Hello Fellow Expat Canadians. I am originally from Saskatoon, and my husband is from Calgary. We moved to the U.S. over twenty years ago. At the time, we were just married and, since we didn't have any kids, decided to be adventurous and go to school in the States. One thing led to another, and the next thing we knew, my husband had a great job, I was going for a grad degree, and we had two kids. We've lived in Kansas City, MO, St. Paul, MN, San Diego, CA, NW Arkansas, and currently live in a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA. It's been great, and we've met a lot of wonderful people. However, our sons are now 13 & 11, and we feel that changes need to be made. We've always discussed moving back to Canada, and feel that we need to do so before the kids get too old. So, we are moving to Victoria, BC in a few weeks. It's a radical move, but we are excited and happy. It will be a big change, but we believe that it is the best thing we can do for our family. We generally try to spend about a month every summer in Western Canada, so the boys do know what to expect. We think the boys will adapt beautifully. We have been lucky--we've made some great friends, and believe that we'll be able to keep our U.S. friends, while seeing a lot more of our beloved Canadian friends. So, to those of us we leave behind, best of luck, and remember to keep at least a bit of Canada in your hearts!

Leina P., Sewickley PA, Saskatchewan
August 18, 2006
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Like many, I met my American spouse online back in 1996 when people didn't meet online. He was a cheerleader for University of Richmond, Va and I was cheering for University of New Brunswick and happened upon the UR Cheerleader website. We became friends, met in 1996 and married in 1998. I figured I could restart my education down in the States and he could work. So, I packed up my bags and moved to New Jersey in the summer of 1998. After 9 long months of immigration problems, I finally got a work permit and then eventually got my green card in 2000. Very stressful and trying on a new marriage and a homesick Maritimer!

Eight years later, we've got a set of 6 year old twins and a 3 year old who proudly exclaim they are Canadian too! I've sort of become part of the hustle and bustle of the Jersey suburbs and have lost my Canadian accent (although I still say pop, sorry and mum) and gained a bit of a New Yorker accent. Although I quickly fall back into the iambic pentameter (as my husband calls it) of the Maritimer.

I get homesick in the fall and spring for home. We do get back about twice a year spending relaxing summers in Shediac. I always knew Canadians were different from Americans but not as much until I moved down here. How does a kid grow up not knowing the beeps on the CBC at 1 o'clock or hear the Hockey Night in Canada music? I enjoy getting my MACLEANS each week to keep me grounded.

Hope to connect with others and wish I'd found this site years ago!

Lindsay W., Hazlet NJ, New Brunswick
August 18, 2006
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Immediately after graduating from the University of Windsor, I moved to the San Francisco area to "hang-out" with a friend! We eventually got married, moved to Charlotte NC, Houston TX, then finally Orlando FL. I worked for the YMCA for 7 years working my way up to a Sr. Marketing Director. I have recently left the Y and have landed a really great job! Basically I am a property manager for Reunion Resort & Club! The best part of it, is that the employment package includes living in a 4 bedroom pool home on the resort and all my bills are covered!

My husband (a US citizen) and my 2 children are loving it. I feel like I am on vacation every day! We're minutes from Disney and an hour from both the Gulf and Atlantic ocean, not to mention the resort amenities! Due to the alligators - I no longer dream of living on a lake! Besides my family, I miss outdoor adventures in the fresh water lakes in Northern Ontario - though cold you know they are refreshing and clean! I miss McIntosh toffee, Aero, Ketchup chips, poutine and Mom's cooking! Having 2 children born in the U.S., I would have to say I miss the 1 year maternity leave offered in Canada! I am looking into U.S. citizenship now but would NEVER drop my Canadian citizenship. I am a PROUD Canadian!

Deidre L., Reunion FL, Ontario
August 18, 2006
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I moved to the SF Bay Area during the dot.com boom, imported by a small record company to help run their national music competition.

Seven years later, I've changed jobs a number of times - I'm currently the Special Events Manager for the Mill Valley Film Festival - and for the first time since I got to this country, I am working for a company with NO other Canadians! I'm a MontrealTonian (born & raised in Montreal and moved to Edmonton as an adult) and two jobs ago, there were three other MontrealTonians in a company of 14 people.

I keep telling myself I'm going to move back one day. I've been green carded since '04, so "one day" seems to get further and further back. But I read Connect2Canada, the Edmonton Journal, the Montreal Gazette (both of which papers I used to work for), CTV and CBC news online regularly, I visit at least once or twice a year (I own a small music festival in Edmonton and my folks are still in Montreal), and I always have a freezer full of Montreal bagels! And yes, there's a Canadian flag on my desk at work...

