My husband Brad and I moved here through a work transfer 4 years ago. Brad has 2 brothers living in the States and I have one brother. We live in a small university town where we have numerous American friends but also ex-pats from Tiawan, Germany, and Italy. It's been easy to make friends since most of the people we meet are also from elsewhere.

Since we love politics, living in New Hampshire has been a boon - first in the nation primaries. We can't wait for the next presidential election since both parties will be running primaries. It's cool to meet eveyone that's running.

Things we miss about Canada - Shreddies, real beer, Coffee Crisp, Aero Bars, Kinder Surprize, peal meal bacon, Rick Mercer, and 6 week elections. Seems there's always some election happening down here. I really miss hearing world news - we listen to CBC over the net and read the Globe and Mail online. It's amazing how isolated I feel here sometimes. We stock up on food everytime we get back home 3x a year.

Susan P., Durham NH, Ontario
March 16, 2006
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I graduated from nursing school in Moncton, New Brunswick, in December 1995. I could not get a full time job in Canada so I went with friends to southwest Kansas to work. I spent 3 years there and met my husband. We moved to rural Northwest Iowa in 1999 and still live here. I love how friendly everyone is here. I do miss my family who have left Northern New Brunswick for Nova Scotia. I do visit every year or so. I have a 4 year old son that enjoys flying in the airplane to visit his grandparents.

I do miss lots of stuff... Canadian shows (although we still get Red Green here), Canadian chinese food (not the same here), Poutine, Tim Hortons, and Canadian chocolate!

Janis W., Rock Valley IA, New Brunswick
March 16, 2006
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I just wanted to send out a big hello to all the Canadians living here in the US. I have been living and working here for many years. Some of you may recall my pop musical group Abraham's Children - we had a string of hits in Canada and the US. I continue to tour here and up in the Great White North. I would love to hear from some of my native friends. There is a great event every year celebrating Canada Day and I would love to meet some of you. Take care.

Jimi B., Highland CA, Ontario
March 9, 2006
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I have been in the USA now for just over five years. Often I meet other Canadians at events in Atlanta such as a hockey game or a concert and everyone seems to say the same thing, why isn't there a place for us all to meet and keep in touch. Taking this to heart I started a website that will act as a resource for Canadians in Atlanta for news, events and information. The website is www.atlcanadians.com. Come on by and get on the contact list!

Marty S., Sandy Springs GA, Nova Scotia
March 9, 2006
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Bonjour!

Un petit mot en français pour faire changement :-) Nous sommes un couple de Québec (Neufchatel), qui est passé par Montréal pour ensuite s'expatrier aux E-U. Nous sommes aux E-U depuis près de 9 ans déja. Comme ça passe vite!! Nous sommes déménagés à Santa Clara en Californie. C'était le 28 Juin 1997. Nous avons habité la vallée (à 45 minutes de San Francisco) pendant presque 4 ans. Nous en avons bien profité pour visiter l'État de la Californie. Le Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Yosemite et même une virée en Colombie Britanique, les Rocheuses, etc... Une fin de semaine, nous allions faire une ski alpin au Lake Tahoe et la fin de semaine suivante, nous marchions dans le sable sur le bord de la mer. Fantastique!

Nous avons décidé de partir lorsque nous avons voulu nous acheter une maison. Les prix dans la vallée étaient exhorbitants et nous n'étions pas interessés à nous installer dans le "Central Valley". De plus, le traffic était épouvantable!

Nous avons choisi de nous installer au Texas. À Richardson plus précisément (près de Dallas). Nous y vivons depuis près de 5 ans. Nous aimons beaucoup les envirrons. C'est un endroit très famillial.

Maintenant, il reste à voir ce que l'avenir nous réserve.

