My name is Mary Jane and I am originally from the small community of St. Thomas, Ontario. I moved to Calgary in 1979 to attend the University of Calgary. At the time, higher education was only marginally interesting to me. So, by 1981 I found myself drawn to California to meet up with my sister who had moved there with her American husband. I hitch-hiked with 2 girlfriends from Calgary to Los Angeles. Fast forward to 2006 where I have been happily married for 18 years, have 2 wonderful children and live in our own home which is within walking distance to the beach.

What I miss most about Canada is my family (my sister moved back there in 1988) in Ontario and my wonderful life-long friends that I left behind. Although I stay in touch with them via telephone and e-mail, we have not been back to Canada since my parents passed away in 2003. Our plan for this Christmas, however, is to spend it with family (and friends) in St. Thomas! Although we are very settled here in Southern Calfiornia, no matter where else life may take me, my heart and devotions will always lie in the land of the beaver and the maple trees!

Mary Jane K., Torrance CA, Ontario
June 8, 2006
permalink

I came to the U.S. by accident. I had been working in Tokyo for a few months in the late 1980s and I literally bumbed into an American colleague after work. We had a few drinks and we've been married 15 years, 14 of those in the U.S.

After leaving Japan we first moved to Honolulu, where I worked as a writer and editor, then communications director. Looking for professional development (and income) and to be closer to family we moved to the DC area, where we've been for six years. Ironically, my first employer (an international conservation group) employed a lot of Canadians but had no interest in the place. My current employer has no Canadians that I'm aware of but my immediate colleagues have an insatiable interest in our country.

Part of my time I work as freelance writer and would love to meet and learn about Canadians active in the DC area.

Patrick J., Alexandria VA, Ontario
June 8, 2006
permalink

Hello to all fellow Canadians!

As a Montreal native, I miss Canada and its rich culture dearly. My husband - who hails from Belleville, ON - and I moved to New York City in 2003 as part of a corporate transfer and now reside in sunny Los Angeles. We love this stateside adventure, but our hearts belong to the great Northern country and its genuinely good-natured people. The more we travel, the more Canadian we feel. We visit our hometowns every couple of months, prioritizing friends and family above all else. We don't know where our path will lead, but it will always cross with Canada. To all those who are homesick: we find it helps to call your loved ones very, very often, just to share in everyday life, and we love to keep in touch via webcam.

Caroline B., Playa Del Rey CA, Quebec
June 8, 2006
permalink

J'ai laissé mon travail d'agent de bord à Air Canada et déménagé au Texas en 1978. Après le décès de mon époux, j'ai considéré retourner au Canada avec mes jeunes enfants, mais j'ai vite rencontré mon présent époux. Je suis retournée aux études et travaille comme photographe depuis ma graduation.

Mes filles et moi avons double citoyenneté . Je suis très fière d'être Canadienne. Le problème est que mon époux ressent la même chose envers ses racines Texanes. La solution: plusieurs visites annuelles avec la famille à Montréal.

* * *

I left my job as a flight attendant for Air Canada after marriage and moved from Montréal to Houston in 1978. I considered going back to Canada with my two young girls after the death of my husband, but soon met my current one. After a few years, I went back to school and have been doing on-location photography since graduation.

My daughters and I enjoy dual citizenship. Nothing will ever take Canada out of me, and nothing will take the Texan roots out of my husband, so we have a dilemma on where to spend the rest of our lives. The solution? Visit family several times a year.

Linda L., Houston TX, Quebec
June 8, 2006
permalink

We left Calgary for New Jersey in 1993 to take advantage of a job offer after winning a green card in the lottery. We spent 3 years in south Jersey, taking advantage of the ocean and beaches. We then moved to Maryland for another job, settling in Keymar, Carroll County. The job has gone well and the area is very nice. Eveyone we have met has treated us well and we have developed many good friendships. Our three youngest children are Americans and we have decided to apply for citizenship as well. We have set down roots and don't expect to return to Canada so we might as well be able to vote!

We do miss our families and try to get back home at least twice a year where we stock up on the essentials: Tim Horton's Coffee, Oreos (there is a difference), butter tarts, Coffee Crisp, Shreddies and Fudgee-os. I play hockey with several other Canadians in Frederick and watch lots of hockey on the NHL Center Ice package on DirecTV! Tim Horton's is getting closer all the time. I can get to one after only a 6 hour drive to Columbus ,OH or Batavia, NY! I still cheer for the Blue Jays and my beloved Canadiens! I also miss the CFL and many people here in Maryland remember that Baltimore did win the Grey Cup but I don't miss the cold winters in Western Canada. Retirement plans for me are to head south to stay warm! Go Habs Go!

Henry T., Keymar MD
June 8, 2006
permalink

Love brought me to the United States. I was born in Calgary, received my Bachelor's degree from the U of C, then moved to Vancouver, BC. I lived in the beautiful province of British Columbia for 22 years before moving to Washington State, which by the way, is also beautiful. I am now a permanent resident of the U,S.

