I have lived in Illinios for the last 23 years but my heart still belongs to Thunder Bay, Ontario and Toronto. I live with my three kids and husband. I would like to move back one day. I miss Eatmore bars, Tim Horton coffee and Boston pizza. I would like to hear from other Canadians living in Chicago.

sunita v., Plainfield IL, Ontario
May 30, 2006
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I came to the U.S. in 2000, as a post-doctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. I stayed because of a job subsequently offered to me a year later as a staff scientist and lab director. I truly enjoy the research environment at the NIH, but I equally miss home (Vancouver, BC) which I only get to visit once a year because of the distance. My husband currently works with the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Biotech. We met in Vancouver. He's German and he fell in love with BC the day he arrived there in 1998 - and I can't help but think I'm the coincidental wife. Home to me is Canada - and I hope to end up living there again someday...

Margaret C., Gaithersburg MD, British Columbia
May 30, 2006
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I came to the US in 1998 to marry an "okie". It's been 8 years now but all of them have been great! I love it here in Oklahaoma and the people are terrific. I lived in Alberta for some time and they remind of people there. Very friendly and caring. I am now in Sales and enjoy that very much. I do however miss terribly Tim Hortons, Hockey, Smarties and the mountains. This is a great place to visit and I would encouage everyone to come this way at some time in their life.

Greg P., Chelsea OK
May 30, 2006
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I moved from Manitoba to Arkansas in 1994 because of lack of jobs in my field in Canada at that time (I'm a Medical Lab Technologist). There I met the Love Of My Life and we were married in 1995. We now live in Southern Missouri (West Plains) with 2 kids and we love this area of the country. The Ozarks are a beautiful place and we are not too far south, so we still have all 4 seasons - although we end up with more ice storms than snow in the winter. I don't get back to Canada very often but I do miss some things; like the Winnipeg music scene, Old Dutch Chips, Coffee Crisp, Aero bars, Caramilk bars, Hockey Night in Canada (especially Coach's Corner), CFL (GO BOMBERS!), my hometown hockey team, but mostly my family and friends. I don't miss the higher cost of living (although I think the gap is closing fast) and the long, cold, prairie winters.

I don't know of any other Canadians in my area, and I appreciate Connect 2 Canada in helping me keep up with the news from the "Great White North". I have enjoyed all the experiences I have gained in the U.S. - but I guess I'm still a Canuck at heart.

Don M., West Plains MO
May 24, 2006
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What we do for love? I was born and raised in Toronto, Ontatio. Met my current husband online. Everything happens at 40. Divorce court, custody battle of my only child, granted join custody of my only child with Permanent Residence with me, so now my life revolves around visits every two months to and from Toronto, "March Break", "8 weeks each and every summer", "Canadian Thanksgiving in each October", and finally every Christmas.

Divorced, re-married a U.S. Citizen, travelled back and forth from Toronto Pearson Airport to Minneapolis St. Paul Airport, went thorough immigration paperwork and lived at the immigration office in Bloomington every so often. Packed up all my belongings and moved to Rochester, MN. Left my job of 20 years with Manulife Financial where I had been a "Lifer" for 20 years to the date! Drove to the Detroit Border with a U-Haul truck full of my belongings. Thought about how I would miss MY LEAFS! (GO LEAFS GO!), the C.N.E, The Falls, Wasaga Beach, Caribana, The Entertainment District, Yonge Street on a hot summer night bustling with people of all creeds and colour with a "u". We got our U.S. Perminent Resident Cards and removed my conditions after 2 years.

Now in the process of becoming U.S. Citizens. My biggest hurdle was leaving my only child with my now ex in Toronto for that entire first summer of 8 weeks, and driving to my new home in Rochester, Minnesota. I also left my entire family back in Toronto where I had spent my life, my work, my passion (taught figure skating). My husband, bless him, understood the tears and silence most of the 18 hour drive. However - do not feel sad or sorry for me/us. I have grown in determination, love and faith.

