Hello,
I shall introduce myself I live in what I think is called the metro area of New Jersey with my husband and three children. I have been living here for three years. Still adjusting.............
Anyone still having off days after so long?
Hi,
yes, I still have off days too. In fact, I have to be honest and say that I get a little more homesick with time. Is that weird or what? Spoke to someone the other day who said she's been here for 20 years and still feels homesick.
Take care
Hi Zed, yes, I get off days too. I'm having an off week this week cry
I used to live in NJ (Wayne, Passaic County) but now live on Long Island. Feeling very isolated from all of you but definitely prepared to travel.
I have three kids also and have lived in the US for just over three years.
I don't work and all the kids are in school so life can get a little boring during the day sometimes.
Welcome to Britnet. grin
Hello,
Mel - 20 yrs that's a mighty long time. Do you reckon the time thing is because with time you forget all the bad things and remember the good?
Ben - I know where Wayne is or I should say I know where Chuckie Cheese's is in Wayne. I live in Nutley which is Essex county. How old are your children? How are they enjoying school? More so how do you deal with these school mothers????? My three are 7yrs, just turned 2yrs and the newest one 21/2 months, god I miss my mum! Long Island isn't too far from here. Is it nice there?
Thank you all for welcoming me here.
Welcome to Britnet ZED smile
Zed, a lot of questoins. Someone who likes to talk I think. Me too. grin
We used to go to Chuckie cheeses on the 23 too. We lived 10 - 15 minutes north/east of there.
My children are 11,9 and 7. We have been here three years and they are very happy with the schools here on the Island. Is your 7year old enjoying school here? Are you finding it very different?
After the initial culture shock I used to run away from the mothers! Yep, I would say I was busy, then go and hide at home. grin I did get used to them and realised which ones I had more in common with and which ones I didn't. It used to drive me mad the moaning they used to do outside of school regarding homework etc. and yet wouldn't do anything about it, except do the homework for little johnny!
I know how you feel about missing your mum. I used to get so upset sometimes and tried not to pick the phone up crying. I didn't want to upset her. My father was in the RAF so my mum was used to being away from family. It gave her the knowledge to know how I was feeling which really helped.
Long Island it lovely. Busy, but lovely. If you ever want a trip over you are very welcome. Kids included.
Did you have your baby over here? How did you find it if you did? Are you getting to that depressing stage after having a baby? How do you like where you live?
Evening,
Your kids - Did they go to school at the same grade level here or one year ahead? Since they start earlier in the UK I'm just wondering.
Schools are okay here. We live in an affluent area, not that we are, we live in a shed as far as the neighbourhood is concerned (ie an apartment). He likes the school, unfortunately he doesn't have much in common with the kids, the majority of them are spoilt, rude and obnoxious (must get that from their moms). Academically his doing fine, report cards are A+ for subjects. He has just taken the Terra Nova tests, have your kids had to do them?
I know what you mean about the moaning the mothers do. One mother last year was moaning about how fast the school was going through the ABC's in Kindergarten and how her son doesn't know them. My response " Have you thought about teaching him the alphabet at home?" Wrong reply, the stares!Mind you saying that I have met a couple of wonderful women here.
I heard Long Island was snooty, is this true? Is it as bad as it is here? I don't drive at present waiting for my greencard. However if you'd like maybe during the holidays we could meet up at Central Park?? Let me know.
I had my 2 yr old and my 21/2 month old here. It was very nice the labour room was like a hotel,I was afraid of messing the walls!They supply all your perronal stuff even towels etc.
However no pain relief third time round. I arrived at the hospital too late already 6cm dilated. Then they had me answer the stupid admission forms whilst I was dilating from 6cm to ready to push.I could of strangled the nurse if I could of moved!!!
I don't think I am getting depressed, just down right exhausted with number three having to deal with number two and three.
I would like it fine here if it wasn't so materialistic and snobby. What makes me laugh, coming from England an original class society, is that they have no clue here on what enables you to be a snob in the first place. lol
Take care
Zed - you could be describing the township where we live; Short Hills!
It is quite common to see teenagers driving around in a Mercedes convertible, or a Porsche - maybe a gift from Daddy for getting into an Ivy League college.
We have a very modest house, about 60 years old which needs lots of work doing to it - but we put all of our cash into paying the 20% deposit so we will have to wait a few more years to gain some equity into the house before doing it up!
Most of the mums can't cope with raising their own children - they all have nannies
Oops, had to cut the previous message short as my son suddenly wanted to go to the athletic track early.
