I have been here just over two years now! Wow! Salt Lake City of all places - I even amaze myself. I never thought I would move to the U.S., let alone into the desert. I am West Coast, BC girl. What would I live in a desert for?

Things are going well though I must say. I am adjusting to city life (the last town I lived in for 18 years was 5000 people) and the heat. I am slowly seeing the beauty of the desert, the flowering cactus after a quick spurt of hard rain, the smell of sage brush, the little desert daisies and I must say the ability to grow hot peppers and tomatoes without a greenhouse is pretty satisfying.

I still can't let go of my Canadian roots, no doubt. I hold onto customs deep and let words out like "touque", "eh" and "sorry". I make Christmas pudding, celebrate Canada Day and watch hockey with a fervour that makes people from Michigan proud.

I am adjusting somewhat to the U.S. and like the feeling of living in a foreign land as a foreigner but yet, I am not too far from home and my family. Besides I am continuing the family tradition of jumping borders as I am a fourth generation border hopper.

sarah w., Sandy UT, British Columbia
June 23, 2006
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Hi everyone. I have been living in NC for 6 years now and love it here. I lived in Charlotte, NC for 2 years and then moved to a rural area called Cotton Grove, near Lexington, NC. I landed a great job working for a manufacturer of motion systems for reclining chairs, beds, tables, etc. We ship our parts all over the world. I became a US citizen in January of 2005 and now hold dual citizenship. Although I love my home here and all that goes with it, I'll always be Canadian. My roots are in British Columbia and I travel back there as often as I can. My sister comes here for holidays and loves it also. The things I miss are the crisp Rocky Mountain air on a spring/fall morning, the smell of cedar after it's rained and Tim Horton's coffee and donuts! You gotta love them!

Darcee K., Lexington NC, British Columbia
June 23, 2006
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I grew up in Unionville, Ontario, when it was mostly rural farms. I spent my summers in Nova Scotia and attended university in Hamilton, Victoria and T.O. I've lived in the south annex, in Kenora, Prince George, Dundas and Edmonton. I've waterskied on the St. Lawrence and the Niagara rivers, flown in float planes across muskeg, dog sledded in Whitehorse, hiked on Long Beach, skiied down Mnt St. Anne at New Years. I've dug clams in Tatamagouche, eaten lobster in Charlottetown, and walrus, ooligan and salmon in New Aiyansh. I've attended Lilith Fair and the Toronto Film Festival. I sing the Canadian version of "This Land is Your Land" and once chatted with Gordon Lightfoot on Bloor St.

Five years ago a divorce, a job offer and my research speciality brought me to Honolulu, where it's beautiful, warm, and the air smells like flowers. My daughter will graduate high school in 2007. We enjoy snorkling, watching the surfers and kayaking. But nothing compares to home. There are lots of Canadians in Hawai`i, and plenty more in the tourist season, but no real 'Canuck community'. Nevertheless, we have many friends here now, and a good life. But, frankly, the lure of Canada is strong and we often think of returning home. Maybe even next year!

Heather Y., Port Moresby HI
June 23, 2006
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Like the other writers, I have adjusted to living in the U.S. and I also answer, when asked which country I prefer, that Canada and the U.S. are different - one is not better than the other (but my heart will always belong to Canada!). I was brought up in NS and moved to NJ from Kitchener - my husband is an Italian-American from Brooklyn and at the time was not ready to move to Canada so we settled in NJ almost 10 years ago. I also miss Tim Hortons, "pop", and Crispy Crunch along with family and friends. I return "home" on a regular basis, and I truly value my Canadian citzenship and my heritage!

Diane B., Edison NJ, Nova Scotia
June 14, 2006
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Hi, it's been so nice to read stories about other fellow Canadians in the U.S.! I am from Montreal (proud to be!) but presently live in the DC area. It has been a wonderful experience living here but I often miss home!

I went to grad school in San Antonio, Texas and had a great time there before relocating to Maryland to teach. It's funny, while I was in Texas, people were always suprised to meet a Black Canadian like that was an impossibility!! So it was always a lot of fun to surprise them. I miss eating Shreddies, Smarties, Coffee Crisps and all the wonderful cafes, great food, Montreal's jazz fest, and my wonderful cosmopolitan hometown! The DC area is also a great place too... Salut!