I visit BC and Alberta at least once a year as I have close friend and family ties in both areas. I stock up on my Canadian goodies (Coffee Crisps, Aero, Smarties etc) and share them with my U.S. friends and family.

My co-workers and students catch me talking "Canadian" on a frequent basis (about, mom, sorry, parkade, washroom.. should I go on?) We always share a laugh about that.

I am currently working full time as a teacher and working on my Master's Degree. I love the area that I live in but more importantly love that I'm still close enough to home that I can visit frequently.

Christina O., Nine Mile Falls WA, Alberta
June 8, 2006
permalink

Our story begins with us moving to Leesburg, VA in June of 1999. The housing market in Canada was very slow at the time, and because of issues we had with a septic system in our backyard, we were unable to sell our home in order to purchase the new home we had built here in the US.

We rented our home out in Canada while getting the septic system problem fixed, and moved our belongings and family into a townhouse in Leesburg, VA. The housing market was booming here, and before too long, the cost of houses were absolutely out of our reach financially, even after we sold our place in Canada.

Quite comfortable in our townhouse, our luck changed for the worst again. On Apr. 2nd, 2006, My husband and I left home heading to Baltimore MD for a Girl Scout trip with our daughter and 2 of her 10 yr. old friends. Somewhere near Frederick, MD, on I-70, a large pick-up truck lost control on the opposite side of the highway, sailed thru the median and landed just feet in front of our sedan, hitting us head on at approx. 75 miles/hour. Everyone in our car was seriously injured that day, and we are still living with the aftermath. All 5 of us in the car sustained serious injuries, and my daughter is now living with a Spinal Cord Injury which left her paralyzed from the chest down.

I wanted to take the time to tell you all this, for 2 reasons. One, I want to remind all Canadians living here in the US, to be sure and pay that extra $ for GOOD car and health insurance. It's worth it! We learned the hard way, but most of those crazy drivers out there are either underinsured or not insured!

Secondly, I wanted to see if any of our fellow Canadians might have links or info. for us to check into with regards to health care, respite care for our daughter, etc. back in Canada. We are now faced with the decision as to whether or not my husband should quit his job (which is where we have our good health insurance), and move us back home. We don't want to lose what we have for our daughter, but at the same time, are wondering what is available for us in Canada. Ultimately, our plan was to move home after a few years of working/living here. Now we aren't sure what will be the best move for our daughter.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Thank you

P.S. If you'd like to learn more about the accident, situation and our family, you can check out our daughter's website at www.miraclesmaycome.org

Lisa C., Ashburn VA, Ontario
May 30, 2006
permalink

I grew up in Niagara Falls Ontario, went to university, and lived and worked in Toronto for 15 years. An offer to join Fleet Bank (now Bank of America) outside Philadelphia, PA attracted me to the US. I lived in beautiful Bucks County, PA for six wonderful years getting acclimated to American culture and going through the hurdles of immigration. I was then offered a position in Charlotte, North Carolina with LendingTree.com and have lived in Charlotte now for two years. Having journeyed through Europe and Asia, I guess I am a bit of a vagabond by nature. I absolutely love the charm of the South, enjoy the warm southern winters, and feel very settled here.

I miss my brothers and family back in Canada who often visit during March break. We have a small group of Canucks here at work that I regularly get together with and we often talk about the "old country." I'm often the brunt of good-natured Canadian jokes that I quickly counter with "redneck" humor. It's all in good fun. Actually, 99.9% of all the Americans I meet are extremely fond of Canadians and our beautiful country.

Jamie H., Matthews NC, Ontario
May 30, 2006
permalink

I was born in Galt, Ontario (now Cambridge) and joined CUSO after college. I was assigned to East Africa, and decided I loved the international experience so much that I joined a major hotel chain. I met my wife of now 25 years in the Philippines and after living in New Orleans and San Diego and we have settled now in Atlanta. Our children have grown up knowing the USA of course, the Far East and even Canada, although other than making fun of "eh" and being hockey fans, don't know as much as they should. Our family has a cottage near Parry Sound, so we do get occasional trips, loading up on butter tarts, Coffee Crisp and Tim Horton's coffee for the return. People ask me the difference between Americans and Canadians, and I tell them that after living all over the world, people are really the same. Yes, some cultural differences on the surface, but underneath, we are the same.

David M., Alpharetta GA, Ontario
May 30, 2006
permalink

My wife, Myrle and I were married in London, Ontario in 1957. My job started to become dead-end so Myrle went back to work and I went to a Philadelphia, PA printing school to learn a new trade in typesetting. After I graduated, I was encouraged to work in the US. London is not far from Indy so we drive back several times each year to keep in touch with friends and relatives.

Frank S., Indianapolis IN, Ontario
May 30, 2006
permalink