Living in America 2011

[MmeBucket]

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

[berri]

Love Dorset, family in Ferndown & was definitely sunny down on the beach last weekend...not so much this one though I imagine if it was anything like here!

[Grockle]

I live less than a mile from the beach so we are there often. I love it! And have family in Ferndown

[fridakahlo]

I did a few driving lessons in the UK but really felt that the number of things they wanted you to learn overcomplicated it a lot. I passed my test over here in September first time! I now drive everywhere and love the freedom!
nicobean I also have spatial difficulties so the driving is fine but it's taken me a few scrapes to get used to where my cars boundaries whilst parking. Luckily I've not damaged anyone else's vehicle but my poor bright yellow pt cruiser has a couple of nasty scrapes. Oh well, she is only a car!
Supermum whreabouts are you? I'm just outside of Lambertville.

[fridakahlo]

whereabouts!

[nicobean]

Hi all yet again, about to bore you all with visa questions.

My DH is very keen for me to start direct consular filing for a spouse's visa (he and the DC's are citizens, I'm not). He's heard this can take up to 6 months, so wants to get started despite no job for him yet. Is it really 6 months or is this the London embassy's worse case scenario?

I'm a bit wary as it'll cost about £700 and seems all a bit too real when I'm still unconvinced of the whole idea of moving back! Any thoughts?

[tadjennyp]

I don't know about a spouse's visa but our L1 visa took about 3 months in total. Speaking of which, it runs out in less than 2 weeks and we haven't had any notification of its renewal yet!

[PenguinArmy]

can anyone help?

DD has really bad nappy rash. She has been naked for the afternoons when she is at home, but it is bleeding and still getting worse.

I don't know the names of American branded products though. The two things we have are zinc-oxide based.

We've switched her to disposables which keep her dryer, but don't know if this makes it better or worse for her.

Any ideas? I'm at work but can relay messages back to DH

[Grockle]

Can't help with either, I'm afraid. I vaguely remember nappy rash but have no idea what we used. Will have a think. Sorry to not be more help

[tadjennyp]

There's something called 'butt paste' that people seem to swear by. A friend gave me some weleda cream which is really nice.

[PenguinArmy]

thanks

he's brought a different one. There was only one in CVS that wasn't zinc-oxide based. I'll go out tomorrow and look around as well. They are not out today so at least she can have a lot of naked time.

Apparently she has been learning to dance, hopping and jumping around (and trying to eat a whole pot of sudocrem)

[tadjennyp]

We have a great photo of dd with sudocrem all over her face! It really captures her personality. Yay to dancing and hopping! Did the rain materialise in SB? We have had snow showers off and on all day again. Did manage to get out for a walk to the park and also had my hair cut this morning. I look vaguely human again. Ds2 is 6 weeks old today.

[PenguinArmy]

wow at the cut hair especially at 6 weeks. I love how great you feel afterwards. I've had my hair cut at 3 and 11 months .

We had a big rain last night and some light showers this afternoon. Tomorrow I think is supposed to the worse day. I just want to spend tomorrow sleeping, but even with the rain I will make us go out for a bit, even if it's a mad dash to a cafe for lunch.

[zellys]

Hi everyone

DH has been told there might be a job for him in Chicago (I see we're not the only ones!) - I'm afraid to hope really but am nonetheless crossing my fingers.

A worry for me is that I can't drive - is there any way I can cope without it, or should I get my license ASAP. Or get it there, can I do that?

We have three DCs (4, 5, 10), so schools will be our primary concern and it looks like the good ones are a ways out and driving will be even more of a necessity? We'll be renting.

Apparently I will be able to work too (I think he'll be getting a L1 visa which means I can work? Really?!) - but I'm not sure how likely that'll be or anything.

I've been to Chicago before and loved it and really hope this comes off but I need to see past my enthusiasm and be practical!

[zellys]

Oh goodness - what do we even look for? A primary school and move to the catchment of a middle school when DS1 gets nearer 11? How do academic years work? Is there a website which lets you know how good schools are?

[PenguinArmy]

zelly - calm down :)

It will be fine, no hard decisions have to be made for ages yet. Even when you get here you can change your mind. I remember that over whelming feelings threatening to take over and feeling like all the answers needed to be known before the move. I can honestly say that everything was a lot simpler than we thought it was going to be.

