's wonderful news! biggrin.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-17 20:41:00
CanadaHello, everyone...
Hi hun! Glad to see you peeking in! Crossing my fingers that Réjean gets his work permit soon so you can kick your feet up and relax. smile.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-16 15:07:00
CanadaOh Christmas Tree
QUOTE (trailmix @ Dec 11 2007, 09:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
No Hanukkah decorations?


No, not even decorations. Over the years my in-laws have stopped practicing Judaism and now we just celebrate the major holidays with little religious overtones. We only have our electric menorah in the window, and the few cards we received from friends biggrin.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-11 21:51:00
CanadaOh Christmas Tree
We live in a Jewish household - alas, not even a Hanukkah bush. laughing.gif

My sister-in-law has one up which I helped decorate, no pictures though. sad.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-11 21:34:00
CanadaThe in-laws from heck
laughing.gif Bubbie is a sweet lady, just... overprotective, even worse than my own mother. And trust me, Asian mothers are overprotective!
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-11-27 19:07:00
CanadaThe in-laws from heck
QUOTE (Sprailenes @ Nov 27 2007, 04:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
So I told my son I THINK I'm pregnant with twins. And we're moving to China because we like the weather there.


Hahahahaha. laughing.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-11-27 16:51:00
CanadaThe in-laws from heck
Now I feel totally bad for ragging on my MIL... yesterday she came in to talk to me about my student loans. She basically told me that they wanted to help me pay for them if I wasn't going to have my EAD by the time my six-month grace period ends in March. I was like, "...I feel so bad for hating on you sometimes!" heart.gif

Edited by Nini & Bee, 27 November 2007 - 03:11 PM.

~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-11-27 15:10:00
CanadaThe in-laws from heck
QUOTE (Len_and_Bren @ Nov 26 2007, 07:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
sorry to hear she is still thinking Bee is 4 years old. As per your kids, good news is.... they are/will be YOUR KIDS. And if she misbehaves, call 1-900-KILLAH.


I'm honestly worried about having kids around her - she's ridiculously overbearing. My sister-in-law said to me the other day, "I'm surprised Debbie (my MIL) lets me take Maya (her 3-year-old daughter) home at night."

The other night Bee was taking a basket of laundry downstairs. I've never heard my MIL scream that loudly: "PUT THAT DOWN! ARE YOU CRAZY? YOU JUST HAD SURGERY A FEW DAYS AGO! DO YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO THE HOSPITAL?!" Bee and I were like, blink.gif

...and then she did all our laundry. sleep.gif

If we moved to another country (ie. Canada) we would never hear the end of it. Why do you think I'm here? laughing.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-11-26 19:54:00
CanadaThe in-laws from heck
Yeah, we all live together in the same house currently. Both Bee and I have student loans to pay off, and we all agreed that it would be in our best interest to live together until our debts were cleared and we could start saving up for our own home.

The environment is great and we all get along, but Bee and I just need our own space to breathe. Living with the parents can always be stifling. tongue.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-11-22 14:18:00
CanadaThe in-laws from heck
I know I'm resurrecting an old thread, but I have to get this off my chest.

While baking pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving, I brushed the back of my arm against the oven door and lightly burned it. My mother-in-law, who has a tendency to freak out about every little health-related issue (*ahemhypochondriacahem*) wouldn't stop pestering me to get it taken care of. I finally put some ice on my arm just to make her stop nagging at me sleep.gif

This might seem trivial, but Bee had surgery on Friday for a minor hernia and spent the morning in the hospital. My mother-in-law was with me. She was upset at the people that were yapping away behind us (granted, they were a prayer circle - can you believe it?! blink.gif) and couldn't stop muttering curses at the people that had their cell phones ringing. I wanted to crawl under a chair and cry from the stress of it all.

The rest of the week was spent fussing over Bee and getting pissed at him for walking around the house. We were both like, "It's doctor's orders for him to walk around so that things can get better." It was just one thing after another - does he need ice for his teeny incision, don't walk, don't get out of bed, don't do this, oh I get sick on this type of medication so tell your doctor to prescribe you another one, take another pill.

