Living in America 2014

[rootypig]

Shiny new thread. After an epic visa fuck up we are starting out (again!) in LA in a few weeks. I am English, DH is American (from southern California), DD is 21mo. I am going back to work after several unintentional years out and terrified. No clue what I want to do, which doesn't help.

Come chat about all things American!

I have an LG front loader that came with our house. I adore it, washes brilliantly and I do about 3-4 washes a week as it holds tonnes and tonnes or laundry.

Is that the 5.2, 4.3 or 4.0 capacity? I have heard mixed reviews on the LG. Friends had one and it never worked right when washing big loads like their king sized comforter. When they switched to a smaller one it was much better they went to the laundrette with their comforter.

We had a Whirlpool front loader in our first house. Was great. Could fit tonnes in and had loads of different cycles. It was either a 4.1 or 4.2 cu ft capacity. Never tried to put a comforter in but did wash pillows in it fine. Bought it as a bundle with a dryer from Sears. Miss it now that we have a crappy top loader that came with our apartment.

LG here too, not sure which one but its not too bad. its quick and most normal stuff comes out okay. I just use washing liquid and softener Luke I did at home. I don't really get the whole bleach thing, am a bit scared of it to be honest.

We have a Whirlpool stacked washer and dryer downstairs and a Whirlpool front loader washer and dryer upstairs. I prefer the way the top loader washes, but prefer the front loader for drying. The top loader dryer seems to be very good at shrinking stuff. So, illogically for someone with two separate laundry rooms, I spend far too much time running between the two, depending on outfits!

Looks like LG might not be too bad. The prices are def good and we might be able to come in below budget. I want to change quite a few things so the more we can save the better.

The whole laundry thing here sucks. Ironically we always seem to buy houses where we need to install a washer dryer. Last time I insisted on going with Bosch or Miele and hated the bosch machine we ended up with. Nothing was clean and my Dad would take his clothes to his house up in CT to wash them in his 1970's machine that he picked up on the side of the road in the 80s that is a warhorse of a machine.

Can't seem to find the capacity of mine but I can easily fit a uk super king 10 tog duvet. It's an LG WM2701HV, probably a few years old. Our house was tenanted before we bought it and I'm sure it took a bashing.

Going back a few pages, Mrsfrumble I think there's a Von Maur in OKC, not quite Nordstroms, I know, but still quite nice - i used to shop there when I lived in Omaha, and they had amazing customer service! Personal shopper? yes please!

Hey I'm back, food nutcase

Another question if you can bear it. Was wracking my brains for DD's lunch and wondering why it seems harder here when I realised - baked beans! a vital staple has fallen by the wayside.

So, anything here worth buying? I buy the reduced sugar / salt ones at home.

Failing that, I'm considering making my own

Can you not get Heinz beans where you are? I buy mine at Randall's or World Market (can order online) or Fiesta (Mexican supermarket) or at my local British shop (which is more expensive). You can also buy them from Amazon....

No I haven't seen them yet. World Market is on my list of places to investigate!
Tbh Heinz beans are too sweet for me.... I'm not going to have much luck, am I?
wonder if my brother will lug a case of beans out for me

Baked beans come in two traditions: a plain, perhaps molasses or maple sweetened new england colonial version, look for Van de Kamps, B & W, or Heinz in any grocery. They are usually labelled Pork and Beans and come with a lump of something resembling the bacon (fat) used to season them in that era. Vegetarian versions commonly available though.

And a sweeter, spicier, sometimes smoked (from smoked ham) version more traditional in the south and west: Bush's is national, there are other regional brands. Lots of seasoning variations, but still white beans.

When you find them, baked beans will take up the smallest portion of the beans shelves. We adopted bean habits from so many immigrant groups, and invented our own.

