• dailyachesandpains said on Feb 05, 2008....

  Queenie:  Only you can make that decision.  Have you ever been to the US?  If you have, then you may know what to expect...somewhat.  If you haven't, then you might be in for a bit of a shock as far as population in certain areas as well as landscape being far different (assuming you'll be going to DC) than what you're used to.  The people are always in a rush, for the most part, at least in my area.  You'll have to make a start fresh in finding friends.  Do you get home sick?  Especially being this far away from home?  Could you handle it?  Also, you really need to do your research as far as what school to go to. Emeril LeGassi (SP?)went to Johnson and Wales, if I'm not mistaken.  That isn't just a school that you get your degree in a month, or a year.  How much time would you want to spend here?  Would you go back home during school breaks? Are you ready for your parent's reaction?  Would they totally write you off if you did come here?
   
  You've got a lot to think about.  As I said, only you can make this decision.  If I were in your shoes, and I had such a passion for something I'd do it.  I have in the past and it involved moving clear across the country.  As much as my Mother drives me nuts, I was extremely home sick.  I flew home every month, but that was easy for me to do.  It was an experience I will always remember and I'm so glad I took the plunge and just did it.  In fact, when I moved, I had hardly any panic/anxiety issues if any at all. 
   
  Write out your list of the pro's and con's and see what you come up with.  I wish this wasn't so difficult for you.  In the end, I'm sure you'll do what's right for you and only you.  Don't do something just to make someone else happy and ruin your dreams in the process.
   
  {{{HUGS}}}
  Daily

• polarheart said on Feb 05, 2008....

  Queenie, Daily is right. . .it is a huge decision and you wont realise just how huge until you actually do it.  As you know I have moved countries, and believe me it is a huge culture shock.  Its not like in the movies; its real life and its darn hard.

  Having said that, I honestly believe it is better to do it when you are younger rather than older, when you are more set in your ways.  I think you are at the perfect age to make a move like this; it wont be easy, but because you have an out-going personality you will quickly make new friends.  As much as you will miss home, I am sure you will also have a lot of fun.

  It was very different for me when we moved from SA to the UK.  I was married for 11 years and 6 months pregnant. . .a lot changed for me.  Not just my surroundings.  We had a house, car and a huge social network in SA; and we left it all behind.  It was like starting life all over again at the age of 33.  That's why I say it would be better to do it now at the age you are at.

  If I were you I would take the opportunity esp if you have family over there who can receive you and get you settled in.  Of course you will have many obstacles, but in the long run I dont think you will regret it. . .I say this because I can look back now after 4 years and know that I am glad we made the move even though it was terribly difficult for us.

  Queenie, I say this to you: You already know what you want to do. . .the answer is already in your heart.  Furthermore, another ATE bit of advice (this is what my own older sister said to me when I wanted to quit my studies and was worried about what my parents would say:  YOU MUST LIVE YOUR LIFE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR DECISIONS - YOUR PARENTS CANNOT LIVE LIFE FOR YOU.

  Of course you would like them to be supportive, but at the end of the day YOU are the one who needs to follow (or not follow) your dream.

  As Daily said: write down the that list of pros and cons about moving it will help you gain perspective.  But in all honesty I think it will be wonderful for you and I know you can make a success of it. . .and a bit of home-sickness never killed anybody.

  Keep us updated!

  love Polar

• skald said on Feb 05, 2008....

  Queenie this is a big decision. You might get very lonely there.  Home sick and you have to have strong  bones. But if you are sure to have a ticket home, anytime then it would not hurt. There is a big possibility that  you make it. Look at all the possibilities and remember there are other Western counties than the US. Good luck what ever you do. 

• pickersplock said on Feb 05, 2008....

  You're only young once, Queenie!  If this is what you want, don't let anyone stop you!  You can do anything you set your mind to!  And let me know where you'll be, so I can come and visit!

