From Maryland to Berkshire :o) Hi!

Wow, how cool!  Thanks so much for introducing yourself. I think it's awesome you teach music. You sound quite accomplished!  Where in Maryland did you used to live, if I may ask?

Haha, I have to say I don't feel especially accomplished, but thank you for thinking that! Well, I have lived in a few different places around MD, although mostly I've stayed in central MD.  I lived in a small town near Eldersburg, MD (Carroll County) most of my life, but also lived in Baltimore, St. Mary's City, Owings Mills and Towson (got my undergrad degree there).  I've got friends scattered all over MD and my brothers still both live there (one's in Columbia and the other is in New Windsor).  And as a matter of fact, one of my brothers is getting married next month in Havre de Grace!  So I'll be back soon--although not soon enough to enjoy crab season.  Drat. 

How about you?  It's nice to be able to share things about Maryland, since many of the Brits I talk to have not heard of it. 

I lived in Parkville Maryland all my life, right at the Towson border. It's a wonder I didn't run into you at one of the stores or restaurants.  Our rowhouses were behind the intersection of Joppa Road and Loch Raven Blvd. I used to go into Towson quite a lot. My niece studied at Towson University some years ago; her name is Sherrie Fritzges.  You're so lucky to be flying back home soon!  It may not be crab season, but you can always go to Costas Inn off Northpoint Blvd; they have crabs year round and are supposed to be a really nice place, if you don't mind the drive. There was also a place out Rosedale/Essex area, I think, called Ross's.  I used to get a dozen crabs from them even in winter to bring back to the house and eat.   

So exciting that you will be attending your brother's wedding!  I hope you'll have a wonderful time there.  My husband, Tom, and I talk about flying back all the time, just don't have the money for it.  Last time we were there, it was for my mom's burial, unfortunately, last year.  Then my brother passed away 6 months later and we didn't have money to fly over again. Mom's house has been sold now, so I think the next trip to Baltimore will be difficult, emotionally. However, we'd still like to go there, even if it's just for the food we miss!  I've been sprinkling Old Bay seasoning on my food here. LOL  Tom likes it on his french fries. 

You sure have lived in many different areas in Maryland. I bet you don't miss the blizzards.     Funny how they can't manage to clear the roads over here when it does snow; they aren't used to it.  I remember huge snowfalls in Maryland, the neighbors would come outdoors and shovel their cars out, then be on the road the next day. haha

Oh wow, that's so funny!  Even though it's been years since I've been in Towson (did you ever go to Thai One On or the rotating sushi bar there?  Deeelicious!), I got an immediate mental image when you mentioned Joppa & Loch Raven Blvd!  I went to Towson University and lived in the local apartments for a couple of years and had friends who lived off of Loch Raven.  Very cool.   

I feel very fortunate to be going home soon.  When my husband and I got married (here in the UK), neither of my brothers were able to make it for the official ceremony--just my parents came.  It was hard for me to know that they were missing such an important day, and so I am incredibly grateful we will be able to go.  I will have to check out those options for crabs.  I had such a craving for them this summer!  I don't know if you ever went down to Ocean City, but there's a seafood place there called Hooper's that my friends and I would go to at least once a summer to get their all you can eat crab feast.  I wished so much that I could just pop over to OC for dinner....mmmmm. 

I'm so sorry that the last time you were home it was for a sad occasion.  It will no doubt be a strange experience when you return again, but hopefully it will help you to heal.  My grandmother (one of my best friends) passed away about a month before I came over to the UK for grad school, and I felt like my grieving process was interrupted and put on hold because I left the country and was surrounded by everything new.  When I went back home, my family were all more or less at peace with it, but it still felt fresh to me--but then it was a good experience because I felt like I could finally deal with it.  I can't really imagine how it felt to lose two family members while living overseas, but I hope, when you do return home again, that it's more of a cathartic experience than anything else. 

I have lived in quite a few places in Maryland!  And I've loved all of them; it really is a lovely place to live.  And I do sort of miss the blizzards, actually!  Well, snow days, anyway--snow days are one of the delights of being a teacher, and here in England, we don't really get snow days very often.  So I do, sorta!  Haha, is that weird?   

Oh wow, that's so funny!  Even though it's been years since I've been in Towson (did you ever go to Thai One On or the rotating sushi bar there?  Deeelicious!),
When my husband and I got married (here in the UK), neither of my brothers were able to make it for the official ceremony--just my parents came.  It was hard for me to know that they were missing such an important day, and so I am incredibly grateful we will be able to go.   I don't know if you ever went down to Ocean City, but there's a seafood place there called Hooper's that my friends and I would go to at least once a summer to get their all you can eat crab feast.  I wished so much that I could just pop over to OC for dinner....mmmmm. 

.  My grandmother (one of my best friends) passed away about a month before I came over to the UK for grad school, and I felt like my grieving process was interrupted and put on hold because I left the country and was surrounded by everything new.  When I went back home, my family were all more or less at peace with it, but it still felt fresh to me--but then it was a good experience because I felt like I could finally deal with it.

I've never been to Thai One On but it sounds like it'd be a nice place.     I was sorry to hear your brothers could not attend your UK wedding. I understand this, because none of my relatives were at mine. In fact, there were only 10 people there, Tom's relatives. It's too long of a flight over here and too expensive. My mom and I were extremely close, so we made an agreement that Tom and I would renew our vows in the USA so she could witness it; however, she passed away before it could occur.  I'm so happy you are able to travel and attend your brother's ceremony so you can all be reunited again, since you know how empty it feels to not have your relatives with you during that important event. These are memories to cherish.

