Hello fellow Americans

I moved here from the states 3 months ago.  I moved here to marry my fiance.  We married in August and I am now anxiously awaiting my spouse visa.  I applied approximately 4 weeks ago and I should be hearing something in the next 2 weeks.  I had been doing alright but I am beginning to become really homesick and lonely.  It is difficult to meet people when you are not working.  My husband has been great, but it would be nice to meet and talk with people who understand what it is like leaving your family, friends, job and not to mention your culture.  
I thought about doing some volunteer work while I am waiting for my spouse visa.  Does anyone have any advise on seeking volunteer work?  
I hope to meet fellow americans that can offer support, advice and friendship.
Hanging in there,
Expat :'(

Hi Expat.

Elaborate!

Where did you live before you moved across? Where do you live now? How did you meet your husband? Is this your first marriage? How does your family feel about you being here? What kind of work did you do before? Have you been sightseeing many places here? Are you a cat-lover or a dog-lover? What was your first grade teacher's name?

Oh wait, you don't have to answer all those.

I personally don't know about charity work, as in working in charity shops, except that I believe you need to have that "permission to work" first. But, I'm sure there are several things you can do by just hanging around and offering help.

I know it's tough settling in at first. I went through an awful time. It was really when I met up with others who have gone through the same that I finally felt that I was not only NOT insane, but I started shedding off the shell around me that kept me isolated from people in general.

I've been here almost five years now and I love it here. I feel really settled. It's my home now.

Hi Expat...welcome to the forum.   I'm not living over there yet so I don't have any advice for you on the volunteer thing but just wanted to welcome you and wish you luck.  

Hi Expat,

Don't worry we've all been there (and at times still go through bouts of homesickness).

As for volunteering opps these sites may help you a bit.  I don't know where you're located but this should give you a start.

http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov/

http://london.fawco.org

http://www.americanchurchinlondon.org/soup.htm

Hi Lisa E,
Thank you for the words of encouragement.  We live in London and I moved from a city outside of Boston.  This is the first (and last) marriage for both of us.  
I read somewhere on this website about registering at the American Embassy.  Can anyone tell me anymore about that?  
I am so happy to have found this site, it is a huge comfort to know there are others out there going through the same feelings and emotions.
Thank you NYState_of_Mind and Meli_Snell for your kind greetings!
Feeling better already,
expat

hey there expat...

you have already received some very helpful info from the others     ive been here for one year now and still can remember like yesterday that 3 month mark.  i think its the hardest hurdle you have to get over. although i still get homesick i dont get down as bad as i use to.  so hang in there...things do get better.  

as far as volunteer work goes....i did a lil bit of volunteer work before we moved out of london.  like you, i thought it would be a great way to meet people and ultimately give me something to do.  unfortunately...it didnt, lol.  when i went for the interview there was LOTS of ladies around, all volunters doing various jobs.  i thought WOW i hit the joke pot, lol...PEOPLE, new friends, and  a social life!!!  anway, my first day the director showed my what i needed to do....answer phone (support calls from all over england, wales, ireland), and clerical stuff.  at first i thought cool.  but after that first day i realized....NO ONE else worked on mondays except for me and the director and she was down the hall so i had no contact with her at all.  and on top of that i couldnt understand half the people that were calling in for support  (YIKES!!)  after a couple of months of really TRYING and forcing myself to even show up...i asked if there were other days i could work (i need people) but there wasnt.  anyway, i toughed it out and stayed on until we moved.  it was a good experience for me, i reckon and something to put down on my UK resume.  

so....let that be a lesson for ya, lol.  make sure when u volunter ASK QUESTIONS!!, lol.  definitely find out the who, what and when...regarding the job/position.  

GOOD LUCK!!  and keep us posted

Hi expat!  Welcome to the site and welcome to London!

I've been here in London for about 18 months now and like ItsBeCoz, I remember well that three month hurtle....feels good to be getting settled, doesn't it?  It's tough but you just stick it out and things do get easier.  

Making friends in the UK can be difficult, and from my experience and from what other Brits have told me, it is especially hard to find that 'social network' here in this city.  But I'm sure it can be done, and meanwhile, you just learn to get by!

Best of luck in everything and hope you'll keep posting!

Thank you ItsBcoz for the tips on volunteering.  I have been in touch with the american church in london people about the habitat for humanity project.  We'll see how that goes, I will be sure to ask lots of questions!  
I can imagine finding the social network in the city is difficult.  Fortunately I have my husband (course that is why I moved here after all!) and he has great friends.  I would however like to meet my own friends . . . is that silly?  :-/
Anyway, thanks again for the warm welcome.

Welcome expat

 I am not yet there but I wanted to wish you greetings.  You will find that there are many people here from the London area and hopefully you will get the chance to become acquainted with a few.

 my fiance also has a nice group of friends whom I am sure I will get to know better...  but I do understand the need for your own...  hang in there and with time you will be fine...  although I can not imagine the homesickness part just yet...  however I am looking forward to feeling homesick...  because then I know I will be there.

Michele

Thanks mfredericka.  I do now what you mean about wanting to feel homesick because then you know you are here!  My fiance and I had to do the long distance thing for quite a while and boy oh boy was the ever difficult!   Thank you for the wake up call and to stop feeling sorry for myself.  I love my husband so much and I cannot imagine life without him.   Okay, now I am getting sappy, sorry  
So, when will you be here?

Nah, no wake up call...  being homesick is enevitable being in a foreign country with new lifestyles...  so be homesick... but happy in love homesick...

yea I can be mushy too! I am a 46 yr old romantic that can not wait to be with her man.

He will be coming to the states for Thanksgiving...  and hopefully he will be coming back again with in 2 months so that we can be married and then go for the spousal in NYC on what we would call our honeymoon...lol!  then I can finally go home to the cottage we both picked out to rent over a year ago... in Northumberland, UK

Good luck with your plans mfredericka  
I am sure all will fall into place for you and your man to finally be together.  
Hang in there.
expat
btw . . . I have said a prayer that the maniac in the DC area will be caught in order that this madness comes to an end.   :'(

Welcome Expat!  This is a great site and I'm sure you'll get as addicted to it as I am and I'm not even over yet!  

I have an English fiance who will be moving back to the UK the end of this month.  I'm dreading being apart from him although we have promised each other not to be apart more then three weeks if at all possible (I'm flying over for two weeks in mid-Nov to be with him) and then moving over in mid-December. I'm staying on a bit longer to deal with some family things. tie up loose ends, etc.  

Please keep us posted on what you find out about volunteering.  I volunteered a lot until recently over here and even though the situation is completely different, it helped me to meet new and interesting people!  Hopefully it'll work that way over there!  Best of luck to you!!

Thanks for the welcome runner1.
I am looking into habitat for humanity, I will post an update soon.  
Good luck on the move!
expat

Hello expat, welcome to the group. I'm sorry I'm a bit late, I do notice when there are new members, but my spare time is few and far between at the moment. I hope you'll make yourself at home here, we have a lovely bunch of people.