• silverwhisper said on Feb 05, 2008....

  everyone else said it well, queen. it's a big risk, no question. would you be living with her while attending culinary school?
  
  i think something you really need to consider is whether your aunt and her family are people you could live with--that matters a great deal. and do you know anybody else in the US?
  
  how confident are you in your spoken english? your written english seems pretty damned good--good enough that if i didn't know i'd guess you were a native speaker. if you have to live in the US, you'd of course be getting tons of practice using it. :>
  
  where (generally) does your aunt live in the US? is it near a school that interests you?
  
  all of this is stuff you should think about: sometimes, the logistical, boring stuff does matter, too.
  
  but i have to say this: it would be cool as hell for you to be in the same country. :>
  
  ed

• Mamie said on Feb 05, 2008....

  what about a trip over, stay a while, interview the different schools, check out the culture, see if it all clicks? If yes, then continue,....if you hate it then you will at least have no regrets! good luck! mamie

• JoyousLoving said on Feb 05, 2008....

  I'm asking all the same questions as Ed.
   
  And I think Mamie is right.  If you can swing it, a trip here to check things out and see if you even like America would be a great idea. 

• silverwhisper said on Feb 05, 2008....

  i agree w/ JL: i think mamie's got the right idea here. :>
  
  ed

• queenparanoia said on Feb 05, 2008....

  hi guys! okay i get overwhelmed by your comments.... anyway this evening i had a talk with my aunt. and i must say she has some good advices to me. well about going to the u.s. as of know i think i'm not ready for it yet. maybe i'll go to school firts so that i'll have an education to back me up. and mamie youre right it might be nice to visit there but the fair is super expensive. anyway she had a great advice for me and i'll blog about it.

  thanks for the comments guys. it really helps me with my decision... =)

• evil_twin said on Feb 05, 2008....

  I guess you already made your decision so I won't add anything. But I read this and I think it sounds like an interesting idea to keep in mind for someday :-) Good luck to you!
  
  -evil_twin LA
  

• queenparanoia said on Feb 05, 2008....

  thanks kyle... =)

• queenparanoia said on Feb 05, 2008....

  by the way i post another post concerning about this...

• queenparanoia said on Feb 05, 2008....

  oh crap!!! i ahve so many wrong spelling on that comment!!!
   

  hi guys! okay i get overwhelmed by your comments.... anyway this evening i had a talk with my aunt. and i must say she has some good advices to me. well about going to the u.s. as of now i think i'm not ready for it yet. maybe i'll go to school first so that i'll have an education to back me up. and mamie youre right it might be nice to visit there but the fare is super expensive. anyway she had a great advice for me and i'll blog about it.

  thanks for the comments guys. it really helps me with my decision... =)

• sweet_cookie01 said on Feb 05, 2008....

  queen... sana ganun ka dali un... things you have to consider...
   
  when you get a student visa... you will be asked kung may school ka na napili and kung natanggap ka na nung school na un. you will be asked if can afford family mo to pay for your studies and living allowance. Having relatives who are will to accomodate your stay is not a sure thing to be granted a student visa.
   
  when you get a tourist visa... you can not work in the US... unless you do it illegally. And if you do it illegally you will be paid way below the minimun without benefits. Problem is there are some aliens who are back stabbers and might report you and then you will never be allowed to set foot on US ground ever again.
   
  when you get a working visa... which is much more easier for you to gain access to the US it would be hard for you to divide your time and make space for studying. then again you need to show the embassy that you have a sure job when you get to US... they will ask you A LOT AND TONS of questions!
   
  I know this because not basing from my experience but from most of friends and family experience.
   
  Semi hubbys family or clan half of them are living in new york and even if they have relatives there getting a tourist visa is not an easy thing! The embassy will ask for alot of papers... bank records, deeds, income, and etc.
   
  You can try to research about it online... Good luck!!
   
  If it was that easy to live in another country then I would have been living somewhere in north pole 20 years ago!! ha ha haha....

• rubymae said on Feb 05, 2008....

