I watch too many romantic movies!

I agree with mirrajay and equestrianerd in the being stuck 'in between' feeling kinda, where on one hand you're so excited to go be with your husband but on the other you're nervous and scared to leave your family and friends behind. I can't wait until I can see Steve again, I've missed him loads since he left 3 months ago, and I can picture him waiting for me right beyond customs. On the other hand, I'm a little sad since I know I only have 30 or so more days left living here with my mom, and then I won't see her for a while--we've been incredibly close, and I've lived with her for my entire 24 years, so it's scary and weird to seriously contemplate and count down to leaving. A small part of me feels almost guilty, like I'm leaving my mom behind--I'm an only child, so she has no other children or such to focus on, and she's been widowed for 15 years now (not that she wants a man in her life at this stage in her life). But, my aunt (her sister) is contemplating moving in with my mom to save a bit of money--my aunt pays insane amounts for her house payment, and if she moves in with my mom they can just split all the bills halfway, and it'd help my mom out a bit financially as well since things are tight at the moment. So, hopefully if it does happen, it gives her something else to focus her energy on, since it won't be devoted to 'taking care of me' once I'm in the UK.

But, I know once I'm in the UK, it'll be a little easier--I'll have gotten the goodbyes over and done with, and I'll be able to be with my husband in a way I haven't been able to yet. We've always had visits, with very defined end-dates, and we've never really had the prospect of being together as a couple, without that return flight looming over our heads. And I'll get a whole new set of challenges to work through, but it will still be me moving forward, instead of sitting here at home feeling stagnant.

Oh, and just show your friend Chocolate Chip Wheetabix or Peaches and Cream Special K!! I miss those 2 especially!

I'm going to tell Steve to buy a box of Chocolate Chip Wheetabix ready for me for when I fly in on the morning of September 5th--I've never seen those before since he usually just buys the normal brand with nothing else added to it. I'm not the biggest fan of them either, but the prospect of a hint of chocolate might turn me into a fan

I think people do get envious when you make a big leap.  Whenever I come home people tell me to stop talking "so British." Excuse me, I just spent five months around virtually only Brits- of course a "minging" or "bollocks" is going to come out on occasion!  You'll adjust to your new life, just as if you were moving in with your husband in Co, or Ca, or NY.  There are some cultural differences, but on the whole it 'aint like you're moving to Japan.  And like Beth said earlier about the cereal, you'll find loads of things WAY better here than in the states. Produce, meats, sweets, and crisps to start. I'm really excited for you both Carey and KF!  What an adventure! 

Ugh, I'm already getting the "listen to your accent" comments from my friends here and I dont even have one.  People confuse inflection with accent and I do speak with British inflection when I am on the phone with David, and when I am in England, but thats just the way it is and I dont understand why its necessary to make fun of me for it.  It agree that is jealousy and I hope it doesnt get worse once I have moved.
Its not so much cultural differences that worry me, its just the simple fact that in THIS life, I am so independent and in THAT life, I will not be. Depending on everyone else for everything else scares the crap out of me, but I know it will not be that way forever.  And if I am feeling bad, I can eat Prawn Cocktail crisps.. YUM YUM!!

KF - I understand completely about feeling guilty. I have been feeling this way for the past few weeks and have had conversations with my parents about it that have left me feeling much better. I hope you can talk to your mom about it too. *hugs*

Ugh, I'm already getting the "listen to your accent" comments from my friends here and I dont even have one.  People confuse inflection with accent and I do speak with British inflection when I am on the phone with David, and when I am in England, but thats just the way it is and I dont understand why its necessary to make fun of me for it. 

ahhh, i totally do the inflection thing too!  i'm not even sure if anyone else notices it but i can definitely notice a change in cadence when i'm speaking with (my) David!

Aren't Davids the best? 

KF - I understand completely about feeling guilty. I have been feeling this way for the past few weeks and have had conversations with my parents about it that have left me feeling much better. I hope you can talk to your mom about it too. *hugs*

Thanks hun, I thought what I was feeling was just me being lame I haven't come out and told my mom straight up that I feel guilty or anything, but I think in her own way she knows. She's told me stuff about how she wanted me to have my own life, and that she won't be around forever and she wants me to have my own family (especially since I'm not 100% close to anyone else in my family except for my mom). Unfortunately I'm horrible at really being able to discuss 'deep' issues with my mom, but hopefully my feelings of guilt will ease up once the goodbyes are said and I'm settled in the UK.

EN: that's such exciting news about your citizenship ceremony and things moving forward. best of luck with the job search! what field will you be looking in (i can't remember if you've said this already)?

Thanks for the good luck vibes on the job search...I sent out a few "test" CVs a month or so ago, and heard absolutely nothing back, but I'm hoping once I can list full citizenship (and a UK address, assuming I can borrow my great-aunt's temporarily), things will pick up.

Since the pets can't go until December I'm not too worried about something happening soon, but it would be really awesome if I could visit in Oct/Nov, have some interviews, get a job offer (or two?) and start in Jan-ish.

I'm in IT, I do computer programming.

It seems like forever but I know so much is going on with everyone!

EQ - on the job search gearing up for the ceremony
Mirra - 7 days!
Lill - 6 days!
Elly - 17 days!
till all three of you change your life forever (for better)

This forum brings me such smiles and I truly feel happy for all of you who are living the dream ok following the dream and living it as well!

All I can do is just barely wait till Sept - can it go ANY slower?

