Green Card and Moving to America

It has been a while since the last time I posted an article on my blog. Sorry about that. Life has been a roller coaster lately with all the spousal visa last process and moving to America thing. Now I am nicely settled in Alabama. I got time to tell you the process of all this recent big changes on my life. I am posting it in here so someday I can look back and be grateful for it.

Here goes...

Green Card

Source: Immigrationdirect

A card that symbolizes an American dream for many and an identification card for most. It was a long painful waiting for us to get this Green Card. I am sure it was nothing compare to other people's experience waiting for this card. However, the uncertainty and the waiting period were really not something I would like to remember again. We were unsure how long can I work as I was working as Contract Employer and my Employee would like to know how long I can stay with them. Due to the uncertainty of the waiting process, I had to quit my job a couple months prior to leaving Jakarta. My contract job ended on March and we flew back to America on early July. So, I spent considerably amount of time being a stay at home wife. The total amount of time since we applied for the visa (CR1) until we got it was 1 year. Exactly 1 year. I got it approved right after my birthday. How about that!!? hehe

Fly to America

End of June, we got our visa approved. Wooohoooo. We were so happy. We immediately bought flight tickets. Pretty expensive as it is summer holiday and we were not planning this ahead of time. A couple days after celebrating Ied with the family back in my hometown, we flew back to America through Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airlines. I might going to write about our experience with Etihad someday.

To our surprise, Abu Dhabi has a US Clearance Port where we can get through US Immigration Port of Entry in Abu Dhabi. So we don't have to do it again in Chicago which gonna make the process a lot smoother and faster before our third connecting flight to Huntsville (Sweet Home Alabama).

The guy in US Clearance was really nice. My process doesn't even take more than 5 minutes. He immediately said 'Welcome to America!'

Our total journey from Jakarta - Abu Dhabi - Chicago- Huntsville was 34 hours. Such a looooooong journey. The first thing I do in Chicago was finding a restroom and pup. Lol.

Panadol, life saviour

We were so happy with the Abu Dhabi Immigration process that we didn't have to get our baggage out and get it through security check again. Just immediately fly to Huntsville with our baggage already taken care for.

First Meal in America

Sweet Home Alabama

So sweet. Welcome Home sign.

We arrived in Huntsville Int.Airport at 6pm bright night. I was amazed. How could a 6pm looked like a 4pm weather in Jakarta. Then my in laws (I called them Mom and Dad) told me the sun starts to set around 8.30pm. Whaaaaat!!?

For now, we are staying at Mom & Dad's as we are looking for a house that match our criteria. I really like Mom & Dad's house pretty close to town but still in considerably quiet area. The house is always neat and clean. Mom really makes the house feels more like a homey home.

I was welcome with great hugs from them and my husband's younger brother and his kids. Mom cleaned the room and already have it ready with some of my stuffs that I sent earlier this year.

Our Bedroom

My Stuffed Animals guarding our room

I just love walking closets

Our first meal at home

7pm yet it feels like 4pm Indonesia time

It has been a week living in America now. I am still adjusting to so many things. I am excited to learn more stuffs about my new home country. (I am still Indonesian, for those who ask) But America will be our home where we live in.

I will try to update more about my life here and how are we (mostly me) adjusting with everything foreign.

Day 3 in Alabama (Shopping in Bridge Street Mall)

First picture in Bridge Street Mall

Day 3 was not as cold as the first day I was there. But it was still kinda cold and breezy, so I decided to wear a sweater and a tribal pant that I bought online from BerryBenka. 

Outfit of The Day

Not sure what I was doing, pretty sure I was not dancing here.

We decided to go to Bridge Street Mall that day. Bf would like to show me to one of their best mall in town. the concept of the mall is kinda unique. It is an outdoor mall, kinda reminds me of Ciwalk Outdoor Mall in Bandung. 

The view of Bridge Street Mall

Bridge Street has it is own man-made lake with a carrousel for kids. I was really tempted to try the carrousel/ Marry-Go-Round but the mothers waiting for their kids would be staring at me. So, I just took a picture around the lake and the carrousel.

A view of the lake and the carrousel just behind H&M store.

Loving the boots, I left the boots in Madison tho

I was pretty lucky that day because H&M was having a 70% crazy sale. I got 2 dresses each for only $5 or Rp.60.000. It was lucky buy. Usually I would spend around RP.300.000-400.000 for only one dress from H&M. I bought a lot of nail polish for gifts too.

Bought Lipstick that I was using in this picture (purple)

However, I found out that the price in Sephora was not really as cheap as I thought it would be. It is actually pretty close to the one in Singapore. I have never tried the one in Jakarta, So I couldn't compare yet.

The Wishing Fountain

After walking around the mall, Bf showed me a fountain. He said almost in every water fountain in America, people usually make a wish. Oh wow, that is actually a great idea to attract more customers (possibly teen girls). You are, of course, not obligated to throw a coin and make a wish. But I found out that all the coins they got will be given as a charity, so i decided to join the wishing act.

full of coins 

Make a Wish

I went to Candy Store, I forgot the name. Kinda different than Singapore Candy Factory. They only sells American candies here. In Singapore, they also sells other countries candies and snacks like Ovomaltine products (that I loooove so much). But I was very impressed with their Jelly Beans section and those funny remarks on candy case. Unfortunately I was too immersed on all of that, that I forgot to take pictures (sorry guys).

Candies that I bought

The most famous Salt Water Taffy.

That candy case cracked me up. Oh I forgot to bring back one of the lip balm back to Indonesia :-(

Bought this for my 2 college besties.

We went to check out Cinema in Bridge Street, the name is Monaco Pictures. It looks pretty good actually. It has its own bar on the first floor and VIP lounge room on the 2nd floor. Seems like I will have to try the Cinema once I am there again next year.

After Bridge Street, we went to eat Indian food. Unfortunately it was such a let down. Everything was too milky. I know a lot of Indian cuisine use milk as their main ingredients. But usually since they also use a lot of spices, it will overpower the milky taste. It was not the way I expected to be. It was too milky for my taste, I didn't like my meal at all. I am actually thinking not coming back, but I will probably come back to give them a 2nd chance. Hopefully their Biryani taste better next time.