  Would this decision involve your aunt?  I ask because if you went over with no connections here, or any one for moral support, then yes that would be a big decision  and one to really think long and hard about.

• queenparanoia said on Feb 05, 2008....

  sweet: well honestly lang hindi ko pa kaya na mag aral dun... so many stuff just happened on my life right now i dont think i could do another major change. if you read my next post i have another decision to make... hay sama tayu dun sa north pole!!!! para malamig!!! =)

  rubymae: i decided not to go... i'm not read yet... thanks for dropping by!!! =)

• crybabylu said on Feb 05, 2008....

  Well, I read your post and comments and I think it is good you decided not to, because it would be a biggie.

• skald said on Feb 05, 2008....

  Queen.  I think this is wise. 

• Lioness said on Feb 05, 2008....

  queen, we also have good culinary schools in the Phils.. So I guess you can study here.
  
  Sis, dumito ka na lang, nauubos na pinoy sa pinas! LOL

• Jenna said on Feb 05, 2008....

   

  Queenie...In your heart you will know what is best.  Follow your heart dear one...follow your heart. 

  xo

• Expendable said on Feb 05, 2008....

  being exposed to different cultures can be good.

• CreativeWoman said on Feb 05, 2008....

  I like the idea of visiting first if that is an option and visiting a few schools.  Then make your decision.  Whatever you do, make that dream of becoming a pastry chef come true.  :-)
  
  CW
  

• gingersoul said on Feb 05, 2008....

  Queenie....i talk from direct experience...having done what you are pondering to do...i left my country and moved here in the States...

  Listen....even if i was older than you and well prepared with my English and my studies to live abroad...nothing,.,i mean nothing could have prepared me to fully grab how big would have been living away from home...without my friends, my home, my family, my job, my familiar things, my ocean and my beaches, even my language.....

   

  You dont realize how you are going to miss certain things until you dont have them anymore......So if you think yto knwo you will be homesick ....double that feeling, make it triple ....

  And add that i was not alone..i was married with an American and had a baby...so i wasn't alone in learning new habit, new rules.....

  I would tell you......have a solid preparation as back ground, polish your English and take contact with some school here, get accostumed to what you need to have in order to live and work and study here...also.choose carefully where you want to live...i wouldn have ever picked Texas for me but my ex husband was from here so...:-)

  I know you will choose what it is right for you at the right moment....and pastry chef is a wonderful dream to achieve.....{hug}

• rmuxagirl said on Feb 05, 2008....

  Queenie I agree with  everyone only you can make that kind of decision.
  If you honestly dont think you can find the right school for you there why not look for one somewhere else.  My friend (well the ex Jacob) is going to school to be a chef right now and he's doing great and has job offers already.
  
  Ginger had a lot of great advice and research different schools figure out what it is exactly that you want from a school.
  

• petitepapillon said on Feb 05, 2008....

  Daily and everyone else has said everything I wanted to say, but I'll repeat one of things a lot of people here have already mentioned: Only you can make this important decision. Only you can decide if this is right for you. If it was me and I knew there were only a few opportunities where I live versus somewhere else, I'd most likely take the chance and go for it. But you have to be absolutely, positively sure. And you'll know if it is or not.

  Good luck, queen and keep us posted!

• queenparanoia said on Feb 06, 2008....

  crybabylu and skald: youre right. i'm not ready for that big change yet. lioness: actually isa lang ang certified culinary school dito... sobrang mahal pa... hehehhe don't worry babalik rin ako pinas para mag business... saka next time na lang hindi pa ako ready.. =) jenna: i will... =) expandable: you have a point on that... gingersoul: thanks for that ginger. don't worry i'm not leaving yet. i'm not ready. thanks for sharing your experience it really helped me a lot... =) rmuxa: thanks i'm still looking... =) petite: thanks petite i haven't decided yet so don't worry... i'll think this through... =)

• crybabylu said on Feb 06, 2008....

  I'm glad you re thought it.

• queenparanoia said on Feb 07, 2008....

  thanks dee.... =)

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