I moved to the US in November of 1999. My husband had a dream of living in the US and so I agreed to try it. We first moved to Seattle WA and lived there for 3 years but the rain managed to drive us out. Being 2 hours away from Canada was great since I could drive up every so often and go get some of the stuff you just can't find in grocery store in the US.

We then moved to Colorado and stayed for 9 months. This was great because we managed to meet more people from Québec there and have friends our own age and speaking the same language as us. But the economy was not as great so we moved to California. We have been here for about 3 years and I still can't get used to the heat. I miss the great Canadian winters! Explaining to people who wear a fur coat at 10c that it's not cold is not an easy task. I love the cold so much I actually went back for a 3 months visit starting with the Christmas holidays! We usually amuse ourselve in early December and go for a picnic in Big Bear wearing nothing but t-shirts and jeans and we clear out the snow from the park benches and sit and eat. We sure get many dropped jaws!

I work for the fire dept. in Orange County and those guys are always amazed at the firefighters from Canada and all they have to deal with, which makes me even more proud to tell them I have Canadian friends who are firefighters.

I miss the wildlife from home being from the region of the Pontiac I had regular visitors like racoons, deers, bears, wolves and such. Here the cities are so big... I miss home terribly and I am trying to convince my hubby that 7 years is enough and that it's time to go home but I keep getting the same excuses: tax, winter, mosquitoes as big as a moose, black flies.

Maybe if I can connect with a few more Canadians I won't be so homesick all the time. I only get to go home for Christmas and it's never long enough and each and everytime I leave Ottawa, my plane is always on the side that I can see my parents waving and as we taxi tears start to flow. It is actually getting harder and harder each time. Thank God for computers, e-mail and phones! And Hockey. So the Anaheim Ducks are not the Montreal Canadians but we found a few Americans who can cheer a team and know hockey almost like a Canuck does! Hope to hear for people!

Anne C., Tustin CA, Quebec
July 11, 2006
permalink

Hi there fellow Canadians abroad! My family and I moved West to Seattle from Toronto in 1999. One of the things we got as soon as we moved here was a satellite dish so that I could watch my Leafs play hockey. I also took the opportunity to personalize my license plates out here with GOLEAFS - something I could never have gotten in Toronto! Those plates are a great way to meet fellow Canadians who either love or hate my plates, depending on their team affiliation! It's been interesting living in the US during these turbulent years: we've experienced the WTO riots in Seattle, the earthquake in Seattle and 9/11. You'd have to drag me kicking and screaming back East - no offense people but nothing beats the mountains (: - but I'd be happy to move up to Vancouver if we need to. We now have two children, one Canadian and one American who travels on her Canadian passport. Life is great out here! I miss Canada during national sporting events and I miss having knowledgeable people to talk hockey with!

Kathy S., Issaquah WA, Ontario
July 11, 2006
permalink

Bonjour. Nous sommes une famille d'origine québécoise et nous habitons la Pennsylvanie depuis 1992!

Adaptation has not been easy, we do miss our native cuisine, culture and friends. Thanks to the advent of the Internet, it's been easier to keep in touch, order books and CDs and even show Hallowe'en costumes to the grandparents using our webcam.

My husband Ben works for a pharmaceutical company and our 2 children are very happy with their American friends, and also enjoy visiting relatives and friends up in Canada.

Thanks to everyone who took time to write their story! It's heartening to realize that we all miss our Shreddies, Aero bars (and in our case, Oka cheese) terribly!

Anne-Marie, Benoît, François and Olivier

Anne-Marie L., New Hope PA, Quebec
June 28, 2006
permalink

I moved to Maryland in September 1997 to teach in a private school. My initial thought was to teach only for one or two years and return back to Canada. After 9 years, I am still here.

I usually got back to British Columbia once or twice a year to visit family. I also get my fill of Timmy's, White Spot burgers, O Henry chocolate bars, real Smarties, Coffee Crisps, HNIC and many other things.

