American Food

What to eat and what to avoid - at least, if you want to keep the pounds off?

This is a question many immigrants ask since the food in the US is not only different; it also has a lot of hidden fats. In Austria, we are used to eat the visible fat on meat - most Americans feel disgusted just by the thought of it. We also use butter on sandwiches. Still, I believe our diet in Austria has been less fat-saturated than here.

In the first months after our arrival, I gained a couple of pounds because I just didn't realize how many calories are in a burger or in a slice of pizza. Since I returned to daily cooking, mostly Austrian dishes, the pounds are gone.

If you also wonder, what to eat and what to avoid - there is a great article on yahoo about take-out food. Don't miss it: http://food.yahoo.com/blog/editorspicks/7112/make-take-out-healthier-dishes-to-order-and-avoid

Craving for German food

One of the most difficult tasks for us like for many people, who come to this country, was getting used to the food here. Everything tastes different , even such basic items as milk and butter. Therefore, it is also almost impossible to even cook our native dishes.

At the beginning , I spent much time on trying to find food that we would like. Now, after more than 9 years in America, we have settled in and food is no longer a problem. Mostly, we simply adjusted, but I also discovered many small grocery stores selling German or other ethnic food. Now, if the craving for "Leberkaese" gets strong, I know where to buy it. I also have a source for Bulgarian feta cheese and Hungarian salami. The only thing, I didn't find yet, is real "Quark" or as we call it in Austria "Topfen". Can anyone help me out here?

High school hunting

My younger son is in his last year of middle school, and very soon we must make a decision about high school. We have an excellent high school in Arlington, and my older son (16) is sophomore there. He just loves his school, teachers and classmates.

My 13 year old however never liked school. He hates homework, sitting still, listening, reading..... just everything that kids normally do at school. Therefore, we are looking now for a high school that might be more fun for him. We think, we have found it.

The Regional Vocational High school in Lexington, MA. In addition to the regular High School diploma, the school offers job training. They have programs for 26 occupations, from cosmetology to carpentry, environmental science to graphic & design. After graduation, students can right away start to work in their field or go to college, like students from regular high schools.

We are very excited about this option. Dominic was always more an "artsy' kid, very creative. The graphic & design program seems to be made specifically for him. They will even help him with his portfolio, which he will need to apply at an art college.

For newcomers to the US, the school system can be very confusing, since it's quite different to many other countries. We learned a lot by talking with other parents and by checking out the websites of our school district and of the MA state department of education.

Difficult beginnings

When we first came to the US in 1999, I often felt overwhelmed with all the changes in my life. The biggest obstacle at the beginning has been the change from a big farmhouse countryside in Austria to a suburb 2 bedroom apartment near Boston. While my husband was in his office, my boys and I felt like being locked up in our small apartment. Soon, we started house hunting. We were looking for a house with a small, nice garden to rent. Turned out to be quite difficult, since we also had two cats that would move in with us. All ads stated clearly: No Pets.

After several weeks trying to find a house, we almost were ready to give up and return to Austria. Then, one day, we found it: Not the nicest of all houses we had seen, but with a garden and the permission for gardening as much as I like, and a lake with private neighborhood beach close by. Even the cats were welcome. That settled it, we stayed.

I learned from this experience that persistence and not giving up hope pays off. Today I learned about another person, who lived by the motto "there is no defeat, only temporary setbacks that are learning points". I blogged about the "Power of Persistence" on blog.coach4u.net

and coach4u.blog.de (in German; "Macht der Beharrlichkeit")

Getting started

So, this is now my first posting on the new blog. I'm planning to write here about typical issues expatriates, who are new to the US, are dealing with.

I remember like yesterday how it has been for me and my family when we first arrived in Massachusetts almost 9 years ago. It was a completely new world, and my two sons, 7 and 4 years old at that time, didn't speak any English. My husband went to his office every day, and I spend the day in our small, rented apartment with the boys. I felt sometimes lonely - nobody there to help me figuring out even simple stuff of life like where to buy rubber boots for the boys.

Today, I'm a professional Life Coach and my passion is to help other newcomers to the United States designing their new life in this country. I hope this blog will become a useful tool.