Saying that I have no idea about Chicago or schools as DD is only 12 months sorry but have a cup of tea and everything will seem better

[zellys]

Kettle is boiling right now! I am a right worrywart and just want everything to be right. We've lived abroad before (Japan), but it was just the one DC then and we were only out for a few months and the company found our accommodation so it was all easy.

I think I'm just so keen this comes off that I've convinced myself if I know everything now, it will!

kettle, kettle, kettle - and thanks :)

[tadjennyp]

If your husband gets an L1 visa you can apply for a work permit on your L2 zellys. You need to speak to grockle who was in Chicago for years! Good luck!

We just had notification that our (mine and the dcs) application for extension of our L2 has been received. Current visa runs out on March 31st and the processing time is 2 and a half months! Apparently you can stay for an extra 240 days if they receive the application on time. However we haven't received notification about dh's L1 being in the system! And I guess that means we can't leave the country, so I hope there are no emergencies at home. Just a little peed off with the lawyer as we have been asking her to do this for ages.

On the bright side, dh is making dinner and I have 3 wonderful dcs. (Just been reading Edgar's thread. )

[jabberwocky]

The butt paste is Boudreaux's and is very good. There is also a prescription cream we have used. I think it is called Kuschner's cream. It has to be compounded at the pharmacy and is a gritty yellow paste. We always called it Happy Hiney. I tried to google it and came up with this homemade version:

Happy Hiney (Diaper Rash Cure) Equal amounts:?Anti-itch cream (.01% hydrocortisone)
?Anti-fungal cream (such as lotrimin)
?Desitin
Mix together and add enough Maalox (anti acid) to make a usable paste.

[Grockle]

You really don't need to be able to drive in Chicago - the public transport system is really good. Schools vary hugely. Chicago public school system is ine if the worst in the US BUT there are lots if good schools with Magnet and Charter schools as well as neighbourhood ones.

Chicago is a fab place to live. Do you know which area you are looking at?

[Grockle]

Sorry-am on phone so please excuse all the typos. If you know which side of the city you will be in, you can narrow down the neighborhoods to ones with better schools. Generally, people like the northside: lincoln park, gold coast & up towards Evanston but I lived on the southside (Hyde park: Obama territory) which was perfect for children.

[redflipflops]

Zellys Our Elementary school goes up to Grade 8 (13yo) but probably different in other areas. Have a look at: www.greatschools.org/

Sorry no idea about Nappy creams.

We've had REALLY heavy rain today - my bedroom ceiling is dripping (water leaking from roof). Am gonna sleep with the DC's tonight as DH away and can't bear the drip drip drip.....

Hope ceiling doesn't collapse

[CheerfulYank]

I love CHicago! And yes, any major city in the US has a decent public transport system so you should be fine there. :)

Boudreaux paste is excellent and can be found in most places like Target, etc. :)

[zellys]

Think I need to get a paper bag to breathe into...

If we find a school we like and rent near it, is that all we need to do? What if the school is full?

We've found four schools we like the look of - one in Lakeview and the others around West Central/Roscoe Park I think - but that's just going from statistics on the internet and google maps, I have no idea beyond that.

I lived a very sheltered life when in Chicago previously and never really ventured outside of the Loop - that was before children though.

[PenguinArmy]

I don't know, I'm sure others can help you. Could you try emailing a school direct, ask some questions or ask them to point you in the right direction. Also have you tried any of the specialist expat websites/forums.

FWIW we don't have a car and we're in a town sized city (population 100,000)

[zellys]

Aww bless you. I'm going to give myself a nosebleed.

IRONICALLY one of the reasons I jumped at the chance of a move abroad was because I've been stressing massively (no, really?!), about secondary schools here in the UK. And it turns out Chicago won't be easier after all ;)

It'll be fine it'll be fine. I think my car-concern was mostly down to the disbelief/pity of my American friends when I revealed I can't drive at all. Public transport IS good in Chicago and I am putting that on the list of things to not care about.

It looks like the application cycle for academically-selective(?magnet), state schools 2011/12 has closed so I am just going to drink some tea. This is completely ridiculous - ten to one we don't even end up going now.

kettle kettle kettle.