I have come to enjoy living close to DC, having many friends, going to Caps games, attending special events on the Mall and visiting the museums. One day I may actually try to become a U.S. citizen.

Winnifred L., Rockville MD, British Columbia
June 27, 2006
permalink

My husband, Matthew, and I met in Vienna, Austria in 1998. He is an American and was doing his student teaching there at the time and I was a nanny for a Canadian couple who had family living in Vienna. They arranged for Matthew to be my tour guide of Vienna for the duration of my stay and needless to say the rest is history. We now live in Saint Cloud, MN but have lived in ND, and SD as well. I have found it difficult adjusting to all things American and love the idea of having a group of Canadians who want to get together and share their stories and maybe just chat about all things Canadian sometimes.

Amanda S., Saint Cloud MN, Ontario
June 27, 2006
permalink

We celebrated Canada Day at my office in Parsippany, NJ a couple of days early this year -- I wasn't convinced I could entice many guests in on a Saturday! This year's event was hilarious! More than 60 guests arrived to play Canadian Trivia, Name the Canadians in Parsippany (there are five in my office), and learn Oh Canada. We celebrated with peppermint nobs from Newfoundland, nanaimo bars from BC, and the ever-popular cake decorated in the shape of a Canadian flag (with Swedish Fish!) Door prizes were plentiful and ranged from ball caps adorned with maple leafs, to Molson t-shirts, to beer holders, to umbrellas -- anything that could have a maple leaf on it made its way to this event! I even arranged for an "authentic Canadian hockey bag" which was the highlight of the day! :) From the sounds of the post-party chatter and the midst-party roar, "Celebrate Canada in Parsippany" was a wonderful way to share our Canadian culture and strengthen the bond with our neighbors.

Melissa B., Parsippany NJ, Prince Edward Island
June 27, 2006
permalink

I met my husband in a parking lot of Chili's! I was recurited from Canada by a Human Service Company located outside of Boston, MA. I worked for this company for over 3 years. About a year and half after moving to Mass. I went out with friends to a Chili's. When we were saying good bye, this cute guy in the parking lot, said "Have a nice evening". Well that was all it took. This was a Thursday, we went out on a the following Saturday. This happened in October of 2002. We got engaged in November and married in January of 2003. We now have a 8 month old and have lived in 3 states - Mass, NC, and Maine. So that is my wacky story. As much as a miss Canada, I am glad I came here. Who would of thought you could meet the love of your life in a parking lot?

Cherie C., Parsonsfield ME, New Brunswick
June 27, 2006
permalink

My Mother was born in Ontario, my Dad in Ohio. I was born in Buffalo and moved to Ontario in 1970. I became a citizen and lived happily in Ontario for many years. I have 2 children, 1 born in Pennsylvania - who lives in Ontario, and 1 born in Ontario who lives in Tennessee. We are all citizens of both countries. For employment reasons, I wound up in the States again, but will be retiring soon, and am looking forward to returning to Canada!

Elaine B., Erie PA
June 23, 2006
permalink

I left Ontario about 9 years ago as the job situation in and around Toronto at that time was pretty dismal. Moved down to Virginia at first and met the love of my life. Decided to stay but still make the manadatory trip back home at Christmas time. Like many others have mused, the absence of Tim's, HNIC (purchase the Center Ice hockey package to get it though) and other Canadian traditions make it hard at times but for the most part we're all the same. Would love to retire back in Canada at some point though.

Rob B., Fort Washington MD, Ontario
June 23, 2006
permalink

My wife and I moved to Savannah in October for an adventure during the last decade of our working life. We live in a bucolic paradise called Isle of Hope in one of the greatest neighborhoods in the world. I have found these southerners to be genuine, warm, friendly, welcoming and everything that Candians are proud to be known for. Ironically, as we head to Ontario for our daughter's wedding, we are closer to Toronto here than we were in Halifax. Cheers to all.

Bruce C., Savannah GA, Nova Scotia
June 23, 2006
permalink