The worst part is that she's like this all the time. I don't know how Bee's dad deals with it - after two minutes of listening to her complain about her aching head and how she had to take codeine pills at work that day, I have to leave the room. Part of it is me refusing to be dependent on any type of medication unless it's absolutely necessary.

Oy, I love her and she has the sweetest heart, but what kind of fit is she going to have when I have babies... sad.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-11-22 01:24:00
CanadaThe in-laws from heck
*hugs Sprailenes*

We live with the in-laws for the time being so that we can save money to clear our various debts. I love my mother-in-law and she's an amazingly generous and sweet lady, but if I have to hear about how she's sick with this ailment or that pain in her whatever organ I'm going to punch my face through the wall.

She's also the one who tried to convince me, Bee, and my father-in-law that we should complain to our state senator because I was having issues finding a non-exploitative doctor to do my I-693A transcript. laughing.gif

Bee and I had a conversation last night about whether we should live close to the parentals so that they can help out with our future kids. My answer: "Seeing as how we won't have kids for at least 7 years... I think we need our sanity more."
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-11-01 16:20:00
CanadaGOT OUR INTERVIEW IN MONTREAL!
That's fantastic news! Congratulations biggrin.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-14 15:02:00
CanadaWhat do I need for a VA state ID.
I'm getting my drink on this weekend. We're seeing out-of-town friends back to back for the holidays so most likely I won't be sober for a few days wink.gif

Edited by ~Nini~, 18 December 2007 - 06:48 PM.

~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-18 18:48:00
CanadaWhat do I need for a VA state ID.
"To apply for a driver’s license, learner’s permit, commercial driver’s license (CDL), or CDL instruction permit you must bring two identification documents, one proof of legal presence, one proof of Virginia residency, and proof of your complete social security number (if you have been issued one).

...

Documents submitted as primary proof of identity must show your full legal name and date of birth. Nicknames will not be accepted. You must present at least one document from the primary list of documents. The second proof of identity may come from either the primary list or the secondary list."
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-18 18:43:00
CanadaWhat do I need for a VA state ID.
Here you go, Liz.

http://www.dmv.state.../pdf/dmv141.pdf
~Nini~FemaleCanada2007-12-18 18:25:00
CanadaNew electronic passports to be introduced by 2011, valid for 10 years.
This sounds like great news. Looking forward to hearing more about this.

*mumbles something about how inconvenient passport renewals from the States are*
~Nini~FemaleCanada2008-02-26 19:53:00
Canada*wave*
Sorry I haven't been around lately. (Y'all probably thought I dropped off the face of the earth...) Len kept poking me over Facebook, so I thought I should finally get out of my cave. biggrin.gif

To update:

There were complications with my paperwork (arrrrrgh at trying to get that sorted out) which has made both Bee and me pretty cranky at the gubbament. We went to our congressman about my missing visa paperwork (which stemmed from the visa miscoding at the POE), and after a few months of their hemming and hawing, we pushed them enough to say, "Hey, we think you should go and do the medical again while we look for your paperwork." The worst part was when the rep told my mother-in-law that the medical cost would be waived - which I knew was a blatant lie, but my MIL cluelessly took for truth. *sigh* So we went and got the second medical done, and now we're hundreds of dollars poorer, but at least we know things are moving on. Hopefully. Right?

On top of that, Bee's mom was in the hospital over most of January, and a few days in February. It's been a little hectic, but mostly things have calmed down. It wasn't anything serious, but she had a flu bug which progressed into pneumonia and wasn't shaking off. She's taken time off work and driving me crazy around the house, but I'm just happy she's home from the hospital.

Otherwise... I hope everyone's been doing well, and I should be lingering around more often so I can make fun of Len's stinky face. tongue.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2008-02-26 17:38:00
CanadaLeaving Your Home Behind
I'm incredibly happy that I came across this thread, just because... well, I don't feel as lonely as I have been for the past few months. Misery loves company, I guess tongue.gif

Since I crossed over in October, it has been a pretty difficult adjustment. Aside from the immigration woes, it's mostly been adjusting to the different lifestyle. Back in Vancouver I used to live within two blocks of a bus stop, which connected me to most of the city. Now I can't get anywhere without taking a car (which I don't have), because even if I wanted to hike to the nearest bus stop, it's hugely unreliable, and taking the SEPTA to Philly is so expensive.