Life is good though, I think my boss is going to be ok with her manager working remotely so if I can swing it somehow to go to the UK for a few months I can still work to pay the bills ;-)
This is a plus as hopefully everything goes well...

Well Happy Weekend to ya'll - its my Friday!

wow, zoya, that sounds fantastic--i hope it works out!

EN: i definitely think you'll start to see some results once you're able to list citizenship plus a UK address.  i really think listing our address over there before i moved was what got my foot through the door.  i put my US cell phone on the CV, so at the bottom of my cover letter, i mentioned something about the fact that i was currently back and forth between the UK and the US in order to wrap up my job here and that explanation seemed sufficient for them.  it helped that the start date on my job was so far off, as well. 

can't believe i'll be in england in just 6 days!  had a bit of a meltdown yesterday between dealing with last minute doctor's stuff and thinking about saying goodbye to my cats.  i had to have an abnormal place on my back removed (luckily i caught it before my move) and the stitches are in a really awkward place so it makes sitting down or bending over really difficult and i'm not supposed to strain myself with lifting heavy things or anything like that for two weeks...and unfortunately, there's no avoiding that because i'm about to move over with a couple of heavy suitcases!  plus, i either have to have my fiance remove my stitches on the day i start my new job or i have to find a GP to get registered with asap when i get there (which i'm sure won't happen that soon).  and then i started worrying about giving up my US health insurance now that they've discovered this problem and freaking out about the NHS and i was just a mess.  feeling more calm after talking to my fiance, but the next 5 days will be an emotional rollercoaster, i'm sure! 

Kerri- you'll likely be able to go to A&E or a clinic and get seen. It might cost you a sort of "copay", but you aren't going to be stuck with stitches in your back forever!!

Actually, if you show your visa, you probably won't have to pay anything at all.. I did only because I told them I was a visitor.

EN: i definitely think you'll start to see some results once you're able to list citizenship plus a UK address.  i really think listing our address over there before i moved was what got my foot through the door.  i put my US cell phone on the CV, so at the bottom of my cover letter, i mentioned something about the fact that i was currently back and forth between the UK and the US in order to wrap up my job here and that explanation seemed sufficient for them.  it helped that the start date on my job was so far off, as well. 

I'm hoping this is the case.  A semi-far off start date would actually work well for me, as it'd be ideal to be able to secure a job in sept/oct, but then move in late Dec/early Jan.  (I figure it'd be nice to stick around here for birthday/Thanksgiving/Christmas rather than dealing with all of those in a new place.)

Zoya - that would be awesome if you could just keep your job while doing an extended visit.   I hope that works out well.

beth-- that's a great suggestion--i didn't even think about just going to A&E.  of course, my fiance the cancer researcher is thrilled at the prospect of potentially taking the stitches out himself!

6 days Lilybelle! We'll have to have a meetup before I go home.  (the sad face is me going home not meeting up)

And Carey- you too!  Fancy a Cambridge girls day out?!?

I got offered a very nice job today at our local.  If I had no scruples and didn't care about my education or immigration, Ross and I would be frickin' set. Damn that moral compass. 

EQ, I bet you find a job pronto.  And, how many pets do you have?  Also, I want to get back into riding when I get to the States.  Any suggestions about how to go about it?  I did Vaulting and Barrel Racing in my early teens, but I'm mostly interested in trail riding once or twice a week now. And, I haven't been on a horse for 9 years- I SOOO miss it.  I live in an Ag town in the center of California if that helps.  I'd appreciate any advice.

Elly- I wish you had gotten here sooner! I'd love to have a drink with you at some point. 

I got offered a very nice job today at our local.  If I had no scruples and didn't care about my education or immigration, Ross and I would be frickin' set. Damn that moral compass.

Figures, gotta love crap timing.

EQ, I bet you find a job pronto. 

I hope so, that would be nice!  Though my level of risk-averse-ness likely won't let me move until I have a fairly hefty savings cushion (unless perhaps the salary offered were more than I'm making now  ).  We'll see how it goes, though.

And, how many pets do you have?

I've got a horse, a dog, and 3 cats.  One of the kitties is a foster, so she'll go back to the rescue when I move.  The other one is a bit neurotic, so I'm not planning on bringing her with me ...I'm hoping she can go live with a family member, though.

Also, I want to get back into riding when I get to the States.  Any suggestions about how to go about it?  I did Vaulting and Barrel Racing in my early teens, but I'm mostly interested in trail riding once or twice a week now. And, I haven't been on a horse for 9 years- I SOOO miss it.  I live in an Ag town in the center of California if that helps.  I'd appreciate any advice.

Barrel racing looks like so much fun...I tried vaulting a bit in high school but even then I wasn't really flexible/agile enough to get it done and look good doing it.

I'd suggest looking in the yellow pages, or you can try a site like this one which as a bunch of places listed (I don't know how often it's updated, though).  I'd ask them things like...whether they do guided/non-guided trail rides, how often the trails are maintained, how often the horses go out, what range of horses they have (are they all on death's door or straight in from being green-broke), if they offer discounts for booking a package, etc.  I've found that finding good quality trail riding places is really hard, since everyone with a few decrepit horses that can have a saddle slung on seem to think that they can do trail rides.

Oh, and another thought - see if there are any local endurance riding groups.  They should know where good trails are, and possibly know reputable places to ride.

Good luck!  Trail riding is fun, I wish my barn had trails accessible, though we get to go jump cross-country the next 2 weekends so that'll be fun.