Nathalie P., Richardson TX, Quebec
March 9, 2006
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Although I was born in England, I moved to Toronto when I was 6 and was raised as a Canadian citizen. I moved to the U.S. in 1996 because I couldn't find work as a nurse. I've moved around a bit, worked as a travel nurse, met my husband in Texas, and had a baby girl, Sophie last year! I love the opportunities available in the states, have a lakefront home with a pool, something unaffordable in T.O. but I miss Canadian chocolate, Swiss Chalet & Tim Horton's coffee! Sophie's American before me! Now working in Neonatal ICU in Orlando & love it and expecting my second baby this year. I didn't use to think Canadians have accents, but now I can hear it from my family & friends. I grew up in Milton, ON. Would love to hear from other Canucks in Orlando/Daytona area.

Helen G., Deltona FL, Ontario
March 9, 2006
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Originally from Calgary where I still have family, as well as in Ontario, I came to Texas in 1998 after completing an Ocean and Naval Architectural Engineering Degree at MUN and went to work for a Consulting Company in the offshore industry. During the course of that job, I travelled extensively, to Korea, China, Trinidad, Panama, the Netherlands but mostly to Mexico where I met the lady who is now my wife. Our daughter was born in my wife's home town of Tampico but we are all living in Houston so we are a true NAFTA family! If my daughter had been born in Houston, she would have been eligible for three passports, a true NAFTA baby!!! Maybe our next one.

I have been working in Houston for one of the leading offshore contruction company's for the last three years and immensely enjoy the work. I try to get back to Canada at least once a year and usually manage to do so. I would like to eventually (in 20yrs or so) retire back to Canada, living on property I own on Mayne Island in the Gulf Islands near Vancouver but it will take a lot of convincing for my wife to spend winters in Canada so it may take me that long to convince her! In any case, I am proud to be Canadian and always will be!

Andrew M., Houston TX, Alberta
March 9, 2006
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For our New Brunswick neighbours in Florida, the annual New Brunswick Day Picnic was held on Feb. 20, 2006 at Fort DeSoto Park in Florida.

Although, New Brunswick Days has been held for quite a number of years, our organizing team is exceptionally proud of the response at "our" first attempt to organize the picnic. From all reports the event was an overwhelming success! Our efforts to promote the event by "blitzing" the entire region with fliers appear to have produced good results. We had a considerable increase in attendance over the previous two years with 485 people registered from ages 2 years to 90 years. With the assistance of the Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA), we were able to present in excess of fifty prizes and gifts to attendees. The picnic'ers were entertained for several hours by amateur and professional musicians, and an Acadian dance group from the Moncton area.

We have already confirmed reservations for next years N.B. Day Picnic which will be held at the same place on "President's Day", Monday, February 19, 2007.

Next year would obviously be a great opportunity to meet several hundred New Brunswickers, your next door neighbours.

The photo attached shows the organizing team that worked so hard to make the N.B. Day Picnic, 2006 such a success.

PHOTO: Photo Left to right is CSA Director Bob Slack, Co-Chair Claude & Joyce Cyr, Chair/Coordinator Ron & Judy Steeves, and assisted by Paul & Jan Urquhart

Ron Steeves, Chair/Coordinator, Fredericton Claude Cyr, Co-Chair, Harvey Station

Ron S., CLEARWATER FL
March 9, 2006
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Almost 3 years ago I moved here because my then-boyfriend (he's originally from Winnipeg) was transferred to NYC. I was also able to get transferred through my company. Like many others, I planned only to come for a couple of years but I've now gotten pretty settled here. That boyfriend and I got married last summer and our near future at least appears to be here.

We've got a great network of Canadian friends in New York, but have met many great New Yorkers as well. We keep connected to our Canadian roots through frequent trips back. We also do the Terry Fox Run in Central Park every year and keep up with some University of Western Ontario alumni events througout the year.

Annie L., New York NY, Ontario
March 9, 2006
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I first moved to the United States in 1989 to attend graduate school in California. We then moved to Europe and back to British Columbia. In 1996 we returned to the USA as a result of a job. We lived in Lawrence, Kansas, and in 1999 moved to Mesa, Arizona where we are still living.

Karl M., Mesa AZ, British Columbia
March 9, 2006
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