I'm thrilled at living so close to a Whole Foods Market and a Trader Joe's - and yet I still think about the things that are from home. I'm of Asian ethnicity and Vancouver is hugely multicultural, so it's not just poutine that I miss, but also trueblue Chinese food like BBQ meats, soy chicken... I could go on sad.gif And of course I miss the "Canadian" junk food like Cadbury chocolate (oh man, I'd kill for a Wunderbar) and pop with real sugar. I miss hearing people call it "pop"!

It doesn't make it any easier that whenever I talk to some of my American friends online, they tell me that I should be adopting "American customs" now that I live in the States. It just grates on me that they expect me to lose my Canadian identity - coming from Canada, where we embrace cultural differences, that assimilative attitude is mind-blowing. I'll always be a moose-loving, igloo-living Canadian in my heart.

I know Bee feels guilty for my moving down to the States, in a way. He knows I'm dreadfully homesick for my family and the things from home. To be honest, I didn't expect it to be so hard - when we discussed moving, we thought that it would be best for me to move since he had a career and a stable job, and his mother was ill enough that he wanted to be by her side. I don't regret moving at all, but I am just very frightened that I'll never feel like I belong. Nor does Bee's mom hesitate at telling us that she'd prefer us to live close to her so that she can see her grandchildren. (Which, in her eyes, should be soon... which is another thing altogether. Ugh.) I think it hasn't occurred to her very much that my single mother and little sister miss me a great deal right now. My extended family and I aren't close, but... at least they understood certain cultural aspects and quirks that my Jewish in-laws find odd.

I'm guessing that the homesickness will abate once I get to visit in August, but even so... plane tickets are ridiculously expensive, and we're still living on one income right now dry.gif We were considering moving near Seattle or Portland, just because I'd like to be closer to home, and the weather and lifestyle is more what I'm used to. Except... that leaves him farther away from home, which I know would be very difficult for him. So really, no one wins, and where's the fun in that?

And I think Laura touched on something very true. Like her, I didn't really have a best friend... or many close friends, for that matter. Most of the friendships I have now are cultivated online. The only person who I really do get to have a face-to-face conversation with is my husband - but there are only so many times I can gush at him about shoes. tongue.gif So that in a way has aggravated my loneliness. I have a really cool sister-in-law, but she's got a family of her own and maintains a very busy schedule. She's always telling me to interact with people that don't have our last name, but... hey, I'm a shy person who articulates best over the internet. Go figure!

I think that we view the States differently from a visitor's perspective, rather than an immigrant's perspective - even as I was looking forward to the changes, I was taken off guard by them. But... all in all, Bee makes it worth it, every day. Even if I do ache for home in a lot of ways. biggrin.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2008-03-04 15:47:00
CanadaGot our NOA2!!
Wa-woooooooooo! About damn time, congratulations hun! biggrin.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2008-03-04 12:31:00
CanadaDr Morgan Medical Exam in Vancouver
Another thing not mentioned is that you will need to prove immunity to chicken pox, or proof of having been vaccinated for it. I didn't remember if I had it as a kid, so I went to get a blood test. I have heard that some doctors will take proof of oral testimony, but I'd get the test to be on the safe side.

Edited by ~Nini~, 09 March 2008 - 04:52 AM.

~Nini~FemaleCanada2008-03-09 04:52:00
Canadaugh story of our lives, I swear.
*big hugs* I hope it works out for you both.
~Nini~FemaleCanada2008-03-10 21:42:00
CanadaFavorite Things Now That You're in America?
QUOTE (Len_and_Bren @ Feb 29 2008, 02:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I forgot my most fave: TRADER JOE'S


Amen, sister. biggrin.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2008-02-29 15:06:00
CanadaFavorite Things Now That You're in America?
QUOTE (Crikey! @ Feb 27 2008, 04:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I just wanted to say, again, how much I heart.gif the US postal system.


heart.gif the postal system here. It's soooooo much faster than Canada Post. laughing.gif
~Nini~FemaleCanada2008-02-27 17:16:00