You don't need to have a Green Card to drive in the USA! You just take your passport and UK driving licence (I'm assuming you have a UK licence) with you to the driving test centre and they just check your visa to ensure that you're resident in the US legally. I'm on an L2 visa - trailing spouse roll
There is a long thread going back a couple of months about taking a driving test in NJ, (started by Stelesque) so check it out!
Back to Short Hills - it definitely is a snobby place and most of the houses go for $1 million up to $5 million. We're just not in the same league and our house cost nowhere near that price - it is one of the smallest houses in town! Most people who live here are Wall Street stockbrokers, top attorneys and cardiac surgeons. It's the sort of place where the women slap on the makeup to go to the gym (and I suspect more than a few have had cosmetic surgery). In the winter they swan around town in their fur coats and love to flash their huge diamond rings. The "Mall at Short Hills" has Versace, Tiffany's jewellers, Chanel, Guess, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss stores etc. all at the normal (non-discounted) prices. I rarely go there, I only like Restoration Hardware, Crate & Barrel & Pottery Barn in the mall (to look but not buy) and much prefer to go to Costco or Target!
I do feel like a fish out of water living here, we're only here for the highly rated school and the easy commute for my husband to get to NYC. As soon as our son finishes grade 12 (if we're still in the States) then we're moving out of here! razz
Zed, I found it very snooty where we were in NJ. Just how Dawn describes where she lives - kids drving porches etc.
Believe it or not it is nothing like that on the island. I was told the same regarding moving over here. NJ people were very anti Long Island (the ones I met anyway).
Both my husband and I were from average family backgrounds. I find the same is here. Everyone (and I mean everyone in this neighbourhood and school district) are pretty much average.
I find where we are here is just the same as back home. Yes, there are areas that are very expensive to live but all the houses in that area are expensive and, apart from the south fork, the expensive areas tend to be in Nassau county, closer to NYC. We are in suffolk county. You actually find normal mums here, shouting at their kids to get in the car lol
Zed, I can come all the way over to NJ in the summer. Would be great to have a barbie or something one day and bring all the kids as well as mums etc. off this board around this area.
My eldest son, in NJ, was one of the youngest. His birthday is end of Sept. and the cut off where we were was middle Oct. A lot of mums held their kids back a year because of the difficulties at school (have you read the other posts regarding homework problems and topics relating to schools). He is a clever boy but was failing badly when we first arrived here due to the problems with school here. A long story.
Anyway, we pulled him back a year when we moved over to the island. Not because he couldn't do the work but because he had not self esteem left. He is now a happy young man, just how I remember he used to be in the UK. He will now finish school the same time as his friends back in the UK.
Having three children is challenging but fun! We have had some laughs with ours. Sometimes I wonder if it would have been the same just having the two. We did consider going for number four but my husband has always worked long hours and I would have to cope on my own. I was stretched enough!
Do you think you will have anymore, Zed?
Hi gys,
Dawn - the people sound a nightmar! It is silly how the towns are so seperated here and the majority of decent schools are often in regards to the residents the worse.
What grade is your son in now?
I can understand the nannie part ha ha.
I posted to quickly my eldest came in to say goodnight. Daddy is doing the bedtime routine.
Ben - It would be nice to get together for the summer. As for a barbie NJ has some great state parks which have their own bbq facilites, play parks, swimming, boats etc and you don't pay for anything other then parking and the cost of hiring a boat if you decide to. You have to take your own food to grill. If anyone is up to it I don't know how we can arrange it as I'm not sure on how to use the private message.
Glad to hear your son is doing well now and enjoying school.
Its unlikely we'll have anymore. We definitely can't afford anymore right now maybe in ten years time???? So no number 4 for you?
Zed
Definitely, no number 4!
Maybe around May we could arrange something for the summer. By then, everyone should have an idea when their kids are doing summer camps, summer schools, or their own family holidays.
Great idea about the state park thing. You let us know which one you will be able to get to or maybe one of us can pick you and the kids up onthe way.
It is way past my bedtime. I need my beauty sleep, even though it doesn't seem to do me any good! grin
Hi Ben,
Been meaning to respond sooner......
It would be nice meeting up, the safest state parks we have been too so far is one in Upstate New York called Ringwood, by safe I mean no grizzly bear warnings like the one in Pennsylvania we went to. No need to pick up as hubbie can drive.
Did the beauty sleep work?
Talk to you later.
There are some really nice parks in NJ.
Yes, the beauty sleep was well needed grin I'm getting too old and just have to have my quota of sleep or I am a grizzly bear in the morning.