The Minnesota nice has given way to the millions of people I used to see daily on the subway platforms of Bloor and Yonge. Now, I ride my bike to work on a beautiful bike trail from my house right to downtown Rochester. I no longer spend my weekends on the DVP or the 400. I drive up North instead to fish and be with nature and friends. I watch the Canadian Geese here in Rochester and think of the same ones I remember on the grass at Centre Island. The ferry takes me there as I look back, there she is, the CN Tower, the SkyDome open, the skyline, my skyline, my home. I AM CANADIAN! I bleed Red and White but soon Blue as well.

Karen B., Rochester MN, Ontario
May 24, 2006
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My husband and I are one of those wacky internet couples that you hear about. I've been here in Tulsa since November 2004, and we both are itching to move back to Canada if/when possible. Methinks my husband fell in love with Nova Scotia faster than he fell in love with me! :)

Once I get citizenship we'll start actively looking for opportunities "back home". The dear hubby is a computer programmer, and I primarily worked in museums, but I have had to diversify since moving here.

People ask me -- "what's it like living in the U.S.?" and I always reply "It's different -- not worse or better, just different" How does one describe the tang of the breeze off the Atlantic or the addictive properties of drinking Tim Horton's Iced Cappucinos while listening to the Vinyl Cafe to an Oklahoman? Or describing the phenomenon known as chicken fried steak to a Bluenoser? Nigh to impossible, really, but it's kind of fun to have a foot in both worlds.

Pretty much all of my family are in the Atlantic provinces, and we've been fortunate to get home a couple of times in the past 2 years. This year it's Christmas or bust!

Cheryl H., Tulsa OK, Nova Scotia
May 24, 2006
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I moved South of the border in 2002 to attend school in Milwaukee, WI, and ended up, two years later, here in Bloomington, IN going through a PhD program! I get to back to Montreal about once or twice a year. I miss Sheddies, Smarties and poutine... not cold weather and dirty slush in the wintertime! Any fellow Canadians (or French-Canadians) in the area? Drop me an email!

Anne-Jose V., Bloomington IN, Quebec
May 24, 2006
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Hello! My husband and I are both Canadian, living in Cary, North Carolina. We moved here in the summer of 1999, which was an employment based decision. I grew up in Port Perry - little town outside of Toronto - and he is from Whitby. We miss some things - Swiss Chalet, Timmy's (but like many others, have it shipped in...) Shreddies and Yonge Street. I wouldn't trade life here in Carolina though... :)

Jodi B., Cary NC, Ontario
May 24, 2006
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I am a Registered Nurse from Mt. Pearl, and St. John's who moved to South Texas for a nursing career in 1996. I have to admit the palm trees, sandy beaches, and Mexican border was an added bonus to this area. Hello to the General Hospital School of Nursing- class of '95!

I was sponsored by a local hospital for my Green Card work Visa, wrote the American NCLEX-RN National exam, got my CGNFS certificate, and then was offically "good to go" for work in any USA state!

In 2001 I started travel nursing across the USA as an Operation Room Nurse (CNOR). I returned to "The Valley" in 2002, and have been doing Agency (contract) nursing, in several specialities.

There is a world of opportunities for nurses in the USA with competitive salaries.

However, I do miss my roots of Irish Newfie culture quite often, and plan to revist the rock someday soon. Nine years away from it has given me some "downhome-sickedness".

Jennifer V., Harlingen TX, Newfoundland and Labrador
May 18, 2006
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I met my husand in 1997 who was stationed in Virginia at the time. Since moving from Canada 9 years ago, we have lived in VA, OK, MO , and now WA. The transition was difficult for the first few years. I have been blessed to have seen and live in more places then the average American or Canadian will see in their lifetime. I do get horribly homesick and make a "Couver Manouver" as often as I can. Its not the Maritimes, but it does curb the homesickness. I do get home to NB about twice a year. Being a spouse of a sailor, and Canadian, I am a proud Canadian and I am aware everyday how lucky we are as Canadians and Americans to live in one incredible North America.

Angela S., Seattle WA, New Brunswick
May 18, 2006
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