Trader joes do their own organic ones that don't look like ours but are pretty tasty

Tbh all food stuff that's legal to bring, I get my guests to do so. I refuse to pay premium prices and there are some things you just can't get sainsbos sunflower and pumpkin seed oatcakes

I use the Heinz 'Vegetarian' baked beans. They smell, taste and look like our regular baked beans. I find them in most supermarkets here in Northern NJ.

Ahh, beans! We can get Heinz here at a local OK supermarket chain called Homeland, but my children prefer the Amy's Organics ones. You can get them at Wholefoods. They're not all sugary, just tomato-ey and earthy.

JanetSnakehole you're right! There's a branch of Von Maur opening in OKC next month. Will check them out.

Thank you! Heinz vegetarian, TJ's organic and Amy's organic on list to try

OP - I'm going to type this in CAPS so that people notice (an apologies if someone else has said this)

ENTERING THE USA WITH INTENT TO IMMIGRATE IS IMMIGRATION FRAUD AND CAN RESULT IN A LIFETIME BAN.

Seriously, please do NOT suggest to people that they do this. The option is open for people who find themselves in this situation, but in the poster like Dharma's position, who have a spouse living outside the US, it's pretty dang obvious it'd be entering with intent. While you don't typically have to prove you didn't have intent at the time of AOS, they can prevent you from entering and really give you trouble.

Exactly Alpaca. When you have the perfectly legal, yet slightly more lengthy) route available, why risk the other way?

I entered on a K1 (fiancee) visa. It took 6 months to enter the country, then another 3 months to get my greencard once in the US (I believe it's longer now). I'm a US citizen now.

There is no doubt the hardest things for me were:

1. Inability to work (and when I could work having no US experiences works against you);
2. The inability to drive (I lived in Houston on a busy road and it was just too terrifying, plus we only had the one car at the time). I felt very restricted but it was for my safety (very different now of course!);
3. THE FOOD. I would practically cry at the supermarkets. Brands I didn't recognise. Food I did recognise didn't taste right. Don't get me started on the candy/chocolate either!

Plus, high fructose corn syrup :S

Of course here I am now over 5 years later and it's better. I drive, I work, we own a house. We don't have kids yet but I feel more in control with that decision (where to go, what to do etc).

Has anyone had baby here as well as the UK. Wondering how much different it is. I am thinking of having another at some stage and I am wondering if it is a lot more medical if you see what I mean?

Eissac I had my first two on the NHS in 2010 & 2012. Am 38 weeks with no 3 so will be able to give the low down soon!

So far it's been great...but I specifically chose a midwife practice since that's what I'm used to and finding an OB supportive of vaginal birth after c section (vbac) is tricky. I find them (so far) much more enlightened about my birth plans (want another vbac - they are pro labouring in water, active birth etc) than the NHS (every thing that was a deviation from the norm involved fighting my corner with consultants etc). Better technology means i have more choice than in the uk. But otherwise the same type of care (just more appointments).

But some things seem so weird and old fashioned (eg many of my nearest hospitals have insanely low vbac rates and have nurseries for the babies rather than rooming in).

Plus the hospital I'm booked into looks lush after a big London teaching hospital!

Now if only this baby would get a wriggle on (though I actually want it to stay put til October!).

sykadelic I was under the impression that this does not apply to the immediate relative category, as detailed in this policy memorandum from Nov 2013

INA section 245(c)(4) renders aliens admitted under the VWP ineligible to adjust status to that of a person admitted for permanent residence. This provision, however, includes an exception for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens.5 Thus, an individual admitted under the VWP who is also an immediate relative is not precluded from seeking adjustment of status, even after the VWP period has expired.

Has this since changed?

Flipfantasia Congratulations and not long to go now. I also had two children in the UK so it will be interesting to hear if it is much different here. Are the prenatal checkups with the midwife or ob?

Haven't watched OBEM US yet, must check it out.

Ah I see, sorry I'm being thick, it's whether the intent was formed before or after you are admitted on the non immigrant visa.

Thanks for the clarification
In my defence, I was suggesting that pp ask her lawyer - so hopefully he gave her the right answer