Jessika D., , Alberta
August 7, 2006
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I was born and raised in Iroquois Falls, Ontario which is 22 miles NE of Timmins but spent my adult life in Southern Ontario, St. Catharines to be exact. I moved to Oklahoma City in November of 1997 when I married an American Air Force Captain. Unfortunately, the marriage didn't last but I fell in love with the area and stayed in Oklahoma City until April of this year. It doesn't matter where I go, I can't seem to find a decent donut (God I miss Tim Horton's) and I definitely miss my Harvey's Hamburgers.

All of my family is still up in Canada with the exception of my Daughter and Granddaughter both of whom live in Oklahoma City. I miss my family and friends up home and try to get back up there to visit as often as possible which lately hasn't been in a couple of years. I am trying to find more Canadians in the Conway - Little Rock area of Arkansas to hook up with so if anyone is reading this from that area and you are Canadian please contact me. I miss Grape and Wine Festival and I miss celebrating July 1st and 4th in Fort Erie.

Helen S., Conway AR, Ontario
August 7, 2006
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Bonjour! Je m'appelle Gardenia C. Hung. Dès que j'étais petite mes parents m'apprennais le français car ils étudiaient la langue française à l'université. En plus, j'avais membres de ma famille qui habitaient au Canada, surtout à Vancouver, en Colombie Britannique. Après, pendant mes années des études au lycée, je continuais à étudier la langue française avec ma professeure, Mme. D'Andrea, qui faisait des études à Québec au Canada. En 1981, je voyageais à Montréal d'abord et puis à la Ville de Québec en faisant des études de bourse en français, à l'Université Laval. Après, je voyageais à Calgary, Alberta pendant l'été. J'aime bien encore parler la langue française aussi bien que l'anglais avec des amis et des amies canadien(nes). A bientôt!

Gardenia C. H., Lombard IL
August 7, 2006
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I have been living in the US for almost 20 years. I first came down in 1987 for a PhD in Analytical Chemistry. I returned to the US during the economic crisis of 1994 for employment. Then I decided to go to medical school and got my MD in 2003. I'd like to return to work in Canada but only if my New York state medical license can be directly transferred--I'm not willing to spend thousands of dollars and weeks of study to take the Canadian boards--and if I can live in a big city. I've contacted medical programs in Canada but they don't have a process to deal with US trained Canadians--there's only a process to import overseas MDs. So at present, no plans to return home.

Ca fait presque 20 ans que je vis aus EU. Je suis venu pour la premiere fois en 1987 pour un doctorat en sciences chimiques. Comme je n'ai pas pu obtenir un job au Canada pendant la crise economique de 1994, je suis reparti pour les USA en 1995. Je suis entre dans l'ecole de medicine en 1999 et je suis medecin dans l'etat de NY presentement. J'ai essaye plusieur fois m'informer comment rentrer en tant que medecin au Canada mais il parait qu'il faut refaire les examens canadiens et meme peut-etre refaire l'internat (residence medicale). Ca, je n'y suis pas partant, donc je reste aux USA, faute de processus pour repatrier les medecins canadiens ayant fait leur formation ici.

Earl S., Brooklyn NY, Manitoba
August 7, 2006
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When I was transferred to the Boston area in 1995, I thought it was temporary! But here I am 11 years (and counting) later, a permanent resident who's slowly becoming a New Englander (although I can only cheer for the Red Sox if the Jays are out of it or the Yankees involved). I love the New England landscape, especially the White Mountains of New Hampshire and I have a great group of hiking friends but I miss Canada a lot, especially my family.

Keith M., Needham MA
August 3, 2006
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I moved to Indiana in 1998 after meeting my future husband. I received an H1B visa and worked for a short time until we married in 2000. I changed jobs shortly thereafter and still work for the same company. We have a good life here in northern Indiana but my family are all in BC. I try to get up to visit but it is never enough. Telephone calls and the internet keep me grounded. I get up to Detroit monthly and when there I get a fix of CBC and Tim's. These are small things but I still miss many of the things I can't get here such as gravy with my fries. The kids laugh at the way I say things like "phoning home"and "going to the show" and going on "holidays". I would love to connect with others in my area or other westcoasters...

Lorna S., Fort Wayne, IN USA IN, British Columbia
August 3, 2006
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Hi, I am married to an American and am living part time in Bolingbrook, IL. I find it very difficult not having my family around me. I miss it so much. Every two months I have to go back to Cornwall,ON and stay a while and visit my kids and family.

Denise D., bolingbrook IL, Ontario
August 3, 2006
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