Carolyn M., Laurel MD, Quebec
June 14, 2006
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My husband and I met on a Christian website back in 1998 and we married 10 months later in 1999. He is from Eetroit, Michigan and I am originally from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia but worked in Halifax for 7 years. In May 2004, I became a US citizen. I am also an alumni of Acadia University, Acadia Divinity College and the University of Windsor. We have two beautiful girls, ages 3 years and 6 months. I taught school for five years and took the past year off to spend at home with my newborn while operating an educational consulting business. I miss Nova Scotia and make yearly visits. I am so glad that we have a site to connect Canadians living in the USA.

Aretha B., Detroit MI, Nova Scotia
June 14, 2006
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Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario I moved around southwestern Ontario working for the feds until one day I saw an opportunity to work in private industry with Avco Corp in London, Ont. I discuused the possibilty of moving to the parent company in Newport Beach, CA and lo and behold a year later I was tanning myself at the beach in February instead of shoveling snow. That was in 1981 and 25 years later I am living my dream.

Always employed, cashing in on the real estate boom and playing golf 52 weeks out of the year, I have never looked back.

I still have family back in Windsor whom I visit periodically. I have remained a green card holder, never opting to obtain citizenship even though I married a California girl.

I am currently a member of the Canadian Society of Southern California for primarily social reasons and have been a board member of the now defunct California Canadian Chamber of Commerce. I play hockey in an organized league in Anaheim. Drop me a line.

Jim B., Lake Forest CA, Ontario
June 14, 2006
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I am from Calgary and met my American husband when I was teaching english in Korea and he was a U.S. soldier. We now live in Tucson, AZ, where he is in law enforcement and I'm adjusting to the sauna heat!

We have a great group of Canadians here that meet about once per month. Our group is called O Canada Tucson - http://www.ocanadatucson.com - and we also have a yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tucsoncanadians/

I miss a lot of things from home like Tim's, HNIC, the Molson ads, Aeros and Ketchup Chips. I get home a few times per year as my parents still live in Calgary. Canada will always be home and we plan to retire there. We don't have any kids, but we have two furbabies who rule the roost.

If you're interested in meeting other Canadians in Tucson, please drop me a line. Our next gathering is Canada Day and we'd love to meet you!

Cathy P., Rosemount MN, Alberta
June 14, 2006
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I decided to move to the Golden Isles to be with my better half. We had met about six months prior to my decision to pay a visit. Of course, a permanent plan was not present at this time.

My wife and I have been married eight years this November and we have an adorable six year old son. He's pretty decent on skates (not much icetime around our parts) and even better in baseball and on rollerblades.

Everyone who knows me knows I'm Canadian. Be it the flag in front of our house, the Maple Leafs license plate on the front of our SUV or a fridge full of imported beverages, they know who the Canuck is and I'm not afraid to show it. (i.e. - Leafs vs Canes in conference finals a few years ago) Ask any coworker of mine and they know about Sleemans or Molsons and of course "STANLEY".

I'm proud to be Canadian and I'm proud to have friends and family recognize that.

Terry M., St. Simons Island GA, Ontario
June 14, 2006
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I met my wife, Kelly, while teaching in Japan. After a year in Canada together, we had an opportunity to train at The University of Arizona. My wife is now a CPA and I have my doctorate in Educational Leadership. I serve as Director of Technology at the College of Education, I am father to a lovely middle school aged daughter, and I regularly listen to CBC live on the internet or via podcasts.

The poetry I write always seems to find its energy in my Canadian roots. After a trip to Washington last year, just before Canada Day, I found I had no identifying papers to prove my Canadian heart so I wrote an epic poem in praise of all the little things that constitute my Canadian identity. Perhaps someday I will get it published somewhere or leave it online for my fellow ex-pats to add on their own insights.

Michael M., Tucson AZ, Ontario
June 8, 2006
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