Living in America 2011

[MmeBucket]

We were a few messages away from being closed on the other one. Hope everyone finds me here.

I agree about costco sizes!! I could not believe the sizes you could buy, we would be eating forever if we bought our food from there! Saying that, i still get annoyed that i can't buy 'regular' sized items from the supermarket!

I agree with Trader Joes, fabulous! How are you settling in mdavza? Whereabouts in CA are you?

We're going back home on Monday! I'm a little nervous about messing up DS's sleep. He now sleeps through the night and i've got used to it! Anyone with any tips for jet lag in babies would be highly appreciated!!

Did we all go on vacation for the summer?

Babies don't really get jetlag jubblicious! Lucky things. Hope you have a marvellous time.

We just got back from a camping trip to the Southern Oregon coast and Crescent City Ca. The Redwoods were very impressive but not too sure about the weather! How are you MmeBucket? Where did you spend the summer?

We just got back from Southern Oregon, celebrating DS and DD's birthdays with family. Been down there several times this summer. Also had a babysitting job for part of the summer, so that kept me busy, but it got the kids in a bunch of camps they really wanted to be in. DD is still down there with in-laws, so things are way to quiet around here.

We had lunch in Grants Pass yesterday on the way back from Crescent City. Seemed quite nice! Glad your kids are having a great time this summer MmeBucket. Does school start the day after Labor Day for you too?

I'm not too thrilled with it this time around. Too many Sarah Palin loving racist drunk almost baby droppers there for me. (That probably requires too long of an explanation)

No, thanks to the budget measure not passing, they're cutting 20 days off of school this year, and the day after Labor Day is one of them.

20 days off school? How can they legally cut 4 weeks out of the school year? Isn't there a federal minimum, or does education not count any more? That must be really tough on you filling in the gaps.

Are your ILs in GP or closer to Medford? We didn't stay long enough to meet anyone but thought the area was quite pretty and I love the Rogue and Umpqua rivers. Absolutely stunning. There are lots of things to love about Oregon and they are two of them!

So if you had to choose, Michele Bachmann or Sarah Palin? Don't answer if you don't want to, just that one's star seems to be rising as the other is fading.

I'm not sure if Oregon cares anymore about minimum days of school. I try not to think about it. DS is a really good student, so I can do a lot with him at home for now, and I'll worry about it later, I guess. DD starts Kindy this year, and she's got everything down they're going to learn except for one shape that is so obscure, I don't even remember what it is called.

My FIL and DH's stepmom live in GP. Both my kids were born there. Most of his extended family live in Medford. It is very pretty down there, but far too hot for me from April-October. I absolutely love my friends from down there, and still am in contact with many of them, but a lot of the old-timers can be incredibly small minded and quite racist. (Unfortunately this applies to one of DH's uncles and his wife, they're about the worst I've ever seen.)

I think for this election, I'd rather gnaw my arm off than vote for pretty much anyone on the ballot. I might have to write in one of my dogs for President.

Could someone please advise me on the expected tipping rates in the USA? Specifically small town outside Chicago...

For instance hairdressers, pizza delivery drivers etc!

I can tell you in Oregon. It should be about the same. I'm not sure you'll ever get a consensus on hairdressers. Some people do, some people don't, and the amount varies. I give mine a really big tip because she cuts my kids' hair for free every time I get mine cut. Most people I know think I'm crazy for leaving her one, though. I think the rule is you tip if they aren't the salon owner. Pizza drivers, a few bucks a pizza. Restaurants are generally 18-20% if good service.

Thanks MmeBucket. I thought I'd ask as we tipped a pizza driver $3 last time on an order costing $15, plus $2 delivery charge....and he looked at us like he was mortally offended, and we definitely didn't imagine it!

Today I tipped a hairdresser $2 for a $5 eyebrow threading - I need to sort my percentages out!!!

Hello ladies, sorry to jump on your thread but we are considering a move with DHs job to San Francisco (altho in reality it's likely to be 6-12 months away still). We have 3 young children and have already relocated from UK to Belgium.

We are very excited by the thoughts of moving to the USA, but I just wanted to get a feel for how your kids feel about living there and potentially away from all other family? Ours are still very young (4 and under), but just wondering if they might one day be upset with us for a, moving around and b, moving them away from their extended family.

Look forward to hearing any thoughts.

Hi Lozzy,
We have been living in the States for over 3 years now and also have 3 young children, 5, almost 4 and the baby who was born here. Dd can remember living in England and occasionally gets upset that we are not there to see her gps. Ds1, who was only 8 mths when we came here, loves his England shirt and proudly claims that that's where he's from! We skype very regularly with the gps and I have taken them back to the UK a couple of times. Gps have come over to visit too. It is hard and I feel guilty about them not seeing their relatives more frequently. If you are moving to SFO, you at least have the luxury of direct flights, which would make it much easier to get back and see family. Good luck with your decision!

MmeBucket, do you tip the gas station guys? I've never known whether that is expected and I never do it when I pay by card. My dd starts kindy this year too. Do you have the option of paying for full days? Ours would cost $3200 and as you say, they don't do too much in the way of academic stuff in the first year, do they?

Tipping them has never crossed my mind, tad. And I've never heard anyone else I know say anything about that.

We have the option of something called "Kinderday". They stay the full day, but switch over to a non-teacher for the part of the day they don't go to actual K. It is sold up to be like full-day Kindergarten, but I talked to several people when DS was going into K that said that it was nothing but glorified day-care, so I didn't. I was in DS' K class so much, I really paid attention to the ones that went to Kinderday, and didn't really see that their going caused them to academically progress any faster than those who didn't.

Thanks Tad. I think as parents you are just programmed to worry! Lol at your son in his England shirt! Very sweet!

Hi all. I got my DD back today after her being gone a week with my IL's. Happy about that, but we traded DD for DS, so I won't have him until next Thursday. It's DD's 6th birthday tomorrow, and she's already conned us into opening some of her presents.

Hope you have a lovely birthday celebration tomorrow. Will dd mind her db not being there? I finally got my work permit in the mail (phew) and we have our biometrics appointment in Portland next week! Hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

I thought she would have a problem, but we've kept her busy, and she's gotten a pile of stuff because she's telling anyone and everyone she's met that it is her birthday today, so she doesn't seem to notice.

How long are you going to be in Portland? Is it an up and back thing, or is there staying around town involved?

Hello all - hope everybody is ok and keeping safe. We are having a bit of an eventful time right now. We just got over the earthquake, and we are now in the hurricane. A bit much all in the same week!

Hope you are all ok and not affected by this. We will see how the night goes.

Spamm keep us uodated
Berri, was just in another thread trying to remember who was moving to Chicago.

We are on a weekend away and I have reacted to something and have a horrid rash. Saw a doc and am on steroids but it is SO itchy I can't get to sleep!

AHHHH! Beri! Come to a Michigan meet up! In May!

DO IT!

May Michigan Mumsnet Meetup!

I love alliteration!

Too many exclamation points! Needs to lie down!

Still too itchy to sleep. Tis 2 am and peoplechatting in the hallway, Dh snoring and dd grinding her teeth. Tis dd bday and I shall have to be bright and bubbly mummy in just 5 hours

Still I have just discovered music on my iPod I didn't know I had and am enjoying it

Michigan Mumsnet May Meetup? Marvellous!

All fine this morning. Rain has now stopped and we have no serious damage in the neighborhood. All good!

Hope anybody else affected is also fine!