I wish I had known you when you lost your grandmother, I could have offered some support. ((((Giving you a hug now))))) I don't think people realize how devastating it can be when you are in another country when a relative dies.  I had scheduled to fly out to see my mom in the hospital, but she passed away one week before I was due to arrive. We tried to arrange earlier flights, but the volcanic ash cloud was acting up back then and the airline couldn't guarantee a return flight. We missed her funeral and could only arrange to attend the burial of the ashes at a later date. The main problem I had was really no emotional support, I had no friends over here in the UK, Tom's relatives aren't the supportive type, nor is he (he was battling depression at the time, so I had to focus on him, instead). I had to hold myself together, plus him.  Then my brother, Dave, passed away 6 months later around Thanksgiving (mom passed away a few days before Mother's Day).

Ocean City....  my parents used to take us there for vacations when we were kids.    They had a friend who shared a cottage with us near 1st street. I can remember fishing off the bridge with my dad.  I think I was 17 the last time I had travelled there.  Seems so long ago.  Would love to be able to go there again, though. There was a place on the boardwalk that had the best pizza!  I'm drooling now, just thinking of it. haha    I was horse crazy back then, and used to buy little ceramic horse statues from the boardwalk shops. I remember when people would get up early to rent a bike to ride there.     I'd also been to Atlantic City, back when it was a nice family resort (before it got trashy), and we had film of the pony diving off the platform into the swimming pool below, one of the main attractions there.  Yes, I'm that old! LOL
 

so im looking around on here and i see this Topic... Maryland to Berkshire... and my first thought is Oh! Shy already found this website... lol.

Hello btw, Im Chris, im From Reading, so somewhere not too far from your home now. I found this website while looking at bringing my soulmate over from Gaithersburg, hoping to get married next autumn. the whole thing looks so damn awkward... its reassuring to see how many people have done it though.

Hi, Chris!  We are about 20 minutes from you, in Bracknell.    Gaithersburg, Maryland is a nice area. How did the two of you meet?   and congratulations on the upcoming wedding!  We married 30th, October in 2009, same day as hubby's birthday so he wouldn't forget.  (He selected the date).  I've never had a reception at a pub before, but I guess there's a first time for everything.   We really couldn't afford a huge reception anywhere, due to the cost of immigration fees.  It can be very stressful, so make sure you and your partner schedule some de-stress time for yourselves. Lots of good information on these boards for you. Wishing you all the best. Cheers!

Hi there,  i am from York PA but we may be moving back at some point fairly soon so i was looking at interest at all the suggestions of yummy places to eat.  we have really missed crab the last few years--(not to mention corn on the cob)......we are really trying to reconcile ourselves to going back--which will be sad--     , but some memories might help.   we have really missed going to Ocean City in the summer---warm seasides !!!
anyway hellos and best wishes to all those from the mason dixon borderlands!

Hi, Brierleyrose!  Nice to meet you.    I love Pennsylvania; travelled there a lot in the past years, even to York. I was wondering how you're getting your husband (or boyfriend?) back into the USA?  We were going to apply for a greencard for my husband, but it was my understanding you have to list a place of residency there in the USA first, and since we don't have one there, we didn't apply.   
       I'm with you about missing Ocean City and steamed crabs!  There was a place called Costas on Northpoint Boulevard in Baltimore that served them yearround. So many nice places to go to that serve them. Corn on the cob is better back home, too, I've noticed, unless you find a local farmer here. I'm not much into indian or thai food in the UK, so I miss the variety of cuisines in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Give me some good ol' italian food any day! We also used to visit a Bratwursthaus which was excellent for bratwurst and sauerkraut.  They don't know what I'm talking about when I mention it over here. lol  (at least, not in my town). 

Since you lived in York, did you go to the York Fair?  We used to drive to Lancaster a lot and go to the Bird in Hand restaurant, or travel to visit Gettysburg or the Reading shopping outlets. Beautiful scenery up in Pennsylvania. Do you miss the snows?     A cousin of mine used to live up there.   If you do end up moving back, I hope the transition goes smoothly for you. I can't imagine the cost of shipping stuff back home; it was bad enough shipping half my stuff to England.  Do you lose your immigration status if you're out of the UK for a few years, though? 

I'm brand new to this site, and heading to Gloucester by way of Washington state...but before living here seven years, we lived in Columbia Maryland for six! 

Hi, Gem_Dog!  Welcome to the site.   I've been down to Columbia Maryland when I was back home. I remember when that area was being built up.    How the heck did you get all the way over to the west coast? a job?  Do you like the west coast better? Just curious. I have friends in California, Washington state and Oregon.

How did I get from Maryland to "the Wild, Wild West?"  Well...it all started with a man    (doesn't it often)?!  My DH worked in Maryland but was originally from Washington state.  My family is from the East coast.  A job out here in the middle of Washington came up and I jumped at the chance to own acreage and horses and raise my children in town of less than 20,000.  Now we are hoping to be on to the next great adventure some time this summer, after my son graduates HS in June!  BTW - Columbia has become so congested it is horrible : (

How cool!  You are such an adventuress.    I believe you about Columbia becoming congested; it was getting that way with traffic back when I visited. Very busy area.  By the way, I think your new location will be about 2 hours from me. Best wishes to you!